Norah's Ark. Judy Baer
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“Lilly, I can’t just walk out of my store and leave it untended.”
“You try these on. I’ll watch for customers. If anyone comes to buy one of those gargantuan puppies you have, I’ll call you.”
“They are mastiffs. They’re supposed to be gigantic.”
“They grow up to be Volkswagen vans. Why don’t you sell miniature poodles, the kind people can carry in their purse? Such a trendy look right now.”
“Animals are not accessories, Lilly.”
A big sigh came from outside the door. “Okay, okay. How does the skirt fit?”
“Like a collapsed canvas mainsail.”
There was a long silence outside the dressing room door, then another sigh. “Let me see.”
I trudged into the painful light of day. The skirt she’d given me was actually canvas-colored, with rivets, stitched pockets and a slit on the side which was probably supposed to show off my long, shapely leg. Instead, it made me look like one of the concrete foundation footings they were pouring for the new bank being built down the street.
“Oh, dear. Maybe we can’t do this quickly after all.”
“Exactly. To entertain yourself, put together a couple outfits that will make me look human rather than like squat, ugly buildings. I’ll try them on later just to satisfy you. No promises I’ll buy, though.”
“You are my newest crusade, Norah, even if I have to order clothes made of denim, flannel and sweatshirt fabric, I will make you a representative of Fashion Diva style.”
Terrific. Being Lilly’s pet project is always a pain because she’s relentless in whatever she sets out to do. The only one she’s ever had to admit defeat on is Auntie Lou whose style can be best described as a Civil War combined with consignment store chic.
Why, I wondered as I hurried back to feed the animals, didn’t she just advertise on the side of a bus rather than make me, a cute but admitted sow’s ear—fashionwise, that is—into a silk purse?
At noon, I jogged up to Belles & Beaus to make an emergency bird feed delivery. They’ve installed a large cage in the foyer and I filled it with peach-faced lovebirds to greet their customers. I love a lovebird—makes sense, doesn’t it?—because they are playful and energetic and yes, can be taught to give kisses. Though it’s a completely up-to-date spa, the main floor has been kept to look like the Victorian house that it is. Lush pinks, lace, teacups, ornate furniture and all the things the Victorians loved are accounted for in this place. It would make me wacky to have to work in such sensory excess, but it’s popular with its clientele. I admit I can stand it quite nicely, however, for as long as it takes to have a facial or a pedicure.
On the way back to the Ark, I stuck my head into the open door of the building that was to be the new toy shop. The man and woman stripping wallpaper in the back of the room jumped as if I’d fired a rifle when I knocked on the door.
“Not open until next week,” he yelled.
“I don’t want anything except to welcome you to the neighborhood.” I took a step inside the door. “I’m Norah Kent, from Norah’s Ark pet shop.”
Reluctantly, as if they were walking in cold molasses, the couple moved toward me. They were in their midfifties, dressed in jeans, T-shirts and tennis shoes.
Something had gone awry in these people’s lives. I could see it in the deeply etched frown lines bracketing his lips and the deeply cut wrinkles making her forehead nearly as furrowed as the Shar-pei puppies I sometimes sell.
These people, with their grim expressions, didn’t look like they belonged on happy-go-lucky Pond Street. Neither did they look like owners of a toy store. Or maybe I’d confused them with the cultural image of Santa Claus. Toy store owners didn’t have to have round bellies, pink cheeks and perpetually be saying, “Ho-ho-ho.”
“I’m Franklin Morris and this is my wife, Julie.” He reluctantly stuck out his hand for a shake.
Franklin and Julie. Simple, commonplace names for ordinary people. What kinds of monikers had I expected? Big Bad Wolf and Cruella De Vil?
“Looks like you still have some work to do before opening day.” The fellows who built the pyramids didn’t have to work any harder than these guys would to get this place done in a week.
“Yes,” Franklin said tersely.
“Are you hiring any help?” My voice was beginning to sound falsely chipper—annoying even to my own ears.
“No.”
“Doing it yourself, then?”
“Yes.”
Well, don’t talk my ear off!
“We’re in a little over our head. The building is in poorer shape than we realized.”
Overwhelmed. Now that I can understand.
“If you need help, holler. We treat each other like family here on Pond Street.”
Franklin and Julie exchanged glances, their expressions indicating that they weren’t sure if this was good news or not. Then Julie rallied. “Thanks so much for stopping by. I’ll visit your pet store after we get settled.”
I had to be content with that. First Connor, then the policeman and now the new toy store owners. Suddenly there were a lot of strangers on Pond Street.
I hadn’t noticed Auntie Lou sitting in the shade in a big balloonlike hanging wicker basket chair left over from the late seventies until she accosted me with her broomstick. She was so short that her feet didn’t touch the ground and the chair all but gobbled her up. She was still wearing her cloche hat but did have her teeth in now which smoothed out a few wrinkles. Occasionally Lou’s choppers clatter when she talks so it’s fifty-fifty which is actually better—teeth in or teeth out. Sometimes it sounds like she’s playing the castanets when she talks.
“How’s the cat doing?” I looked around but didn’t see him in her window.
“Big slug is sound asleep on my bed. Eat, purr, sleep. Eat, purr, sleep. That’s all he does.”
“Isn’t that what he’s supposed to do?”
“What about mousing? A batch of field mice could set up shop right next to him and he’d never blink,” she said with a smile.
“Give him time, Lou. He’s just getting settled in.”
“Settled-schmettled. He’s just as lazy as my former husband.”
And, I realized, that the backhanded statement had somehow been a compliment for both the cat and the man.
“Can you sit awhile?” Auntie Lou asked hopefully.
“Not now, but I’ll come over later and pin up that dress you need hemmed.”
“You’re a good girl, Norah. What would I do without you?” Auntie Lou patted my hand with such gentle affection I felt tears coming to my eyes.
Chapter Four
My place is a townhouse situated on Lake Zachary that I purchased from my father, who’d once owned it as investment property. I’d renovated it and made it my ideal retreat. After work I hurried there for Bentley, who had opted for a morning at home over a day at the shop with me. Bentley enjoys his peace and quiet but he’s not immune to getting lonesome. Especially for moi.
How do I know my dog likes it quiet? At Norah’s Ark, every time Winky starts whooping it up or a batch of puppies start squealing, he flops on the floor and manages to get his front legs and paws up over his ears as if to say, “Turn down the volume.” When my television is too loud, Bentley stands in front of it growling at the screen until I adjust the sound. Bentley definitely needs his quiet time.
Actually,