“Hi, Kate,” he said in a low voice.  “I don’t want to disturb you, I can see you have company. I thought I’d pick up a piece of furniture and get started refinishing it. Is that all right?”
     “Sure, but why not come inside first and meet a friend of mine? Have a cup of tea.”
     Rick put his hands up and stepped back. “No, I don’t want to bother you. I’ll just get something out of the barn.”
     Frieda marched out of the kitchen, her arm outstretched.
     “Hi, I’m Frieda Mason, and you are…?  Good to meet you, Rick.  I’ve got two kids around here somewhere.  Feel free to stay, because we’ve got to be going now.”  Turning to Katherine, she said “Thanks for the tea and cookies.  Frank, Beth, get your jackets.  We’re leaving.  Yes, Daddy will be waiting for us. Beth, don’t give the doggie any more cookies.”  She was bundling them up while Rick stood looking embarrassed.
     “Please don’t let me break up your visit. I just came to pick up some old furniture.  I can do that and get out of your way.”
     “Whether you stay or leave is up to you,” Frieda said.  “We have to go anyway.  I’ll call,” she said turning to Katherine and signalling with a lift of her eyebrows.
     ”Have I parked you in?” Rick asked.
     “No,” Frieda said herding her children past him.  “I can get around you.”  Katherine stifled a laugh and Frieda shot her a grin.  “See you later,” they called to each other. 
     After waving them off, Katherine led the way into the kitchen and starting clearing away the used mugs and glasses.  “Want some tea, juice, cookies?”
     Rick was staring at the newspaper-covered corner of the kitchen.  “No apple juice, I think.  Got a puppy, I see.”
     “This is his first full day here.  I just got him yesterday.  And he’s meeting so many people today.  That’s good for him. Helps him learn not to fear people.” Katherine shrugged her shoulders. “According to my puppy training book, anyway.”
     “What’s his name?”
     Katherine was about to explain that she hadn’t decided, when she changed her mind.  “Noodle, actually.”
     “Interesting.  You like Italian food, I take it.”
     “Love it.”  Katherine wiped the table.  “Who doesn’t?”
     “Exactly.  I sure do.” Rick swooped Noodle up by the belly, holding him above his head to stare into the dog’s face.  “Aren’t you a cutie.”  Noodle froze and squinted, and Rick gently rocked him, so that the puppy’s legs swung.  Katherine felt a slight stab of sympathetic fear.  She sensed all at once that Noodle didn’t want to look Rick in the eyes, didn’t feel safe high in the air, didn’t like his legs dangling helplessly. But before she could say anything, Rick set Noodle back down on the floor. “Looks like a fine dog.” Noodle crept under Katherine’s chair.
     “I think so,” she said and began pouring tea.  “Of course we’re not toilet trained yet, and we don’t like sleeping alone.”
     “Who does?” said Rick, taking a mug from Katherine’s hand.   “Sugar?”
     For a moment she thought of taking that as an endearment. Then she pushed the bowl over to him, repeating “Exactly. Especially if you’ve been in a cosy litter all your life.  Last night was hell.  Crying, howling, barking, all night long.”
     “Was that you or the dog?”
     Katherine grinned, noticing that he hadn’t taken any sugar. “Have a cookie.”
     “I’d love to.”  There was silence a moment as they both chewed, then Rick said “So, you’re not married. What about a boyfriend? You seeing anyone?”
     Katherine shook her head, then asked “How about you?”
     “Nope.”
     Katherine looked down at the table, trying to act casually.
     “I’m glad you’re alone.”
     “You are?”
     “I don’t mess with married women. Or any man’s woman, even if they’re not married.”
     “Are you trying to mess with me?”  When Rick shrugged, she said “Maybe I don’t want to be messed with.”
     “Poor choice of word.  Sorry.  But I don’t think I’d even be having cookies with you if you were married.  And they’re such good cookies, too,” he said making his voice high and enthusiastic.  “I love those chocolatey nubs.”
     “These are nothing.  Wait ’til you try my homemade ones, hot from the oven, the chips still melted and gooey.”  She smiled and Rick grinned.
     “You’re on.  But I get to lick the bowl.”
     Why did she feel that everything he said was suggestive, she thought.  It’s ridiculous.  After another moment of chewing and drinking, he suddenly said “You know, what you need is an alarm clock.”
     “What?”
     “An alarm clock.  You should put an alarm clock in with the puppy at night.  The ticking sounds like a heartbeat, and makes him feel less alone.”
     “Oh yes, I remember reading that somewhere sometime.  Does it work?  Is that what you did with your dog?”
     “I can’t remember.”  Rick set his mug down with a frown. He clearly looked like he did not want to talk about this. Katherine wondered why.
     “Got any other tips for me?” she tried. “I’m a novice dog owner and can use all the help I can get.”
     “I’ll let you know if I think of any.” His tone was suddenly abrupt and dismissive. Then he pushed himself back from the table, saying “Well. Tea and cookies are nice, but maybe I’d better do what I came here for.”  As Katherine stared at him, wondering at his sudden shift of mood, he added “Load up that furniture that needs stripping.”
     “You don’t have to do that.  I mean, it would be wonderful, but I don’t expect you to.”
     Rick stood up and tugged on his jacket.  “We had an agreement that you’d let me keep walking on your land if I stripped your furniture.”
     “It wasn’t a firm agreement,” she protested, “we were just talking. You don’t really have to do that.”
     “I don’t mind. Besides, it gives me an excuse to see you.”  He looked her in the eyes and then ran his forefinger down her cheek, pushing back a loose strand of hair.

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