Across the walking path, Ned Ripley came down from his porch and out onto his tiny back patio, his dog, Cookie, trotting beside him on matchstick legs, her pink sweater slightly askew. Ned carried a flashlight, though it didn’t seem necessary to Maude. But then, her eyes weren’t as old as Ned’s.
“Someone needed to pee before bedtime,” Maude murmured around another bite of flan.
Cookie sniffed the grass with great purpose. Maude smiled. Dogs were funny. Ned leaned down to encourage her and then his foot caught on something.
Maude sat up to see better but the stumble happened so fast she barely had time to gasp. Ned pitched forward with a startled grunt, flashlight clattering across the walkway.
“Oh, no! Ned!”
Maude shoved the flan aside and hurried down her porch steps, bare feet slapping softly against the wood. Cookie barked anxiously, circling him.
She ran across the path and knelt beside him, heart jumping. “Ned, can you hear me? Are you okay?”
He was on his side, one knee scraped raw, elbow bleeding in a thin line. “Dadgum paver,” he muttered, wincing. “I’m all right. Or I will be. I suppose I’m smarter than I look and yet not smart enough to watch my feet.”
“Hold still,” Maude said gently. “Let me help you sit up.”
As she braced him, her phone buzzed in the pocket of her shorts. She ignored it until Ned was upright on the grass, breathing slowly through the pain.
Only then did she glance at the screen. A text from Ollie.
Thinking about you. You still up?
Perfect timing.
She typed back quickly:If you’re home, can you come over? My neighbor Ned fell and scraped himself up pretty badly. I don’t think anything’s broken but if you could look at him?
His reply came almost instantly.On my way.
Maude exhaled with relief and tucked the phone away. Cookie crawled into Ned’s lap, trembling.
“It’s okay, girl.” Maude gave the dog a little scratch. “We’re going to take good care of your dad.” Then to Ned, “Help’scoming.” She kept her hand on Ned’s shoulder to steady him. “You’re in good hands tonight.”
Ned chuckled weakly. “Thank you, Maude. You’re a good friend. I always said this community was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Maude gave his hand a squeeze. “I feel the same way.”
In a remarkably short amount of time, lights flicked across the path as Ollie hurried toward them, medical bag in hand, his expression calm but concerned. “Hi, Ned. I’m Dr. Keen, but you can call me Ollie.”
Ned glanced at Maude. “How did you get a doctor to show up that fast?”
Maude grinned. “I know people.”
Ned laughed, a sound like music to Maude’s ears.
Ollie smiled. “It just so happens that I’m sweet on her and I’m trying to impress her.”
“That so?” Ned said. “Well, you’ve got my blessing.”
Ollie got out a small flashlight. “What happened here, my friend?” he asked, voice cool and gentle.
“Gravity got the better of me,” Ned grumbled. Cookie growled protectively from his lap, her four pounds of fury not impressing anyone but herself.
Ollie smiled softly. “Mind if I take a look? I promise not to steal your dog.”
Cookie sniffed his hand, decided he was acceptable, and settled down.
Maude exhaled. Cookie could be a biter. Maybe she sensed Ollie was a dog lover.
