Garlic Artichoke Murder (Papa Pacelli's Pizzeria Series Book 11) Read online

  EPILOGUE

  * * *

  “I love you both so much. I’m going to miss you. Don’t forget me, okay?”

  Ellie hugged Bunny and planted a kiss on top of the dog’s head before turning to Marlowe. The parrot had her face pressed against the bars of the cage and was staring out at her with one sharp gold eye.

  “I’m sorry. We would bring you with us if we could.”

  The dog had already trotted off to sniff each and every corner in the pet sitter’s house. The bird, on the other hand, seemed to sense that something was up. It broke Ellie’s heart to see her clinging to the cage bars like a prisoner. Marlowe was being silent, but she could see the fear of the unfamiliar place in her eyes.

  “We’ll be back in no time at all,” she continued, wishing that the animals could understand her. If she could just explain to them that they were only going to be gone for a week, it might make it better.

  “They’ll be fine,” the pet sitter said. She was a young woman with bright red hair and an easy smile. Bunny had taken to her immediately at their first meeting, and even Marlowe seemed to accept her.

  “Thank you so much for watching them, Sierra,” Ellie said. “You’ll send updates every day?”

  “Yep. I’ll let you know how they’re doing every morning. I’ve got the vets’ numbers on the fridge, and the address for the emergency vet is already programmed into my phone. You’ve seen my yard—it’s completely fenced in. Even Bunny won’t be able to find a way to squeeze through. I’ll only be pet sitting one other animal during the time that you’re gone, and it’s a cat. We’ll be fine. Your job is to relax and enjoy yourself.”

  “I know you’ll take care of them, it’s just hard to leave.” She opened her mouth to call Bunny to her for one last cuddle, then thought better of it. The papillon had discovered a basket of dog toys and was happily digging through it. It was probably better if she didn’t draw too much attention to the fact that she was leaving. “I guess that’s everything. You have the emergency number, right?”

  “The sheriff’s number?” Sierra grinned. “I sure do. These will be the most well-protected pets in town. They’ll have their own mini-vacation while you’re away.”

  Ellie smiled, then turned away when she felt her lower lip quiver. The animals would be fine. She was going to come back for them in a week’s time. Why did she feel so guilty, like she was abandoning them?

  “I’m leaving now, for real this time,” she promised. “Goodbye, and thanks again. I’ll be back next Saturday. Have fun, you two!”

  Before she could hesitate any longer, she stepped out onto the porch and pulled the front door shut behind her. Her car was parked in the driveway, and Nonna was sitting in the passenger seat. The elderly woman smiled brightly as Ellie slid into the driver’s seat. An excited twinkle was in her eye.

  “Are we ready?” she asked.

  “That was the last stop before the airport,” Ellie said. “Florida, here we come.”