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Jacobses’ lease on my co-op begins September first. They wanted to paint and paper before they moved in. Lisa Jacobs’s baby is due in November,” he explained. “I thought I should give them a little time.”
    “Well, aren’t you just the nicest man?” Doris Kirk said. “But where will you sleep, Mr. Blair?”
    “I brought my sleeping bag,” he said with a boyish grin. “I can eat supper out, and if you’ll point me to the nearest market I’ll get some stuff in for the morning.”
    Doris Kirk laughed. “I’ll tell you what, Mr. Blair. You go shopping for your groceries, and I will make out the lease while you’re gone. I’ll need a month in advance, and a month for security. Your rent will be due the first of every month. Now, if you’ll follow me, I’ll get you to our IGA. There’s a large chain at the mall, but that’s a bit of a drive today. The IGA is perfectly fine, and most of Egret Pointe shops there unless they need something very special. Come back to my office when you’re finished.”
    He followed her back outside to where their cars were parked, and she led him quickly to the town’s local market. Tim parked the Ford beneath a large maple tree in the center of the parking lot. He cracked the windows generously for Rowdy, and filled his water bowl on the backseat from a bottle of water he had been sipping from on the drive out from the city. Then he went into the market and did his shopping. Milk, orange juice, half-and-half, a box of Newman’s Own Honey Nut-O’s, rye bread, some dry and some moist dog food. He stopped at the deli counter for the honey-maple ham/swiss combination, some cole slaw, and potato salad. He considered a six-pack of beer, but picked up one of Dr Pepper instead. No need starting gossip.
    At the register, the girl checked him out efficiently. “Are you visiting?” she asked him, curious, assuming he was a summer person.
    “I’m Tim Blair, the new Middle School principal,” he answered.
    “ Oh! ” the checker said, looking him over more closely. “My son is going into Middle School next month. Nice to meet you, Mr. Blair.”
    “Who is the owner of the old brown car?” A woman had stepped into the market. She was a tall redhead who looked like a retired supermodel. “There is a dog locked in that car, and he’s howling, poor thing,” the woman continued.
    “That would be my car, and my dog,” Tim said.
    “This is Mr. Blair, the new Middle School principal, Miss Kathy,” the checker said.
    “I hope you will treat your students better than that poor dog of yours,” Kathryn St. John said. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself, sir!”
    “The car is under a large tree. The windows are open, and Rowdy has water,” Tim defended himself. “I have been in the market ten minutes. What more did you expect me to do, madam? It was the car, or an empty house with which Rowdy was not familiar. I chose the car.” Damned woman, he thought irritably.
    “Then why is the poor creature howling?” she angrily demanded to know. She hated thoughtlessness toward animals.
    “It’s his first time in Egret Pointe, and as I’m not settled yet I thought it better to keep him with me. But dogs are not allowed in markets, ma’am. Rowdy is just a little scared without me. I’m going out to my old brown car now, and you are welcome to come along and check him out. Are you a veterinarian?”
    “Well, Kathryn St. John, I can assure you that Rowdy is spoiled rotten, well fed, loved, and has all his shots,” Tim told her, his blue eyes meeting her hazel green ones. Lordy, she was really a beauty. Was that hair color natural? It had to be, given her pale cream-colored skin.
    “My last name is pronounced Sin Gin, Mr. Blair,” Kathryn said. What an arrogant man he was. And that boyish engaging grin was probably used to great advantage. Well, she wasn’t about to be taken in by blue eyes and a winning smile.
    “I shall remember that in future, ma’am. Now if you’ll