Read The House on Hancock Hill for Free Online Page A

woozy from those pain meds they gave me at the hospital.”
    “I’ll go fill your prescription once you’re settled.”
    “Mac… Henry.” He grinned, and I didn’t understand how I could’ve missed it was him now that I knew. “I’ve imposed on you for long enough.”
    “There weren’t any surgeries planned for the rest of the day, so Susannah, she’s the vet I work with, should be fine without me for a while. And you don’t have a car. Are you even allowed to drive with those ribs?”
    Henry laughed when I made a face. “No, but seriously—” I snapped my mouth shut when Henry dipped his chin to catch my gaze.
    “We were close friends for a long time, Jason. It’s good to spend time with you again. This isn’t any trouble, so stop apologizing.”
    “Okay.” I huffed a deep breath that hurt my chest. “Okay. You’ll have to tell me what your favorite cupcakes are, though.”
    Henry blinked at me, face blank. “You’re gonna buy me cupcakes?”
    “No, I’m gonna make them.” When he kept looking at me with this frown of incomprehension, I clarified. “I own a bakery. Well, two soon, but—”
    “You’re a pastry chef ?” Henry asked, and I really didn’t see why that was so funny he had to laugh all the way to Mrs. Mitchell’s porch.
    He knocked on the door, and while we waited, I said, “Hey, is Johnny still around?” Henry cut me a quick glance before looking away again.
    “Yeah, he’s around.”
    “You guys fall out or something?” Man, it was cold. Unpleasant shivers started to creep up my spine again.
    When Henry looked at me, he was smiling, but it was with effort. “Something like that.”
    Before I could ask him anything else, the door opened. A tiny old lady peered through the gap allowed by a safety chain. “Ah, Henry.” She shut the door, slid off the chain, and opened it again. “And, oh my word! Jason Wood, the last time you were in this house, you were wearing diapers.”
    “Um,” I said, gratefully crossing the threshold when she waved us in. I didn’t remember this woman or this house at all.
    “Yes, I used to babysit you every so often when your mom was… out.”
    “It’s lovely to see you, Mrs. Mitchell,” Henry intervened quickly. “How’s Buttons?”
    “Oh, he’s all right,” Mrs. Mitchell said to Henry but her keen eyes were on me. “His fur is matting again. I can’t brush him as well as I used to anymore.”
    “I can give him a once-over while I’m here,” Henry said, “but would you mind if I took Jason upstairs first?”
    “Oh, of course.” She turned to open a drawer in a small hallway chest adorned with more doilies than I’d ever seen in one place, and she straightened with a key in her hand. “Dreadful business, that accident of yours, Jason. I heard all about it on the radio.” Henry shrugged apologetically at my appalled expression. “I turned on the heat as soon as I knew you were coming, but it might still be a bit chilly. No one’s been up there all winter. I’ve got a few extra blankets you can borrow just in case.”
    “Thanks, Mrs. Mitchell,” I said, and she beamed at me.
    “You turned into such a handsome young man. Didn’t he, Henry?” Her eyes twinkled underneath her white eyebrows.
    “Uh,” Henry mumbled, eyeing my banged-up face. “Sure.” Mrs. Mitchell said nothing else. She pressed the key into my hand and led Henry to her linen closet farther down the hall while I waited by the door, soaking the mat with melting snow.
    “Take all you need including towels, all right?”
    “We will.” Henry grabbed three fleece throws and a couple of towels. “I’ll be down soon to check on Buttons.”
    “You take your time, love. Sorry, Doctor McCavanaugh.” She winked at me.
    We braved the cold once more to hurry down the porch and to the side of the house where a set of stairs led to a door above the separate garage. It looked like Mrs. Mitchell had swept most of the snow off the steps, and I inwardly saluted