Chapter Nine
A few days after the shoplifting incident, Gretel padded out in her panda slippers from the guest room she inhabited at the Noonans’. They’d gone to great lengths to make it as comfy as possible for her—they’d acquired a queen-size bed, bought her an electric heater, and even added an extra router so she could get Wi-Fi in her room.
Earl was back from the North Slope, which meant that she didn’t have to get up early and help Eli get off to school. When Earl was here, she was able to work more shifts at the Wicked Brew and do things like practice her snowshoeing.
She could drink coffee made by someone else for once. Which she enjoyed to the max, especially when Earl splurged on the high-end coffee beans he loved.
After pouring herself a mug, she petted Groovy for a while, t
