9Topper rang the doorbell and got no answer. She knocked several times, but that went unnoticed as well. Alfred was either not home or ignoring her. If it was the latter, he was in for a surprise. She was not going to let one bad date take out a friendship that had endured her entire lifetime.
Topper went to a nearby flower pot and retrieved the key from under it. She could have used magic to open the door, but that would have been an intrusion. Friends used keys, and that’s what she did today, letting herself inside without a shred of guilt.
“Alfred?” she called, walking back through the house. She heard a scrambling sound, then watched the back door slam. “Alfred—wait! We need to talk. There’s something important I need to tell you.”
She rushed down the back steps after him, lifted he
