Клэр Донелли - Catch As Cat Can

“At least you’re here now,” Helena said. “We’ll get you home, into a shower, and then to bed.”

They engaged in small talk as Sunny headed for the interstate.

“I took my national paralegal certification exam,” Abby reported. “Managed to pull a ninety—now I have a credential I can use all over the country.”

“Would that help with the people who interviewed you in August?” Helena asked.

“Well, it makes me a better candidate if I try again,” Abby said.

Conversation petered out as they headed north. In fact, Sunny suspected that Abby had dozed off before they had gotten to the bridge.

She drove carefully—it would be a heck of a thing to put a ding in the Buick after Mrs. M. had made such a point of how much safer it was having Sunny behind the wheel.

Traffic lightened up as they proceeded through downtown Kittery Harbor and headed for the northern suburbs of town. Sunny smoothly pulled the Buick into the driveway of the Martinson place.

Abby blinked awake, glancing around in confusion for a moment until she saw her mother.

“We’re home, honey,” Helena said. “Let’s get you in for a nice, quiet night.”

Even as she spoke, they could hear Toby’s joyous welcoming barks coming through the windows of the house and car.

Mrs. M. sighed. “After we get you introduced to Toby.”

Sunny went to get the bag from the trunk as Helena and Abby exited the car. She brought the carry-on to the front door as Mrs. Martinson opened the lock and ushered Abby inside. Helena paused for a moment as she took the piece of luggage. “I know your father thought we might get together tonight, but I think Abby is a little too tired. Maybe tomorrow? I’ll give him a call when we’ve sorted ourselves out in the morning.”

“Sure. Get some rest yourself.” Sunny called a good night to Abby, getting a sleepy reply, and turned to head home.

As she walked the couple of blocks to Wild Goose Drive, the wind seemed to swerve around, sending a frigid blast right into her face.

Welcome home, Abby, Sunny thought, ducking her head and wishing she could find a hat that could cover her mop of curls.

Was this the homecoming Abby expected? Sunny wondered. She seemed really surprised that her mom had me driving. But maybe that’s a good thing—a wake-up call. I always thought that Dad would go on going on until the heart attack showed me otherwise. Better that Abby gets a line on how her mom is doing while Helena is still well.

Then Sunny remembered Abby asking her mother if she wouldn’t be better off getting away from Maine winters and moving someplace like California.

Don’t know how Dad would like that, she thought.

Sunny arrived home to find her father and Shadow both ensconced in the living room, watching TV. At least Mike was watching. Shadow lay flopped in an odd pose on a chair cushion, half asleep. Sunny came in with a sandwich, putting down a glass of seltzer to tickle Shadow’s paw. “You and Abby both, pal.”

Shadow twisted around to get his feet under him, eyes wide as he watched Sunny take a bite of turkey and cheese. She ran a hand through his thick fur. “Mrs. M. apologizes, but Abby was pretty much knocked out with her cross-country marathon.”

Mike nodded. “Should have figured that. I had the same thing you’re eating, with a little soup. I could reheat some, if you like.”

Sunny shook her head. “Helena says she’ll call tomorrow after they get sorted out.”

“So how is Abby doing?” Mike asked.

“Besides being dead on her feet? I don’t know. As gorgeous as ever. I have to admit, there was a part of me that hoped she’d put on thirty pounds and would have a secretarial spread. But I don’t know if that applies to paralegals.”

Mike pulled himself a little straighter on the couch cushions. “She was such a beautiful girl. I don’t know why she didn’t do better in Hollywood.”

“It’s hard to throw a rock in Hollywood without hitting a beautiful girl,” Sunny told him. “It’s a case of talent and luck against a whole lot of competition. Fact is, I had a better chance of making the New York Times than she had of becoming a movie star.” She tried to pass it off with a laugh, but there was some truth in what she said. She’d managed to land a job in the cutthroat New York journalism market, even if it was with the New York Standard and not the more prestigious Times .

Still, she thought, if I’d caught a couple of breaks, a few big stories with my byline on them . . .

Shadow ducked his head so she could scratch him between the ears, and Sunny obliged him, silently laughing at herself. I wonder if Abby has the same sort of daydreams.

She scooped Shadow up in her arms and sat in the chair, giving him a good petting and letting the TV fare just wash over her. The cat seemed no worse for wear after his adventure earlier in the day.

“I’ll just have to keep a more careful eye out, so you can’t go off mooching fishy handouts,” she told Shadow.

“Don’t know why he bothers,” Mike grumbled from the couch. “He gets enough handouts around here.”

Sunny stuck with the television until she saw the weather forecast on the late news—what a great surprise. It was going to be cold and windy tomorrow, too. Then she deposited Shadow on the floor, said good night to her father, and headed upstairs to her bedroom.

Shadow followed her, taking big leaps up the stairs.

“I thought you’d be tired after wandering around downtown today,” Sunny told him. “But no, you look full of energy.”

After a quick detour to the bathroom to wash her face, Sunny arrived in her room to find Shadow sitting at the foot of the bed, waiting for her to turn down the blanket and quilt. “Just wait a second,” she said, changing into a pair of flannel pajamas. It was a little chilly upstairs, but that was the way she liked it. She got under the covers, Shadow wiggling in beside her to bundle in nice and tight. He even gave her hand a little lick as she settled her arms around him.

“Yeah, yeah,” she gave him a drowsy chuckle. “I know you’re going to sneak off to patrol the house as soon as you think I’ve dropped off.”

She didn’t feel him leave, though. She was soon fast asleep.

*

The next morning,Sunny rose, showered and dressed on her own, coming downstairs to find Shadow sitting expectantly beside his feed and water bowls.

“Bottomless pit,” Mike said from his station in front of the stove, stirring a pot of oatmeal. Sunny set out some fresh food for the cat and then got herself a cup of coffee. “So what’s the specialty of the house today?” she asked.

“I tossed a handful of dried cranberries in the pot before the water boiled,” Mike said, “and sprinkled in some cinnamon when the oats went in. When it’s done, I’ve got some applesauce and walnut pieces waiting to go on top.” He cocked an eye at her. “If the food police approve.”

“Sounds good to me,” Sunny told him. Holiday feasting had been fun, but she was glad it was in the rear-view mirror. “Nice and healthy.”

She put a little milk in her coffee. “How do you think Mrs. M. would deal with the food police?”

“You thinking of making her life miserable as well as mine?” Mike took the question in good humor. “Helena thinks her coffee cake is one of the major food groups.”

“I wasn’t thinking of me,” Sunny said. “But what about Abby?”

“Why would she—?” Mike broke off, groping for words.

I think you’re trying to find a polite way of saying “go poking her nose in her mother’s business,” Sunny thought.