Миранда Джеймс - No Cats Allowed

On impulse I reopened the laptop. I searched for the articles I’d found earlier, copied and pasted their links into an e-mail message to Penny Sisson, and sent them to her with a brief message to check them out. I felt a bit like a tattletale, but I didn’t want Oscar back in the library. He had to be stopped somehow.

Azalea walked into the kitchen while I was pouring more tea for myself.

“I’m going to the grocery store.” Azalea headed into the utility room, where she kept her purse. When she returned, purse over her arm, she said, “Anything special you want? I’m going to make spaghetti and meatballs for your dinner tonight.”

“Can’t think of anything special,” I said. Diesel meowed loudly.

Azalea looked down at him. “I know you’re always wanting something special, Mr. Cat. And when did I ever forget to buy your food?” She shook her head. “You spoil that cat rotten, Mr. Charlie.”

Diesel meowed again, and I saw Azalea’s lips twitch. She pretended most of the time not to be amused by his attempts at conversation, but I knew that secretly she got a kick out of him. I had overheard her chatting to him numerous times when she didn’t realize I was nearby. She spoiled him every bit as much as I did. I was wise enough not to point that out, however.

“Well, you know, Azalea, that’s what cats are for.” I laughed. “And at least he tells you thank you , don’t you, boy?”

Diesel warbled, and this time Azalea smiled. She shook her head. “Ain’t got time to be standing here talking to a cat. I’ll be back in about an hour.”

Diesel followed her to the back door, and for a moment I thought he planned to go out with her. He sat and watched the door close, though, and stared at it for a moment. He then got up and padded back to me. I rubbed his head, and he purred.

After all the unrest at the library because of Oscar Reilly, I was grateful to be in my quiet home with my devoted feline friend. Now that I was a couple of years past the half-century mark, I appreciated all this even more. I had two wonderful children, a grandchild on the way thanks to my daughter and son-in-law, and a loving partner in Helen Louise.

Don’t get maudlin , I told myself mock-seriously. Time you were up and doing something else .

But what? I didn’t have any matter that needed my immediate attention. The problem of Oscar Reilly seemed to be on its way to a solution, I figured. Diesel and I should be able to go back to the archive tomorrow without interference or unpleasantness. Things could settle back into their nice, predictable routine.

I decided I might as well finish the book I was reading, Sharon Kay Penman’s Lionheart , about Richard I of England. I loved richly detailed historical fiction, and no one did it better than Penman. Immersing myself in the twelfth century for an hour or two would be a good tonic for the upsets of the past couple of days.

“Let’s go upstairs and read,” I said to Diesel. He chirped in response. He understood what I meant, and while I read, he would nap on the bed beside me. And if I dozed off, too, well, that would be fine. I would have a late night with Helen Louise probably, and a little snooze now wouldn’t hurt.

When my cell phone rang about half an hour later, I was deep in the twelfth century, and it took me a moment to emerge. I picked up the phone, noted that Sean was the caller, and answered.

“Hey, Dad,” he said. “Hope you’re not too busy at the moment. I need you to come over to the office for a little while.”

There was an odd note in his voice, and I couldn’t tell whether he was worried about something, or simply nervous.

“No, I’m reading, but I can get back to the book later.” I sat up on the side of the bed. “What’s going on? Everything okay?”

“Yes, everything’s fine,” he said. “Don’t worry. But I need to talk to you, and I can’t get away from the office right this minute.”

“I’ll be on my way in a few.” Before I could continue, he ended the call.

I set the phone down on the bedside table and turned to look at my sleepy cat. “Sean is being mysterious,” I told him. “He’s up to something, but I have no idea what. We’re going to his office, boy, so wake up.”

Diesel yawned and stretched while I put on my shoes. I went in the bathroom to brush my hair and freshen up, and a few minutes later we were in the car on the way to downtown Athena.

The law offices of Pendergrast and Harris occupied one floor of a Civil War–era building on the square. I found a parking place in front, and as I was getting Diesel out of the backseat, I noticed a familiar car a couple of spaces away.

“Looks like Laura is here, too, boy,” I said. Diesel perked up at the mention of her name. He adored Laura, and she him. I wondered how my boy was going to react, however, when the grandchild arrived. He would have competition for Laura’s attention.

We stepped out of the elevator on the second floor, and the office manager, Laquita Henderson, greeted Diesel and me with her usual perky smile. “Hey, there, Mr. Harris. Diesel, you’re handsome as ever.”

Diesel happily let the attractive young woman scratch his head, and he warbled for her.

“What’s all this about?” I asked. “Sean wouldn’t tell me anything.”

Laquita laughed. “Can’t say a word, or I’d be in trouble. Y’all go on into Sean’s office, and he’ll tell you.”

“Okay,” I said, feeling suddenly anxious. “Come on, Diesel.”

Sean’s office lay a few yards down the corridor and faced the square. His door was open, and Diesel and I walked in. There was no sign of Laura, however.

“Hello, Son,” I said. “What’s all this mystery?”

Sean looked up from his desk, and his expression was enigmatic. “Close the door, Dad, if you don’t mind, and then have a seat.”

While I complied with his request, he came around from behind his desk and perched on a corner near the chair I chose. He patted Diesel for a moment, then he faced me squarely.

“Alexandra and I are getting married this morning.” The words tumbled out. “We found out yesterday she’s having a baby, and we decided we should get married right away.”

TWELVE

I stared blankly at my son. Two words kept echoing in my brain— baby and married .

“I know you would have preferred that we were married before there was any sign of a baby.” Sean wore a defensive expression I had seen often during his teenage years when he had to admit to behavior or an action he knew I wouldn’t condone. Not that it happened all that often, because he had been a mostly well-behaved teenager.

I was rather old-fashioned in that way. I would have liked them to be married before they contemplated having a child, but there was no point in repining over it now.

I was going to have another grandchild, not to mention a smart, capable, and beautiful daughter-in-law. That was all that really mattered.

“Congratulations, Son.” I stood and smiled at him. “I’m very happy for you and Alexandra. And Laura and Frank’s baby will have a cousin to grow up with.”

Diesel trilled and chirped in response to the excitement he felt coming from me. Sean’s face broke into a broad grin, and he hugged me tight. “Thanks, Dad,” he said, his voice husky.

I thought of his mother and how happy she would be over the news of another grandchild. For a moment my eyes misted over. How I wished she were here to share in the excitement.

Sean released me, and we smiled at each other. I started to ask when the baby was due but decided that could wait. At the moment it would hardly be tactful to inquire.

“I have a favor to ask,” Sean said. “Will you be my best man?”