Анна Керн - Deadly Diamond

“Yes,” Maggie answered, “After we hear all about Jonathan Steele. Bernice gave me the background. What’s he really like in person?”

“He has a casual look about him, curly brown hair, cut on the longish side and cocoa-brown eyes, flecked with gold. He’s even better-looking in person than he was on TV, and has an abundance of charm. You were right, Bernice, his store is wonderful.” She turned to Maggie, “It’s the perfect place to find that one final decorative item for a design.”

“I’ll be so glad when we can shop for that final item for our current client, Mrs. Snob,” said Maggie glumly.

Alyx laughed. “She’s really gotten to you too, hasn’t she?”

“Yes, and I’m ready for a break,” Maggie said, as they walked back to the workroom. “I asked George if he wanted to get away for a few days once this project is wrapped up.”

“Any place special?”

“We’re thinking about taking his boat to the Keys.”

“It sounds wonderful.”

“You don’t mind, then?”

“Not as long as you’re back for Althea’s estate sale. Seriously, Maggie, go and enjoy yourself; you deserve it.”

“I’ll let you know when we’re leaving and returning as soon as George tells me.”

Alyx headed towards the workroom, hesitated, and turned back. “Maggie, we don’t pry into each other’s business unless invited, so I won’t ask you. Nevertheless, I sense that something is going on with you and George; whenever you’re ready to talk, I’m ready to listen.”

Maggie nodded. “I made some fresh vanilla-flavored coffee. Come and join me for a cup, and you can tell me about your ideas for this place.”

Alyx pulled a small notebook from her briefcase and flipped it open while Maggie poured the coffee––the aroma irresistible to even a non-coffee drinking cat. Mugs in hand, each women found a place to sit, moving fabrics and magazines aside.

“Okay, this is what I’m thinking,” said Alyx. “We already have everything in the store that a customer needs. It’s a warm, friendly environment that we could make even more inviting by adding instrumental background music and maybe set up a refreshment bar with coffee and tea. Does it sound good, so far?”

“As nice as it sounds, I don’t see how it gets us back to our roots,” replied Maggie.

“Hold on, I’m not finished yet,” said Alyx. “I’m thinking of providing our customers a distinctive shopping experience. You’ve heard Bernice say she’d like to get into decorating, so when a customer comes in with a decorating project in mind, the design staff, the new designer and Bernice, will help the customer choose the right items. Those with projects that need special attention can schedule an in-store appointment or a home visit with you or me. In addition, we can keep a record of their colors, fabrics, and measurements for future decorating projects. You and I can take on projects as we see fit.

Maggie scooted to the edge of her chair, “Yeah, and we could sell artwork from local artists, and it doesn’t have to be limited to paintings it could be pottery or other artwork for the home.”

“So, you like my ideas?” asked Alyx.

“Alyx, I love your ideas. It’s the best of all worlds, isn’t it? Let’s get started as soon as I get back. I’ll be glad to put an ad in the paper and do all the interviews.”

“Let’s talk to Bernice about it. Of course, we’ll have to give her a raise for her new duties. Are you okay with that?”

Maggie hesitated before answering. “I gather you’ve checked with our accountant to make sure we can handle another employee and a raise?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

Alyx bit her lower lip, “Well, I sort of didn’t get that far. You sounded like you could use some cheering up, so I thought you’d feel better if I told you what I was thinking.”

Maggie’s disappointment was only evident in her voice.

“Now that you got me all excited…I hope we can do it.”

“I’ll let you know for sure when you get back from the Keys. There’s one more idea I’d like to run by you. Since I have my cats in the store, I think it’s only fair that our customers should be allowed to bring their pets shopping, if they want to.” She saw the skeptical look on Maggie’s face and hastened to add, “People don’t usually bring misbehaved pets with them, and they’ll be required to be on a leash. What harm can they cause?”

Maggie’s eyebrows shot up, “Step outside, and look around you, Alyx. Are you kidding or have you lost your mind?”

“What if we limit it to cats?”

“We can’t limit it to cats only; we’ll upset customers who have dogs,” Maggie argued.

In the end, still not convinced it was a good idea, Maggie agreed to try it, but I could tell she was envisioning cat and dogfights, and broken accessories.

So the new “pets welcome” policy was initiated, and just as Maggie had predicted, mayhem broke out a few days later. I was making my rounds of the store and stumbled into the path of a black Main Coon cat several pounds heavier than I was. The cat was surprised to see me and panicked. The commotion attracted customers who stood around watching the Main Coon jumping, leaping and spinning his human around.

There were other incidents that occurred, but the dog relieving himself on a chair leg was the episode that ended “let’s allow customers to shop with their pets experiment.” Hooray!

“There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast”

––Unknown

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: A Cat is a Cat

The morning was busy and time passed quickly. Before I knew it, Maggie asked Alyx if she was ready for lunch.

“It’s only eleven-thirty, but I didn’t have any breakfast, and I’m hungry. Is it too early for you?”

“No, it’s fine. I was upstairs moving some furniture around, choosing what to have George repair or recycle. I guess the work made me hungry.”

“Good. Here’s your purse. Let’s go.”

Alyx laughed. “You’re not joking about being hungry, are you?”

As they walked by the display window, Maggie glanced at Misty sitting tall next to the candelabrum where she’d been all morning, scrutinizing each passerby, with a puzzled look flitting across her face.

“Misty hasn’t moved from that spot since I came in this morning,” said Maggie. “And Murfy is at the door trying to get his leash off the hook. Cats don’t do that; dogs do that.”

Alyx shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know what to tell you, Maggie.”

I knew what to tell her if I could talk. It’s so unfair––dogs aren’t the only intelligent house pets. Some cats are just as clever; we just don’t let on that we are, thereby, we get away with doing more things we shouldn’t. My efforts paid off, and Alyx grabbed my leash and off we went.

The Beachside Café was busy as usual. The restaurant had a pleasant ambiance with exposed brick walls and a planked wood floor. The counter was a rich, dark mahogany with a brass foot railing. A booth opened up and Alyx said, “It’s so busy in here; maybe it’s better if we get something to go. I don’t feel comfortable sitting down for lunch with Murfy. There are a lot of tourists in town, and we’re getting some funny looks.”

They ordered their favorite and mine––shrimp salad on cheddar bread. Novie, the owner of the Café, brought the food out when it was ready.

“Isn’t it nice to see all these tourists back in town?”

“I know what you mean,” said Alyx. “After that last hurricane, everybody wondered if we’d ever see tourists again, and that one didn’t even hit us. It seems to me that it doesn’t really matter where they make landfall, we’re affected by any hurricane that even comes close to Florida.”