Kelly, Sofie - Sleight of Paw

My face was flushed and I was sweating. “Parking lots and back alleys,” I said. I took a sip of my hot chocolate as we moved over to let the next players by. It was cold.

Maggie looked skeptical. “Seriously?”

“Seriously,” I said. “You know my parents did a lot of summer stock. I hung out with the backstage crew when there weren’t any kids to hang out with.” I detoured sideways into the canteen line. “They played a lot of street hockey.”

“I owe you another one of those,” Marcus said, gesturing at my cup.

“No, you don’t.”

Behind him Mags was glaring at me. We were already in the line and I wasn’t going to gain anything by arguing with him, so all I did was smile. “Thanks,” I said.

When we got to the head of the line, he bought one hot chocolate for me and a second for himself, after offering Maggie one, too. She held up her empty cup and declined.

Marcus lifted his drink in a toast to me. “You owe me a rematch.” Then he smiled at us and said, “Have a good night.” And disappeared into the crowd.

Maggie was watching me, hands behind her back. “You’re not going to tell me I should’ve let him win, are you?” I said. She wrinkled her nose at me. “No. That was great.”

“So are you going to give me the gosh-you’re-so-cute-as-a-couple speech?”

She shook her head as we started walking. “No. I give up.”

“Good,” I said, taking a drink from my cup. The hot chocolate was steaming.

“You did look good, though, the two of you chasing that little ball.”

“Mags,” I said. “You’d have better luck getting Roma and Eddie—the real Eddie—together.”

She laughed. “I don’t think so. I’m already in trouble for getting Roma and the fake Eddie together.”

We walked around for a while, mostly people watching. The line was long at the maze and Maggie didn’t mention trying it again.

“Ready to go?” she asked after another half hour.

“Yeah,” I said. “My fingers are getting numb.” We walked back to the car, and Maggie drove me up the hill.

The motion-sensor lights came on as I walked around the house. I could see Hercules sitting on the bench in the porch, watching for me out the window. He waited while I pulled off my gloves and boots. Then I swept him up into a hug, kissing the top of his furry head where the white of his nose met the black fur on his forehead.

“You are so good to come home to,” I said. Hercules started squirming, and I set him down. “I know. No mushy stuff.”

He shot me a look and took a few washing passes at his face with his paw. “Hey, do I wash off all your kisses?” I said.

I unlocked the door and shed my coat and the rest of my things. There was no sign of Owen in the kitchen. I held my finger to my lips and pointed at the living room, slowly making my way to the doorway. Hercules padded silently beside me. I’d left one lamp glowing on the table by the window.

I peeked around the door, hoping to catch Owen napping on the footstool. No luck.

He meowed hello from where he sat beside the chair. Hercules walked around me, making muttering noises in his throat. I went over to Owen, sat on the footstool and lifted him into my lap. “I know what you’re up to,” I said as I stroked his soft fur. He was the picture of wide-eyed innocence. “I will catch you,” I said sternly. “And when I do, no kitty treats for a week.”

His response was to put a paw on my shoulder and lick my cheek. Then he jumped down and walked away. Basically I’d just been given the kiss-off by a cat.

I got up and headed to the kitchen. Hercules and Owen might be very independent, but with a piece of toast and peanut butter, they were putty in my hands.

12

I’d been up maybe fifteen minutes in the morning when the phone rang. There’s something about a phone ringing early or late that gives me a jolt.

It was Rebecca. “Morning, Kathleen. I hope it’s not too early to call. I saw your light on.”

“It’s not too early,” I said, relieved that it was Rebecca and she sounded just fine.

“Wonderful,” she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. “Everett and I were hoping you’d join us for breakfast, if you don’t have the plans or you haven’t eaten already.”

I looked around the room. Hercules was dozing in a square of sunshine by the door. Owen’s head was under the bed. “I don’t have any plans. When would you like me?”

“How about now?”

“I’ll be there as soon as I get my things on and walk around.” There was too much snow to cut through the backyard into Rebecca’s yard.

“Just walk up to the Justasons’,” Rebecca instructed. “Their boys made a path between our two streets.”

“All right,” I said. “See you soon.”

I hung up, looked down at the faded blue sweater I was wearing and decided I needed to change into something a little more presentable—not that Rebecca or Everett would care.

I pulled down my favorite black turtleneck from the closet shelf. Hercules looked up. “I’m going over to Rebecca’s,” I said.

He laid his head back on his paws. Owen had come out from under the bed at the sound of Rebecca’s name. He stood in front of me and meowed.

“No,” I said, fluffing my hair back into place. “You have to stay here.”

That got me another loud meow. I glared at him. Hercules opened one eye for a moment to look at us.

Owen followed me down the stairs. He headed straight for the closet where my messenger bag was hanging, sat down and stared at the door as though he could will it open.

“Give it up,” I said. “You’re not coming.”

He didn’t even come into the kitchen until I had my things on and my keys in my hand. He walked slowly, tail drooping. Owen was good at guilt trips.

“Look,” I said, feeling slightly silly because I was trying to coax a cat into a better mood. “I know you miss seeing Rebecca, but you can’t come. How would I explain showing up with you?”

I crouched down. “I’ll invite her over. I promise.” He twisted his head away when I tried to pet him. “And I’ll tell her you miss her.” Grudgingly he turned his head back and let me scratch the top. “I have to go,” I said, getting to my feet. “I’ll be back soon.”

I locked the door, pulled on my mittens and headed for the street. I’m crazy, I decided. I’ve been living alone too long. Then I remembered Agatha’s empty house, and talking to Owen and Hercules didn’t seem quite so bad. There were worse things than being the crazy cat lady.

I walked up to the Justasons’ house, two above mine. There was the path next to their driveway. It was only the width of a snow scoop, but that was enough. I was on Rebecca’s street in less than a minute.

Everett let me in the back door. He looked different in a gray sweater, and, surprisingly, jeans. “Hello, Kathleen. Come in,” he said.

Rebecca was at the stove, peeking at something in the oven. She smiled. “I hope you’re hungry.”

“For your cooking? Always,” I said.

Everett took my coat and ushered me into the dining area off the kitchen. The sun was beaming through the windows. “Coffee?” he asked.

“Please.”

He gestured to a chair, reached for the coffeepot and poured me a cup.

I added milk and sugar to the blue stoneware mug.

Rebecca came out of the kitchen, carrying a pink glass bowl full of chopped fruit. She set it in the middle of the table.

“How can I help?” Everett asked.

She smiled at him. “Talk to Kathleen,” she said, bustling back into the kitchen.

He watched her go, the look on his face making it clear he was crazy about her. Everett had been in love with Rebecca when they were very young and all the time they spent apart hadn’t changed his feelings. He turned his attention to me.