Claws for a Cause (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 15) (6 page)

Savannah nodded.

“Oh, are you married?” he asked rather flatly.

Placing Lily on the floor with a toy from her tote bag, she said, “Well, yes.”

“Plan to get divorced anytime soon?” he asked, sounding hopeful.

“Harrison,” Colbi warned.

“Well, it can’t hurt to ask,” he said in his defense. “Savannah-Anna’s the hottest chick I’ve seen in this one-horse town, yet.”

“No, Harrison,” Savannah said, rather impatiently, “I’m not planning to get divorced anytime soon, or ever.”

He slumped a little. “Well, let me know if you change your mind.” With a wink, he disappeared again into the kitchen and soon walked out carrying a travel mug and the cinnamon roll. Before reaching the front door, he stopped and gazed at Savannah, muttering, “Married, huh? Just my luck.” He then called out to Colbi, “See you later, Sis.”

Colbi nodded and the two women watched as Harrison sauntered out the door.

“I still can’t believe you two know each other,” Colbi said.

Savannah shook her head. “I still can’t believe he’s your brother and that he’s here in Hammond.” She stared at the front door. “Gads, he’s pretty.”

“Pretty?” Colbi said, laughing a little.

“Oh, you know,” she said, waving her hand in front of her face, “good looking. Great-looking guy.” She shook her head. “But not as hot as my husband.” Savannah looked at Colbi.

“So you thought he was out of town?”

“Yeah, got home in the middle of the night, I guess. I don’t know where he goes and I don’t ask.” She then said, “Hey, how about some coffee, tea, lemonade?”

“Is there any coffee left?” Savannah asked. “He had an awfully big mug there.”

Colbi nodded. “I made a full pot this morning. Black, right?”

“Yes,” Savannah said, pulling more toys out of the bag and engaging Lily with some of them. Picking up a vase of roses from the coffee table and placing it on the mantle, she called out to Colbi, “Did someone bring you flowers?”

“Yes,” she said, returning to the living room with two cups of coffee. “Damon brought those last night.”

“They’re beautiful.” She took a sip of the coffee and looked at Colbi. “Any special occasion? I mean, it’s not your birthday. Are they make-up flowers?”

“Kinda-sorta,” Colbi said. “He’s been rather cranky since Harrison arrived. I’m not sure if he’s jealous or worried.” When Savannah didn’t speak, she added, “He’s in courting mode, you know.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, he’s decided we should get married.”

“Yeah, you told me that last time I saw you. I think it’s wonderful,” she said, lifting Lily onto her lap. When she saw Colbi frown, she asked, “You’re still saying no?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Savannah. I just don’t know.” Suddenly, she jumped. “Look out,” she called, as a blur of cat fur appeared from the staircase and tore through the living room and into the dining area where Rags stopped and Dolly jumped over the top of him. Dolly then stood on her haunches and batted playfully at the much larger cat trying to entice a reaction. Instead, Rags laid down, stretched out, and rolled over.

“Can’t keep up with her anymore, huh, Ragsie?” Savannah said.

Just then, Rags leaped up and took off into the kitchen with Dolly on his tail. Within seconds, Dolly appeared at high speed and rushed up the stairs with Rags chasing after her. Both women laughed.

“Ki-ki,” Lily chirped, pointing. “Ki-ki.”

“Yes, there go those kitties,” Savannah said, kissing the toddler as she squirmed to get down. When the baby headed for the stairs, Savannah went after her. “No-no, little one. No stairs for you. Come play with your toys. Want to color?”

“She colors?” Colbi asked.

“Yes, we went out to dinner the other night when my mom arrived and Lily was particularly antsy, so Michael found her a crayon and some paper and showed her how to color. She loved it. She sat quietly doing artwork until her dinner came.”

“Wow, she seems awfully young to be interested in art.”

“Yes, watch this,” Savannah said, placing a coloring book on the floor and handing Lily a crayon.

“Incredible,” Colbi said, watching Lily move the crayon across the page with concentrated deliberation. “She really gets into her art, doesn’t she?” She chuckled. “She has such a serious look on her little face.” She pulled out her cell phone and snapped a few pictures. “That’s so cute.”

Savannah smiled down at her daughter, then looked at Colbi. “So tell me more about this marriage thing—why won’t you say yes? You said you love Damon.”

Colbi nodded. “Yes. And maybe that’s why I’m holding back.”

“What? That doesn’t make sense.”

“I don’t want to enter into something as committed as a marriage until…”

“Until what? Do you have wild oats to sow?”

Colbi shook her head.

“Do you have a deep, dark secret?” Savannah asked playfully.

“No.”

“Are you commitment-phobic?”

“What?”

“You know, afraid of commitment.”

“No. It’s just that…well, it’s Harrison. Damon and I are not on the same page about him at all. And I can’t see us getting married when we disagree so strongly on such an important issue.”

Savannah cocked her head. “I guess I don’t understand.” She put up her hand. “But, hey, it’s your decision and none of my business. So don’t feel you have to explain yourself to me. That’s between you and Damon.”

“It’s not that, Savannah. You’re my best friend in the whole world and I have no secrets from you.” She looked sheepish. “Well, I guess I did kinda keep Harrison a secret, didn’t I?” She looked at Savannah. “But so did you. You kept your relationship with my brother a secret, too.”

“Yeah, Colbi,” Savannah said, furrowing her brow, “but my relationship with him was fleeting and has been over for years. He’s
your
blood, girlfriend…your brother.”

“A brother I denied for many years. Anyway, you’re right. I did keep him a secret—even from Damon. But not on purpose. Like I said, he hasn’t been a part of my life or my thoughts for a long time. I never expected to see him again, so saw no reason to mention him.” She looked at Savannah. “Damon feels betrayed. And now he’s not happy that I’ve taken Harrison in before he has proven that he’s changed. I can’t marry Damon with such a large unresolved issue between us. Know what I mean?”

“I guess,” Savannah said, hesitantly.

“Yes, I want to marry Damon and have his children—the whole schmear. But I feel an obligation to help Harrison get on his feet before I involve Damon in this whole mess.”

“Mess? I thought you said he’s doing okay—he’s changed his ways.”

Colbi cringed. She took a deep breath. “Well, I don’t think we’ll know that for sure until we see Harrison standing on his own two feet. He’s either been homeless—living on the streets—or in jail these past several years. Now he’s sponging off me. He has no job and no prospects. He disappears for days at a time. I’m not all that naïve. I’m pretty sure his old ties aren’t completely severed.” She grimaced. “I don’t think he’s getting into trouble, but he still isn’t taking responsibility. I want him to be self-sufficient before I move on with my life. Does that make sense?”

Savannah handed Lily her sippy cup as she responded. “Kiddo, if it makes sense to you, that’s all that matters. It’s your life.”

Colbi peered at Savannah suspiciously. “Cop-out…that was a cop-out, girlfriend.” She laughed. “I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t want to get involved in this either, if it wasn’t my problem.” She thought for a moment. “Savannah, I feel an obligation to Harrison and to my parents.”

Savannah thinned her lips. “I was going to say, it sounds like you’re dealing with a child—sort of taking on the parenting role with him.”

“Yeah, I realize that.”

“It’s something you really need to tackle, isn’t it?” Savannah said.

Colbi nodded.

“Then I can’t say it’s wrong.”

“However…?” Colbi prompted.

Savannah squinted her eyes. “What?”

“I sense that you have more to say.”

“Well, I’d just say to you…”

Colbi cocked her head. “Yes? I really do want your input…please.”

“Just don’t make Harrison your life’s work. That’s all. Leave room for Colbi. You owe that to the memory of your parents, too. Maybe give your brother a deadline, or give yourself a deadline. If your efforts haven’t made a difference for Harrison by a certain time—if he isn’t standing on his own two feet by then—I’d say you’ve done your best and you should think about cutting the ties—at least those ties that bind you emotionally. I mean, you want a relationship with your brother, but a healthy one, right? You can’t make yourself responsible for him for the rest of his life. What kind of relationship is that?”

Colbi stared across the room at her guest for a moment and Savannah took the opportunity to add, her voice hushed, “Don’t let your sense of obligation for Harrison ruin your chances for a healthy relationship with Damon.”

Colbi thought about what Savannah had said. “Yes. What I want is my brother back. I want to be his sister, not—as you heard him call me—his warden. Healthy? Yes, that’s what I’m aiming for—a healthy relationship with Harrison and with Damon.” She hesitated before saying, “That’s a good idea. I don’t know how long these things take or even what I’m doing, other than offering family support and a little tough love. But that’s a good idea to have a deadline of sorts.”

“That’s the least you can do for Damon, for yourself, and for your future.” Savannah stood and reached into her pocket. “Oh, before I forget, here’s our house key. Margaret and Max will be gone overnight Wednesday for that conference, if you don’t mind checking on the animals and feeding them Wednesday night and Thursday morning.”

“Not at all. It’s my pleasure.”

“There’ll be a note with instructions on the kitchen counter. Peaches is boarding with Bonnie this week, so you won’t have to worry about her. It’s just the three cats and the dog.” “Got it. Wednesday night and Thursday morning. I’ll be there.”

Suddenly the women looked up into the stairwell. “What in the world are those cats doing,” Savannah asked, “tearing your house apart?”

Colbi shook her head. “I don’t know. They’re sure making a lot of noise. I’d better go check.” Just as she started to head up the stairs, a streak of fur raced past her. “I think Rags has something, Savannah,” she said, pointing.

Savannah stood. “Oh no, Rags, what have you been into?” She bolted toward the cat, who had plopped on the floor in the dining area, a strange-looking glob lying next to him. “It looks like regurgitated plant life,” she said as she approached the cat. Before she reached him, however, he grabbed the item and ran into the kitchen then out again, with Savannah trotting after him. “Give me that, Rags. Come here.”

Colbi, in the meantime, moved toward him from the other direction. “Here, kitty, kitty,” she coaxed.

This time when Rags dropped the clump, he sauntered away from it.

“No,” Colbi said, when she saw Dolly walk cautiously toward the object. She moved closer and both women leaned over to examine it. Disgustedly, Colbi asked, “Is that what I think it is?” She faced Savannah. “I think this is marijuana.”

Savannah continued to study the wad. “Could be, I guess.”

“Dammit. He knows that’s a rule of living here. No drugs. I wonder where Rags found this,” she said, picking it up and swiftly heading for the stairs.

Savannah reached for Lily, who was leaning over and staring at Dolly.

“Ki-ki bath,” Lily said.

“Bath?” Savannah repeated. “You think the kitty should have a bath? Is she dirty?”

“Ki-ki bath,” Lily repeated, pointing as Savannah walked away with the baby.

Suddenly, Savannah said, “Oh yes, she looks like the kitty you saw having a bath at Auntie’s house last month, doesn’t she? Boy, do you have a good memory.”

“Auntie?” Lily repeated. “Auntie ‘bye-bye,” she said, leaning in her mother’s arms toward the front door.

Savannah laughed. “You want to go ‘bye-bye and see Auntie?” When she noticed Colbi disappear into the first room at the top of the stairs, she headed in that direction with the toddler, who struggled to get down. “Want to walk?” she asked, lowering Lily to the floor and helping her walk up the steps slowly, one at a time. When Savannah entered the room, she found Colbi squatting just inside the open closet door.

“Look at this, Savannah.” She stood and began pacing. “Isn’t that just…oooh, I’m so angry right now…”

“What is it?” Savannah asked, walking with Lily toward the closet. That’s when she noticed a jar lying open on the floor, a couple more wads of the stuff spilled out next to it.

“I guess he forgot to tighten the lid and the cats sniffed it out,” Colbi said, still pacing. She stopped and gestured toward the closet floor. “I found another jar in one of his boots.” Dropping her arms to her side, she said, “What is he thinking? You don’t leave pot out in the open where a cat can find it.”

“You don’t?” Savannah asked.

“Yeah, some cats are attracted to it—they go for it like they would catnip or grass.” When she saw Savannah staring curiously at her, she explained, “I wrote an article on cats and herbs a while back.” She grimaced. “Well, this is just…he makes me so mad. What am I going to do now?” she asked, storming out of the room and racing down the stairs. When the two women and the baby had reached the lower level, Colbi giggled. “He sure doesn’t know much about cats, does he? Shoes are a dumb place to hide something when there are cats in the house.”

Savannah joined her in laughter. “Isn’t that the truth? How many times has Dolly hidden her toys in your shoes?”

“Only about twice a week—especially when she was a kitten. I’ve found toy mice, balls, even marbles in my shoes.”

“Marbles?” Savannah frowned. “How…?”

“Oh, Damon brought in a little mesh bag with a few marbles in it once as a joke and I found it in my sandal the next day.”

“Your boyfriend gives you strange gifts,” Savannah said, chuckling.

“Yeah, I guess he does.” Colbi ran her hand down Rags’s back and to the tip of his tail. She let out a long sigh and spoke to the cat. “Leave it to you to find what I really don’t want to find.” She glanced up at Savannah. “I don’t know whether to thank him or scold him.”