Meow and Forever Read online

  “Well,” Helena said, “she already knows gato-cat. She wanted to know what is horse in Spanish and dog. So we worked on animals today.

  "Niña,” Helena said to Lily, “tell Mommy and Grammy how you say horse in Spanish.”

  Lily looked at her, thought for a moment, and said, “Caballo. Dog is perro.”

  “Good job,” Savannah said.

  Helena replied, “She’s still learning how to roll her l’s and r’s.”

  When Savannah’s phone chimed, she looked at the screen and promptly declined the call.

  “Telemarketer?” Gladys asked.

  Savannah nodded. “Probably. I didn’t recognize the number.” Her phone rang again. She picked it up. “It’s Rob. I’d better take it. Hi, Rob,” she said, walking a distance away. “Are you calling to talk to your client? I think Rags is napping right now.”

  “Funny,” Rob said. “No, I was wondering if that guy called you.”

  “Who?” she asked.

  “He said he was interested in doing a story about you and your cat. I gave him your cell number. I hope that was okay.”

  “Oh, I wonder if that’s who just called. I didn’t accept the call because I didn’t recognize the number. Maybe he’ll call back. What’s the story for, do you know?” she asked.

  “Some prestigious newspaper back east. He said they do in-depth human-interest stories and he thought his readers would eat up a story about Rags.” More alarmed, he asked, “You say you hung up on him? Savannah, this could be some great publicity for the books, including the one you’re working on now. In fact, if you were to finish that book and launch it at the same time that article’s published, that would be dynamite timing.”

  “Oh. Well, I’ll answer next time he calls. Sorry about that. Hey, we’re having a little picnic in the gazebo, so if you don’t have any anything else to talk to me about, I’d better get back to it.”

  “Okay,” he said. “Ciao!”

  “Has Rob dreamed up another gig for you?” Gladys asked. Before Savannah could respond, she explained to Helena, “Savannah’s agent keeps her pretty busy traveling around with her cat books.”

  Savannah responded to her mother. “Yes, it’s sort of a gig. Someone wants to interview me.” She glanced up while scrolling on her phone screen. “I might have hung up on the guy. I want to see if he left a message.” She shook her head. “I guess not. Okay, let’s eat.”

  Gladys chuckled. “Sorry, we didn’t wait for you.”

  Savannah laughed and picked up half of a sandwich. “Perfectly okay.” She took a bite and let out a sigh.

  “Something not right?” Helena asked.

  “Interesting you should ask,” Savannah said. “I don’t know why, but yeah, I have a strange feeling about this.”

  “About being interviewed?” Gladys chuckled. “Oh Vannie, you always get nervous before interviews, book signings, and things like that.”

  Savannah thought for a moment. “Yes, I guess I do, but this is more than just feeling nervous. It’s…um, I kind of feel…” She shook her head. “Heck, I don’t know what it is—it’s sort of a heeby-jeeby feeling. Yeah, it’s different than my usual presentation stress.” When the other women stared at her, she waved a hand dismissively, and said, “Oh, I guess I’m just being silly. Maybe it’s the not knowing that has me feeling a little uneasy. Once I speak with the reporter, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  Chapter Two

  “Did you wipe your feet?” Savannah asked when Michael walked into the kitchen late that afternoon.

  “Yes. Don’t I always?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, “but I don’t always care as much as I do after we’ve done the spring cleaning.”

  “That’s right, you cleaned today.” He glanced around. “Doesn’t look any different.”

  She raised her voice dramatically. “How can you say that?”

  “Be glad,” Gladys said, from across the room. “If Michael doesn’t notice whether the house is clean or dirty, isn’t that a good thing?”

  “I guess so,” Savannah agreed. “Only I do like having our hard work appreciated, for heaven’s sake.”

  Michael grinned at her, then shouted, “Wow! The place sparkles. Look at that floor.” He skipped around the room and became more animated. “The walls are spotless. It’s beautiful. I love it, and the tabletop is cleaner than I’ve ever seen it.” He grabbed Savannah and spun her around. “Great job, hon. You’ve made my day. I dream of coming home to a spic and span clean house.” He pulled back and feigned tears. “It makes me so happy I can hardly stand it.”

  “Never mind, Mr. Drama,” Savannah said sarcastically. “A simple, ‘looks nice,’ will suffice.”

  He started to comment, then cocked his head and studied Gladys for a moment, asking, “Do you have a date or something? You look ravishing.”

  “Mom, you’re blushing,” Savannah said. She grinned impishly. “You’re right, Michael, she does have a date. With Karl.”

  “And his children,” Gladys added. “Better grab my jacket. He’ll be here any minute to fetch me.”

  “How gallant,” Savannah said.

  Gladys rolled her eyes. When she heard the doorbell she walked quickly to the door, turned, and called over her shoulder, “Don’t wait up for me.”

  Both Savannah and Michael chuckled. She said, “Mom’s so cute when she blushes.”

  “So where are my children?” Michael asked, washing his hands at the kitchen sink.

  “Playing with their puzzles.” She looked in the carrier Michael had placed on a chair. “Hi, sweetie,” she crooned, opening it and lifting Glori out. “How is she?”

  “Good. She got a thorough ear cleaning. You should have seen the stuff that came out of there. Diane…Doctor Butterfield thinks there are polyps or some other growth blocking her ear canals. She’s ninety-five percent certain that’s what’s interfering most with Glori’s hearing. One is almost totally blocked. There’s also a lot of inflammation, which we’re treating now. So we might notice improvement in her hearing even without surgery.”

  “You want her to have the surgery, don’t you?” Savannah asked, snuggling with the fluffy calico.

  “Yes, I believe we should. Diane can do it tomorrow. What do you think?”

  Savannah looked into the cat’s eyes. “What do you think, missy-girl? Do you want to hear us when we say nice things to you?” She hugged the cat and nodded. “Yes. I’d say we should do it for her.”

  When Lily realized that Michael was home, she ran to greet him. She glanced at the cat in Savannah’s arms. “Can Glori hear now?”

  “Not yet, but maybe soon,” Michael promised.

  When Rags sauntered into the room, Savannah lowered Glori to the floor. “Look who’s back,” she said, running one hand over Rags’s coat. “Your newest friend.” She laughed. “They seem happy to see each other.”

  Just then her phone chimed. She walked into the dining room where it was charging.

  Hmmm, I don’t recognize the number, she thought. She started to dismiss the call, then remembered what Rob had said about a reporter calling. She considered answering it, then decided to let it go to voicemail. I’m tired. I don’t feel like being interviewed or even talking to a reporter this evening. I’ll call him back, if he leaves a message.

  She waited for a few moments, then checked. Yes. There’s a message from a Sam Spade. What? Sam Spade? Is he for real?

  She listened to the message, shook her head in disbelief, and placed her phone back on the buffet. Before she could leave the room, her phone chimed again. She looked at the screen and accepted the call. “Hi, Iris.”

  “Hi. How’re you guys and all your human and fur babies?”

  “Good,” Savannah said. “And you?”

  “We have nothing to complain about,” Iris quipped.

  When Glori and Rags walked past her, Savannah said, “Hey, Iris, did you hear we adopted a new kitty?”

  “No,” Iris said. “When? Why?”


  “Why?” Savannah repeated. “That’s a strange question. We adopted one of the cats from that hoarding situation in San Francisco. They thought she was deaf so we were preparing to learn sign language…”

  “What?” Iris said. “Cats understand sign language?” “Actually, yes. Don’t you sometimes use hand gestures with your cats? We do.”

  Savannah continued, “As it turns out, we’re pretty sure Glori can hear a little bit, and the specialist thinks she’ll be much improved after surgery.”

  “Ohhh, surgery?” Iris complained. “That’s sad.”

  “No, it’s a happy occasion. So many of those cats have one or more afflictions—some much worse than others. Poor Glori probably had an ear infection, which was exacerbated by the fact that it wasn’t treated, and it turned into something even more serious.”

  “Exacerbated?” Iris questioned.

  “Aggravated, made worse,” Savannah explained, “but thankfully this is a problem that may be fixable. We’re really happy about that. She’s a sweet, sweet girl.”

  “Like Buffy?” “A lot like Buffy. Yeah, you’ll love this one,” Savannah said. “She has long, silky fur, and she adores a warm lap.”

  “Sounds like I’ll love her, all right,” Iris agreed. “Hey, I’ve been trying to get out and exercise now that the weather’s nice.”

  “Good for you,” Savannah complimented, “but what’s the weather have to do with it? You can work out indoors you know, on an exercise bike or rowing machine. You can walk in the mall or go to a gym.”

  “I’m not a gym person,” Iris complained, “and I like the fresh air. I was wondering if you’d like to walk with me one day. Do you have time? It would give us a chance to catch up with each other.”

  “I like that idea,” Savannah said. “I do enjoy walking, and I always like spending time with you. Hey, you and Craig are coming to Teddy’s birthday party, aren’t you?”

  “We wouldn’t miss it. Of course we’ll be there!”

  “So where are you walking?” Savannah asked. “There’s a great trail not too far from the inn,” Iris said. “It runs almost alongside it.”

  “Oh, I think I’ve ridden on that one,” Savannah said.

  “Probably. I see horses out there sometimes.”

  “Hey, do you want to ride instead of walk?” Savannah asked.

  Iris hesitated. “No, I don’t think so. I love Peaches and Gypsy, but I think I’m more comfortable on my own feet, not looking down from ten feet above the ground.”

  “Ten feet?”

  “Well, yeah,” Iris said, “when you measure the horse and half my body. That’s about ten feet, right?”

  “I guess it is,” Savannah agreed, “if it’s a long-legged horse. Okay. Sure, I’ll walk with you. When do you want to go?”

  “Tomorrow? Oh, you’ll probably be busy getting things ready for Teddy’s party.”

  “I have a pretty good start on the planning,” Savannah said. “It’s just cake and ice cream and a few silly games. Tomorrow would be good. Lily has preschool and I thought I’d take Teddy to Barbara’s daycare for a change in scenery and playmates. What time? Does nine work for you? I can come by after I drop off the kids.” Before Iris could respond, she added, “We’ll have to be back before noon. I pick them up at noon and I want to spend an hour or two on my book while they nap.”

  “Gads, you’re busy,” Iris said. “Frankly, I don’t know how you do it all.” She chuckled. “It could have something to do with your age. You’re still a youngster with a full supply of energy. I’ve already dispensed a lot of my energy over the years. You have twenty more years of energy than I do.”

  Savannah laughed. “So that’s how it works, does it? You have it all figured out?”

  “Hey, I need some excuse for not being able to keep up with you,” Iris carped.

  “You do okay,” Savannah said. “You’re always on the run—managing the inn, working with clients on their decorating projects, taking care of your detective husband, and being the grandmother of the year for Rosemary. I don’t know how you have time for me.”

  “I make time just like you do. Friends are as important to me as I know they are to you.”

  “True,” Savannah agreed. “So shall I meet you at the inn around nine?”

  “Yes,” Iris said. More quietly she added, “I’ll be interested in seeing if you get the…um…vibe.”

  “The what?” Savannah asked. “What vibe?”

  “Along the trail. Oh, I think I’ll just wait and see if you sense it,” Iris said. “It gets me every time, and I don’t know whether to freak out or...”

  “What?” Savannah shrieked. “Iris, I do not need any vibes or other weird surprises. No. Stop it.”

  “Okay,” Iris said, with a long sigh. “Sorry. It’s nothing, really. Forget that I said anything.”

  “Yeah, right. Okay, see you tomorrow.” Before releasing her phone, Savannah listened to the voicemail the previous caller had left. She took a deep breath and headed back to the kitchen to join her family.

  “Everything okay?” Michael asked when he saw Savannah standing at the sink staring into space.

  She tilted her head. “Yeah, I guess so. I’m going to walk with Iris in the morning. That was her on the phone.”

  “Aunt Ris-Ris?” Lily asked. “Aunt Ris-Ris is going for a walk with you?”

  Savannah nodded.

  “And me?” Lily asked.

  “You’re going to school tomorrow,” Savannah reminded her.

  “Oh yeah,” Lily said. “School!”

  Savannah smiled when Lily returned to her coloring book, then said to Michael. “Before that, the guy Rob told me about—the one who wants to do an interview with me—well, he called and left a message. I was just thinking his voice sounded familiar, and…”

  “What guy?” he asked.

  “Oh, well, Rob wants me to do an interview with someone from an Eastern newspaper.” She faced him. “I don’t like him, Michael.”

  “By his voice?” he asked.

  “Yes. I don’t think I’ll return his call. There’s something about him that makes me kind of uncomfortable.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what it is, but I think I’ll decline his invitation for an interview.”

  “Rob won’t like that, will he?” Michael asked. “He takes his job as Rags’s agent pretty seriously.”

  She winced. “Well, I’ll think about it, but I’m sure not feeling good about that guy—not good at all.”

  ****

  “Good morning, all my bright and shiny girls and boys,” Michael greeted the following day. “How is everyone this glorious day?”

  “It’s Glori’s day?” Lily asked.

  “Yes, punkin,” he said, chuckling. “It actually is Glori’s day.”

  “And Rags’s day and Buffy’s day, and Lexie’s day, Daddy?”

  “Sure, why not?” Michael agreed.

  “It’s always pet day around here, isn’t it, honeybun?” Savannah said.

  “When are you two going to start using that child’s given name?” Gladys insisted. “You gave her a beautiful name—Lilliana Grace—and you never use it.”

  “Yes, we do,” Michael challenged impishly. “I say, ‘Lily, go to your room.’ ‘Lily, put away your toys.’ ‘Lily, don’t tease the dog.’”

  Gladys rolled her eyes.

  Michael thought while he poured his coffee and orange juice and finally said, “I guess we do use pet names a lot with her.”

  “And not so much with Teddy,” Gladys observed.

  “I wonder why,” Savannah said.

  “Habit,” Michael suggested. He grinned and tickled Lily’s tummy. “And because you’re such a cute little punkin.”

  Savannah giggled. “And an adorable honeybun.”

  Gladys shook her head. “When they ask her name in kindergarten she’ll say, ‘My name’s Honeybun…’ like that Honey-Boo-Boo character on TV. Or ‘I’m Punkin,’ like a cat.” She huffed. “Those are cat and
dog names.”

  Michael laughed, then asked Savannah, “Hon, did your mother meet curfew last night, or will we have to ground her?” “I was home by midnight,” Gladys affirmed.

  Savannah smiled. “How was your evening with Karl’s family?”

  “Lovely. Just lovely,” Gladys swooned.

  “So tell us about it.” Savannah rubbed her hands together excitedly. “Details, details.”

  “There’s nothing much to tell. Karl’s daughter is a grammar-school teacher. His son-in-law is a wonderful chef, although that isn’t his profession. It should be, but he works in the financial field as an investment counselor or something like that. Oh my, was the meal ever scrumptious and so elegantly served. Cary actually took me aside and showed me secrets to making a good flambé. Jilly, that’s Karl’s daughter, is running for a spot on the city council in their town in Arizona. She has some rather forward-thinking platforms and to hear her vocalize them, well, I’d vote for her in a heartbeat. Cary and Jilly have two sweet children, very polite, and boy do they love their Grandpa Karl. I felt as though I was with my own family, it was so comfortable and nice.”

  “That’s wonderful, Mom. There’s nothing worse than grown children who get in the way of their parents’ happiness when they want to start dating after losing a spouse.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard horror stories. It certainly was a nice breaking of the ice for me, and, I think it was for Karl, although I’m not sure what he expected. Yes, it was just delightful.”

  Savannah smiled at her mother and patted her hand. “So what’s next, Mom?”

  “Huh?” Gladys asked.

  “What’s the next step?”

  “Savannah,” Michael warned.

  “No next step,” Gladys assured her. “We’re just two old fuddy-duddies enjoying each other’s company for as long as it makes sense to.”

  No one spoke for several moments as they ate their breakfast. Finally Savannah asked, “So Glori’s getting her surgery today? Will they keep her overnight?”

  Michael nodded. “At least one night—maybe two. It depends. Glori seems to be healthy and strong, but sometimes you just don’t know what you’re getting into until you start a surgery.” He took a swig of orange juice. “Diane—Doctor Butterfield—is quite sure the cat can hear a little through her right ear. But she’s concerned this makes her off balance. You know how she doesn’t seem real confident about jumping up on things.”