Mrs. Murphy put a paw on Harrys hand.
Jesus, the traffic, Fair commented as they drove down the Short Pump exit, turning right on Route 250.
Within minutes, they pulled into Trader Joes parking lot.
Want to come in or you want me to do it? Harry asked.
Ill keep the animals company. As she closed the door, he fiddled with the radio to get NPR.
Fair, a dedicated NPR listener, soaked up everything. He liked Terry Gross in particular. Harry, on the other hand, was bored stiff. She wanted her country-and-western music, which she used to disdain. If they got into an argumentwhich was infrequentit was over who would control the radio. They settled it by the driver having the choice. If they didnt change positions for relief after three hours, the passenger handled the dial.
Pewter called out from her burrow in the blanket,
Are we there yet?
What do you want, Pewts? Fair called back.
Out of this car. I want to play,
she responded.
Ignore her. She probably has to go potty,
Tucker teased.
If I did, Id poop on you,
came the discourteous retort.
Were at Trader Joes.
Mrs. Murphy stood on the passenger seat to face backward.
Thats a fancy food store. Good stuff. Ive heard Harry talk about it.
Food! Why didnt you tell me?
Pewter leapt into the front seat to stand next to Mrs. Murphy.
Both cats, paws on the dash, faced forward.
See?
Mrs. Murphy noted all the people emerging from the store, bags overflowing with edible treasures.
I hope she remembers,
the gray cat said wistfully.
Youre getting a little heiferous,
Tucker called from the back, staying snuggled in the blanket.
You need a kitty diet, not more food.
Harry came out of the store with two full shopping bags.
Cross your claws.
Pewter was the soul of animation when Harry opened the door.
Mom! Anything for me?
A muffled moan emanated from the back.
Dont start, Tucker. Ill scratch your eyes out.
Kitty babies. Treats. Harry moved both cats to the center console for a moment to take her seat after putting both bags on the backseat. Shed bought more than she intended.
She carried a small container in the shape of a cat. The top of the head and ears were yellow plastic.
Me!
Pewter yowled.
Harry popped a treat in Pewters open mouth, glad her fingers werent chomped.
Mrs. Murphy, ever the lady, waited.
Here. Harry gave her one of the multicolored treats.
This is good.
The tiger savored the flavor.
More!
Thats enough, Pewter. More when we get to Inezs.
How far?
The gray cat was insistent.
I could go into a coma from hunger.
Enough, Harry said. Tucker, theres a rawhide chew for you later.
Good.
Fair was still fiddling with the radio knob when Harry appeared. Shall I assume that both those bags arent full of honey?
You may. She leaned back in the comfortable seat. Saw you hit the off button. NPR fix again?
Cant hide anything from you, can I?
Sure you can, but you have to get up early in the morning to do it.
He backed out. They headed west on Route 250. A half hour later, they turned down Inezs driveway. What should have been a fifteen-minute drive had taken twice as long, thanks to relentless traffic. The crushed pea rock crunched under the tires.
Looks like her weather has been the same as ours, Harry said.
Tucker saw puddles of water in low spots.
Yeah, it does,
Mrs. Murphy agreed.
As both Harry and Fair were Virginians, there was no need to discuss that they lived in the Piedmont while Inez lived at the edge of the Tidewater, an expanse of plain with a slight roll to the land as one moved west. Technically, the Tidewater ended at the fall linethe waterfalls all up and down the state. The weather was hotter here than in Crozet; springs arrived earlier, winters later. Sometimes the rains pounding on the Blue Ridge never made it this far east.
The years Fair spent here were some of the happiest times of his life. He was actually practicing medicine, and the little guesthouse in
which he lived was perfect for a bachelor. Harry, whom he had known since high school, would visit. He dated some Richmond girls, West End types, some of whom could be high maintenance. Inez was the one who told him he should have his head examined if he didnt marry that good-looking country girl from back home.
He did. Years later, after he became restless in his marriage and had an affair, he and Harry separated. Inez tore him a new one. The divorce upset her terribly, but she loved Fair and endured what she called his searching time. He learned, grew, worked hard to win back Harry, and did. He knew he was lucky to have had Inezs honesty and love throughout it all.
Now Fair knocked on the door of the simple taupe-colored clapboard house, the shutters a brighter green than the Charleston green Harry liked. Each shutter had a cutout of a trotting horse. The door matched the shutters and had a large pineapple brass knocker in the center.
Come in, Inez called when Erno barked, announcing company.
Harry, who had been rummaging in the food bags, pulled out the honeys. The two cats and dog shot out onto the gravel the minute the hatchback was raised.
Dont you go on the lawn. Its sodden. Youll make a mess of her rugs.
Too late: Tucker had already relieved herself on the lawn.
Fair opened the door and made his way down the short, wide hall to the living room on the right.
He embraced Inez, who had stood up. Hows my best girl?
Perfect now that youre here. She gave him a big kiss just as Pewter scuttled across the floor.
Inezs vizsla, ever attentive, remarked,
Fattys come to pay a call.
Hungarian asshole.
Pewter, how you talk.
Tucker came in and immediately touched noses with Erno.
Mrs. Murphy entered at a stately walk, Harry closing the door behind her against the bitter cold. Four honeys, two in each hand, didnt prevent her from kissing her hostess on the cheek.
For you. She presented the prizes.
Orange-blossom honey from Florida. Lovely. Whats this? Inez took a perfectly round glass bottle with a flattish bottom. Italian. Chestnut honey. Ive never had that. Look how amber the color is. Lavender honey from France, my second favorite, and, of course, good old clover honey. How can anyone live without honey? Thank you.
Ill put them in the kitchen for you. Well, actually, Ill take them back out to the car and put them in the shopping bags, Harry offered.
Later. Ive made us a light lunch. Come on, Fair. Wont take but a minute, and I know you can eat.
Now, Inez, you shouldnt be making lunch for us.
Fair, Id rather wear out than rust out. She had a lilt in her voice.
Light lunch? Harry exclaimed as a poached salmon was removed from the oven.
What we need on a cold day.
Harry put out the plates as Inez sliced the fish. The escaping aroma of hollandaise made her hungry. An endive salad and new potatoes with parsley completed the meal.
Fair fed the animals, putting chewies next to the dogs dishes. He knew where everything was in this house. Better to have their noses in food bowls than have them bedeviling you for food while you ate.