Clearly my cat was beginning to rub off on her, because otherwise such a refined purebred like Grizabella never would have uttered“hunka-burning kitty love.”
Anyway, no time to puzzle over that. I still had a to-do list a million miles long. So I stuffed the two new arrivals into the bedroom, reminding Christine not to admit the two sphynx cats under any circumstances, then ran back downstairs to my post. I’d done my best to stagger everyone’s arrivals, but some flights had been delayed whereas others seemed to be arriving early. Definitely not helpful.
Another knock at the door revealed the return of the balloon vendor.“I’m all set back there.”
“Great, thanks.” I offered him a kindly smile and then shut the door.
He knocked again.
“Yes?” I demanded, perhaps a bit hurried but not unkind.
He took off his hat and wrung it in his hands.“It’s just that you said you’d write me a check once setup was complete, and I’d like to avoid another trip out if I can.”
“Oh, right, yes, yes. Give me five minutes, and I’ll be right back with your payment.” I shut the door again and jogged up the stairs toward my office where I kept my checkbook locked in the top drawer of my desk. You can never be too careful, after all.
Christine intercepted me in the hallway.“Angie, do you have any clean towels? I’d love to grab a quick rinse. Wash that plane stink off me, you know?”
“Yes, of course. How are the cats getting on?” I turned on heel to face her, which set me slightly off balance. Luckily, the wall was there to help steady me.
Christine laughed and rolled her eyes as she followed me toward the linen closet.“They haven’t stopped grooming each other for even a second. I’m worried they won’t be able to breathe!”
I chuckled, happy for them but also happy that I didn’t have to watch their over-the-top display of affection. “Here are two towels and a washcloth. Bathroom’s fourth door on the right. Need anything else while you have me?”
“A bottle of water?” Christine squeaked as if asking for this small allowance made her nervous.
I bobbed my head enthusiastically.“Yes, yes, be right back.”
“You can just show me where it is. I’m happy to grab it myself. I know you’re busy.”
“Nonsense, you’re my guest. I’ll just run down and get you a couple bottles from the pantry and leave them in your room for when you’re done with your shower, okay?”
I chugged down the stairs again, my breathing becoming labored as I ran up and down and all around this place. On my return trip up the stairs, my cell phone jangled in my pocket.
I fumbled the water bottles in my rush to answer.“How’s my bride to be?” Charles crooned in that lovey-dovey voice of his that has a way of making my knees go week.
“Better now that I’m talking to you,” I gushed right back, ignoring the feline lovers as I set the water bottles on the nightstand for Christine and then closed the door firmly behind me once again.
He sighed, and I couldn’t tell whether it was swoony or sleepy. His words cleared that right up for me, however. “You sound a bit out of breath. I wish you’d let me come over and help with all these last-minute preparations.”
He was right. I was exhausted to the max, but I refused to waste even a second, knowing that everything I was doing now would help form the perfect lifelong memory for the both of us.
Still, I could take a few minutes out of my busy schedule to chat with my fianc?. Couldn’t I?
I clomped up the stairs to my tower bedroom, hoping I could get some privacy there.“You know how traditional your parents are. They’re not even arriving until tomorrow morning, because they don’t want to risk seeing me before the big reveal. Your mother would lose her mind if she knew you got a sneak peek.”
“She doesn’t have to know,” he teased, and I could just picture the mischievous smile stretching across his face.
“Ah, ah, ah,” I warned playfully. “Mama Longfellow was very clear. We’re not allowed to see each other for a full week before the wedding. That’s the only way we can ensure a happy marriage. Don’t you want a happy marriage, Charles?”
“I want my Angie,” he said with a long-winded sigh. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too. I love y—”
My phone began to beep, cutting me off.“Shoot. I’m getting another call. I have to go. Love you!”
“Hello?” a muffled voice rose from the other end of the line. It was vaguely familiar, but not one I could immediately place. “Angie?”
“Yes, hi. What’s up?” I asked casually as my nerves once again began to fray.
“This is Reverend Stonehill. I’m so sorry to do this last minute, but I have an out-of-state family emergency, and well…”
I sucked in a deep breath, knowing what was coming next.“I’m not going to be able to officiate at your wedding tomorrow.”
I held back tears and bobbed my head, using the repetitive motion to comfort me in this moment of despair. Reverend Stonehill was a man of God, and I knew he wouldn’t lie to me. I also knew he wouldn’t cancel without a really good reason. Whatever he had going on must have been infinitely more important and more time-sensitive than my ceremony.
“I understand,” I said, working hard to keep my voice from shaking, my tears from falling. “Thank you for letting me know.” After a brief pause, I decided to add, “I will pray that your emergency works itself out soon.” It seemed like the right thing to say, given the situation and the person I was talking to.
We said a quick goodbye, and then I fell back on my bed, letting the tears fall in waves. Soon I’d need to put on a happy face and help my next visitor get settled in, but before that happened, I just needed to let it all out. I tried to picture my tears as a poison being purged from my body so it couldn’t hurt me anymore. But not even that helped.
Just one more day, I reminded myself yet again.
One more day to forever. Now it was like a meditative chant.
Instead ofom, om,I kept telling myselfone, one.
Just one more day to go, then my happily ever after would begin…
5
A soft scratching at my door pulled me from my woeful funk.“Paisley?” I called as I pushed myself to my feet and padded over to the door. I knew for a fact Octo-Cat was shut in his room, so it had to be our other furry roommate. I hadn’t seen Paisley much that day, but her special brand of optimistic enthusiasm was just what I needed to start feelingbetter so I could get back to work.
But no, Nan’s sweet little dog must have gone with her on errands, because Paisley wasn’t the one waiting outside my door. It wasn’t Octo-Cat, either. My actual visitors were far, far worse.
“I don’t like it when she assumes we are a flea-ridden dog!” Jilliane said by way of hello. I was just about to defend Paisley’s good, flee-free name when Jacques chimed in with, “I don’t like when she closes doors and impedes our access. This is supposed to be our house now.”
I bit back a sigh. Step or not, these sphynxes were my cat kids now. I had to make an effort to improve our relationship, no matter how much their complaints grated on me.
So I clasped my hands together and forced a smile.“Jacques and Jillianne, what can I do for you?”
“I don’t like being bored,” Jacques said with a groan.
“I don’t like being cold,” his sister added, and on they went with their litany of complaints.
“I don’t like being hungry.”
“I don’t like how this place smells.”
“I don’t like how—”
“Okay, enough! Whatdo you even actually like? Can we focus on that for a second please? I’m happy to help you, but you need to be a bit more specific—and also a bit nicer to me, please. We’re family now, got it?”
The two cats sat in unified silence, staring up at me with large unblinking eyes. I stared right back, unsure exactly what game we were playing but also knowing I couldn’t afford to lose.