“No pets are allowed on the property,” was her only reply. She didn’t even bother looking at the poor needy creature.
I refused to give up. Surely this woman had an ounce of kindness somewhere in her cranky soul.“She’s not a pet. We just found her outside, and she’s very hungry. Could we please have that milk, if you don’t mind?”
“I do mind.The historical society is just looking for any reason to remove me as caretaker, and the last thing I need is guest complaints about little black hairs in their dinners. Now shoo!” Madame Blue used her small body to force us back toward the doorway, waving a wire whisk at us to really get her point across.
“Well, that didn’t go great,” I said, letting out a breath of frustration.
“I’ll run into town and grab some supplies. Do you want to stay here with Charlene?” my husband offered helpfully once we were out of earshot of the kitchen.
“She said no pets allowed on the premises,” I reminded him with a pout, but he was undeterred.
“Well, good thing Charlene isn’t a pet.” He reached out to rub his knuckles over her head again, and this time the kitten leaned into him. “She’s just a friend we’re helping out. Probably best you keep her hidden though.”
“Thank you.” I leaned in to hug him. “Will you be able to make it there and back by dinner, though?”
He checked the time on his phone and frowned.“Probably not. You go down without me. I’ll feed Charlene once I’m back with the supplies, then I’ll come down and join you. I’ll grab some snacks while I’m out too, just in case Madame Blue’s cooking is terrible.”
“Right?” I smirked at his sneaky jibe. “I thought the special ingredient in Southern cooking was supposed to be love. She definitely missed that memo.”
“It will be fine,” he assured me, stroking the kitten lovingly while I held her. “If our host is still being horrible by the time we find Charlene’s mother, we can book the rest of the week somewhere else, okay?”
I smiled at that. I loved how little he let these kinds of setbacks bother him.“Okay,” I agreed with a huge smile. “Now give me a kiss goodbye before you go.”
My husband happily obliged this request.“Now get upstairs quick,” he urged, pushing me toward the narrow staircase. “Before that crotchety old lady comes back out to yell at you again.”
Well, I didn’t need to be told twice. I jogged up the stairs, taking extra care not to jostle my precious cargo as I went. Once inside our room, I locked the door behind me and set Charlene on the plush bedspread.
“This should be a more comfortable place to nap for now. Do you want me to stay here with you, or go outside to see if I can find your mommy?”
Charlene glanced around the room with a shiver.“I don’t want to be alone. Will you stay?”
“Of course I’ll stay.” I smiled at the sleepy baby as she explored the large bed and finally curled up on one of the pillows with her tail tucked tight around her body.
“Will you tell me a story?” she asked, a bit more upbeat now that she’d gotten comfortable. “Mommy always told me stories before I go to sleep.”
“Sure, uh…” I racked my brain for a story that a young feline might enjoy. “Oh, I’ve got it! Once upon a time there was a very spoiled cat named Octavius.”
Charlene stretched her paws before her.“Is this a true story?”
I bobbed my head enthusiastically.“Yes, it’s very true. It’s about my very best friend in the whole world. He’s waiting back home while Charles and I are on our honeymoon.”
“What’s a honeymoon?” she asked, tilting her head to one side.
“It’s like a special vacation two people take after they get married.”
“I don’t know a lot of the words you use, but I like the sound of your voice,” Charlene said with a twitch of her whiskers.
I chuckled softly.“Should I keep going with the story? I can try to use easier words.”
“No, I like hearing the new words. They make me smarter, right?”
“Definitely.”
“So use all the biggest words you know, and I promise not to interrupt again.”
“Okay, here goes…” I paused to make sure she was ready and listening.
Charlene’s wide, unblinking eyes focused on me. Time to shine.
“Once there was an incredibly pampered feline by the name of Octavius,” I continued, using a dramatic old-time voice. “Octavius believed himself to be the most exquisite cat who ever lived and often told others of his greatness. For the longest time, nobody understood his not-so-humble boasts, but one day, thanks to a shoddy coffee maker, he met a human woman who did understand…”
I let my voice fade away when I noticed that Charlene had already fallen fast asleep. I sat and watched her for a little while, debating the urge to go search the gardens for her mother while I had a bit of free time. But by then, it was fast approaching eight o’clock, and even though I didn’t look forward to any more interactions with the unfriendly caretaking duo, I couldn’t deny the way my stomach grumbled upon smelling the delicious blend of savory scents that wafted up the stairs from the kitchen.
Charles would be back soon to leave a saucer of milk and some soft food for our little visitor, which meant she wouldn’t be alone for long—and she’d wake to a nice meal waiting for her.
Now it was time to see about a nice meal to fill my own belly. I just hoped the food would be worth the uncomfortable conversation that would surely be accompanying it.
5
I wandered into the dining room five minutes before eight, not wanting to risk upsetting Blue or Billy by being late. I was the first to arrive in the gorgeous dining room that came equipped with a mahogany table to seat at least twelve situated beneath a stunning crystal chandelier.
Charles and I had only checked in a few hours prior but hadn’t happened upon any other guests during that time, leaving me to wonder if we were the only ones here besides the staff. I couldn’t decide whether that would be a good thing or a bad one. Other guests meant that the rude caretakers would be less fixated on us, but it also meant more people whomight intrude upon moments Charles and I preferred to keep private.
That concern was cut short, however, when a young woman with rainbow-dyed hair and a smattering of freckles sat down across from me.“You weren’t here last night,” she noted with an indifferent expression.
I smiled and sat up straighter in my seat.“My husband and I just came in this afternoon. We’re on our honeymoon.”
She eyed the empty chair beside me and shrugged.“If you say so.”
“No, really. He ran into town to get some supplies, but he’ll be here soon.” I forced another smile, all the while wondering why I cared what this stranger thought of me or my marriage.
She grabbed an apple from the fruit platter in the center of the table and spun it in her hands.“You don’t have to prove anything to me. I had a fight with my boyfriend and decided to stay here until he comes back to his senses. Name’s Blaire, if that matters to you.”
“Angie,” I answered with an awkward wiggle of my fingers. “Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever.” Blaire brought the apple close to her face and stared at it for a few moments before returning it to the platter.
An elderly couple shuffled into the dining room just seconds before the grandfather clock in the hallway chimed eight.
“Good evening!” the man crowed, pulling out a chair for his partner. They were both dressed in khaki shorts and Hawaiian shirts, very obvious tourists. Probably retirees too.
“Isn’t it a beautiful evening?” the woman asked Blaire, who simply shrugged and turned away.
“It’s lovely,” I chimed in, feeing bad about how rude the rainbow-haired twentysomething was being, even though I wasn’t responsible for her. “Tomorrow, I’ll have to watch the sunset in the garden before dinner. I bet it looks absolutely stunning above all those gorgeous flowers.”