“That’s more my wife. She’s big on Christmas. If it was up to her she’d have those lights up all year.”
“How the hell did you get that sleigh on the roof?” asked Uncle Alec.
“It wasn’t easy!”
“Less talk, more showing us Bambi,” Max growled.
We all moved up the stairs behind Randi.“Don’t mind the mess,” he said, opening the baby gate. He gestured at a bunch of toys lying around. A big Barbie and an actual nursery station. “I know it’s a little early, as we only brought Willa home last week. But you know how grammies and grandpas are. We told them she has no use fortoys just yet but they just couldn’t help themselves.”
We all filed into the baby room, and I held my breath when I saw how gorgeous it was. Bambi and Randi had really outdone themselves. The theme was a pretty pink, and a collection of cat paintings adorned one wall, with a huge drawing of Bambi, Randi and Baby Willa dominating another one. It looked like the mural Cameron and Mitchell had on the wall of Lily’s room inModern Family: Bambi and Randi depicted as angels, Willa’s cot right beneath it.
“Bambi, sorry about the intrusion, honey,” Randi said softly as he padded up to his wife, “but some of the neighbors must have heard Willa scream and called the cops on us.”
Bambi laughed.“Of course they did. She’s a real fire engine, this one, isn’t she?”
In her arms, she was holding tiny Willa, swaddled up in a cloud of pink. Willa had her eyes closed, and looked like a regular angel.
“Oh, my God, what a cutie!” I exclaimed.
Willa must have sensed our presence, for she let out a loud wail.
“So that’s the sound you heard, Odelia,” Chase said with a grin. “A baby crying.”
“I guess so,” I said, cutting a look to Max and Dooley, who were completely discombobulated by the sight of Willa.
“So… Bambi hasn’t been abducted?” Max asked.
“Bambi and Randi had a baby,” I explained.
“Baby Willa,” said Randi, sidling up to his wife and his newborn baby girl.
“Willa Wiggins?” asked Uncle Alec. “Really?”
Randi shrugged.“Hey, it wasn’t my idea.”
“My favorite great-aunt was called Willa,” Bambi explained. She flicked a switch on a miniature Christmas tree and the moment the lights flickered on, Willa stopped wailing and stared at it in fascination.
“So that’s the trick, huh?” asked Bambi. “You like Christmas lights just as much as your mommy does.”
“This is so sweet,” said Chase. “I’m sorry for the intrusion, Bambi—Randi.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” said Randi. “I guess not all of the neighbors have heard the news. That’ll change soon when we invite them over for the christening.”
“You’re inviting the whole neighborhood?” I asked.
“Sure. We can all share this miracle of life.”
Uncle Alec smiled.“I remember when Odelia was just a tiny bundle of joy. When my sister brought her home from the hospital and asked me to be her godfather, I was over the moon.” He wiped away a tear.
I rubbed his back.“When I have a baby you’re going to be its godfather, too, Uncle Alec.”
He looked up in surprise.“I am?”
“Of course.” For some reason, my gaze wandered to Chase. He caught it and came over to plant a kiss on my lips. Uncle Alec blinked at the sight, then gave me a wink. I knew that each time the holidays came around, he had a tough time—remembering how he and Aunt Ginny had wanted to start a family, too. At least he had Mom and me—and Gran, of course.
“Watch out!” suddenly Dooley cried, and rushed forward. Randi had picked up a package and was opening it. When he saw Dooley zooming in, he hesitated, and gave me a questioning look.
“Dooley, it’s all right,” I said, picking up the cat.
“But… he’s got an axe!” Dooley cried.
“I’m sure it’s fine,” I insisted.
Randi opened the package.“Got you something, babe,” he said, and handed his wife a pacifier in the shape of a Christmas tree.
“Oh, honey!” Bambi exclaimed. “You found it! And just in time for Christmas!”
“Of course I found it,” said Randi, his face creasing into a wide grin. “I’m Mr. Postal, aren’t I?”
“You sure are,” she said, and placed the pacifier between baby Willa’s lips. Instantly she began to suck on it, making happy noises.
“I just knew it,” said Bambi. “The only way to make a Wiggins baby happy is to give it a Christmas gift.”
“Runs in the family,” said Randi.
I set Dooley down on the floor and enjoyed the warmth of Chase’s arm around me. When Bambi offered to let me hold her baby for a moment, I was touched. Ever so carefully, I took Willa into my arms. She was such a cutie-pie! I caught Max and Dooley watching on with bated breath, so I crouched down and showed them the baby. Both cats looked on with amazement.
“It’s… so small,” said Dooley.
“And it smells so good,” Max said.
“This is Max and this is Dooley,” I whispered in Willa’s ear. “They’re the sweetest and smartest cats in the world.” A big orange cat, seated next to Max, cleared her throat. This was probably Randi and Bambi’s cat. “And so are you, of course, pretty one,” I added.
“That’s Ellen,” said Randi. “She’s already used to the baby, aren’t you, Ellen?”
“I think it might take my cats a little while,” I said. “They look pretty shocked.”
The visit over, we all returned to the car and Chase drove us home. And we’d just turned the corner to our street when Max said, “Whenever you and Chase want to have a baby, it’s fine with me and Dooley.”
I laughed.“Maybe you’re ready, but I’m not, Max.”
“What was that?” asked Chase.
“I think Max and Dooley have baby fever.”
He smiled.“I have baby fever.”
“Me too,” Uncle Alec chimed in.
The snow was coming down hard now, and all around us the world had turned white. Twinkling lights indicated Christmas was almost upon us, and I suddenly felt happy. I hugged Max and Dooley, who’d jumped up onto my lap.
“If you have a baby, are you still going to keep us?” asked Dooley.
I rubbed him behind his ear.“Of course I’m going to keep you. You’re my babies, too.”
“Odelia is talking to her cats again,” said Chase, shaking his head.
“You’re just going to have to get used to it, Chase,” said Uncle Alec.
“Oh, but I am,” he said. “In fact soon enough I may start talking to cats myself!”
“I hope not,” I said softly. “Cause then you’ll discover all my secrets.”
“Don’t worry, Odelia,” Max said. “Dooley and me will guard your secrets with our lives. Isn’t that right, Dooley?”
“Damn skippy,” said Dooley. “We will take your secrets to the grave!”
“Please don’t mention the word grave,” Max said with a shiver. “It gives me the creeps.”
“We will take your secrets to cat heaven!”
“Cat heaven?” asked Chase with a frown. “Did someone just mention cat heaven?”
Max, Dooley and I shared a look of alarm. Uh-oh… Had Chase just overheard a cat convo? Now that would be a first.
Chapter 12
The next day was the day before Christmas, and I decided to go into the office to give Dan the bad news in person. I’d waited until the last minute, hoping the Mayor would change his mind and answer one of the many messages I left on his phone, but no such luck. Dan wasn’t happy. He said it was a disgrace that the only newspaper in town did not have the scoop on the new Santa. More than that, though, I thinkhe was offended that he’d been replaced, probably for the first time in his life.
When I left the office, I ran into Chase.“I’ve been looking for you,” he said, and his face was flushed. “I’ve got a lead on my grandpa. Guess where he is?”
“The hospital?”
“Right here in Hampton Cove! Someone saw him get on the Jitney two days ago, headed for The Hamptons. I talked to the dispatcher and they have him on the nine o’clock bus to Hampton Cove. The bus picked him up at 59th, between Lexington and Third. So I got in touch with the driver and he says he remembers him. Says he got off at the Hampton Cove stop and was met by some guy.”