“So you want to track them down?”
My cat nodded.“I think I do.”
“I guess it makes sense to use our P.I. skills to help ourselves every once in a while.”
He smiled and gave me a paws up.“Exactly.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to keep one of the kittens?” I tried again. I liked seeing this softer side of him. Maybe having a long-term kitty companion would help him mellow out.
He shuddered and turned his backside to me.“Completely.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll let you get back to your cat nap, then.”
“Thank you, Angela,” he said before running back through the door I’d just opened. I couldn’t blame him for wanting to find his long-lost family. After all, I was still trying to do the same thing for myself—and finally meeting my cousin Mags had definitely changed my life for the better.
Knowing now that the kittens were in good paws with Octo-Cat, I headed back downstairs to ask Charles for a quick favor.
“Would you mind heading to the store for me? I need large dog breed food and some steak.”
He took one last slurp from his tea, then asked,“How much steak?”
I made a tally in my head.“Um, twenty-two should do it.”
Charles laughed.“Time to pay your debts, I see.”
“Yes, and if you happen to find a TV, Nerf gun, or nunchucks while you’re there, you know what to do.”
“What about the lobster rolls?” he asked with one eyebrow raised.
“Those can wait for a few days. We’re having steak for dinner tonight.”
While Charles was at the store, I planned to give Digger a bath, but first I needed a short break so that I could catch my breath. I took a seat by Nan, who was busy typing into her phone and smiling like a fool in love.
“Let me guess. Diamond Guy?” I teased.
Nan clucked her tongue.“I have much more going on in my life than that,” she chided.
“Still it must be pretty exciting to have your first date on the calendar at last?”
Nan frowned for a few seconds before transitioning back into a smile.“I only wish I would have had a few more sessions of booty boot camp first, but—yes—I am very excited.”
“If you’re not talking to Mr. Gable, then who are you texting?” I said, trying to catch a glimpse of her screen. “You’re not cheating on him already?”
She looked sad rather than angry.“Oh, dear. I am many things, but a cheater, I am not. You should know me better than that.”
“Well?” I prompted when she still hadn’t answered my first question. “Who are you chatting with, then?”
She rolled her eyes.“You’re so nosey sometimes. You know that?”
“I learned it from the best.” I winked, and she winked back.
“That was my good friend, Gertie.”
Ahh, Gertie. I’d never actually met her, but I’d taken several jogs with her muttsky Cujo. Cujo had also helped to save my life last month, so he rated very high in my books and so did his owner, Gertie.
Nan continued along.“Remember how she was having trouble exercising Cujo since her grandkids went off to college?”
I nodded.
“I’ve just suggested she adopt a playmate for him. You and I will keep exercising Cujo as we do, but a second dog could give him some nice company during the day. Wouldn’t you say?”
I gasped with excitement.“Digger?”
“Digger,” she confirmed.
“That’s great,” I cried and gave her a tight hug.
“I also have a lead on a home for the last two kittens,” Nan revealed. Man, she was good at this. Perhaps she should volunteer at the local animal shelter for more than just fundraising events.
“Really? Who?” I asked, so happy for all the animals who’d found new homes that day.
She shook her head and wagged a finger at me.“I don’t want to say until it’s a sure thing, but I promise to tell you as soon as I can.”
I stretched my arms overhead, then forced myself to my feet.“I better get Digger in the bath.”
“Before you go, I take back what I said.”
I stared at her blankly.“Take back what?”
“I’m really glad you chose Charles. He’s a good man.”
“You know,” I stated, referring to the fact that Charles had so willingly given up his special Valentine’s surprise in order to offer it to Nan and Mr. Gable.
She nodded.“Thank you both for that. Although if it’s not too late, I might ask the string quartet to play something other than ‘80s covers.”
Chapter Twenty
After our twenty-two-steak dinner, Charles said goodbye and headed back to his house. I felt bad that our“relaxing” day together had become so hectic and that he’d also sacrificed his big Valentine’s surprise, but I vowed to make up for it by planning a few special surprises of my own.
By the time Friday rolled around, I had my work cut out for me.
I started with a quick good morning call to Charles, who would be working until early evening. I spent the morning with Nan and Paisley until they departed for one of her community art classes.
The last two kittens had gone to their new homes the night before, which meant Octo-Cat and I had the house to ourselves for the next few hours.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” I crooned as I placed a giant box onto the floor in front of him.
His eyes lit up as he beheld the cardboard behemoth.“For me?” he gasped with obvious delight.
“Yup. And there’s even a surpriseinside the box.”
He raised a paw to his chest.“Double presents? I’m touched.”
It had been so hard to keep this surprise from him for the last few days, and I couldn’t wait another minute for the big reveal. “Well, go on and open it up,” I urged.
Octo-Cat jumped into the box, then popped his head back out with a satin blue swatch of fabric clenched between his jaws.“What is it?” he mumbled, unsure.
“It’s a bowtie,” I explained. “I figured you could wear it on your video date with Grizabella this afternoon.”
“It matches her beautiful sapphire eyes,” he said after setting it carefully on the floor.
“Yes, it does. And if you take another look inside, you’ll find a green bowtie as well.”
He narrowed his eyes at me, then cocked his head slightly to the side—a sure sign that Paisley was beginning to rub off on him just a little bit.
“Why green?” he asked.
I put a hand over my smiling mouth and waited for it to sink in.
Octo-Cat swooned with delight less than a minute later.“Green. Glorious green! Does this mean…?”
I picked up where he left off.“Yes, I’m taking you to visit Grizabella for St. Patrick’s Day. That is, if you still want to go.”
He zipped up and down the stairs in a rare show of kitty zoomies, then came back to rest at my feet. I reached out to pet him, but before I could, he licked my fingertips.“You are a very good human, and I love you, Angela.”
I stroked his soft back.“Awww, I love you, too. Now are you ready to FaceTime with Grizabella?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!”
I fastened the blue bowtie to his collar and showed him what he looked like in the selfie mode of my phone.“I am a very handsome cat. Aren’t I?”
I nodded my endorsement.“Grizabella is very lucky to have you.”