A Picture-Purrfect Christmas (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 13)

by Patricia Fry

  “Have you asked her yet?”

  “No. I need to check with Shelly about how to reach her. I’ll do that after dinner. I’m excited.” She looked over at Rags, who was sharing Buffy’s canopy bed with her. “Rags will be, too.” She frowned. “Only…”

  “Only what?” he asked.

  “Only, I’m not exactly sure what Marissa’s home situation is—what kind of privileges she has.”

  “Surely, her parents want their children to go out and have fun, don’t they?” Michael suggested. “And Shelly will vouch for you, being a stranger to the family and all…”

  “Sure,” Savannah said. “But, Michael, I don’t think we’re dealing with people who care much about their children. It’s just a sense I get about them.”

  Chapter 3

  The sun glowed red through a haze of clouds as Savannah reached for her jacket and car keys early Sunday morning. “So I’ll get to meet your new friend today, huh?” Michael asked.

  “Yes. Shelly arranged for me to pick Marissa up. Her foster mother doesn’t want her home until after supper; so it will be a day-long playdate.”

  He frowned. “Are you okay with that?”

  “Yeah. I am, actually. I really like this little girl.” Savannah started to leave, but turned back briefly. “So did Adam, by the way.”

  Michael nodded. “Oh, she’s the girl he was talking about after the photo class. Yeah, he seemed to have made a fast friend, there.”

  “Yes, he did.” Savannah headed for the front door, calling out, “We’ll be back in half an hour or so.”

  I’ve never been in this area before, she thought as she drove slowly down a narrow street. Gads, cars parked on lawns, unkempt yards, broken toys here and there, people lounging on their porches as if they have nothing better to do. Well, maybe they worked all week in the factories and fields and they deserve their rest. Oh, here it is—975 Sutter Street. The house looks par for the course in this neighborhood, she thought. It’s small—was probably cute at one time, with that quaint porch, wood siding, and shutters…well, a couple of shutters. One’s gone and one’s being held by just a few nails. She chuckled to herself. The Cottons aren’t much for curb appeal.

  It seemed like quite a while before Savannah’s knock was answered. When the door opened, she faced a hefty woman in her late forties with dyed red hair stringing down alongside an unsmiling face. She peered at Savannah suspiciously and barked, “What do ya want?”

  “I’m Savannah Ivey. I’ve come to pick up Marissa.”

  “Hi, Ms. Savannah,” came the melodic voice from behind the woman. “I’m all ready.”

  The woman stepped back as the child limped slowly toward Savannah, wearing a faded, worn jacket that appeared to be two sizes too big and carrying a small tote bag.

  “Hi hon,” Savannah said, smiling. “Want to bring your chair? You might need it.”

  The child looked down for a second and muttered, “I don’t have it anymore.” Then smiling, she added, “I’ll be fine. Honest I will.” She took Savannah’s hand as support while managing the broken porch steps, calling out cheerfully, “Bye, Mavis. I hope your back feels better.”

  The woman simply shouted, “Don’t bring her back ‘til you feed her supper, ya hear?”

  “Sure,” Savannah said, disbelieving what she was witnessing. Once she had helped Marissa get buckled into the car, she glanced at the house and said, “Didn’t you say you had a bunch of sisters and brothers? Where are they? I didn’t see any toys or kids.”

  “Oh, we stay in our rooms mostly, when we’re not outside playing. I’m lucky, though. I share Errie’s room. It’s tiny, so there’s only room for us two. The other room has four kids in it and they can be messy.” She smiled. “Errie is neat like me.”

  Savannah tilted her head. “That house has three bedrooms?”

  Marissa thought for a moment. “Yeah, actually it does, since they split one bedroom into two for us kids. Errie and I have about a quarter of the original room to ourselves.”

  “How do you get two beds in a room that small?” Savannah asked.

  Marissa laughed. “We actually don’t. Errie and I sleep in one little bed. Usually, we sleep head to toe.” She lowered her head. “…unless…”

  Savannah glanced at her. “Unless what?”

  “Unless it’s a bad night and one of us needs to snuggle.” She grinned sheepishly. “It’s usually me who needs to snuggle.”

  “What do you mean by a bad night?” Savannah asked, concern in her voice.

  Marissa took a deep breath. “Oh, you know, if Mavis is mad and yells for no reason…or something worse…it ruins everyone’s night.” She opened her eyes wide. “She can be kinda scary. So can her nephews.”

  “Nephews?” Savannah repeated. “Do they live there, too?”

  “Yeah, sometimes—out in a shed behind the garage.”

  “How old are they?” Savannah asked.

  Marissa thought for a minute. “I don’t actually know. They’re grown-ups.” She shook her head. “I hate it when they come in the house. They’re loud and they have no manners whatsoever. Mavis lets them do anything they want, even bother us kids. She laughs when they make the younger ones cry.” Marissa looked thoughtfully at Savannah for a moment. “You know, sometimes I think Mavis scares us on purpose—she likes seeing me and some of the younger kids scared. I tell the little ones that Mavis probably had a rough childhood and it made her kinda mean-spirited. I tell them to try to ignore her and be strong in their own hearts.” She frowned. “But it’s hard.”

  Savannah grimaced, then asked, “Why does she want you to stay away until after supper tonight? Are they going out somewhere?”

  “Oh no. It’s her way of saving money…and work,” Marissa said, matter-of-factly. She lowered her brow. “You don’t mind do you? Do you have plans?”

  Savannah patted the girl’s leg. “Absolutely not, hon. The more time I get to spend with you, the better.”

  Marissa tilted her head and blinked at Savannah. “That was a nice thing to say.”

  “Well, I mean it. There’s a lot I want to show you and share with you.”

  Marissa’s eyes lit up. “I can’t wait. I love outings with friends.” She frowned a little. “…only I haven’t had very many of those.”

  After a few quiet moments, Savannah asked, “Are you enjoying the photography classes?”

  “Yes. I’m learning a lot. Only…”

  “Only what?”

  “Well, I don’t want to complain, but, Ms. Savannah, I don’t like that man teacher.”

  “Man teacher?” Savannah asked. “Oh, you mean Esse?”

  Marissa nodded.

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t know.” The child thought for a moment. “I think I’ve seen him before or he reminds me of someone.” She laughed. “He could have been in one of my dreams. Sometimes I dream about real people I don’t actually know or I dream stories that actually happen. It’s a weird quirk of mine, I guess.” She lowered her voice. “I don’t talk about it to Mavis. It makes her kinda mad.” She added, “But Errie likes hearing about my dreams.” She was quiet, then said, “I dream about my father sometimes.” She shivered. “Those dreams scare me.”

  “Do you remember your father?” Savannah asked.

  “Yes. He came to the house where I lived last time. I didn’t know who he was, but I found out. He and the father of the house had a fight. They pushed each other and yelled real loud. I hid in the back of the house, but he found me and took me to live with him. I was six, I think. He was gruff and kinda mean. He doesn’t have a house, so we slept in some weird places—park benches, empty buildings, Dumpsters…” She faced Savannah. “…inside a Dumpster, can you imagine? And in old cars. Once, I was asleep alone in a car and someone started to drive it away. I was able to jump out, but I wasn’t fast enough to get my blanket and my doll. My…father made me sleep without a blanket for the next week as punishment. One t
ime the police came to get him and I hid from them. A woman I didn’t know saw me. She took me to her tent and let me sleep there until my father came back. Then he took me to where I am now. He came for me one other time. I was with him only for a couple of days.” She looked at Savannah. “I think Mavis and Clark traded him something for me—I heard them talking about giving him something he could pawn. They must be getting money to keep me and some of the others, cause what else would the reason be? I know they don’t like having us around.”

  “Do you have a social worker?” Savannah asked. “Does someone come by and check the home?”

  Marissa shook her head. “No, and Errie says that’s weird. I remember an old lady visiting the other place where I lived. She would ask us kids questions and write things down in her book. I haven’t seen any—what did you call them—social workers since I’ve been in this place.”

  “Seems odd, doesn’t it? I wonder where they’re getting the money to care for all of you.”

  Marissa was quiet for several minutes then said, “I’m afraid my father’s back.”

  “Back?” Savannah said.

  “Well, back from jail, maybe. I think he wants me again. Ms. Savannah, I don’t want to go with him. Life with Mavis and Clark isn’t all that beautiful, but it’s better than living with my father.” She looked down at her hands. “He doesn’t care about me, except for what I can do for him. He uses me for money. When he wants money for food…or other things…” she looked up at Savannah, “…like liquor…he has me go sit on the street and ask for it. I always have to wear a dress or shorts—even when it’s cold. I figured out that’s so people will feel sorry for me and give us more money.” She turned toward Savannah. “In my heart it just seems wrong, but I don’t have any…”

  “Power?” Savannah suggested.

  She sat up straighter, her eyes wide. “That’s it—power. I have no power to say yes or no or to even help him change.” She shook her head slowly. “I just hope it was a dream—that it wasn’t really him I saw talking to Clark last week.” She turned sullen. “But sometimes my dreams come true.” She chuckled half-heartedly. “Or, should I say, my nightmares?”

  Savannah choked back tears as Marissa talked about her life. She was glad when they arrived home, where the subject and the mood would surely change. And it happened even more dramatically than Savannah expected. When she opened the front door, she let Marissa walk in ahead of her. The child took a couple of awkward steps, then suddenly stopped and stared, her eyes as big as dinner plates. Breathlessly, she said, “Ms. Savannah, a Christmas tree! It’s…it’s…amazing!”

  The girl moved through the living room toward the tree, which stood majestically to the right of the large staircase her eyes dancing from one ornament to another. Finally focusing on the angel on top of the nine-foot tree, she clasped her hands under her chin. “It is so beautiful…just like in old movies.” She turned to Savannah. “Did you decorate it?”

  “Yes, my husband and I did it yesterday. Our friend, Charlotte, helped.”

  Marissa smiled. “And Lily, did she help, too?”

  Savannah rolled her eyes. “Oh yes, she did. She was a big help scattering decorations everywhere but on the tree, as you can imagine.”

  Marissa laughed. “She’s so cute.” She focused again on the tree. “It’s like a Christmas wonderland in here.” As if she couldn’t take her eyes off it, she continued to gaze at the ornaments that were in all shapes, sizes, and textures. “I love the star…what’s it called?”

  “Oh, the garland?” Savannah said, smiling. “Yes, I like that touch, too.”

  Now speaking quietly, the child chanted, “A string of stars wrapped around and around a perfect tree, hugging it and all of the beautiful decorations.” Suddenly, Marissa lowered herself to the floor. “Hi Rags,” she said. “I missed you. How are you?” He rubbed repeatedly against her as she petted him and hugged him. “He’s purring.”

  Savannah looked surprised. “Really? He doesn’t often purr loud enough to be heard. He only does that when he’s really happy and excited.”

  “Purrrrrr,” Marissa mimicked. “Purrrrrr.” She giggled. “He tickles.”

  Savannah was soon joined in laughter by Michael, who held Lily in his arms.

  “Marissa, I’d like you to meet my husband, Michael,” Savannah said. Realizing that the girl was accustomed to more formal monikers for adults, she said, “He’s also known as Dr. Mike.”

  Marissa stood awkwardly and greeted Michael. “I saw you here Friday. You’re a doctor?” she asked, tweaking one of Lily’s feet and smiling up at her.

  He nodded. “Of veterinary medicine.” He put out his hand. “I’ve been eager to meet you. You’ve made quite an impression on several of my family members.” He chuckled. “… including Rags, I see.”

  Marissa looked reverently at Rags for a moment. “Yes, I just love him. He’s awesome.” She glanced at Savannah. “I forgot to tell you I dreamed about him last night.”

  “Rags?” Savannah said.

  “Uh-huh. I was on a raft drifting around way, way out in the ocean and he swam out and jumped up on the raft with me. He kept me company while we just floated and floated and floated,” she said dreamily.

  “Were you ever rescued?” Savannah asked.

  “No. I woke up too soon. But it was a nice dream. I wasn’t afraid as long as Rags was with me.”

  Michael and Savannah smiled at one another. Then he asked, “So are you girls going riding?”

  “If I can drag her away from the Christmas tree,” Savannah said with a chuckle.

  “It is pretty, isn’t it?” Michael said.

  “It’s so, so, so beautiful.” She turned toward Savannah. “I’ve never seen a tree like this in a house—only a couple of times at the mall.”

  “Do you have a Christmas tree at your house, yet?” Michael asked.

  She lowered her eyes and shook her head. “We don’t celebrate Christmas. Mavis says it’s too much trouble. At our house, Christmas is just another day.”

  Savannah and Michael exchanged glances.

  “Can I take a picture?” Marissa asked excitedly. “Do you have one of those disposable cameras?”

  “No, I don’t, but you can use my digital camera—the one Adam used the other day. I’ll go get it.”

  After Marissa had taken several photos of the tree, Rags and the tree, and the Ivey family and the tree, Savannah snapped a few pictures of Marissa holding Rags in front of the tree, before saying, “Now, hon, how about we keep this camera here? It’s yours to use, but you can leave it here until you want to use it, okay?”

  Marissa nodded. “Good idea. Things do go missing at my house.” She put her nose in the air. “Can I ask what smells so good?”

  “Um, I don’t know,” Savannah said. “What does it smell like?”

  Marissa tilted her head. “Maybe cinnamon. Yeah,” she decided, “it’s a cinnamony smell.”

  Savannah smiled. “Oh, I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Would you like one?”

  Marissa hesitated, then said, “I sure would. I didn’t get to the kitchen in time to eat this morning. I was busy getting ready.”

  “You didn’t have breakfast?” Savannah asked, frowning.

  Marissa shook her head. “No, Mavis has rules. By the time I got to the kitchen, all there was to eat was a handful of sugary cereal. Mavis said there was no milk.” She frowned. “…but I saw one of her nephews drink milk out of a carton a little while after that.”

  Savannah grimaced before saying, “Well, our kitchen is open all the time. Come on; let me warm you a cinnamon roll. Would you like an egg? Bacon?”

  Marissa’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I don’t know if I could eat that much. I’m not used to…”

  “Well, let me fix it for you and you can eat what you want.”

  After being seated at the kitchen table, Marissa focused on Lily as the toddler pushed a toy lawn mower around the room. “Lily walks v
ery well,” she said. She then started laughing. “Oops, you ran into the doggie.”

  The baby laughed, too. She then put her hands on her face and quickly removed them. As Marissa watched, she did it again.

  “She’s playing peek-a-boo with me,” Marissa said, excitedly. “How cute.” She began playing peek-a-boo with Lily, both children laughing out loud.

  “Ki-ki,” Lily said, pointing at Rags, who lay next to Marissa’s chair.

  “Yes, that’s a kitty, isn’t it? You’re such a smart baby,” she said, “and so cute.” She looked at Savannah. “Do you ever put her on Peaches…that’s the horse’s name, right? Or is it Apple or Plum?” she said laughing.

  Savannah chuckled. “Yeah, I thought about Pomegranate or Watermelon, but…”

  “Uh-uh, not really,” Marissa said, a questioning look on her face.

  “No, not really.” She continued as she set a plate of food in front of Marissa, “Her name is Peaches because of her color. But yes, I rode with Lily in the saddle once. She seemed to enjoy it.” After several minutes, she noticed that Marissa had slowed down eating. “Are you finished?” she asked.

  The child put her hand on her stomach. “Yes, that was good. You made those cinnamon rolls?” When Savannah nodded, she said, “I’ve never had anything like them. They’re yummy.”

  “You ate pretty well, there, girl,” Savannah said, picking up her plate.

  “Oh, let me,” Marissa said, standing. “You shouldn’t have to cook and clean.”

  “Never mind, you’re our guest. I’m glad you enjoyed the meal.”

  “The sun’s out; why don’t you girls go play with Peaches?” Michael said. “Lily and I’ll watch from the porch.”

  “Sounds good.” Savannah turned to their young guest. “Are you ready to ride?”

  Marissa’s face lit up. “Sure.” Then, looking apprehensive, she asked quietly, “Ms. Savannah, can I use the bathroom first?”

  “Yes, right in there,” Savannah motioned. She watched as Marissa walked away, Rags trotting along with her.

  “So what do you plan?” Michael asked. “Are you just going to let her ride around in the exercise ring?”