The Cat of Christmas Future

by Kathi Daley

  Suddenly it all made sense. Harley and I were here to help Willow find the father of her child so he could be adopted into a family that would provide him with the education and financial means he’d need to someday start his company. “Do you have a photo of the man who fathered your child?”

  “No. I didn’t have a camera or a phone.”

  “If our task is to find this man—and I now believe it is—it will help to have a picture. Tara is an excellent artist. Do you think you could describe Trace to her? If we can get a good enough likeness it will help us when we talk to people who might have come into contact with him.”

  Willow shrugged. “I can try.”

  “And we’ll need to know everything you’ve already tried. Every person you’ve spoken to and every business you’ve visited.”

  “Are you sure you want to help me? It’s beginning to seem pointless.”

  “We’re sure,” I said with conviction.

  ******

  Later that evening, the entire Hart family gathered at Maggie’s for a meal and to fuss over Aiden. Although he was pretty banged up and it was hard to see my oldest brother in pain, I was so happy he hadn’t sustained much more severe injuries that I was enjoying the others, sharing the festive meal Mom and Maggie had prepared.

  In addition to Cody, Finn, and the entire Hart clan, Father Kilian had joined us as well. I had a feeling the next phase of the plan he and Aunt Maggie had come up with to be together after all these years was about to begin if their shy glances and secretive smiles were any indication.

  “As long as we’re all here, I’d like us to discuss everyone’s plans for Christmas,” Mom announced as we devoured the delicious food.

  “Cody and I have the candle ceremony in the town square this Saturday, the Christmas play at the church on Saturday of next week, and the Christmas Eve party at Mr. Parsons’s, to which you’re all invited, on Sunday,” I started. “I guess I figured we’d be having Christmas dinner here?”

  “I’m planning on it,” Maggie confirmed. “In fact, I thought maybe I’d do brunch for everyone gathered here tonight and invite a few others for dinner: Tara, Parker, and Amy; Sister Mary; Gabe; and Marley.”

  I couldn’t help but giggle at Maggie’s reference to her best friend and business partner, Marley Donnelly. It really was a good thing we’d decided to change the cat’s name to Harley.

  “Is something funny?” Maggie asked.

  “No. It’s just that the new cat who’s staying with me was named Marley before I changed it to Harley. It hit me how really confusing that would be.”

  “You have a new cat?” Mom asked. “Has someone died?”

  I shook my head. “No, no one’s died. It seems the cat is here to help out with the relocation of the homeless people who were living in the warehouse.” I decided not to be more specific; Tansy had indicated it was going to be a delicate dance, walking the line between aiding the future and interfering with it, so I figured the fewer people who knew what was going on, the better.

  “That’s good,” Mom responded. “Murder at Christmas is so unseemly.”

  I wanted to say that murder at any time was unseemly but held my tongue. Cassie helped by asking to invite the boy she’d been dating to dinner. I expected our mother to say no, but she said inviting him was an excellent idea because she’d been wanting to meet the young man her youngest daughter had been spending an inordinate amount of time with.

  “Finn and I plan to attend the play at the church, spend Christmas Eve at Mr. Parsons’s, and Christmas Day with the family, but we have a formal dinner this Saturday, so we’ll miss the candle ceremony.”

  “Miss the candle ceremony?” I asked. “But you’re the mayor!”

  “I know. And I’m extremely conflicted. But the sheriff invited all the resident deputies and their wives to dinner on San Juan Island on Saturday and Finn and I feel like we need to attend.”

  “I think you’ve made the right choice,” Maggie offered. “We’ll of course miss you both, but the community found between co-workers is as important as any.”

  “I’m going to skip the candle ceremony too,” Danny chimed in. “I wish I could say I had a good reason, but the truth is, I have a date.”

  Aiden pointed at his foot. “I’m out as well.”

  Mom looked at Cassie, who grimaced. “I have plans too. I didn’t want to bring it up, but with everyone else bailing I’d like to go to the party my friends are throwing.”

  Mom sighed. “Oh, very well. It will just be a small group representing the Hart family this year.”

  After dinner Cody and I went back to my cabin. It was nice having the whole family together, but I was looking forward to some quiet time as well. The snow had stopped, so we bundled up and took a walk along the moonlit beach. Max ran on ahead of us as Cody and I walked hand in hand.

  “I can’t believe I only have ten days to finish my shopping, wrap my gifts, do some baking, and get everything ready for the party on the twenty-fourth.” It suddenly hit me just how much I still had to do.

  “Let me help,” Cody offered.

  “You have a lot to do yourself.”

  “We’re a team,” Cody reminded me. “If we’re committed to tackling life together we can certainly tackle Christmas.”

  I smiled. “You’re right. We’re a team. The point is how to juggle everything and help Burt get his house back and find the man who fathered Willow’s baby.”

  “When we get back to the cabin we’ll come up with a plan to tackle both the daddy hunt and Burt’s problem. As for Christmas, how about we go shopping after we both get off tomorrow? We can grab dinner in town, then come back here and have a wrapping party.”

  I leaned my head on Cody’s shoulder. “That sounds good. Being organized will be the key to getting everything done. Did you remember to call about renting extra tables and chairs for the party?”

  “It’s all taken care of. I went ahead and rented tablecloths, dishes, and serving trays as well. How’s the food coming along?”

  “Francine is organizing the food,” I informed Cody.

  He squeezed my hand. “See? We’re crushing this thing.”

  “Yeah, I guess we are. I haven’t sent formal invitations, but I’ve spoken to everyone we discussed inviting them personally. I figure there’ll be guests who show up at the last minute, so I think we should add at least fifteen percent to whatever head count we come up with. So far we’re at fifty-seven.”

  Cody laughed. “Do you remember that first year, when we were going to have a small dinner with Mr. Parsons so he wouldn’t be alone at Christmas?”

  “It was a sweet idea that quickly took on a life of its own, but we managed to bring Christmas to a lot of people who would have been alone otherwise, and Mr. Parsons is a changed man because of that first party. It’s a lot of work, but it’s important as well.”

  “Yes, and I love that our first tradition as a couple is one that brings happiness to so many of our friends and neighbors.”

  I smiled. “As traditions go, a party for those who have nowhere else to go is pretty awesome. Maybe it’s something our children and even our grandchildren will carry on to benefit the community.”

  “I love that thought.”

  “It’s nice to think about a tradition we started living on into the future.” I stopped walking and looked up at the cloud-covered sky. “But first things first. How about we head back and open a bottle of wine? We can make a list of ways to tackle the missing daddy situation and then maybe we could start practicing for our honeymoon.”

  “Practicing?”

  “You know what they say: Practice makes perfect, and I want our honeymoon to be the most perfect ever.”

  Cody stopped walking. He turned me in his arms so we were facing each other. He leaned his head down and kissed me in a way that I felt our souls meld. “Perhaps we should skip the list-making and get right to the practicing.”

  “Yeah,” I gasped as his cold lips found my throat. “Ma
ybe we should.”

  Chapter 5

  Friday, December 15

  I came downstairs the next morning to find Cody chatting with Harley. I paused to listen to what was being said because, while Cody completely supported the cats who came into our lives, he hadn’t ever sat down and chatted with them before. Harley was on the kitchen table while Cody sipped a cup of coffee with a piece of paper in front of him.

  “The odds that the man who fathered Willow’s baby is still on the island are slim,” Cody said. “I hope you have a better plan in mind than swatting my pen out of my hand and onto the floor every time I try to make a note.”

  “Meow.”

  “Yeah. I didn’t think so. I meant to ask Cait last night if she’d asked Willow about the leads she’d already followed up on. I’d ask her now, but it seems the princess is still in bed.”

  Princess? Oh, he was in big trouble. I was about to say something to defend my late morning when Harley jumped off the table and headed up the stairs. Cody turned and saw me standing at the top.

  “I guess you heard that?”

  “I guess I did.”

  “Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I know you aren’t fond of the princess nickname. I was just anxious for you to get up. It’s nine-twenty.”

  “Someone,” I said as I started down the stairs, “I won’t say who, kept me up much later than I’m accustomed to.”

  Cody grinned. “You did say practice makes perfect.”

  I grinned back. “Yeah, I guess I did at that.” I paused to pour myself a cup of coffee. “What smells so good?”

  “Bacon and egg casserole. I have it warming in the oven. Grab a seat and I’ll cut you a slice.”

  I took a long sip of my hot coffee as I settled onto the chair Cody had just vacated. I could have taken the one across the table, but he’d already warmed this one up, and having to warm up the second chair could be his punishment for the princess comment.

  “So, did you happen to ask Willow about the leads she’d already followed up on?” Cody asked after setting the plate of egg casserole in front of me.

  “I did,” I answered after taking my first bite. “Basically, she said her plan when she came to Madrona Island was to visit fishing charter operations to ask about Trace. At first no one admitted to knowing who he was, but then she met a whale-watch captain who said someone fitting her description had worked for a company in the area. The captain said he called himself Tim, not Trace, so he couldn’t be certain it was the same person. Willow asked around, trying to find the man Trace might have worked for, but she was told he’d left the island.”

  “So she hit a dead end.”

  “Mostly. However, while she was looking for him, she picked up another lead. She was told Tim had been seen drinking in a local bar with Wilton Palmer. Palmer runs a long-haul cargo operation out of Seattle.”

  “Cargo? As in shipping containers?”

  “Exactly. Willow tracked Palmer down and was told he knew Tim, but he hadn’t worked for him. Palmer told her he’d taken a job on a fishing boat out of Seward, Alaska. It took Willow a while, but eventually she met a man who operated an air cargo service who let her tag along on his next trip north. When she arrived in Seward she asked around but came up empty, so she came back to Madrona Island. Apparently, not a single person said they knew of a man named Trace working here, but there were several who knew this Tim, and because he seemed to match the description she gave, she’s convinced Trace and Tim must be the same person. She also said it appears Tim is no longer on the island, but she can’t quite bring herself to give up, and Madrona Island is the only clue she had.”

  “Seems like a pretty slim clue.”

  “It is,” I agreed. “And if it wasn’t for the fact that Harley is here to help us I’d say it was an impossible task.” I looked at the cat. “So, how about it, big guy? Do you have a starting point? Even a teeny, tiny, baby clue would be better than nothing.”

  Harley got off the table and trotted across the cabin, stopping in front of the coffee table I’d placed between the sofa and the fireplace. He stood patiently waiting, so I got up and joined him. The table was completely clear except for a peppermint-scented candle and the book of matches I used to light it. I doubted the candle was the clue, so I picked up the matchbook. Danny had left it the last time he was here. He didn’t smoke cigarettes, but for some inexplicable reason he’d recently taken up smoking a pipe.

  “Is this the clue?” I asked.

  “Meow.”

  The matchbook was from a bar near the marina at Friday Harbor. I glanced at Cody. “We talked about a shopping trip. Should we try to get off work early and head over on the midday ferry?”

  “I can make that work,” Cody confirmed.

  “I’ll talk to Tara, but it should be fine. We’ll have three hours on the island before we have to catch the last ferry back to Madrona. I say we start with the bar, then see where that takes us. If we have time we can do some shopping over there. If not, we’ll do what we can when we get back.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I have an appointment with Jack Forrester this morning. I’m hoping I can work out some sort of a deal with him that will allow Burt to return to his home.”

  “So he lives on the island?”

  “He lives in Seattle, but he’s a real estate developer as well as a hard money lender and is on the island today to meet with a group of planners about a project he hopes to break ground on in the spring.”

  “Is he the guy who wants to build those tract houses up on the bluff?” I asked.

  “One and the same.”

  “Siobhan told me the town council has some issues with the homes he’s developing and has instructed the building department to wait before issuing the permits until they’re resolved.”

  “Mr. Forrester did mention that part of the reason he’s on the island is to work out the kinks in his plan. I don’t suppose you know what the problems are exactly?”

  “I don’t have all the details, but it had to do with land coverage. If you want the details you should talk to Maggie. Even though she gave up her seat on the town council at the last election, she should know what’s what. And Siobhan will know as well.”

  “I’ll call them both. It’s a good idea to go into any negotiation prepared with as much information as you can reasonably amass ahead of time.”

  ******

  The snow had started up again by the time I made it into the bookstore. Willow was dressed in one of the outfits Siobhan had given her and looked reasonably happy. I knew it gave her a certain piece of mind to have Harley and me helping her. I just hoped we didn’t let her down.

  I got the cats I’d brought settled in the cat lounge, then joined Tara and Willow in the bookstore.

  “You didn’t bring Harley?” Willow asked.

  “I don’t like to bring the cats who are here to help to the bookstore; they tend to attract the attention of people who want to adopt them.”

  “Do any of those cats ever need adopting?” Willow wondered.

  “They all seem to know exactly where they’re supposed to end up. When our missions are done I make sure they get there. Has it been busy this morning?”

  “Not too bad with all the snow, but I expect things will pick up once the first ferry gets here,” Tara answered. “Willow is helping me clean and restock the shelves; maybe you can make sure the coffee bar is ready for the first rush of the morning.”

  “Will do,” I answered. “Cody and I are going over to San Juan Island on the midday ferry, so I’m going to ask Cassie to stop by later, pick up the cats, and take them back to the sanctuary. I think she was coming in this afternoon anyway to talk to you about helping out while she’s on Christmas break.”

  “We could use the help,” Tara answered. “Are you and Cody following up on a lead?”

  I set the stack of cups I was unloading onto the counter. “Maybe. Harley led me to a matchbook Danny left at my cabin. I assume the bar the matchbook came from will lead
to a clue, but Harley and I have just started working together, so I’m not sure I’m reading his actions as clearly as I should. It’s just a short ferry ride over, so I may as well check things out. We’ll be returning on the last ferry of the day and plan to do some Christmas shopping when we get back, but if Harley’s hint leads to anything I’ll be sure to call to let you both know.” I looked at Willow. “Were you able to get a drawing of Trace?”

  Willow nodded and handed me a piece of paper. “Tara really is a good artist. She knew just what to ask me. The drawing is pretty close.”

  I looked at the drawing and saw a man with shaggy brown hair, a thin face, and a short beard. “Tall or short?”

  “Tall. At least six feet. He’s thin, with blue eyes.”

  “Okay. This will help.”

  “I hope your lead pans out. I’d really like to have this resolved soon. I can’t seem to relax with things being so uncertain, and I’m sure the stress isn’t good for the baby.”

  “Have you been to a doctor?” Tara asked.

  “No. I can’t afford that.”

  “I thought you said the baby is a he?” I replied.

  “I’ve been calling him that, but I don’t know for certain.”

  “My boyfriend is a doctor. I’ll ask Parker if he can slip you in for a checkup under the radar so you won’t be billed,” Tara offered.

  “Are you sure he won’t mind?” Willow asked.

  “He won’t mind,” Tara assured her. “I’ll call him now. Maybe he can see you today. It’s a good idea to make sure everything is progressing as it should. You probably should be on prenatal vitamins as well.”

  Tara headed to the office to make the call and Willow returned to the shelves she was stocking. I felt so bad for the girl and really hoped we could help her find her happily ever after. I had to admit to feeling somewhat conflicted. Even if we did find Trace and he signed off on the adoption that would help the baby, it might not help Willow in the long run. Maybe while she was with us I could figure out a way to not only help the baby find his way into the family he was meant to be raised in, but I could also help Willow find a new start on life.