by Cate Conte
“Sit with what?”
“Your problems,” he said. “You can’t solve everyone’s. But you can solve your own if you figure out what they are.”
“That’ll be a heck of a lot more than ten minutes a day if I need to meditate on each of my problems,” I grumbled, but I accepted the book and flipped it open. Each page had a quote with a couple paragraphs below it. “How long?” I asked Cass. “I mean, how long do I sit for?”
He smiled. “As long as it takes.”
Aargh. Sometimes he lost me. I looked up at him. He watched me, that tiny smile still on his face. He knew he was challenging me. I wanted him to know I was up for it.
“Got it,” I said breezily. “Now. Can I have more tea?”
Chapter 33
I left Cass’s feeling infinitely better, as usual. His tea always made me feel better. Heck, his presence did that. And even though I had homework now to add to my list of things to do, I felt calmer thinking about the little book of meditations in my bag. That man was good for my soul. And good for everyone around me, because when I felt peaceful like this, it meant I wasn’t trying to force everything to go my way. Val should be thanking Cass because I wasn’t going to go home and harass her to file divorce papers. I wondered how long I’d be able to hold on to this feeling.
But since I hadn’t actually done any of the meditations yet, and my habit of problem-solving wasn’t going to dissipate overnight, I felt like I needed to do something.
The problem was what. It was hard to make sense of any of this, so figuring out what to do was even harder. Talking to Heather Hawthorne was out, and I figured Cole was holed up at his parents’. Or maybe he’d gone back to his house now that it was empty. Either way, I didn’t think it made sense to ambush him right now.
So that left Adele and her history with Holly. And Gigi, whatever her part in that was. Maybe I could find out what the deal really was with her. I didn’t know a lot of people who could give me that information, but I did know one.
So JJ and I drove to the animal control center. Katrina had to know more about Adele and Gigi and whatever was going on with Holly than she’d let on. And I was going to make her tell me one way or another. I wanted to get to her early because I knew once she hit the road, she tended to be out most of the day.
When I pulled up in front of the pound, she was out front doing something in the back of her van. I parked at the curb, picked up JJ, and went over to her.
She glanced up from adjusting cages. “Hey.” She looked like she’d been up all night too. Her eyes were bloodshot and her clothes were wrinkled.
“Hey,” I said. “Got a few?”
“I was actually on my way out to a call,” she said.
“I’ll ride with you,” I offered.
“Yeah?”
“Yep. As long as you have me back by ten.”
“I’ll tell the raccoon I have to catch and relocate that he best cooperate to fit your schedule,” she said dryly.
I grinned. “Appreciate it. Come on, JJ.” We hopped up into the van.
Katrina finished organizing, slammed the van doors, and climbed into the driver’s seat. She pulled out onto the road and turned left, heading toward the east side of town. Out here, the houses were less crowded together and the beaches were in full view from the road. I was content to just sit for a few, watching the scenery slide by and inhaling the salt air.
Finally she looked at me. “So what’s up?”
“Tell me about this history between Adele and Holly. I know you know more than you’re telling me.”
She concentrated on driving around a hairpin turn, chewing on her lip the whole time. “I wish I didn’t know half this stuff,” she muttered. “I don’t want to think Adele did this. But then I think of everything that’s happened with Holly.”
“Why did she hate her so much?” I asked. “Just because she’s wealthy and she has no idea how to treat cats?”
“Pretty much,” Katrina said, but I could hear in her tone there was more. I decided to wait before I latched onto that and see what else she had to say first. “Holly knew one of the women who worked at the rescue organization before they shut down. This stupid woman used to humor her and let her have cats. It started a few years ago, when Holly started coming back for the summer. Heather was usually the one who spent summers here, and it sounded like she was happy to do it without her sister. But then Holly started coming back. And she needed a pet.” Katrina rolled her eyes. “The first time, no problem. But then she returned the cat. Adele got her back up about that. Then the woman let her take another one home. This one got killed. Holly let it outside and it got hit by a car. And it was one of Adele’s favorites from the shelter, so she lost it.”
“Wow,” I said. “Not a great track record. I can see her point.”
“Oh, there’s more,” Katrina said with a sideways glance at me. “Then Holly went back to the shelter for another cat. She didn’t find one she bonded with”—she made air quotes around the word—“so she went on Craigslist and answered an ad for a free kitten. Came home with two of them and never got them fixed.”
“Ouch,” I said, sinking lower into my seat. I could tell what was coming next.
“Yeah. Ouch. Boy and a girl. By the time she got a clue, there were two litters. And she didn’t know what to do about it—or didn’t care—so she let them outside. By the time Adele found out about it, there were about twenty cats from those two kittens.”
I winced. No wonder Adele had been so nuts about Holly not getting a cat. “So did Adele confront her?”
“There were a couple of incidents. She tried to trap them and get Holly to donate money for their care, and Holly wouldn’t. Then Adele got mad and, being Adele, told Holly what she thought of her. But she still wanted to help the cats, so she decided to trap them all and fix them. But Holly threatened her with trespassing charges when she tried to go on the property.”
This kept getting better and better. “So, what happened?” I asked finally when Katrina went silent.
She sighed. “Adele got Gigi involved. They got most of the cats, but I never asked how. I had to stop listening to the stories, I felt like I was about to get in trouble just by proximity.” She glanced at me. “I do know that the police had to pick them both up once. They went on the property right in front of Holly and it was a whole big thing.”
“Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?”
“Because I didn’t want you to think badly of her.” She glanced at me. “Silly, considering … everything.”
“Not silly at all. So that’s it? It really is all about the cats?”
“As far as I know,” Katrina said, but I still got the sense she was holding something back.
“What about Gigi?” I asked after a moment. I wondered if her quiet, fragile demeanor was authentic or not. If she was running around with Adele and getting picked up by the cops, she had to have some spunk in her. And she and Adele seemed really tight.
“What about her?” Katrina slowed and peered out the window, looking for some landmark.
“What do you know about her?”
“Not much, like I told you. She left college. I think she ran out of money. She’s camping out at the beach. She likes cats, and found Adele, who brought her along to volunteer. Where the heck is this place?” She craned her neck to look at the address on a mailbox.
I felt like Katrina was telling the truth about not knowing much about Gigi. But there was still something she hadn’t told me and I wondered how far I could push her.
“Hey, listen,” she said, hitting the gas again before I could decide whether or not to press her. “While you’re here, I do have to ask you something. Kind of a huge favor.” She widened her eyes with her best puppy-dog look.
“Oh boy,” I muttered. “Now that I’m trapped, you mean?”
She pretended to be hurt. “Come on. You’ll love it. This is perfect for you. And it’s really gonna help me out.”
I held u
p a hand. “Katrina—”
“Just hear me out.” She took a deep breath. “I started this new program. A pet pantry on wheels to help out the people who want pets—like seniors—but can’t get out to get them food, or the people can’t afford food. It’s a way to keep the pets in their homes if there’s some problem, and get more of the pets adopted.”
“It sounds great,” I said warily. “What’s the catch?”
“Adele was going to be my driver.” She sucked in another breath. “Obviously that’s not happening now. Maddie. Can you please help me? Even just temporarily?”
“Me?” I stared at her. “Katrina. You’re supposed to be finding me volunteers. I’m pretty strapped right now. I have one in jail and one who shows up when she thinks of it. I mean, Grandpa Leo has been helping, but that’s not fair to him.”
“Please, Maddie. It’s only temporary.” She sent me a pleading glance. “I have three routes every week. That’s it. I have four people signed up here in Daybreak Harbor, three in Turtle Point, and one in Fisherman’s Bay so far.”
I rubbed my temples. That headache was back.
“Please. I have no one else,” she said, her voice small. “The people on the list really need the food for their pets.”
God. She knew exactly where to get me. I couldn’t resist if it was for the animals, despite my insanely full plate. “Fine. I’ll help you for a couple of weeks, but it’ll have to be around the café hours,” I warned. “And you have to be actively looking for someone else. Maybe Grandpa. He might like the job.”
She squealed and hit the steering wheel. “If I wasn’t driving I’d hug you right now. Thank you so much. You are amazing. Truly. I love you!” She hit the gas a little harder and visibly relaxed. “The first route is scheduled for this Friday. Now that that’s sorted. What’s going on with you?”
I leaned my head back against the seat. “Know any good party planners?” I asked.
Katrina sent me a funny look. “No. Why?”
“No reason.”
I grabbed onto the dashboard as Katrina swerved over near an old farmhouse. “You can stay here,” she said, and got out of the van. I heard her rummaging around in the back before she emerged with a net.
Of course, I didn’t. I rolled down the window and placed JJ on the seat, then got out and followed her. I really wanted to see her in action.
“What are you doing?” she asked, catching sight of me behind her as she headed toward a barn on the property.
“Watching our tax dollars at work.” I grinned.
She rolled her eyes at me.
“What are you trying to do?” I asked as she approached the slightly open door.
“I’m supposed to relocate this raccoon. He’s eating all the chicken feed.”
“Relocating. Does that mean…?”
“Letting him free in a different location,” she said. “Of course I wouldn’t just kill anything!”
“Jeez, I hope not,” I said under my breath.
She sent me a filthy look and handed me the net. “Make yourself useful.”
Chapter 34
Once we’d stalked, captured, and re-homed the embattled raccoon in a wooded area—nearly an hour later—Katrina dropped me off back at my car with a promise to be by later to drop off my new café residents. JJ thought the whole thing was pretty boring. He’d slept in the van the whole time. Now, I hauled him into the car and he barely opened one eye before curling back up.
Oh, to be a cat.
But I had to go open the café. All my slots were booked today, and I had two more cats, along with my little kitten, being picked up by their new families. Then I had two new cats coming later tonight to replace them. I allowed myself to feel good about that.
My cell rang, taking me out of the moment. My dad. The gala. I groaned and thought about letting the call go to voice mail, but I didn’t want to be responsible for my own father’s heart attack. “Hey Dad.”
“Good morning. Just checking on your progress.”
“My progress,” I repeated. “Well, so far today I’ve gotten out of bed.”
Silence.
“I’m kidding, Dad,” I said. “I mean, I did get out of bed. But I know what you mean. I’m getting to work in a bit. I had some things to do this morning. I still have to go through your binder.”
“Oh.” I could hear the panic on the other end of the phone. “Okay. Well, any leads on a caterer? Because there’s a meeting set up with the hotel to talk to the caterer tomorrow.”
“But you don’t have a caterer,” I pointed out. “So how is there a meeting?”
“Well, we need the meeting to make sure things are on track.”
I wanted to pull out my hair at this illogical logic. “Fine. Sure, Dad. I have a lead,” I said. “I’ll get back to you later. What time is the meeting?”
“Three o’clock.”
“Great.” I hung up on him, muttering to myself as I turned the truck toward home. I did have a lead on a caterer. The only one I knew. But if she needed the money that badly, maybe she’d jump in and help me out. And do it incredibly well so my father didn’t disown me.
When the phone rang again I almost didn’t answer. Until I saw it was Lucas. Then I snatched it up.
“So we’re on for tonight?” he asked.
“Yes. Absolutely. I can’t wait,” I said.
“Good.” He sounded pleased. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“I’ll be waiting,” I promised. I drove home with a smile on my face, despite the fact that I expected I’d have to do a whirlwind cleaning job. And I was starving. Aside from Cass’s tea, I hadn’t put a thing in my stomach yet. I hoped Ethan had made something yummy.
When I got there, I pulled into the driveway and paused. Something looked off. It took me a minute to realize what it was.
Adele’s van was gone. It had been left here, abandoned, when the police had taken her away yesterday. Had Gabe come to pick it up for her? Or had she been released? For the first time, I felt hopeful.
We slipped in through the side door. I let JJ off his harness. He took off for the café, waiting at the door to the dining room for me to open it. Once inside, he headed straight for his kitten pals. They greeted him like their long-lost dad. I wondered if he would miss the little guy who was going to his new home.
I looked around, sniffing in appreciation. I could smell pastry, but also the scent of a candle. Someone had cleaned already. The room was calm and full of cats. In fact, all the cats. No one was hiding. I went into the kitchen.
Ethan was organizing the fridge. Gigi was at the table sipping a juice. She looked miserable. “Hey. Looks great out there,” I said, trying to raise the vibe of the room. Which was pretty low.
Ethan glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah, Gigi and Leo took care of everything.” He looked sort of down and out too. I wanted to ask him what was up, but not in front of Gigi. I also wanted to ask him about Adele’s car, but I wasn’t sure if that would set Gigi off. I stifled a frustrated sigh. I wasn’t good at treating people with kid gloves.
“Thanks,” I said to Gigi. “I appreciate it.”
She mumbled something that sounded like No problem.
I snagged what appeared to be a homemade doughnut off the counter and poured some coffee. “Hey, is Val around?”
“She was here earlier. I made her breakfast.” Ethan kept his head buried in the fridge.
I wanted to ask how she was doing, but thought it might sound weird. And he didn’t seem to want to talk. I went out to the dining room area to sit at one of my little tables and checked e-mails, reorganizing the schedule for the day based on a couple of cancellations and some wait-list confirmations. We only had one open slot left. I posted something on Facebook to that effect and took a few pictures of the cats to add to it.
And then it was time to open.
I went through to the living room, leaving the door separating the two rooms open. Gigi was about to let people in. I glanced out the door, surpris
ed to find a crowd on the front steps.
“Wow. Morning, everyone,” I said, ushering them in. “Can I get your names so I can check you off my list? Did everyone make a reservation?”
Grandpa’s friend Tommy Gregory waved. “I did. Morning, Maddie,” he said, looking around eagerly for a glimpse of a cat. “Where’s my pal?”
“Morning, Mr. G. Which baby are you looking for?” I checked Tommy off my list.
“The black and white one. With the pretty eyes.” I could swear he blushed. I remember Grandpa saying he’d be my best customer. It looked like he might be right. I just worried what would happen when all his babies got adopted. He might ask us if we could rent him a room so he could move in with the cats.
“I saw him in that cubby over there.” I pointed to the far corner of the room, where I’d installed a cat tree with various levels of hiding places. Tommy made a beeline. I heard him a minute later making coaxing noises to the cat. I turned back to everyone else.
“We didn’t make a reservation. We just really wanted to see the place,” a woman with a leopard-print jacket that would’ve made Leopard Man jealous said, sounding anxious.
I separated them into two groups and gave Gigi the list of people who’d signed up, then turned to the extra people. I didn’t want to turn away the revenue, and I figured I could be flexible since it was my first week.
“I appreciate everyone coming,” I said. “If I could have you sign in here. We’ve got more people than cats right now, so as long as we’re all polite about it and making sure the cats aren’t stressed, it’s cool if everyone comes in. Okay?”
Everyone agreed, looking relieved. They signed in and paid their money, then began milling around checking the place out.
Grandpa, who’d wandered in from the kitchen, came over to me. “Pretty good, right?” he said with a grin.
“It’s nice, but I want to make sure things stay calm for the cats,” I said. “Hey, Grandpa. Adele’s car is gone. Did you see anyone come get it?”
He nodded. “Adele did. Someone gave her a ride. She didn’t come to the door or anything, but I heard them drive up and happened to look outside.”
