A Very Meowy Christmas

by Patricia Fry

  “I’m sure it would. Let’s go check with Max. When did your father move in there, do you know?”

  “While I was in college, so around fifteen years ago. He died not too long after that.”

  When the two women and the cat arrived at Max’s home a few minutes later, Savannah introduced Alicia to Max and explained, “We think we know why someone was snooping around here the other night. They’re looking for something.”

  “What?” Max asked.

  “We don’t know, but it could be something Alicia’s…um kidnapper—you know, the man who took her and raised her—hid for someone. Remember, this was the last place he lived.”

  Max ran his hand through his hair. “Well, I hope that fellow isn’t coming back with heavy equipment to dig up my whole yard or something.” He added, “I mean, what’s he looking for? Is it a classic car preserved in an underground garage, a stash of money or something as tiny as a pouch of diamonds or gold? If we knew what we were looking for we’d have a better idea of where to look.”

  “We don’t have a clue as to what it is or where it is,” Savannah said. She looked at Alicia. “It could be hidden away in a storage unit someplace.”

  Alicia nodded. “I’m sorry, Mr. Sheridan. I wish I knew where to look so I can stop bothering people and go back to living my life without all this stress.”

  When Alicia began to choke up, Savannah comforted her and explained to Max, “There have been threats. Whoever’s looking for this thing is threatening her and her family. Obviously he thinks she knows where it is.”

  “Criminy,” Max mumbled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make it sound like I was blaming you.”

  “It’s okay,” Alicia said. She frowned and looked off in the distance. “What’s your cat doing?”

  “Oh,” Savannah said when she saw Rags sniffing around a shrub.

  “I didn’t know you could trust him like that,” Alicia said. “I mean without holding onto his leash.”

  Savannah walked closer to Rags and picked up the end of the leash. “Well, he kind of knows his way around here.” She asked the cat, “What did you find, boy?”

  Alicia pointed. “Is that where my dad lived when he died?”

  “As I understand it, yes.” Max asked, “Haven’t you seen the place before?”

  “No. I was in college and he didn’t want me to come around.” She tilted her head. “You know that’s strange in and of itself. Over all the years he took care of me, he never once tried to keep me away from him. I wonder why all of a sudden he did that.”

  “He was ill, wasn’t he?” Savannah confirmed. “He probably didn’t want you to see him that way or to distract you from your college studies.” Savannah smiled. “He sounds like a caring man.”

  “Do you want to see where he lived?” Max asked. “We just use it for storage.”

  “Sure.” Alicia perked up. “I have a drawing of the place. He drew pictures in his journal.”

  “Wait!” Savannah said. “He kept a journal?”

  “Of sorts, yes. It’s not very insightful. He wasn’t what you’d consider an insightful man.”

  “Alicia,” Savannah said, “have you read the journal—you know, to see if he wrote anything about hiding something for RJ? Does he mention anyone named RJ?”

  “Oh!” Alicia said. “Gosh, I don’t remember. I haven’t actually read the whole thing. I looked at his drawings—he was a pretty good artist. And I read little bits that he wrote about me—my first day of school and all.” She grinned. “I got the impression that he wrote this to show the authorities that he was doing the right thing by me—you know making sure I got an education and a religious upbringing.”

  “The authorities?” Savannah questioned.

  She nodded. “Looking back on things now I imagine he was afraid they would catch up with him at some point.”

  Savannah asked, “You say he took you to church?”

  “Oh yes. We didn’t go out in public much and a lot of my schooling was private tutoring, but we did go to church.” She laughed. “And now I know why he always dressed me in those big brimmed bonnets. I guess he didn’t want to risk anyone in the congregation recognizing me, which wouldn’t have been a problem in most cases, but since I had a twin sister, people knowing her would surely see the resemblance.” She took a deep breath. “Gosh, all that seems so odd now, but then I just wanted to do whatever my daddy told me to do. I was relatively happy growing up.”

  “Rags,” Savannah complained, “what are you doing, now?”

  “Looks like he’s digging for treasure,” Max said, laughing. He stopped laughing abruptly and looked more solemnly at Savannah, then Alicia. “Do you suppose…?”

  “Got a shovel?” Savannah asked. “If you don’t mind, we might as well follow his lead.”

  However, almost an hour later, the trio sat looking at three empty holes—one which Rags helped to dig. When the cat made himself comfortable in one of the holes, Savannah smirked at him. “Rags, you’re useless sometimes. Look at you laying down on the job.”

  Alicia laughed. “Yeah, he’s enjoying that soft dry dirt. “Taking a nap, boy?”

  “There he goes digging again,” Max said. “He keeps digging in that one hole. I wonder…”

  Savannah shook her head. “That’s one thing about Rags—he’s not exactly consistent and you can’t always read his intentions.” She chuckled. “In fact he doesn’t always have intentions. Sometimes he’s strictly off the wall.” She squinted down at the cat. “Wait. What’s that?”

  “What?” Alicia asked eagerly. “Do you see something?”

  “I thought I did,” Savannah said. She picked up Rags and pointed. “Max, move the dirt in the top corner of that hole there. I think I saw something.”

  “A tree root?” Max asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe. Can you check it out?” She cringed. “Just in case.”

  “Well, let’s see what we’ve got here,” Max said, jamming the shovel into the hole to loosen the dirt, then scooping it out. He repeated the process when suddenly, they heard a clunk. Max lifted the shovel and looked apprehensively at the two women, who moved closer to where he worked.

  “Do you see anything?” Alicia asked, peering into the hole.

  Max gently worked the shovel around the area, then clunked it against something solid twice more. “There’s something here. That’s for sure.”

  “Oh, my gosh, Rags,” Savannah said, “maybe you’ve found it. Maybe Alicia’s nightmare’s over.” When Alicia quivered eagerly, Savannah said, “You can go back to living your life in peace.”

  “I sure hope so.” Alicia focused on the hole while Max worked.

  After moving a few more shovelfuls, Max picked up a hand trowel and began scraping dirt away from the object. Soon he picked up something and examined it. “I think it’s an old oil can.” He looked at Rags and joked, “Maybe fish oil.” As the women watched quietly, Max continued digging, but discovered only a few more cans and pieces of glass. He sat back on his haunches. “Ladies, I think what Rags has led us to today is the original old dump on this property.”

  Savannah and Alicia rolled their eyes at one another. Savannah was first to speak. “I’m sorry, guys. Like I said, we never know where Rags is going to lead us.” She looked at her watch. “Max, let me help you fill in these holes, then I’d better get home to my family.” She looked at Alicia. “I imagine you’re needed at home, too.”

  Alicia nodded. “A dump, huh?” she remarked, pushing dirt into one of the holes with her foot.

  “Leave that one open,” Max insisted. “I might want to dig further and look at some of that neat stuff. I used to enjoy visiting the city dump with my dad when I was a kid and heck, I might find some things to sell on eBay.”

  Savannah smirked playfully at her uncle. “Shall I leave Rags here to help you with that?”

  “Sure,” he joked.

  On the way home, Savannah asked, “So, Alicia, will you spend more time with your father
’s journal? I think you should.”

  “I sure will, with a fine-toothed comb. Just maybe there’s a clue in there.” She faced Savannah. “Wouldn’t it be funny if this thing actually is buried in an old dump? Maybe we were closer today than we know.”

  Savannah glanced at her a few times while driving, finally saying, “It would help if we had an idea what we are looking for.”

  “That’s what I aim to find out tonight in the journal—what it is and where it is.” She looked at Savannah. “I appreciate you going with me today. I have a little bit more hope.”

  Chapter Three

  “They’re here,” Savannah called out later Saturday afternoon.

  Michael met her at the front door with Teddy in his arms, and they squeezed through together. “Buddy!” he shouted when Adam ran to him. He dropped to one knee, and wrapped his free arm around his older son, who hugged him back.

  Adam smiled. “Hi, Teddy,” he said, squeezing the baby’s arm affectionately. When the toddler pulled away, he said, “Hey, it’s your brother. I’m Adam, your brother. Don’t you remember me?” Adam made a face. “Remember me making faces at you on FaceTime yesterday?”

  Teddy simply stared at him, fingers in his mouth.

  “He just woke up,” Michael said. “He’ll be annoying you and wanting your attention soon enough.”

  Adam laughed, then asked, “Where’s Lily?”

  “Still napping,” Savannah said, opening her arms to the boy. She hugged him tightly. “So good to see you.”

  “I know,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

  “Who’s this young man?” Michael asked, upon seeing Simon exit the car.

  “That’s Simon,” Adam said.

  “Our boy,” Peter added, grinning widely. The two of them approached the Iveys. “Simon, say hello to one of my oldest and dearest friends, Michael Ivey.” He added, “We call him Dr. Mike.”

  “You’re the animal doctor?” Simon asked.

  “So they tell me,” Michael joked, offering his hand.

  “Hi, Simon,” Savannah said, reaching for a hug.

  The boy hung back, however, saying, “Hi. I like your place. Do you have a horse?”

  “Two horses,” Adam said. “She has two horses.”

  Savannah squeezed Simon’s shoulder. “Hey, where are your little bird friends? Did you bring them?”

  “No, we left them home,” Simon said. “Rochelle and Mr. Peter said you have enough animals already.”

  Rochelle joined the group and warmly greeted Savannah, Michael, and Teddy.

  “Did you have a good trip?” Savannah asked.

  “Great.” Rochelle draped one arm across Adam’s shoulders. “These boys are very entertaining.”

  Adam laughed. “Yeah, and guess who won the trivia game?”

  “I came in second,” Simon announced.

  “Oh, so, Peter, you aren’t as smart as a fifth-grader, right?” Michael teased.

  “No,” Peter said, “but I intend studying up on some of those questions they asked. I’ll get books on German history, weather terms, the habits of octopi…”

  Simon laughed and corrected, “Octopuses. Remember we learned that on your phone?”

  Peter nodded. “Yes, and English. I need a refresher course in English.”

  Savannah and Michael laughed. She reached for Teddy. “Here, let me take him, and you can help with their luggage.”

  “Sure,” Michael said. He called out to the boys as they started to walk away. “Hey, want to bring in your bags?”

  “Okay,” Adam said. “Come on, Simon. Get your bag and I’ll show you my room. I have my own room here. Dad,” he called, “can Simon stay in my room with me?”

  “I think that’s the plan,” Michael confirmed.

  ****

  After the guests had checked out their rooms, the boys approached Savannah in anticipation. Adam asked, “When can we go riding?”

  She tousled his hair. “Eager beavers are you?” She looked at Simon. “Have you ever ridden a horse?”

  He hesitated, then said, “Once, when I was pretty small. I was sitting on one of those plastic horses in front of the grocery store and I guess someone thought I wanted to go for a ride. They put a quarter in it without me knowing. That thing started bouncing all over the place, and I jumped off so fast.”

  “You didn’t enjoy the ride?” Michael asked, chuckling.

  “No, it wasn’t that. I just didn’t expect it to take off. I didn’t know anyone had put money in it. It surprised me and sometimes,” Simon said, “sometimes I just don’t like surprises.”

  “Have you ridden a real horse?” Savannah asked.

  He shook his head. “Not even a pony at the fair. It was always too expensive.”

  “Well, how about we spend some time tomorrow morning getting to know the horses and learning a few safety rules. Then maybe we can go for a ride.”

  When Simon appeared disappointed, she said, “You can help me feed them tonight.”

  “Cool!” Simon shouted.

  “Not really,” Adam said. “I mean, feeding them is okay, but not as much fun as going for a ride with Savannah.”

  “Thanks, Adam,” Savannah said. “We do have fun, don’t we?” She glanced at the others who were seated in the living room with mugs of hot coffee, then said to the boys, “But horses aren’t all fun and games.”

  “I know,” Adam said. “If you want the horse to take care of you, you have to take care of the horse.”

  “Right!” Savannah complimented.

  “Well, feeding horses sounds fun to me,” Simon said.

  “What about cleaning up horse poop?” Adam teased.

  Simon frowned. He looked at Savannah. “You have to clean up their poop? Ewww.”

  “Somebody’s got to do it,” Rochelle said, joining the others, “like we do with the parrots.”

  Just then Savannah’s phone rang. She saw that it was Alicia and winced. “I’m sorry, I really should take this.”

  Rochelle smiled. “Of course, kiddo. Life goes on even when you have guests. Go ahead. The boys and I’ll entertain Teddy.”

  “I’m sorry to take so long,” Savannah said when she returned several minutes later.

  “What is it, Savannah?” Rochelle asked. “You seem disturbed. Is your mother okay? She’ll be home this weekend from her vacation, right?”

  “Yes she will. No, that was a friend of mine, Alicia…”

  “The twin who was kidnapped as a toddler?” Rochelle asked.

  Savannah looked stunned. “You remember that?”

  “Oh, yes,” Rochelle said. “I thought it was an amazing story. Things like that fascinate me. How’s she doing?”

  Before Savannah could respond, the two boys approached her, and Adam asked, “Can we go out and see the horses?”

  She nodded. “Sure. Remember the safety rules.”

  “I will,” he called as he and Simon bounded into the kitchen and out the side door.

  She smiled, then continued her discussion with Rochelle. “To answer your question, things were going along wonderfully for Alicia, although the family bonding seems to be taking a little longer than she expected.”

  “Well, yes. She has the twin sister who’s deeply embedded in the family,” Rochelle explained, “and she just walks in cold like that. She can’t expect to start up where they left off thirty years ago. Neither can her parents or her sister. Relationships take time.”

  “Oh, she and her sister have a great relationship,” Savannah said. “It’s as if they were never separated. Things are good with her father, too, but it’s been a little difficult for her and her mother. They had some counseling. I think they’re doing better; however things still get a little complicated for them sometimes. But no, that isn’t the problem now.”

  “Oh? What’s going on?” Rochelle asked. “Can you talk about it?”

  “Yes, Alicia’s getting threatening letters from someone saying he wants something that her father evident
ly kept for him.”

  “Her father?”

  “Well, the man who raised her,” Savannah clarified. “Of course, he has died and this guy or woman seems to think Alicia knows something about it—you know, the object, and whoever it is seems to want it back in the worst way. This person is even threatening Alicia and her family. So yes, I’m pretty upset about it. I’ve been trying to help or at least support Alicia.”

  “Alicia doesn’t know who this is?” Rochelle asked.

  Savannah shook her head. “No, but this morning when we were together she mentioned her father’s journal and I suggested she read it to see if she could find any clues about what he might have hidden or who this person is.”

  “She hadn’t read his journal?” Rochelle asked. “I wonder why?”

  “Up until today I guess she’d only thumbed through it.”

  “But she has read it now?”

  Savannah nodded. “Yes, and she’s still confused and in the dark about whoever it is making demands on her and what exactly they want.”

  Rochelle was quiet for a moment, then asked, “Has she tried hypnosis?” When Savannah hesitated, she explained, “She may know something, but has forgotten or suppressed it or was too young to really assimilate something she heard or saw. Hypnosis might help to release memories she doesn’t even know she has.”

  Savannah brightened. “Do you think so?”

  “Sure. It’s possible. How dire is this situation?”

  “It’s hard to tell, but this guy—we both think it’s a man—is making awful threats. He sounds like a bad dude.”

  “Hmmm, so time is of the essence,” Rochelle muttered.

  Savannah nodded. “Could be.”

  “I’d be glad to work with her—you know, use hypnosis if she’s open to it.”

  “That’s right, you used to do a lot of that type of work, didn’t you?” Savannah grinned. “Have you come out of retirement?”

  Rochelle sighed. “Unfortunately, being psychic is not something you can retire from. It’s just there and it’s almost impossible for me to ignore my…shall we call it a gift?” Rochelle continued, “I’d be happy to help her get the information she needs if, indeed, it’s something she’s repressed for some reason.” She thought for a moment, then suggested. “How about we see if she’s available and willing this evening? Do we have any plans?”