Fat Cat Takes The Cake

“Now that you mention it, you do sound bad. I’m closing up. The plows have put all the snow in front of my shop and there’s no parking on this block at all. I’ll be over in a minute with something to make you right as rain.”

He disconnected before she could dissuade him. She would groan if her throat didn’t hurt so much. Here came another home remedy.

Her only hope was that Anna got to the Bar None before he did so Chase wouldn’t have to go down the stairs and let him in. She wished she could call him back and tell him to set his remedy outside the door, but she couldn’t bring herself to be quite that rude.

TWENTY-FIVE

Chase heard the door open downstairs. Anna, she thought, relieved. Then she heard two sets of footsteps coming up the stairs. Hoping it wasn’t Anna and Eddie at the same time, since Anna disapproved of him, Chase went to her door and opened it. It was Anna and Eddie, of course. She smiled to hide her uneasiness. Much as she knew she shouldn’t keep seeing Eddie, she also didn’t want him to see her with her hair flat and her nose red.

“Hey, let me drop this off for you, Chase,” he said. “Drink as much of it as you can. It’ll make you better in no time.” He shoved a thermos at her, gave a mock salute, and trounced down the stairs. It was something hot. More tea with honey would be good, but she somehow doubted that’s what it held.

After he left, Anna bustled in to set her contribution on the stove. She turned on a burner and soon the delectable aroma of Anna’s homemade chicken soup was filling the kitchen.

“What did your friend bring you?” Anna asked.

“I’m afraid to look.”

“Why is that?”

“He’s into natural health stuff. You know, vegan, green stuff to drink, tofu.”

“Those can all be delicious if you do them right.”

Chase perched on her kitchen stool at the counter. “Not as delicious as your chicken soup. You’re an angel for making it. Did you do it after ten o’clock last night?”

Anna smiled. “No, Julie called me much earlier than that and told me you were sick. I wish I could have brought it last night, but it was still too hot to transport when we were talking.”

“You were talking. I was whispering.” Chase started coughing.

“And you should still be whispering. This will be warm soon. Go to your couch, or your bed if you wish, and I’ll bring it as soon as it’s ready.”

“You’re the best.” Chase made her way to the couch. She realized she was still clutching the warm thermos that Eddie had sent. Maybe it was a good hot drink of something that would soothe her throat, even if it wasn’t tea and honey. Cautiously, she unscrewed the top.

A horrible smell erupted from the innocent-looking vessel. “Ugh!” She screwed the top on securely.

“What is it?” Anna ran in to see what had prompted Chase’s outburst. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know what it is.” Chase held the thermos out and Anna took the top off, taking a cautious sniff.

“Apple cider vinegar, if my guess is right.” Anna wasn’t disgusted, but Chase didn’t know why not.

“Vinegar? He thinks I should drink vinegar?”

“I’m sure it’s mostly water, with some vinegar in it. Apple cider. It’s quite healthy.”

“Take it away.” Chase pulled her feet up onto the couch and Quincy obliged her by lying on top of them to keep her warm.

She dozed and was pleasantly awakened in a few minutes by Anna bringing her a bowl of chicken soup goodness. Anna’s soup was mostly broth, which she got from boiling a whole chicken with herbs. Chunks of light and dark meat floated in the liquid with some peas and thin carrot slices, adorned with slivers of transparent onion. Anna used rice instead of noodles, which made it easier to eat. Plain crackers rested on the plate beneath the bowl.

Chase sat up and dug in. After three spoonfuls, she croaked, “Heavenly.”

“Glad you like it.” Anna beamed. “What do you want to drink?”

“Just water, I think.”

“Good idea.” After Anna brought her a glass, she said she needed to head downstairs. It was time for Mallory and Inger to arrive.

Chase heard them pounding on the back door as Anna ran down the steps.

As the morning passed, Chase felt her sinuses clearing and the fog that she’d been enveloped in lifting. By noon she was beginning to think she could venture downstairs. She hadn’t coughed for an hour. If she started again, she’d return to her apartment.

Quincy’s paws tapped the treads behind her as she walked down and into the warm, bright kitchen. The smell of almond flavoring prevailed. “Mm.” She closed her eyes and inhaled. “You’re making Cherry Almond Oatmeal Bars, aren’t you?”

“There you are. Feeling any better?”

“Your soup is a miracle cure.”

“Do you need some more? I have more broth at home. I can whip up some more soup for tonight if you’d like.”

“There’s some left. Is there anything I can do? Do you need a taste tester?”

Anna laughed. “There’s a batch cooling on the counter. Help yourself. But don’t touch the bars we’re going to sell. I don’t want our customers to get sick.”