Six Cats A Slayin'

“I was gone a little over two hours, I’d say. I’m amazed they could put it up so quickly myself. Stewart is a whiz at organizing, though, so I’m sure they were prepared to work fast. I am thrilled with what they did. I needed some Christmas spirit, and they provided it, bless them.”

“How is little Charlie doing?” Melba asked. “I haven’t seen him in three weeks.”

“He’s doing fine,” I said. “Thriving, in fact. Six months have flown by.”

“What about Alex? Any more word on her?”

I shook my head. “No, I’ve been waiting for Sean to call me. Between keeping tabs on Alex’s condition and trying to get work done, he’s stretched pretty thin. If I don’t hear from him in another hour, I’ll call.”

“Let me know what you find out,” Melba said. “I’ve been so worried about Alex. Breaks my heart to see her go through this.”

“Thank the Lord she’s finally getting help. I really want to go see her, but I’m waiting until Sean tells me she’s up to a visit,” I said.

“I hope that’s soon,” Melba said. “Guess I’d better get going. I’ve cried on your shoulder enough for one day.” She smiled, and the sadness of it made me want to hug her and tell her everything would be okay.

“You don’t have to rush out on my account,” I said. “If you’re not in that big a hurry, why don’t you go and visit the kittens? They’ll help cheer you up. Won’t they, Diesel?”

Diesel warbled a loud and firm agreement, or so I interpreted it. Melba smiled again, a little more brightly this time.

“I think I’ll do that,” Melba said. “I don’t have anything that can’t wait awhile longer. Come on, Diesel, let’s go play with the babies.”

I did not accompany them. I wanted to give Melba the chance to calm down even further, and without me present she could focus on the kittens and hopefully forget about Jared for a little while.

I decided to hang out in the den until Melba was ready to leave. I could check my e-mail while I waited. I was still reading through messages when Melba and Diesel came to the den in search of me.

I set the laptop aside. “How were the kittens?” Diesel jumped onto the sofa next to me.

“Full of energy, and shedding hair,” Melba said with a rueful glance at her dark skirt. I started to apologize, but Melba said firmly, “Don’t worry. I have one of those lint brushes in the car. Won’t take me a minute to get rid of the hair.”

“If you’re sure,” I said.

“I am,” Melba said. “I’d still be in there playing with them, but I got a text message. I’ve been waiting for it for a couple of days now.”

I knew Melba and that arch tone of hers. She expected me to ask about the text.

“What’s up with the text message?” I asked obligingly. “Is it important?”

“It could be,” Melba said. “It took me a while, but I finally tracked down someone I’ve been looking for.”

“Who would that be?”

“Mrs. Ima Jean Norwood,” Melba said with an air of triumph.

“Congratulations,” I said. “Who is Ima Jean Norwood? Last living relative of the Russian royal family?”

Melba shot me a look of disdain. “You used to be so funny. No, Mrs. Norwood was good friends with Billy Albritton’s mother, and she knew his grandparents, the Albrittons, too. She’s in a nursing home here in Athena, and I’m going to talk to her.”

“Still on the trail of Gerry Albritton,” I remarked.

“Yes, I am,” Melba said. “I’m determined to find out exactly who she was.”

I really wanted to share the news about Gerry’s birth gender, but if Kanesha found out I had told Melba, she might not trust me again with sensitive information. So I kept it to myself.

Melba’s eyes narrowed while she gazed at me. “You know something, don’t you? What is it?”

“I can’t tell you,” I said. “Something Kanesha told me, and I can’t tell anyone else, not even you.”

“Since it’s Kanesha, I’m not going to press you. I know how she is,” Melba said.

“You think Mrs. Norwood may actually know something?” I asked.

“If she’s not gaga, I think she might,” Melba said. “I figure she’s in her late eighties, at least. I’m praying that she’s still mentally all there.”

“Good luck,” I said. “I hope she can help us.”

“I’ll let you know,” Melba said.

“We’ll see you out,” I told her.

“No need, I know the way.” Melba gave a little wave. “Talk to you later.”

“Bye,” I said. Diesel added a couple of meows to my farewell.

“Okay, buddy,” I said to Diesel. “It’s time to wrap some presents. I know you’ll help me, but don’t help too much, okay?” Diesel was like a kitten around ribbon and boxes. He couldn’t resist them. Other than locking him in another room while I wrapped gifts, however, I didn’t know how to stop him. The trick was to distract him with a box and some ribbon, and I could wrap while he played.

I needed a large flat surface. I could use my bed, because I knew by now Azalea would have stripped it, remade it with clean linens, and put the bedspread on. The kitchen table would be better, however, and unless Azalea needed it for the next half an hour or so, that would be the best place to work.