◆◆◆

  Later that day Gladys asked, “Shouldn’t we be leaving? It’s almost twelve thirty.”

  “Yes,” Savannah said as she finished putting Teddy’s shoes on him.

  “Looks like we’ll be the last to arrive again,” Gladys remarked.

  Savannah smiled, because this time she’d planned it that way. “I’m glad we put the kids down early for a nap. They should be okay at least through dinner.”

  “If Teddy gets tired, he’ll fall asleep in your arms,” Gladys said. “He often does.”

  Savannah patted Teddy’s legs. “Right. Do we have everything?”

  “I think so,” Michael said. “I couldn’t carry another dish, pan or platter.” When he saw Savannah strapping Rags’s harness on him, he slumped. “Oh no.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “You aren’t taking him, are you?”

  “Yes, he wants to see his friends. This will be his last chance to play with Koko. They’re leaving day after tomorrow.”

  “Well, there goes my peaceful afternoon,” Michael griped.

  Savannah kissed him on the cheek as she brushed past with the cat in her arms and Lily by the hand. “He’ll be just fine.”

  “Where have I heard that before?” he grumbled. “Oh yes, on our way to San Francisco, where he escaped into Arthur’s dungeon, and when we went to Arizona and he halted an endurance ride, and what about the time we took him to the East with us…”

  “Never mind,” Savannah soothed, walking out the door ahead of him.

  Gladys shook her head, amused.

  “We’re making a grand entrance again,” Michael said pulling up to the inn and seeing all the cars already parked there.

  “Yes we are,” Savannah chirped. “Shall we take the cat and the kids in before we carry in the dishes?”

  “Good idea,” Gladys said. “I sure hope we don’t look out of place and hurt people’s feelings,” she muttered as they approached the door.

  “Greetings,” Craig said, opening the door for them even before they reached it.

  Gladys took a step back. “Well, Craig, don’t you look dapper in your vest? How very nice you look.”

  He bowed and reached for Gladys’s hand. “And so do you madam. Let me usher you in and show you off.”

  “How gallant,” she said beaming. She took Craig’s arm and they walked into the lobby together, where she stopped and looked around, smiling broadly. She glanced back at Savannah. “How did this happen? Everyone’s dressed up. Just like the old days.”

  “Yes,” Iris said, approaching Gladys and Savannah. “Isn’t this fun?” She stepped back and admired Gladys. “You look beautiful.”

  “So do you, Iris,” Gladys said. “Maggie, look at you! I haven’t seen you so dressed up since we were kids.”

  “Yeah,” Margaret said, “and we had to wear those damn frilly dresses.”

  “Well, you look gorgeous, doesn’t she Max?”

  He nodded.

  Gladys’s eyes swept the room. “All of you look great. Oh, what memories this brings back.”

  “Surprise,” Brianna said, emerging from the crowd. She hugged her mother. “We did this for you, you know.”

  Gladys glanced at Savannah. “Really?”

  Savannah nodded.

  “Well, I’m tickled. I really am. Thank you, everyone.” She ran her hand down Brianna’s arm. “Love your dress. You look so pretty.”

  “So do you,” she said, kissing her mother on the cheek.

  “And this isn’t all,” Iris said, moving aside and gesturing widely toward the dining room.

  Gladys smiled. “Iris, the tables look lovely.” She walked closer and gasped. “Oh my! Are these…? How did you…?” She faced her daughter. “Vannie, is this Grandmother’s china?”

  Savannah smiled. “Yes, it is.”

  “Oh, what a beautiful gesture,” she said. “Iris…girls…everyone, this is so beautiful. And the flowers…oh my. I’m overwhelmed.”

  Iris put her arm around Gladys. “When we heard that you miss the more traditional Thanksgiving, we all pitched in to make it as close to the real thing as we could.”

  Gladys teared up. “Thank you. This is so sweet. I love it. I hope you’ll all enjoy my trip down memory lane as much as I’m enjoying it right now.”

  Just then Mattie entered from the kitchen. “The first course is ready,” she announced, “as soon as everyone’s seated.”

  “Dinner will be served in courses?” Gladys asked. “How special.”

  “Oh, Francine,” Savannah greeted after she and Michael had carried in the fruit bowl and veggie plate, “I’ll bet you’re happy to be back with your cats.”

  She nodded. “I missed them.” She petted Rags. “It’s nice to see him again and to meet his friend, Koko.”

  “Is Koko behaving herself?” Margaret asked.

  Francine nodded and sat down next to Ruth.

  “Rupert, how’s the dirt-moving project coming?” Michael asked.

  “Good,” he said. “They’ve decided that was built as a bomb shelter or a fallout shelter in the sixties, complete with an air-filtering system and all. I doubt it was working very well anymore. They found it filled with dirt. It’s a wonder that guy and those cats didn’t suffocate down there. In fact, they checked for carcasses before they started filling in the hole—you know, once they removed the shed.”

  “Didn’t find anything, did they?” Damon asked.

  “No.”

  “Thank heavens,” Iris said, clasping her hands in front of herself. “I’ll be glad when that project’s finished. We’re dealing with a lot of dust in the inn now. The housekeepers are doing double duty to keep things clean.”

  “Just a few more days,” Craig said from the second table. “Right, Rupert?”

  He nodded.

  “Then what?” Michael asked. When the others looked blankly at him, he explained, “What’s your next project around here?”

  “We have reservations starting Monday, and we’re booked through the New Year. So my priority is just to serve our guests in the best way that we can and try to recover what we lost during the cat-explosion fiasco.” Iris turned to Savannah. “Are you going to write about that?”

  Savannah smiled. “Sure am. I’ve been making notes. I need to sit down soon and start the writing. I actually have quite a few stories to tell about Rags lately that I haven’t had time to write, because he and the children keeps me so busy.”

  Damon laughed. “Who else has a built-in story machine working behind the scenes to create fodder for books?”

  “Yeah,” Colbi said, “while we go out and try to find material to write about.”

  “You’re back to writing?” Savannah asked.

  Colbi nodded. “Sure. Does a writer ever stop writing? I’m actually working on a novel and I’m doing a little stringing for the newspaper again.”

  “Your career has certainly blossomed, Damon,” Michael said. “I see your byline on at least half the stories published in the paper these days.”

  “Yeah, they rely on me a lot,” he said. “I wish they’d hire another reporter or two, but I do enjoy some of the assignments.”

  At the other table, Margaret asked, “So Craig, is that cat magician settled in somewhere with the magic cats?”

  “I guess,” he said. “He seemed to have money in his pocket and a place to rent.”

  Iris added, “It’s a farmhouse where no one’s around to complain about the cats and there’s plenty of room to work with them. He said he’d stay in touch, but who knows if he will.”

  Suddenly a clamor of kitty paws caused everyone to turn toward the stairs.

  “Uh-oh,” Iris said. “It looks like that cat-room door latch needs to be adjusted again.”

  “Sorry about that, Ms. Iris,” Francine said, standing up.

  “Never mind,” Iris said, straining to see which cats were causing the commotion. “Looks like it’s just Rags and Koko. Let them explore. They can’t get out of the building.”

  Everyone laughed when Koko stopped at the bottom of the staircase and Rags leaped over her and chased something probably imaginary across the floor.

  “Look at him skitter like a kitten,” Colbi said.

  “Yes, he’s still in touch with his kitten-self,” Savannah said.

  The laughter accelerated when Koko jumped onto Rags’s back and he rolled over, grabbed her, and they began to wrestle.

  “No, Koko,” Lily cried. “Don’t hurt Rags. Mommy, she’s hurting Rags.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetie,” Arthur murmured, walking toward the cats and picking up Koko. “Don’t hurt Rags,” he scolded gently.

  “He’s twice her size,” Margaret carped. “I’d be more concerned for her safety.”

  “I don’t think either one of them will be hurt,” Michael said. “They’re good friends, Lily; they’re just playing like you and your brother play sometimes.”

  “She kicked Rags,” Lily insisted, kicking her feet to demonstrate what she’d witnessed.

  “Arthur, sit down and eat your shrimp,” Michael insisted. “They’re fine. Lily’s fine.”

  “Time for the salad,” Mattie said, standing up.

  Ruth followed her. “I’ll help, Sis.”

  “How elegant,” Gladys remarked when she saw the bowls of fresh greens arrive. The women also served a side of fruit and fresh vegetables.

  “Now, save room for the main platter,” Mattie said.

  “And dessert,” Colbi added.

  Craig rubbed his hands together with delight. “Ahhh, yes, dessert.”

  “What’s that?” Mattie yelled moments later as two cats raced past her.

  “Rags and Koko!” Suzette said.

  “Now where are they going?” Craig asked, chuckling.

  Savannah stood up. “I don’t know, but I think I should put them away.”

  “Yes, they’re getting a little rowdy,” Michael agreed.

  “Come on, Rags,” Savannah coaxed, following the cats into the kitchen. When Koko walked up to the door leading outside, she asked, “Now what are you doing?”

  “They’re looking at something out there,” Mattie said, returning to the kitchen for the water pitcher. “What do they see?” She chuckled. “They sure are interested, aren’t they?”

  “Yes,” Savannah said, joining the cats at the screen door. She announced, “Oh, it’s a cat.” She opened the kitchen door and called, “Iris, I think one of the cuddle cats got out.”

  “What?” Iris asked, entering the kitchen. “One of my cats is outside? I don’t think so.”

  “Look,” Savannah insisted. “Isn’t that Ginger?”

  “Oh no. How…? Wait,” Iris said. “That’s not Ginger. Look at her face. Ginger has gold eyes. That one’s eyes are kind of green.”

  “It’s probably the way the outside light’s hitting her eyes. You’ve only seen her in indoor lighting.”

  “Do you think so? No, Savannah, that cat has white paws.” She gasped. “Do you know whose cat that is?”

  “Who?” Savannah asked.

  Iris opened the door and stepped out. She approached the cat, saying, “Let me take a look at you.”

  The cat seemed happy to see Iris and immediately meowed and rubbed against her. “You’re one of Sir Roscoe’s cats, aren’t you?” She looked around the yard. “Where in the world did you come from?”

  “Maybe she got left behind,” Savannah suggested, joining Iris and the cat outside.

  “I doubt that,” Iris said. “We caught them all inside; none of them ever had access to the out-of-doors.”

  “Did he find his way back from his new home?” Arthur asked, approaching with Koko in his arms. “Yes, I remember that one,” Arthur said. “Koko was particularly fond of him that night when they stayed here.” He laughed. “I guess he took a liking to Koko too. Hi, little fellow,” he crooned. “Did you leave the circus to come join us?”

  Iris let out a sigh. “Well, you don’t see any others around do you?”

  “No,” Savannah said.

  Arthur agreed.

  Iris picked up the cat and carried her toward the house, muttering, “Just when you think you know what’s going on, another mystery raises its ugly head.”

  Savannah petted the cat. “He’s not ugly. He’s pretty. You have a pretty mystery on your hands.”

  Iris stared at Savannah for a moment, then said, “Okay, let’s put this guy up with the rest of the cats and finish our dinner. Then I’ll give Sir Roscoe a call.”

  “No calls before pie, right?” Craig asked.

  “That’s right,” Iris agreed, walking with Arthur and Savannah to return the cats to the attic room.

  ◆◆◆

  “So, Iris, what’s the deal?” Michael asked later that afternoon. “Were you able to reach that circus-cat guy?”

  She nodded. “He doesn’t have a clue as to how this cat got here. He was quite certain that all the cats were accounted for when he arrived at his new home.”

  “Where are they,” Colbi asked, “within walking distance?”

  Iris shook her head. “No. He’s clear across town. He did say some of the cats have managed to open the screen door and escape once or twice before he realized what they were doing, but he thought he’d corralled them all. He had to go count heads to confirm that Lawrence was, indeed, missing.”

  “Lawrence, huh?” Maggie said. “I used to date a guy named Lawrence.” She laughed. “He had red hair, too! So is he coming to get the cat?”

  “I told him we’d bring him back.”

  “After dessert?” Craig asked.

  “Are you ready for dessert?” Ruth asked. “I’ll go help Mattie cut and plate it.”

  Craig pulled something from a pocket, held it up, and announced, “I saved my fork!”

  Brianna grinned at Craig, then joined her mother and her aunt. “So I hear you two are going on a road trip.”

  Margaret nodded. “Yes. Want to go? There’s room in the backseat.”

  “Aren’t you flying to LA?” Brianna asked.

  “Yes,” Gladys said,” and we’ll rent a car and spend a week visiting relatives and friends. It should be a really nice getaway.”

  “Can I wear my jeans and sneakers?” Margaret asked, squirming as if she were uncomfortable in her clothes.

  “Sure,” Gladys said. “It’ll be all about comfort.” She faced her younger daughter. “So want to go with us?”

  Brianna smiled. “I’d better not. I have a lot of appointments scheduled for next week and I don’t think my patients would appreciate it if I left town. Take Vannie and the kids.”

  “It would be fun to show them off to our siblings and their children,” Gladys said, “but Vannie says I need to take a break from them, too.” She took a breath. “Oh, how I’ll miss them.”

  Overhearing the conversation, Colbi turned to Savannah and asked, “What are you going to do while your mom’s gone?”

  “Well, I’d love to do some writing, and I’d like to get Lily enrolled in a good preschool. I also want to introduce Teddy to Barbara. Michael’s concerned that he needs more socialization.”

  “Sounds like you’re talking about a feral cat or a kitten,” Margaret said.

  Colbi laughed. More seriously, she said, “Tell me about Barbara’s day care, Savannah. We’ve been wanting to find a suitable place for Rosemary to stay a couple of days a week for a few hours so I can spend a little more time writing.”

  Damon joined them. “And we want her exposed to other kids.” He glanced at Colbi. “She plays a lot of games with her and teaches her colors and shapes and stuff, but I’d also like to see her get some experience with other teachers—know what I mean?”

  “Yes, and Barbara does provide what you might call enrichment for the children—things that are appropriate for each age group. Her daughter Jenna helps out. I understand that Jenna’s twin, Alicia, also works there now, part time.” She smiled just thinking about it. “I can’t wait to see them again. It’s been a while—all of them. They’re such a nice family.”

  ◆◆◆

  “Thank you again, Vannie and Michael, for such a lovely day,” Gladys said on their drive home late that afternoon. “It brought back wonderful memories.”

  “I think we created some wonderful memories today too, don’t you?” Savannah said.

  “Yes,” Gladys agreed. She sat back between the two children, placed a hand on each of them, and smiled contentedly.

  Savannah checked her phone. “Oh, a missed call from Rochelle. She probably wants to know what we found out about all those cats coming into the inn. By the way, did they figure out how Lawrence, the lovely orange tabby, ended up back at the inn?”

  “Yes,” Michael said. “Rupert and Arthur drove the cat home, and, after talking to Sir Lancelot…”

  Savannah giggled and corrected, “Sir Roscoe.”

  “Yeah, well, they think the cat might have sneaked out through a faulty screen door and maybe hopped aboard a mail-delivery truck. Iris said there was a delivery at the inn late this morning and Sir whatever said he had an early morning delivery just before that. The cat could have jumped aboard and hopped off when he recognized the scents at the inn.”

  Savannah shook her head. “What are the odds?” She placed a call and put the phone to her ear. “Hi, Rochelle. You called? Sorry I wasn’t available; we had our Thanksgiving today.”

  “Oh, how’d it go?”

  “It was wonderful—quite memorable, actually. I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving yesterday.”

  “We did. It was Simon’s first ever sit-down family Thanksgiving meal. He was quite impressed by it all—the carving of the turkey and amount and variety of food. We invited an aunt and uncle of Peter’s who happened to be in the city. And, to my delight, my mother was able to join us. I don’t know if I told you, but we moved her to Palo Alto last year to be closer as she ages. She’s dating a nice man and he joined us as well. They brought his eleven-year-old grandson, and he and Simon had a blast climbing trees and playing board games and teaching the birds new words. Oh, you should see their new outdoor enclosure. It’s over-the-top magnificent. Only…”

  “Only what?” Savannah asked.

  “Only those two lovebirds pretty much stay perched in one small area most of the time. Oh, I see them fly once in a while, but mostly they just perch in that one spot.”