She carried him into the kitchen to get another towel, and when she returned she saw Buffy lapping up the milk. Soon Walter joined her.

  “Kitties clean it up, Mommy,” Lily said gleefully.

  “Yes, I see that,” she complained, nudging both cats out of the way and tossing a towel over the spill. “Milk can make kitties sick. We don’t want them drinking milk.”

  “Milk no make me sick, Mommy.”

  “No. Milk is for children, not kitties.”

  “My blankie, Mommy,” Lily cried, looking down at the milk-soaked piece of flannel.

  Savannah finished dabbing up the milk as best she could, then she picked up Teddy again and took Lily’s hand. “Let’s go change your clothes, shall we?” “What happened?” Gladys asked, entering the room.

  “You don’t want to know,” Savannah grumbled. When she saw Gladys waiting to hear more, she explained, “We spilled milk and everyone got involved.” She nodded toward where Buffy and Walter sat. “Even those two. I’m going to change the children’s clothes.”

  “That bad of a spill, huh?”

  Savannah nodded. “Yes, it’s under that doll blanket, I’ll finish cleaning it up when I get back.”

  “I want my doll blanket, Mommy,” Lily whined.

  “It’s all dirty with milk. I’ll wash it in a minute, then you can have it. Okay?”

  “Milk’s not dirty, Mommy.”

  Several minutes later, Savannah returned to the living room with the children. Meanwhile, Gladys had finished cleaning up the spill. She said, “My, don’t you kids look spiffy. Why’d you dress them up, Vannie?”

  “This is what they wanted to wear,” Savannah reported. She looked at Teddy. “Well, Lily picked out his outfit. She said he wants to be a ladybug today. This is his ladybug outfit.”

  Gladys laughed. “Yeah, I guess he kind of does look like a ladybug.” She addressed the toddler. “And who are you? A princess, right?”

  “A fairy princess,” Lily corrected.

  “Oh yes, a fairy princess. Pretty. Want me to do your hair up in a fairy princess knot on top of your head?”

  Lily’s face lit up and she ran out of the room. “I get my brush.”

  “So who were you talking to on the phone for so long?” Savannah asked.

  “I could ask you the same thing,” Gladys quipped.

  Savannah grinned. “I called Rochelle to see if she had any insight into what’s going on with Bri and Bud.”

  “What did she say?” Gladys asked.

  “Not much, really, but she did offer to talk to them.”

  Gladys grinned. She shivered a little and announced, “Well, I got some good news. My new cousin, Janet, is coming for a visit.” She looked at Savannah. “Oh, I guess I should have asked you. I just assumed…”

  “Well, you assumed right. Of course, she’s welcome here. We have the room. Is she bringing Pauline?”

  Gladys winced. “Yes, I think so. That’s not a problem, is it?”

  “No,” Savannah said. “We always have room for more cats. I’d like to see Pauline. She’s such a beauty. Has she settled down any?” She winced. “I’m not sure how thrilled Michael will be to see her after the chaos she created when we were at the beach. But if Janet has managed to keep her inside like she planned to do, Pauline can’t be finding much trouble to get into.”

  When Gladys didn’t respond, Savannah said, “Mom, you look like you’re trying to hide something. Has Pauline been staying indoors?”

  Innocently, Gladys said, “For the most part, I guess.”

  “Uh-oh, what does that mean?”

  Gladys grimaced. “I guess she has escaped a time or two, but she didn’t cause any trouble that Janet knows about. It sure worries her when Pauline runs off, though. Thankfully, she always comes back.”

  Savannah chuckled. “Sounds like she has her hands full with Pauline. She’s an interesting cat. And Janet is a nice person. I’ll enjoy having them visit. What fun things do you have planned while she’s here?”

  “Well, I haven’t had much time to think about it, but I know I want Maggie to meet her. I might take her to meet Rose; she’s interested in our genealogical trail.”

  “Fun. How long will she stay?” Savannah asked.

  “Only a few days—she has a doctor’s appointment and other engagements coming up. She wants to get away while she can,” Gladys explained. “And she doesn’t want to be on the road over the weekend. She’ll drive up on Tuesday.”

  “She’s driving all that way?” “Yes, she’s afraid to fly with Pauline, after all the things that are happening on airplanes these days. She doesn’t want to be kicked off because of Pauline and she certainly won’t allow her to ride in the overhead bin or down below with the luggage. Then there’s the issue of someone complaining because they’re allergic to cats. Oh no. She wants to protect Pauline from anything like that. She’ll take a day and a half to get here, so it won’t be a bad trip for her.”

  Chapter Five

  “Hi,” Savannah called when she saw Margaret approaching late Saturday morning. “Out for a walk?”

  “Yeah, and I want to borrow a couple of eggs. Your mom said you have plenty, and I’m short two for my custard.”

  “Making custard, huh? I love custard.”

  “Never mind, this is for my hubby. He’s a little under the weather and he must have custard when he isn’t feeling well. It’s his comfort food, you know.”

  “I’m sorry to hear Max isn’t feeling well. What is it, a cold or something?”

  “I guess,” Margaret said. She looked down at Lily. “So what’re you girls doing? Feeding the horses?”

  Lily nodded. “Carrots. Peaches likes carrots.”

  “What about the other horse,” Margaret asked, “can you feed that one carrots, too?”

  “No,” Lily said, eyeing Gypsy. “She bites me.”

  Savannah put her hand on the child’s shoulder. “Yeah, that mare’s not as gentle as Peaches is. I don’t let Lily hand-feed her. I’m working on her, though.”

  Margaret looked around. “Where’s your cat? Doesn’t he like to help you feed the horses?”

  “Yeah, we sneaked out without him. I guess he’s sleeping somewhere in the house—probably in one of Buffy’s canopy beds. It’s more pleasant to come out here with one or the other.” When Margaret looked puzzled, Savannah explained, “Either Lily or Rags. Not both.”

  When they heard a vehicle approaching, Savannah announced, “Oh, Michael’s home. I’d better go put lunch on the table. Want to join us, Auntie? It’s pastrami sandwiches on dark rye and coleslaw.”

  “Oh, does that sound good, but I’d better not. I should go finish making that custard. Max and I are having soup. You can bet I’ll be thinking about your pastrami sandwiches while I’m slurping my chicken-noodle soup.”

  Savannah chuckled. “Hey, want me to feed the feral cats tonight? You fed this morning, right?”

  Margaret nodded. “Yes, all looked calm. It’ll be nice to take a break from trapping for a few days.” “I agree,” Savannah said. “Okay, I’ll go out and check on them this evening and again tomorrow morning, if you’ll do tomorrow night.”

  “Deal,” Margaret agreed. “Then we should set the traps again on Monday.”

  “Yes. We don’t have many more left, do we?” Margaret grimaced. “Vannie, I swear cats are spawned out there.”

  “What?”

  “Just when I think we’ve seen them all, another one shows up. There were two new ones out there this morning. I’m sure we haven’t logged them. Do you remember a van-type cat—white and black, or a small short-hair tangerine tiger?”

  Savannah thought for a moment. “No. Doesn’t sound familiar. Gads, where do you think they’re coming from?”

  “I don’t know, but that colony seems to be endless. Those trees out there have to be growing cats and kittens. Vannie, we’ll never finish saving that colony, at this rate.” When she heard Michael chuckle, she turned and said, “I’m not kidding, Michael. There’s a never-ending parade of cats coming to that place.”

  “I’m sure you’ll get them all, Maggie. These projects always seem overwhelming at first.” He picked up Lily and addressed Savannah. “Is lunch ready? I need some sustenance before I start my weekend dust-making project.”

  “Oh, the playhouse?” Margaret asked. “That’s going to be so cute. The kids will love it.”

  “Probably not as much as he’s enjoying building it,” Savannah said, running her hand over the back of Michael’s neck.

  ****

  That afternoon as Savannah watched Michael work on the playhouse they heard an unfamiliar voice say, “Hello, there.”

  Savannah turned and yelped, “Rags! Where…? How…?” she stammered.

  “So you know this cat?” a pleasant-looking man of about sixty asked, smiling.

  Savannah took the cat into her arms. “Where have you been, Rags? What have you been doing?”

  “Yeah,” Michael added, “and how’d he get out? Did you know he was gone?” “Well, I haven’t seen much of him this morning,” Savannah admitted. “I guess I…um…” Michael reached for the man’s hand. “I’m sorry. I’m Michael Ivey, this is my wife, Savannah and…” he cringed, “obviously this is our cat, Rags. Where did you find him?”

  The man chuckled. “I guess he stopped by to visit my Westie. He seems to like dogs. By the way, I’m Karl Sanders.” He gestured. “I’m staying across the way at my folks’ place while I settle Dad’s estate.”

  “Mr. Sanders passed away?” Savannah asked compassionately. “I heard he’d been ill. I’m so sorry.”

  “Yeah, he was ready. He had his ninetieth birthday a few months ago. He’s been ready to join Mom for about nine years now.”

  “Where do you live?” Michael asked.

  “Arizona. My wife and I moved there when I retired. She died last year, so I’ve been staying with Dad since then, and helping with his care. Now it’s all about his stuff.” He chuckled. “When I get back to Tucson, the first thing I’m going to do is clear out a lot of my stuff so my kids don’t have to deal with it when I leave this planet.”

  “That would be hard to do,” Savannah said. “I like having my stuff around me while I’m here.”

  “That she does,” Michael confirmed. “She’s a collector.”

  Karl winced. “I guess it’s a woman thing.” Looking around, he asked, “What are you building here—a tool shed? Sauna?”

  “A playhouse for our children,” Michael said.

  “Cool. Looks like it’ll be sturdy. You’re really paying attention to detail, aren’t you?” He chuckled. “Are you building it to code? Will it be retrofitted—you know, to withstand those California earthquakes?”

  Michael laughed. “Darn near.”

  “Is that your business,” Karl asked, “building?”

  “No, just a hobby. I’m a veterinarian,” Michael explained. “We run Ivey Veterinary Clinic here in town.”

  Karl raised his eyebrows. “Really? So my dad was a client of yours. That’s where he took his two cats, right?”

  “He sure did. Will you be keeping Sylvester and Felix?”

  “Probably. Tucker—that’s my Westie—he likes them. They’re kind of cool cats.” He laughed. “I don’t think your cat liked them very much.”

  “But he liked your dog?” Savannah asked.

  “Yeah. At least he enjoyed Tucker’s lunch. How long’s he been out roaming today, anyway? He seemed hungry.”

  Savannah appeared uncomfortable. “I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I noticed I hadn’t seen him around this morning, but that’s not unusual. I actually looked for him a time or two, then the kids distracted me or the phone rang and I’d forget about it.”

  “Now, that’s not like her,” Michael said. “Savannah’s always aware of where he is and what he’s doing.”

  Karl grinned. “Well, Dad’s neighbor over there—the one who suggested I bring him here—well, she said this cat’s rather famous in the neighborhood.”

  “True,” Michael said.

  “How so?” Karl asked, amused.

  Savannah lowered Rags to the ground and watched as he sniffed around where Michael had been working. “Well, he’s the main character in a series of children’s books and he’s been written up in the paper a few times for work he’s done with the local sheriff’s department.”

  Karl pointed. “Wait, is he the one who saved that baby on the balcony a few days ago?”

  Savannah nodded.

  He broke into a wide grin. “Hey, that was something else. He really is a remarkable cat. I sort of thought so when I saw him interacting with Tucker and the cats. I could tell he had something…uh different about him.”

  Savannah smiled, then asked, “Karl, what did you do before you retired?” She chuckled. “I sort of see you as a police detective.”

  Karl laughed. “Oh, really? No, I was in construction. Now I work for various charities, heading up building projects for the homeless and other needy people—veterans, families who’ve lost their bread-winner, and so forth. They need someone who knows what they’re doing to guide all those volunteers.”

  “Vannie,” Gladys called from the porch.

  “Oh, it looks like Teddy’s up from his nap,” Savannah said. She picked up the cat. “I think I’ll go trade Mom the cat for our son.”

  “That’s your mother?” Karl asked. “Is she visiting or…”

  “No, she lives with us now.”

  Karl squinted toward where Gladys stood. “I think I’ve seen her before—maybe walking with your kids.”

  “Yes,” Savannah said, “she takes them for walks around the tract sometimes.”

  Still looking at Gladys, he said, “She’s a nice-looking grandmother.”

  Savannah stared at Karl for a moment, then looked at her mother. “Yes, she is.” Before walking toward the house, she asked, “Karl, Michael, would you like a beer or soda or iced tea?”

  “A beer sounds good,” Michael said. “How about you, Karl? Do you have time for a beer?” When the man hesitated, Michael said, “Come on, let’s sit on the deck. I’m ready for a break and I’d like to hear more about your work.”

  Once Savannah had deposited Rags inside the house, she said, “Mom, come out and meet our new neighbor—well, I guess he’s only a temporary neighbor—he’s taking care of his father’s estate. Did you know Mr. Sanders?”

  “The minister?” Gladys asked. “I sure did. He married your father and me.”

  “Well, Karl’s his son. Evidently Rags got out somehow this morning and found his way to the Sanders’s house. Karl brought him home.” Savannah giggled. “He thinks you’re cute.”

  “What?” Gladys said, running her hand over her hair and smoothing her apron.

  “He’s seen you walk by the house with the kids. Why don’t you come out and join us? The guys are going to have a beer. What would you like?”

  “Oh, I…well…” Gladys stammered. “Lily isn’t up from her nap yet.” When she heard something behind her, she said, “Oh, here she comes.” She held her arms out to the child. “Did you finally wake up, you sleepyhead? Come on, let Grammy help you finish waking up.”

  “Want a juicy?” Savannah offered.

  Lily nodded.

  Savannah put a juice box on a tray with two beers and two glasses of iced tea, and walked outside to serve the men. “I’ll come back and get Teddy,” she told her mother.

  “I’ve got him,” Gladys said, picking him up and taking Lily’s hand. She walked out onto the porch with the children. “Let’s go meet the neighbor, shall we?”

  Michael stood up and took Teddy from Gladys, then pulled out a chair for her.

  At the same time, their neighbor stood and held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Karl.”

  “Hello, I’m Gladys.”

  “You’re Grammy,” Lily corrected.

  “Hello, Grammy Gladys,” Karl said, smiling.

  “Mom knew your father,” Savannah said. “He was a minister?”

  Karl nodded. “Yes, until a stroke took him out.”

  “I wondered what happened to him,” Gladys said. “As I told Vannie, Pastor Sanders married my husband and me.”

  “So you’re married?” Karl asked.

  “Widowed,” Gladys said.

  Karl seemed to relax a little as he sat down across from Gladys. “Well, you sure don’t look old enough to have these grandchildren. What’s your secret, Grammy Gladys?”

  “You’re embarrassing me,” Gladys said. “I’m pretty sure I’m as old as you are.”

  “I find that hard to believe,” Karl said. “You couldn’t possibly be sixty.”

  “Sixty-two,” she was quick to say.

  “Amazing. If you don’t mind me saying so, Gladys, you’re a mighty handsome woman.”

  “Well, thank you.” She cleared her throat and looked around nervously.

  Michael promptly intervened. “Karl works with organizations that build housing for the homeless and needy.”

  “Oh, that’s a worthwhile activity,” Gladys said.

  “Yes,” Karl agreed, “and Michael, you might be interested in this. Last year I got involved with a group that provides homes for homeless animals—you know, cats that live in colonies, barn cats, stray dogs and such.” He chuckled. “Wild animals sometimes take them over as well; they’re designed to keep an animal warm in winter and cool in summer. With the Internet, we’ve been able to create a steady stream of donations, so we’ve been pretty busy setting up these little homes.” He smiled. “It’s great to see abandoned animals find comfort in an otherwise pretty cruel world.”

  Savannah smiled. “That must be very satisfying.”

  “Savannah’s working with a cat colony,” Michael said. “Hey, hon, you might want some of those little houses for your colony cats.”

  She chuckled. “Yeah, those cats have actually found—or maybe they dug—a burrow where I guess they can stay warm or get out of the heat.”

  “No kidding?” Karl said.

  “Yeah, Rags found a litter of kittens in there a few days ago and brought them out so we could reunite them with their mother, who was at the clinic being treated for burns.”