“What did you mean by Hollywood kid? Who did Katherine and Thomas try to set my mom up with?” I asked.
She gulped. “Um, maybe now is not the time for this conversation. I can only handle one near-death experience at a time. Okay?”
I swallowed hard. “Near death?”
She winked at me. “Another day. I promise.”
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Ava Mallory is best known for her sweet, sassy cozy mysteries with heart. She lives in the Midwest with a house full of children and books, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
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The Hungry Cat Café
Heather Horrocks
Summary
October Jones has always known she was adopted, but didn’t know who her biological parents were — until her mother dies and leaves her an inheritance. Unfortunately, she can only inherit if she can meet the absolutely ridiculous terms of the will. After all, finding out who your mother is can be startling, but learning you are one of three identical triplets...? And that you have to work together?
Gaining a family might be the hardest thing October’s ever done.
1
I Need a Moment
The unexpected sound of a man’s voice speaking in a French accent startled me, and I spun around, bumping against a display of potions. Grabbing them to keep them from falling, I said, “Pardon me?” But when I looked toward the sound, there was no one there.
My assistant, Gary Newman, poked his head out from the back room. “Did you need me, October?”
I smiled sheepishly. “No. Sorry. Just mumbling to myself.” Apparently.
Gary was only two inches taller than my five-seven, with a runner’s physique, all wiry muscle. He’d earned a Bachelor’s degree in biology two years ago and I still didn’t understand why he settled for working in my Lotions and Potions store. When I’d first hired him, I regularly urged him to seek employment that could pay him what he was worth. When he insisted he liked what he did here, I quit urging him to move on and accepted the lucky fact that I’d found the best assistant in the known world.
“Gotcha. Okay, then. Back to work.” He started to turn back, but stopped halfway and raised an eyebrow. “The azalea bush just bloomed again. How is that even possible?”
I looked at the bush — one of the hardest plants to grow indoors and even harder to get to bloom after the first year — and shrugged. “I don’t understand it, either.”
I didn’t understand, but I suspected it had something to do with ... me. Me and my weird influence on plants. I didn’t have a degree in biology, but I definitely had an ... affinity for greenery and flowers of all kinds.
I don’t have all day. The Frenchman’s voice sounded impatient.
Chills crawled up my spine. Someone had definitely spoken, just like a few minutes ago — and just like yesterday. The sound was coming from the door — but no one was there. Was I going crazy?
No. I was too young to go crazy. I whispered, “Go away, imaginary person.”
Look down.
I did so, but saw nothing. Then, my heart racing, I leaned out over the counter.
There, on the floor of my Lotions and Potions shop, sitting in the sunlight streaming through the glass of the window, sat a black cat, looking up at me with intelligent eyes.
“Scat,” I said, making a hand motion.
But I want a treat.
More chills skittered up my spine. Cats couldn’t talk.
I walked out from behind the counter. Glancing toward the back room to make sure Gary couldn’t see me, I leaned over and whispered. “I need you to go now. You’re making me crazy.”
Just one treat and I will do as you wish.
I stared at the cat. Finally, I whispered, “Just one. And then you’ll go, right?”
Yes.
What was wrong with me? I’d made a mistake moving to Sedona. The energies were too high here. Maybe I needed to consider relocating. But my store was just taking off, and I didn’t want to leave it. I loved Sedona.
Still, I didn’t want to go crazy.
I pulled the lid off the canister of cat treats and pulled one out. Turning, I leaned over and placed it on the floor in front of the cat.
The cat picked it up and trotted toward the door. I’ll need help getting out, chéri.
I opened the door for him and leaned against the door, my hands shaking, relieved to have the talking cat leave, but worried that I was finally losing it.
I spent the next twenty minutes straightening my inventory. It was basically busy work that I was doing to help calm my nerves after showing the cat out.
The talking cat, I might add.
A knock startled me. I looked at the door. It was unlocked and this was a business. No one knocked.
I walked around the counter and saw an older gentleman standing on the sidewalk. Drawing in a breath, I opened the door for him. “Please come in.”
He did so and smiled. “Are you October Jones?”
“That depends on who’s asking.”
His gray hair was neatly styled and he was dressed in an elegant, conservative suit. He tipped his head. “I am Quincy Vaughn of the law office of Trent, McKinley, & Trent.” He shrugged out of his jacket. It was a cool 55 degrees outside today. “May I have a moment of your time?”
“Sure. Is there a problem?”
“Perhaps in a back room. Somewhere more private?”
“I’m working.”
“This is important.” I started to speak, but he held up a hand and said, “I’ve traveled from Massachusetts to talk with you.”
Hmmm. That intrigued me.
“Come this way.” I led the way to the back room. When Gary looked up, I said, “Would you mind watching the shop for a few minutes?”
I could tell he wondered what this was about, but he simply nodded. “Sure.”
I motioned the gentleman to a chair, and I took the other.
“Ms. Jones, I am here on behalf of your mother’s estate.”
I froze. My mother — the woman who’d raised me and loved me — had died six years ago. My father — the man who loved me but left me to pursue his archeological passion — had been heartbroken every since, and drowning his sorrow in work. “My mother’s estate?” My voice was cold.
“Oh, no, no. I’m sorry. I’ve upset you. I mean your biological mother.”
My heart pounded in my chest in relief.
The man shifted in the chair and pulled a folder from his briefcase, handing it to me. “I am sorry to let you know that your biological mother died in an auto accident last week.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I knew I was adopted, but I never knew her.” I opened the folder, more shaken than I ought to be. A photo was there and my breath caught. “I look like her, just younger.”
“You do.” The man nodded. “You and your two sisters have inherited her estate.”
“I don’t have sisters.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Actually, you do.”
Stunned, I said, “I have sisters?”
“There is some property that will go to you and your sisters, but you are required to go back to Massachusetts, within a week to hear the reading of the will and to decide if you want to participate or if you wish to decline.”
“I have sisters,” I said, amazed.
He handed me an envelope. “There is a round-trip plane ticket enclosed. You leave a week from today. That should give you time to get your affairs in order. I hope you will come.”
“Will my sisters be there?”
“I have spoken with them both already, and they have agreed to come.” He looked at me questioningly.
“I need a moment.”
“I understand.” He stood and reached out and shook my hand. “It’s good to finally meet you, Ms. Jones. I hope
you’ll join your sisters at our offices.”
And he walked out of the room, giving a hearty welcome to Gary before he left, the door jangling behind him.
I sank back down into the chair.
My biological mother was dead?
I had sisters?
And I could meet them if I used this plane ticket.
I stared down at it.
A longing grew within me. With my father halfway around the world from me and my mother gone, I felt all alone. Only now I had sisters.
I very much wanted to meet them.
Walking out into the store, I said, “Gary, would you do a favor for me?”
“Sure,” he said. “What do you want?”
“I need to fly back east for a few days. Will you be my acting manager while I’m gone?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“My biological mother died.”
“Oh, sorry to hear that.”
“And apparently I have two sisters,” I said. “I’m going back to meet them. I should be back in a few days.”
He nodded solemnly, looking older than his age of twenty-two. “I’ll take care of things here for you. Don’t worry about a thing.”
2
Yo?
One Week Later
Nervous, I stepped from the elevator and headed for the offices of Trent, McKinley, & Trent.
I had come directly from the airport so that I would be the first one here. To give me time to calm myself. Because I was not going to let these people know I was weird. And weird things always happened when I was nervous or upset.
I figured the potential for upset was high today.
I stopped in front of the office door, and drew in a deep breath. Calm and peace. A few more and I felt more centered, so I stepped inside.
The secretary at the large circular desk looked up and smiled. “How may I help you?”
“I’m October Jones. I’m here for the reading of my mother’s will.” More to meet my two sisters, I didn’t say.
The woman stood. She was nearly six feet tall, but was willowy and graceful. Her brunette hair was pulled up in a bun done a little too loosely to be considered conservative. “I’m Vanessa McKinley.”
“So you are the McKinley in Trent, McKinley, and Trent?”
“Not yet. That’s my father. I’m still going to college for my law degree. Now if you’ll just follow me.” She led me to a large conference room. An empty room. “You’re the first one here. There are some magazines if you’d like to read while you wait. Would you like some water?”
“No, but thank you. I’ll be fine.” I did not want to read anything but auras. Vanessa’s was pink, and I suspected she was falling in love with someone.
After she left, I continued to draw in deep yoga-type breaths. Calm. Peace. Joy.
I glanced at the clock on the wall. Five minutes before the meeting.
The door opened and Vanessa showed two older women into the room, then turned to me. “Ms. Jones, these are your aunts, Lily and Misty Everleigh.”
I tried to keep from gasping because they looked so much like what I saw in the mirror every morning, just age-progressed. And they looked like they must be identical twins. Could my mother have been the third in triplets? I shook myself. I was assuming a lot.
I stood.
Aunt Lily was slender and had a harder edge to her face. She had one arm in a sling and shook my hand with her other. “I am so glad to meet you after all this time, October.”
“I haven’t seen you in a long, long time, lass.” Aunt Misty was a plumper, more matronly version of the two. She reached out her hand, then shook her head, and instead swept me into a hug that lasted longer than I felt comfortable with but was wonderful all the same. Finally, the older woman released me and smiled broadly. “Welcome home, beautiful.”
A pang hit me. With my adoptive mother deceased and my father on yet another archeological dig on the far side of the world, home would be welcome. I just hadn’t expected to find that feeling here, in Hexburg, Massachusetts, surrounded by Salem and Boston and all sorts of quaint, history-rich towns.
The door opened again, and Vanessa McKinley ushered in a little princess of a girl of about five or six. She wore pink — from her shoes and socks to her dress to a tiny tiara — no kidding! — on her head. The kid was absolutely adorable.
Vanessa said, her voice softening, “This is Jinx. Jinx, this is your Aunt October, and also your great-aunts, Lily and Misty.”
Jinx did a cute little curtsey and said, “Pleased to meet you.”
Ahhh, what a cutie. And this was my niece? Emotions ran so high in me that I was afraid I might explode. I’d gone from an only child to one of three children with two aunts and a niece. Maybe there were more nieces and nephews. “Hi, Jinx,” I said with a smile.
Next in the door was obviously one of my sisters. Interesting to see how my own features and hair played out in a street-tough version. Criminal element, much?
I had red hair, and so did this sister, but hers was cut short and spiky and was a shade of red not found in nature. Maybe she’d dyed it? Or could one triplet have such a drastically different hair color? I was new to the whole triplet thing, so I wasn’t sure. Surely that shade wasn’t natural.
Vanessa continued with the introductions, “This is Ember Paxton, Jinx’s mother.”
Ember frowned at me, then raised her hand and said, “Yo.”
Yo? Really? This tough lady was the mother of this sweet little princess? No way!
And then another sister came in, this one looking like she should be the mother of little Jinx in her pink high-end business suit. She reminded me of Elle in Legally Blonde — especially when I saw a little Chihuahua poke its head out of the top of her purse.
“And your sister, Cassie Winterton.”
This sister smiled prettily. “Good afternoon, everyone. This is such an exciting moment to meet y’all.”
Vanessa put out her hand to Jinx. “Why don’t you come out in the lobby with me, Jinx, and I’ll find you a cookie and play a game with you?”
“Okay,” the little girl said, and they went out.
This was such an amazing moment, and I was suddenly overwhelmed with all sorts of emotions.
Unfortunately, when I felt strong emotions, things tended to happen. Like that bud opening on the potted plant sitting on the credenza. The silk flower. Sheesh.
I thought I had better control. I was going to have to start working on that again.
I clamped down with everything I had. I would not let them know I was weird! That would be my little secret — just as it had been my entire life.
3
A Unique Opportunity
After the plastic flower stopped blooming — much to my great relief — Henry Trent adjusted his glasses.
“I guess you’re wondering why I called you all here,” muttered Emma.
I swallowed a snort of laughter. Emma glanced at me and gave the barest hint of a smile, then turned away again. Her features — my features! — were hard-edged and tough.
Mr. Trent looked over the top of his glasses and drew in a deep breath. “Your mother wanted me to tell you how much she loved you.”
Emma leaned back. “Yeah. She loved us so much that she couldn’t wait to dump us on someone else’s doorstep. That’s how much she loved us.”
Aunt Misty said, “Your mother had her reasons. She wanted very much to keep you, but she was afraid for your safety.”
I exchanged another glance with Ember, who rolled her eyes.
Henry cleared his throat. “Be that as it may, your mother wanted to take care of you now, though she was unable to do so during her life. She left several properties to be divided equally between the three of you. There is the Hungry Cat Café, a home, and some investments.”
Surprised, I realized I hadn’t been expecting much in the way of actual possessions. I’d come here to meet my sisters.
Mr. Trent looked up and at each of the sisters in turn. “S
he hoped that the three of you might become friends, maybe even family.”
“I’ve got more than enough family, thank you,” Cassie said in a strained polite voice.
The curtain billowed in the wind. I watched it for a moment and then—
Wait a minute. We were inside and the windows were closed. There was no wind.
The curtains fluttered again.
Well, that was just freaky.
But I didn’t have time to ponder the curtains, because Ember leaned back. “Yeah, I don’t have time for fake family stuff. When do we get our share of the inheritance?”
His eyes widening, Henry Trent shuffled the papers in front of him. “Right. There are a few stipulations that have to be satisfied before you receive your inheritance.”
“Stipulations?” Ember snorted, standing. “Of course there are. I’m out of here.”
Aunt Lily said, “The will is quite generous, ladies. If you’ll just hear Henry out.”
Ember gave a hard smile and sat back down. “Okay. I’m listening, but get to the point.”
Henry drew in a deep breath ... and one of the papers in his hands let off a puff of smoke. “What on earth?” he said, then licked his fingers and pressed it out.
Suddenly there were some herbs in the air. What on earth, indeed.
I turned to see Aunt Misty, who shrugged. “Sorry. It was getting entirely too emotional in here. Just some herbs to calm things down.”
I sneezed.
“Bless you,” Aunt Misty said.
I looked around the room, amazed. And then I laughed.
The good news was that, among all this angst and weirdness, no one would notice a second plastic silk opening beside the first.
I hoped.
Mr. Trent looked around the room, not seeming to notice all the weird little things happening. The energy swirling around was amazing. I had always been able to create blooms on plants, sometimes even moved a little earth, but I’d never been able to move curtains and start things on fire.
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