A Picture-Purrfect Christmas (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 13)

by Patricia Fry

  “Ouch,” Marissa said. “Don’t give me so much tough love,” she teased. She rolled her head toward Erin and stared at her discolored face and damaged arm. “Oooh, your face; does it hurt? You fell out of a car?” she asked.

  “Yeah, kinda sorta,” she said. “Hey Rissy, I’m going to Ms. Savannah’s tonight. I hope to see you there soon. Take care, okay? I’m sure we’ll be back to see you.” She looked to Savannah for confirmation.

  She nodded. “Absolutely—tomorrow. You’ll have enough going on tonight with the police questioning and all. Plus, you need your rest,” Savannah said, patting the younger girl’s arm affectionately.

  Before leaving, Erin turned to Diane. With tears in her eyes, she asked, “Could you keep an eye on my little sister?”

  Diane smiled at both girls. “I’d be glad to.” She said to Marissa, “I’ll make sure they put you in my unit.”

  In the meantime, Erin leaned down and told Marissa, “She’s real nice.”

  “Okay, visiting hours are over,” Diane said, wheeling Erin toward the exit. “Let’s get you home, shall we?” Once the nurse made sure Erin was secure in the backseat of Michael’s and Savannah’s SUV, she reached in and hugged her, saying, “Now, if I don’t see you before, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.”

  Taken aback, Erin said, “Oh, is it almost Christmas? Yes, Merry Christmas to you, too, Diane, and thank you for everything.”

  Before driving away, Savannah turned and said, “Erin, this is my husband, Michael. Hon, this is Marissa’s big sister Erin.”

  “Nice to meet you, Erin,” Michael said.

  The teen nodded. “You, too.” She was quiet for a while, then she asked, “So where was she? Who took her, anyway? Was it her evil father?”

  “We’re not quite sure,” Savannah said. “The detective hopes to get some information from the two guys we found out there with her and I guess they’ll search the surrounding area.”

  “Out where? Where was she?” Erin asked narrowing her eyes.

  “Out where they have all those mine shafts.” She turned to look at Erin. “They’ll get whoever is responsible. That’s for sure.”

  “I hope they do—once and for all. That kid needs a break,” she said under her breath.

  Savannah reached back and patted the girl’s knee. “She’ll get it—she’ll be just fine.” She locked eyes with Erin before saying, “And so will you.”

  Erin looked down at her lap. “I sure would like to believe that, Ms. Savannah.”

  ****

  “Would you like an upstairs or downstairs bedroom?” Savannah asked as she helped Erin walk up the porch steps and into their home. Michael, in the meantime, had dropped them off and driven to Margaret’s and Max’s to pick up Lily and Rags.

  “Um,” Erin stalled. “I don’t know.” Suddenly she stopped. “Oh my gosh,” she said, covering her mouth with her hands. “It’s just as Rissy described it…a wonderland. A Christmas wonderland. Ms. Savannah, it’s beautiful…your tree, the twinkly lights…all of the decorations.” Then she noticed something else. “Oh, hi,” she said bending down to greet the dog. “You must be Lexie. Aren’t you a sweet thing?” She looked around. “Where’s Buffy?”

  “Oh, so our animals have a reputation, do they?” Savannah chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll want to meet Rags. You know, he’s the one who found Marissa today.”

  “Really?” Erin said, wide-eyed. “You’ll have to tell me the story. So where is he?” she asked, looking around.

  “With my aunt. She came to the hospital to pick him up after our helicopter ride.”

  She gulped. “He rode in a helicopter?”

  “Yes, and before that, he rode on a horse.”

  “Wow! He must be some amazing cat.” She spoke, as if in confidence. “I actually wasn’t sure if I should believe all Rissy told me about him. But I guess it’s true.” She tilted her head and looked at Savannah. “He rode a horse?”

  Savannah nodded and smiled. “So would you like a tour before you pick out your room?”

  It didn’t take Erin long to choose the first room at the top of the stairs—the one Savannah introduced to her as the Healing Room. “It’s so beautiful,” the teen said, glancing around. “And I get my own bathroom. I’ve never ever, ever even been in a place like this, let alone spent the night.”

  “Are you hungry?” Savannah asked. “Would you like to freshen up—take a shower, soak in the tub, then come down and we can have some supper?”

  “Soak in the tub? That sounds awesome.”

  “Do you need help?” Savannah asked.

  Erin contemplated the question. “I don’t think so. I can do it. I’ll just have to move kinda slow.”

  “Fresh towels are hanging on the racks. There’s body wash and bath oils, if you want to use them. Shampoo and lotions in the basket. Just help yourself, Erin.” She looked at the girl. “Do you have any clothes in that small bag you carried in?”

  “No. I was hoping I could get my things from the house. How can I do that, do you know?”

  “Hmmm,” Savannah murmured. “Let me contact Detective Craig and see if we can go over there and get yours and Marissa’s things. You’re going to need them. In the meantime, what size do you wear?”

  Erin shrugged. “I’m not exactly sure…whatever hand-me-downs or thrift-store clothes Mavis threw my way. My best friend at school gives me clothes sometimes, but she’s a little larger than I am.”

  Savannah studied the girl’s frame. “I’ll bet you could wear some of my clothes. The shirts would be okay, but the jeans might be a little long. Hey, I have some leggings that would probably fit. I also have some new undies I just bought—you can have those. Do you have pjs?”

  Erin pulled a hospital gown out of her bag. “I hope it was okay that I took this. It’s kind of old. I didn’t think they’d mind.”

  Savannah grinned and shook her head. “I’ll bring you something a bit more comfy and…fashionable. Be right back.” She started to turn, then asked, “Do you like pasta? I have a pasta and veggie dish planned for supper.”

  “I’m not a fussy eater—you couldn’t be at the Cottons’ house.” She made a face. “Mavis was not a very good cook. In fact, she didn’t do much cooking at all. We learned to eat whatever there was because…well, that’s all there was.”

  Savannah grimaced, then said, “Go ahead and get in the tub. I’ll leave a few things for you here on the bed. Come down when you feel like it.” As she started to leave the room, she noticed Walter sitting in the doorway. “Hi, boy. What are you doing up here?” she crooned. “Come to meet our guest?”

  “What a pretty cat,” Erin said. “I love black cats. Oh look, he has an almost heart-shaped patch of white on his chest. He’s really pretty.” She walked over to the cat and began petting him. “He’s so friendly and he has such silky fur.”

  “He’s not usually friendly,” Savannah said, her eyes wide. “This is Walter. He’s quite the loner, as a rule. But I have seen him up in this room lately. I guess he’s found a new place to hang out.”

  “Well, come in, Walter. You can hang out with me, if you want.” She picked him up and pressed her cheek against his. “I would like that.”

  “Okay then, I’ll leave you two alone. There’s an intercom on the wall there if you need any help. Otherwise, see you later.”

  ****

  “Hon, you had quite a day, didn’t you?” Michael said thirty minutes later, as he placed Lily in her high chair and sprinkled some pasta and soft veggies on the tray.

  “Yes, quite a day. A horseback ride, a helicopter ride, and a rescue. It doesn’t get any better than that.” She turned from the counter where she was making a green salad and said, “Oh, I spoke with Craig briefly. He said you were a big help with the horses. I guess Peaches is having a sleepover at the Teague stables tonight.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone any further, so decided just to leave her there. I tossed her so
me hay. They’ll bring her home tomorrow.”

  Savannah nodded. “She and Rags had a big day, too. Oh, was Rags ever marvelous! He about pulled my arm out of the socket trying to get to Marissa. Gads, he has good instincts.” She smiled at Michael. “Marissa says he’s her hero.”

  “He doesn’t look much like a hero this evening,” Michael said chuckling as he peered at the cat, who was sprawled on his back in one of Buffy’s pink canopy beds.

  “No he doesn’t,” Savannah agreed, joining him in laughter.

  “Hi,” Erin said, entering the room. “I got lost there for a minute. This is a big house.”

  “Yes, we should have given you a map,” Michael joked.

  “Come in, hon,” Savannah invited. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

  “Hi, cutie pie,” Erin cooed as she approached Lily, smiling. “How old is she?”

  “Just a year,” Michael said.

  “She’s really cute.”

  Michael glanced in the doorway from the dining room and said, “Well, Walter, to what do we owe the pleasure of your company?”

  “Oh, he followed me down. Is it okay?” Erin asked.

  “Of course,” Michael said. “It’s just that he isn’t all that sociable—he prefers keeping to himself.”

  Erin struggled to pick up the cat and held him to her. “That’s not the Walter I met. He’s been quite a friendly guy—even came in the bathroom and watched me take a bath. He was cute—he kept pawing at the bubbles in the water and jumping after them in the air.” She looked sheepish. “I’m afraid I put too many bubbles in and they were flying everywhere.”

  Savannah and Michael laughed.

  “Perfectly okay,” Savannah said. “I’m glad you had yourself a nice bath. Hey, my clothes look great on you.”

  “Thanks. I sure appreciate wearing something that fits.”

  “Oh, Detective Craig said he’d meet us at the Cottons and you can get your things. We might also pick up whatever you think Marissa wants or needs. We can do that in the morning, if you feel up to it.”

  Erin slipped into a kitchen chair, placed Walter on her lap, and nodded. “Thank you. It will feel great to leave that place once and for all.” She looked at Savannah and then Michael. “But then what? Where will I go, do you know?”

  Savannah put her hands on the girl’s shoulders. “Let’s not think about that now, okay?

  You’re safe. You have a cozy place to be for now. Let’s just focus on what is, shall we?”

  Erin smiled. She looked over at Lily and hugged the cat to her. “Yes, let’s. That’s a good idea. Thank you, Ms. Savannah.”

  During dinner, Savannah asked their guest, “Do you know what day tomorrow is?”

  “Um,” she looked around in thought.

  “Christmas Eve,” Savannah reminded her.

  “Oh,” she said, as if disinterested. “Just another day in my life.” She took a sip of her milk and then a bite of the pasta.

  Savannah and Michael smiled at one another. “I don’t think so,” she said.

  “What?”

  “I don’t think this will be just another day in your life—not this year,” Savannah said. “You’re with us for the holidays and we celebrate Christmas in a big way.” She became serious for a moment. “We’re hoping for a Christmas miracle—Marissa’s release from the hospital.”

  Erin looked at the others through bright hazel eyes. “Oh, that would be the greatest gift of all.”

  Chapter 8

  Later that night after Michael had put Lily to bed and Savannah had tucked in Erin and Walter, the couple relaxed in the living room admiring their lighted Christmas tree. “It is rather magnificent this year, don’t you think?” she asked.

  “Hmmm, yeah, it is. But maybe that’s because we’ve shared it with Marissa and Erin.”

  “Maybe.” She squeezed his hand. “I just can’t wait to get Marissa home.”

  “Then what?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. Craig’s working on that. He’s also working on finding that Scaif person those two bums mentioned.” She looked off into space. “I just wonder what connection he has to Esse, if any.”

  “So you got permission to bring Marissa here when she’s released?” Michael asked.

  “Yes, Craig convinced the powers that be to let her spend the holiday with us—people she knows and,” she reached out and petted Rags, who was curled up next to her, “her hero.”

  “How does he do that?” Michael asked. “How did Rags know where she was?”

  Savannah shook her head slowly. “Hard to tell. It sure was incredible watching him. It’s like he has some sort of sixth…” she laughed, “…seventh, or eighth sense.” She stood up. “I think I hear a car in the driveway. It’s probably my aunt. I sent her on a secret mission, you know.”

  “Really?” he said, squinting at her. He followed her to the front door. “You’re a surprise a minute, you know it?”

  “Private Auntie reporting,” Margaret said in hushed tones as she cautiously entered the living room. Looking around, she asked, “Is she sleeping?”

  “Yes, I think so,” Savannah said. “She was one tired girl by seven thirty.” She looked behind her aunt. “Hi Max. I assume that’s you underneath all those packages.”

  Michael laughed upon seeing him and eased a few items out of his arms. “You two look like a couple of Santa’s elves.”

  “Yup. Mission accomplished,” Max said. “Someone’s going to have a grand Christmas.”

  Savannah reached out and relieved her aunt of a few packages, placing them on the sofa. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you doing this, guys. I’d already done a little shopping, but these things will truly be the icing on the cake.”

  “So is Marissa coming home tomorrow?” Margaret asked, carefully emptying her arms.

  “I believe so. I talked to her nurse a while ago. If all goes well overnight, I can pick her up sometime tomorrow afternoon. Now, I’d better get busy wrapping these things.” She peered at her aunt and uncle enticingly. “Want to help?”

  Margaret thought for a moment, then asked, “Got wine?”

  “Sure do.”

  She slipped out of her purple jacket. “Then yeah; let’s start wrapping.”

  ****

  It was six the next evening when Savannah pulled up in front of the Ivey home with Marissa.

  “Oh, it’s so pretty,” Marissa said, staring toward the house. “I love all the lights.”

  “Michael put those up this afternoon. He thought it would be a welcoming sight for you.”

  She smiled. “How nice of him. It’s so pretty.”

  After standing outside the car admiring the lights for a few moments, the pair saw the front door open. “Well, come in out of the cold, you two,” Michael said. “There are more lights inside.” He motioned with one arm. “Come on.”

  “It’s kinda dark in there,” Marissa said as they approached the door. Once inside, however, she put her hands up to her face. “It’s beautiful,” she said, spotting the wondrous sight. “Just beautiful.” She stood staring, her brown eyes fixed on the lighted Christmas tree and the overflow of colorful packages around it.

  Just then, Marissa noticed something else. “Errie!” she shouted when she saw the teen slip out from behind the tree.

  “Surprise!” Erin exclaimed, rushing to Marissa and falling into an embrace. “I’m so glad to see you, Rissy.” Erin pulled back. “Are you okay?”

  Marissa nodded while wiping tears from her eyes. Then she realized someone else had joined them. “Hi Rags,” she said. She laughed. “You’re going to knock me down.” When he did knock her off balance, Savannah caught her and eased her to the floor, where she sat hugging the cat, petting him, and repeating, “I love you, Rags. I just love you to pieces.” She held him tightly and looked up at Savannah. “I love you guys, too. You’ve all been so nice to me. I couldn’t ask for a better Christmas.”

  Mich
ael and Savannah glanced at one another and smiled. He then asked, “Are you hungry, Marissa…Erin? We’ve prepared a meat and potatoes kind of meal.”

  “It sounds good,” Marissa said. She turned to Erin. “Ms. Savannah is a good cook and she preserves things!”

  “Preserves things?” Erin asked.

  “You know, fruit in jars, and it’s really good.”

  Michael chuckled. “Well, come on, you two. Let’s see if we can fatten you up.”

  “Yeah, gotta get your energy back,” Savannah added.

  Erin helped Marissa up off the floor and they walked together toward the kitchen. “Thanks for getting these clothes for me, Errie. Savannah brought them to the hospital.” As if in confidence, she said, “I threw away my other clothes.”

  “Well, they were awfully dirty,” Savannah said. “Diane told me she took them home and tried to clean them, but they were still a mess—nothing Marissa would want to keep.”

  “Hi Lily,” Marissa said as she stepped into the kitchen. She hurried to see the baby, who sat in her high chair. “How are you, you cutie patootie?”

  Lily kicked her feet and smiled brightly upon seeing the girl, then put her hands out toward Marissa.

  “Awww, she wants me to pick her up,” Marissa said.

  “You just eat your supper, little one,” Savannah said to the baby. “Let Marissa eat. You two can play later.”

  “You’re such a sweet baby,” Marissa murmured, kissing Lily’s little fingers. Then slipping into a chair next to the baby, she said, “Mmm, this looks good.”

  Erin chuckled. “You always say that.”

  “Is there something wrong with being thankful for your food?” Marissa asked. She made a face. “It was hard to be thankful for that hospital food, though. Ick!”

  Everyone laughed.

  The conversation around the table that night was rather low-key and before long Marissa set her fork down and announced, “I’m really tired.”

  “I imagine you are,” Savannah said. “You’ve been through a lot and it’s hard to sleep in a hospital.”