by Patricia Fry
“Well, that’s going to be awkward isn’t it…I mean to find someone to take over an estate that size? And is Arthur even in a position to make those kinds of decisions, yet?”
“I guess he is. The entire estate, less his mother’s allowance, became his the minute he turned eighteen,” Craig reminded her.
“It’s mind-boggling to think that a transaction of that sort, with that vast amount of money, could take place so easily.”
“I hear ya, Savannah, but evidently things are different in the world of high finance. Anyway, the original accountant is out—or on his way out, once they’ve chosen a replacement.”
“What about his attorney? He has his own attorney, doesn’t he?” she asked.
“Yes. The attorney will see to it that the transition goes smoothly and legally. I think Arthur’s in good hands, only…”
“Only what?”
“From what I understand, the little money-man got pretty upset when Arthur fired him. Arthur said he carried on something fierce and left his office in a huff. His partner had to come in and take over during the meeting.”
“Sounds like Arthur had good instincts about that guy,” Savannah said. “I mean, if he was that close to breaking, for heaven’s sake...that’s not the kind of man I’d want handling my millions—or is it billions…trillions?”
****
A week later, the Iveys were on their way back from taking Adam home to his mother and stepfather when Savannah’s cell phone rang. “I don’t know this number,” she said, looking at the screen. She glanced at Michael. “Has a telemarketer found me?” She answered the call hesitantly. “Hello.”
“Hi, Savannah.”
“Arthur! What a surprise. How are you?”
“Doing good. How are you?” he asked.
“Great! It’s nice to hear from you. So what’s going on in your life these days?”
“I had a consultation with a team of plastic surgeons,” he said. “The doctors say I should heal up just fine, even though the burn scars are old. I guess I’ve presented them with quite a challenge,” he said, chuckling a little. There was a pause, then, “They’re having a preliminary hearing for Charles Peyton.”
“Oh?” Savannah said.
“Yeah. I could have told them he’s guilty. I don’t know how he’s involved, but I’m sure he had something to do with Karen’s death and my…accident. I feel it. I just wish I could remember more.”
“It’ll be interesting to see what they find out during the hearing.”
“It’s big news here, Savannah. The papers and local TV are covering our family gossip nonstop.” He hesitated before saying, “The paparazzi know about me. One of them saw me in town and tried to follow us, but we lost him.” He chuckled. “You ought to see Ruthie drive—like in Smokey and the Bandit.” His tone became more serious when he reported, “She’s teaching me how to drive.”
“That’s cool, Arthur. It sounds like you’re doing well.”
“Yeah, but I’d really like to get out of town for a while. I feel kinda cramped here, if you know what I mean.”
Savannah glanced at Michael before asking Arthur, “Even though you’re free to come and go as you please?”
“Yes. It’s those paparazzi; they freak me out.” He paused. “Savannah, could Ruthie and I come to your town for a while?”
“Arthur, that would be wonderful,” she said, glancing at Michael again. “When?”
“Soon,” he replied.
“Let me talk it over with Michael and I’ll get back to you.”
“Soon?” he asked.
“Yes, I’ll call you right back. I promise.”
“What is it?” Michael asked when Savannah ended the call and dropped the phone into her lap. “I get the feeling it’s something I’m not going to like.”
“Oh no, Michael. I think you’ll agree.”
“Agree to what?” he asked, suspiciously.
“Well, Arthur’s feeling crowded there in Frisco, and he’d like to take me up on my invitation to come here for a while—both Arthur and his caretaker Ruth.”
“Aww, hon,” he complained. “I’m enjoying our uncomplicated life. Even Rags has stayed out of trouble all week. Do you really want to have strangers here—strangers who are evidently hiding out…from what?” he asked, knitting his brow.
“Paparazzi,” she said weakly. “That’s all, just paparazzi.”
Michael took in a deep breath and let it out. “What are your thoughts, hon?” he asked. “Is this something you want to do?”
“Yes. I’d like to offer the boy a safe haven. He’s been through a lot. I think he’d find this a pleasant environment and I’d enjoy helping him to heal.”
“Heal?” Michael questioned. “Has he started the plastic surgery?”
She shook her head. “He’s only at the consultation stage—no surgery, yet. But I’m sure he has a lot of emotional scars.” She turned toward her husband. “Michael, he’s a good kid. He’d fit in nicely with our family and I think it would be good for him.”
Michael grimaced, saying, “Savannah, Savannah. You always make things sound so simple. Why do I question that?”
“I wouldn’t know,” she said, flashing her green eyes at him.
“Well, let me give you a rundown: your little investigation into missing cats a few years ago resulted in you being kidnapped; when you invited that nice film crew to stay in our home, someone was murdered; your tame feral-cat project at the Fischer building turned into a dangerous fiasco for several of our friends; and then you invited Colbi to recover here after she was rescued from the cat hoarders, and…”
“I get it, Michael. You think trouble might follow Arthur here? How could that be? As far as we know, the key players in the accidents—those who potentially might want to harm him—are in jail…or dead.”
“His stepfather, Charles Peyton, is out on bail, isn’t he? I think I read that somewhere.”
“I’m not sure. Could be, I guess. But he’s in San Francisco.” Savannah faced her husband. “If he’s out of jail, that’s another good reason why we should let Arthur come here. It’s probably just for a few days.”
Michael sighed. “Okay, Savannah, if that’s what you want. But will you promise that, at the first sign of danger for this family, you will…”
“What? Toss him out on his ear?” She laughed. “Oh Michael, there will be no danger. It will be a nice experience for all of us.”
Chapter 2
Late in the afternoon on the following day, Michael and Savannah noticed a blue sedan pulling into the driveway. She walked out onto the porch to greet their guests with Lily in her arms, while Michael trotted down the steps. “Hi, you must be Ruth,” he said, shaking her hand as she exited the car. I’m Michael Ivey.”
Ruth smiled and nodded.
“Hello, Arthur,” he greeted, when he saw the young man walk around the car from the passenger side. “I’m glad to finally meet you…well, in a more formal manner.”
“Hello, Dr. Ivey,” he said.
“It’s Michael.”
“Aren’t you a veterinarian?” Arthur asked. “Ms. Savannah told me you’re a veterinarian.”
He smiled at the young man. “Yes, but I’m not on duty right now.” When Arthur opened a back car door, Michael noticed a cat carrier sitting on the seat. He said, chuckling, “…or did you bring me a sick cat?”
“No. She’s not sick. This is my cat Koko,” he said.
“Koko?” Savannah asked, joining them. “Where’s Karen?”
“This is Karen, I call her Koko now—that’s her real name.” He stared down at the carrier and then raised his badly scarred face toward the couple. “I’ve decided to put my little sister Karen to rest, and that meant dropping the name I was using for Koko.”
“Oh, good move, Arthur,” Savannah said, smiling. She then acknowledged Ruth with a one-armed hug.
“Who is this adorable child?” Ruth asked, reaching
for the baby’s hand.
“Meet our daughter Lily,” Savannah said.
As Ruth attempted to engage the eight-month-old, the baby strained to see Arthur, who had turned away.
“Artie, she wants to greet you,” Ruth said.
“Oh, I don’t think she wants to see me,” he mumbled as he reached in to release the Siamese cat from the carrier.
“Sure she does,” Savannah said. “She seems really interested in you.”
Arthur turned toward the others, holding Koko in front of his face.
Upon seeing the cat, Lily squealed with delight and reached out to touch her. She patted Koko a couple of times, laughing and cooing. When the baby pulled back in Savannah’s arms and peered into Arthur’s eyes, he abruptly turned away. “Can I take Koko in the house now?”
“Sure,” Michael said, reaching into the open trunk to retrieve two suitcases.
“Rags, hi,” Arthur said, when he walked into the room and saw the cat sitting on the sofa peering out through the window. “I brought you a playmate.” He addressed Savannah, who had followed him inside. “Okay if I let her go?”
She nodded, noticing that Rags had jumped down onto the floor.
“They did not forget, did they?” Ruth said upon joining the others who were watching as Koko rushed up to Rags and rubbed against him. Rags sniffed the air, touched noses with Koko, then butted his head against her before rubbing his body along her side, his tail draping across her slender body.
“Yes, that’s quite a reunion,” Savannah said. “I guess Rags made a good friend when he…when you…”
Arthur lowered his head. “Yeah, when I was keeping him in my quarters at the mansion.”
Michael added, in a slightly scolding manner, “…without permission.”
“Water under the bridge,” Savannah said, putting one arm around Arthur. “It’s so good to see you both,” she said, squeezing him to her.
“Me too,” he said, adjusting his hood to hide the scarred side of his face.
Savannah pulled away and took a good look at the young man. “Hey, I like your duds, she said, admiring his baggy-style jeans and cream-colored, long-sleeved hoodie. “Been shopping, huh?”
“Yes. I got tired of wearing sweats all the time; we found these soft jeans that are almost as comfortable against my scars.”
Savannah smiled at Ruth. “You’ve been shopping, too.”
The petite woman glanced down at her outfit. “Yes. We both have shed our former attire,” she said with only a slightly noticeable Spanish inflection. “I could not wait to get out of that dreadful white uniform the madam of the mansion made staff wear.” She leaned in as if sharing a secret. “I have not worn an apron since we left that place.”
“You have a good sense of style.” Savannah noticed, eyeing Ruth’s tangerine-colored capris and tailored plaid blouse. “I like your haircut, too. It’s a lot like my aunt’s—kind of a bouncy bob. It’s adorable on you, Ruth.”
“Well, thank you,” she said sincerely. “I am enjoying the makeover.”
Savannah thought for a moment, then said, “In fact, you’re about the same height as my aunt—what, five-five?”
Ruth nodded.
“From the back, you could actually be mistaken for her…except you’re more slender.”
“Where do you want these?” Michael asked, referring to the luggage.
Savannah motioned. “Hey, come on you two; I’ll show you to your rooms. Bring them upstairs, Michael.”
“This is a great house,” Arthur said, looking around. “I like it here.”
“Yes it’s an old classic,” Savannah explained as she led the others up the wide staircase. “It was built by my aunt’s husband’s family around 1900. Michael has done a lot of renovation since we bought it a couple of years ago.” Upon reaching the landing, she stopped at the first room on the left. “We call this the Healing Room. Arthur, I thought…”
He stepped inside and looked around. “The healing room, huh? Perfect.” He turned toward Savannah and asked, “Is this for my benefit?”
She smiled. “For any guest who could use some healing vibes.” She pointed out, “You have an attached bath and plenty of room for Karen…I mean Koko.”
“This is beautiful,” Ruth said.
“Come on,” Savannah invited, “I’ll show you to your room. This is the Blue Room. The powder room is just outside the door. I hope it’s okay. You two have the whole second floor, actually. Our bedrooms are downstairs.”
“Only Rags and guests use this floor,” Michael said, placing Ruth’s suitcase on a luggage rack.
“It is lovely,” Ruth said, turning in place to take it all in. “You have good taste in decorating.”
Savannah shrugged. “I have help—a friend with a knack.”
“Well, it is very well-done.”
Savannah faced their guests. “Dinner should be ready in thirty or forty minutes. If you’d like, you can freshen up, hang your clothes, take a nap…when you’re ready, come down and we’ll show you the rest of the house.” Before she could walk out of the room, she noticed Arthur suddenly turn away.
“She’s looking at me again,” he complained.
Savannah focused on the baby and saw that she was peering at Arthur with great interest. “She wants to know you.”
“She’s actually a very friendly baby,” Michael said, taking her from Savannah. “And she’s getting heavy.”
“Boy is she,” Savannah said, shaking her arm to relieve the overworked muscles.
When it appeared that Arthur was not going to engage Lily, the Iveys headed out through the bedroom door. She said, “We’ll meet you in the living room at the bottom of the stairs when you’re ready for the grand tour.”
Fifteen minutes later, Ruth and Arthur walked down the staircase. He still wore the hood over his sandy hair and Savannah noticed that he stood only a little straighter. He didn’t seem to be quite as severely stooped as he had the night she and Craig rescued him.
“Ready for the tour?” Savannah asked, approaching toward the couple. “Ohhh,” she said, jumping a little when Koko raced lickety-split down the stairs into the living room and between her feet, Rags not far behind. She laughed. “Looks like she feels right at home.”
“Uh-oh,” Michael said, gesturing. “She just noticed that Rags isn’t the only critter in house.”
The others looked in the direction Michael pointed and saw Koko standing tall on all fours, arching her back, her tail puffed to twice its normal size.
“Oh that’s right, you have a dog,” Arthur said, laughing. “I don’t think she’s ever encountered such a creature.”
“Lexie’s probably never seen a cat take that stance, either,” Savannah said. She laughed, “She looks pretty scary, doesn’t she, Lexie?”
At that, the Afghan-mix turned and retreated quietly into the kitchen. Before Koko could get all of her wits about her, she glimpsed something else and sauntered toward it to get a better look.
“That’s Buffy, Koko. She’s a cat like you—even marked like you—only she’s fluffy,” Savannah explained.
The Siamese cat got close enough to Buffy to catch her scent and hear her almost-silent hiss.
“I think you came on a little strong there, Koko,” Michael said. “You caught her off guard.”
Unbothered by the snub, Koko glanced back at Rags and then tore down the hallway with him on her tail.
“She is adorable,” Ruth said, reaching down to pet Buffy. “Is she as cuddly as she looks?”
“Oh yes. She’s a love-bug,” Savannah said. “…always a willing lap-sitter.”
Ruth observed, “She looks like one of the cats you kept in your quarters at the mansion, Artie.”
“Yes—Princess. Only she wasn’t all that friendly.”
“Well, come on,” Michael said, when he heard the baby fussing. “I’ll give the tour while Savannah finishes feeding Lily.”
When the
trio returned, Savannah asked, while spooning a dollop of baby food into Lily’s mouth, “Hungry?”
“What’s that she’s eating?” Arthur asked.
“Pureed pears and yams. I make her food myself.”
When Arthur looked confused, Michael explained, “We have this grinder-masher thing that we put real food in—cooked yams, avocado, peaches, bananas—and it comes out pureed so Lily can eat it.”
“She’s smiling at you,” Savannah said to Arthur. “She likes you.”
When he quickly turned away, Savannah stood up and walked over to him. “Arthur, look at me.”
Reluctantly, he faced Savannah. “What?”
She thought for a moment, then said, “Come with me, will you?” She reached out her hand to him and he took it. She led him to the sofa where she’d been sitting and feeding the baby. “Sit here with me.”
When he turned away, she pulled him down next to her and said, “Look at the baby. She wants to get to know you.”
“Why?” he asked, looking down. He put his hand up to hide the most severely scarred side of his face and said quietly, “I don’t want to scare her.”
“She’s been watching you and she isn’t scared, Arthur. She wants to engage you. Let her. She’s a sweet spirit. You won’t frighten her.”
Arthur blinked a couple of times and slowly looked up at the baby, who sat in her jumper chair. Savannah closed the container of food, wiped the baby’s face, and handed her a couple of toys. Arthur watched as Lily picked up her plastic keys and began banging them against the tray on the little chair. She jumped up and down a couple of times, chewing on the keys, then tossed them on the floor and picked up her stuffed kitty.
Savannah said, “Do you love your kitty, Lily? Hug your kitty.”
With that, the baby held the stuffed cat to her and laid her cheek on it. She looked at Arthur, smiled, and reached the toy out in his direction.
“She wants you to take the kitty,” Savannah said.