Cat-Eye Witness (A Klepto Cat Mystery)
Page 24
Michael’s tone became serious. “Tomorrow, Savannah. Marcy and her husband are bringing Adam to the wedding tomorrow. What do you think?”
She looked stunned for a moment, blinked a couple of times and said slowly, “I can’t wait.”
***
“Savannah, your wedding was absolutely lovely,” Gladys said. “I’m still weeping. I’m so happy for you. And now to learn that, not only do I have a wonderful new son-in-law, but also a grandson. Wow!”
Savannah couldn’t stop smiling. “I know, Mom. I’ve never been so surprised in my life as I was last night when Michael told me.”
“Oh, so Michael told you?” Margaret said as she walked up to the pair.
“Yes. Last night after you left,” she said. “You knew about this?”
“Yes, I knew. So you were surprised, huh?”
Savannah nodded. “Sure was.”
“So what are you going to do with her?” Margaret asked.
“Huh? Do you mean him? What do you mean what am I going to do with him?”
“I thought it was a girl.”
Savannah looked puzzled. “What gave you that idea?”
“That’s what Michael told me.”
“Auntie, what are you talking about?”
“Your wedding gift.”
“Wedding gift? I don’t think he can be considered a wedding gift.”
“He?” Margaret shook her head as if confused. “What are you talking about?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Peaches,” “Adam,” they said in unison.
“Michael got me that horse?” Savannah asked, her face lighting up like a Christmas tree. “Oh my gosh!”
“Um, nooooo,” Margaret said. She looked askance and asked, “Who’s Adam?”
“Sorry to interrupt,” Michael said as he walked up to the three women. “Mrs. Ivey, I’d like you to meet someone.”
“Ooooh, I’m so nervous,” she said as she looked across the room and realized he was leading her over to where a striking woman and a young boy stood.
“Don’t be.” He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. “He will love you.” Suddenly, Savannah was face to face with a petite woman with pert features, green eyes and curly black hair. “Marcy, this is my wife, Savannah,” Michael said, proudly.
“Hello, nice to meet you.” Savannah held out her hand to Marcy and they greeted one another with warm smiles. She looked to the right of the woman and there, standing tall and straight, a wide-eyed look on his handsome face and even telltale strands of dark hair hanging over his right eyebrow, was an eight-year-old boy.
“And this, Savannah, is my son, Adam.”
“Hello, Adam,” Savannah said, extending her hand.
He took it, looked into her eyes and smiled shyly.
“It’s so nice to meet you. Thank you for coming here today and making this such a special day for us.”
“For him, too,” Marcy said. “All he could talk about for days is meeting the rest of his family.
Savannah smiled at Marcy and then looked down at Adam. He had a wide grin on his face. What an adorable child. I love him already. “What kind of things do you like?” Savannah asked.
“Animals—especially cats and horses,” he said.
Savannah and Michael exchanged glances. “Boy have you come into the right family,” he said.
Marcy laughed and looked up at Michael. “Yes, you can’t deny this boy. He is you all over.”
“Cool,” Savannah said. “Do you like riding?”
“Yes. I went riding at summer camp and fell off the horse,” he said looking a little somber. His face lit up. “But I still like riding.”
She smiled. Then looking more serious, she said, “I fell off of a horse not too long ago. And I still like riding, too.”
“Do you have a horse?” he asked looking from Savannah to Michael.
“Yes she does,” Michael responded. “But she doesn’t know it, yet,” he whispered rather loudly to Adam.
The boy looked confused.
“I have a horse?” Savannah asked excitedly.
“Yes, you do—she’s in a corral in our backyard as we speak…” He looked up in time to see Betty and Gil walk into the reception.
They spotted Michael and nodded. Gil gave a thumbs-up, indicating that they had delivered the portable corral and the horse.
Michael smiled broadly. “Yes, as we speak.”
“Oh, Michael, I’m so excited! I can’t wait to get home and see her—my very own horse!”
Marcy and Adam laughed.
“Oh, not very grown-up acting, am I? Sorry about that,” she said, sheepishly.
The boy looked up at Savannah wide-eyed and said, “I’d be excited if there was a horse in my backyard.”
She bent down toward the boy. “Well, Adam, there is a horse in your backyard. She’s gentle and well-mannered and you can come over any time your mom and dad say it’s okay and ride her.”
“Hi Thavannah. Do you like your new horth?” Charlotte asked as she rushed up to the group.
Savannah turned and grabbed Charlotte in a bear hug. “I love her.” She pulled away and said, “You knew about the secret, too, huh?”
Charlotte nodded.
Savannah reached over and put her arm around the girl’s shoulders. “Charlotte, I want you to meet Adam. He’s going to come over sometimes and ride with me.”
“Cool. I ride Bonnyth horth Wilthon. He goeth thlow.”
Just then, a man carrying a little girl walked up. Marcy acknowledged him and said to him, “Eric, this is Michael and Savannah Ivey, and their friend, Charlotte. This is my husband Eric and our daughter, Rose.”
Savannah and Michael shook hands with Eric. Then Savannah looked at the round-faced, curly-haired girl wearing little glasses and said, “Well, hello, Rose. How old are you?”
The child held up three fingers.
“She’s darling,” Savannah said to Marcy.
Adam leaned into Savannah and whispered, “She has Down’s.”
“Well she is a beautiful child. You must have a lot of fun together,” she said.
He smiled…nodded.
“THIS SONG IS FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM,” they heard announced. Savannah and Michael took each other’s hands—looked at one another and he said, “Honey, I think that’s us.”
She glanced around the room, “Must be—I’m the only one wearing a wedding dress.” She started to turn and then stooped down and said to Adam, “You are welcome at our home any time. I look forward to us doing some riding together.”
“Me, too,” he said with a big grin.
She reached out and patted his cheek and winked.
As the new bride and groom danced, everyone stood back and watched. Savannah could feel the love in the room as she made eye contact with friends and family. When her eyes rested on Adam, she smiled and waved her fingers at him. He waved back. Michael turned to see what she was smiling about and spotted her communicating with Adam. He hugged her tightly and said, “Savannah, you are going to make the best mom ever.”
Other Stories in the Klepto Cat Mystery Series
Already available on Kindle:
Book One—Catnapped
When Savannah Jordan agrees to help her aunt while she recovers from a broken foot, she doesn’t expect to walk into a mystery, become part of a not-quite-legal surveillance team, be kidnapped by a deranged stranger and meet a steaming hot veterinarian. Beloved neighborhood cats are missing—the community can only guess at their fate—and Aunt Margaret’s life is being threatened. Is it because she has a clue to the missing cats or is it something more sinister?
If you like light mysteries with only a little terror, if you’re infatuated with interesting cats and if you love a love story, you must read this book.
Coming Soon:
Book Three—Sleight of Paw
Michael Ivey, the local veterinarian (Savannah’s new husband), is violently attacked by an enraged client and t
hen later accused of this man’s murder. The clues quickly stack up against Michael.
Detective Craig Sledge is working this case. And he has also become embedded in the family of Savannah’s friend and local waitress, Iris. He’s dating Iris and helping with her son, Damon’s, rehabilitation in prison.
Coinciding with this mystery is the discovery that the old house, which Savannah and Michael purchased from her Aunt Margaret, is cursed. Is this why the couple has not been blessed with a child?
Savannah’s sister Brianna comes for a visit. She teams up with the Ivey’s vet tech, Bud, to try to break the gypsy spell and they fall hard for each other.
As in the other two stories, Rags (the cat) is involved in solving the crime of many twists and turns.