On Saturday morning, Anita and Peanut had a showdown. Or more accurately, a stare-down. She glared at her cat, who was meowing at her from the roof again. Was there such a thing as counseling for cats?
“You need a therapist,” she yelled, shielding her eyes from the sun. “The tree you climbed up is right there.” She pointed to the weeping willow next to the house, having determined he was using it to get onto the roof. “All you have to do is climbdown.”
He responded by turning around, his tail up in the air.
“Rude.” She went to the shed and retrieved the ladder. Usually she was at work by now, but Pamela had taken her shift so she could be off today for Harper’s party. Anita leaned the ladder against the roof and climbed up. Peanut, apparently in a forgiving mood now, was purring as he rubbed his cheek against her forehead. “Crazy cat.” But she smiled as she cuddled him against her and made her way down the ladder again.
Her phone buzzed in her jeans pocket. She’d finallyremembered to put it on vibrate the other day. When she had more time, she’d pick out another ringtone that didn’t make her break out in hives every time she heard it. She gave Peanut a pat on the head and set him down, then answered her phone. “Hey, Harper.”
“Ready for tonight?”
“Sure.”
“Well, aren’t you a ball of excitement.”
She opened the sliding back door and walked into the kitchen. “I am excited.” And nervous, but she didn’t need to tell Harper that. “I’ve never been to a cocktail party before.”
“You haven’t?”
“No. Mom goes to them all the time, but this will be my first one.”
“Then I’m happy it’s mine. I’ll pick you up around one thirty.”
“Thanks.” She still hadn’t called Rusty about her car, although Harper wouldn’t have agreed to ride in it even if it was running. “I feel bad that you have to take me home after the party,” she said. “I still can’t find anyone to take over my Sunday school class.”
“I don’t mind. The party starts early, so it will end early, one of the perks of serving only cocktails and finger foods rather than a meal. Cleanup won’t be hard, and I don’t like missing church anyway. Lake Hamilton is less than an hour’s drive, so it’s not a big deal.”
“I can’t wait to see your parents’ vacation house.”
“And I can’t wait to show it to you. I was hoping they would come tonight, but you know Madge and Don. Always on the go.”
Anita didn’t miss the note of disappointment in Harper’s flippant tone. She and her parents had a strained relationship, one that Harper never talked about. “I’m glad they’re letting you borrow the lake house.”
“Yeah. That’s theleastthey could do. Anyway, you’re going to love what I picked out for you to wear.”
“Huh?”
“I’m giving you a makeover. Didn’t I mention that?”
“No.” She’d spent all day yesterday trying to figure out what to wear, and when she’d finished her shift she’d gone to Hot Springs and shopped until her feet ached, finally settling on a plain white shirt and slim black pants. Harper would think her choices were boring, and they probably were, but they were comfortable. “Can’t I just bring my own outfit?”
“No, you cannot. Half the fun tonight will be getting you gussied up to meet Dylan.”
“Wait, what? Who’s Dylan?”
“Didn’t I mention Dylan?”
She sat down on the chair near the back door, not buying Harper’s innocent act. “You definitely did not.”
“My bad. He’s a friend of mine, and he’ll be tending bar. I guess I also didn’t mention he’s in medical school.”
Anita didn’t like where this was going. “Are you fixing me up?”
“Mayyyybe.” Harper laughed. “Look, if you two hit it off, fine. If not, that’s fine too. He’s nice, you’re nice, and I think together you would both bevery nice.”
“Then why don’t you date him?”
“Please. That would be like dating my brother—if I had a brother. I’ve known Dylan since junior high.”
