She rounded up the kids. Lindsey was the only one who seemed excited about heading over to Noah's. They all put on their coats, and she didn't bother getting in the car. The boys whispered to each other as they all trudged across the dark field and crossed the fence to reach Noah's house.
He was waiting at the door.
She lagged behind as Lindsey hugged him with one arm around his waist. The boys trudged inside.
He didn't make them wait. "Guys, I have a problem."
She looked around, but the house was spotless and neat, as always.
What was going on?
"I bought a cat. A kitten, actually."
Lindsey's face lit up.
Jilly was skeptical. "Yougot a cat?"
He leveled a look on her. "Maybe I got a little tired of how quiet it is around here."
She rolled her eyes, not even bothering to hide it even though she'd griped at Casey earlier for doing the same to her. Noah had to be making this up.
"We were doing great," Noah said. "She found her litter box. We played a little bit with a feather tied onto a string. She even took a nap on my desk while I was working earlier. But now I can't find her."
Maybe hewasbeing serious. He might be ornery, but she didn't think this was the kind of joke he would play on the kids.
"Are you for real?" PJ asked.
"I heard her go in the kitchen and eat some food out of her bowl. When I went in to get a glass of water a little bit later, I didn't hear her anywhere."
"Did you try calling her name?" Jilly asked.
"I'm not sure she really knows her name yet."
So... the cat wouldn't come when its name was called. It seemed like a recipe for disaster. But Jilly kept that to herself.
Lindsey was practically vibrating with excitement. "What's the cat's name?"
Was it her imagination, or was a blush rising in Noah's face?
"Her name is Honey Bear."
Jilly couldn't stifle a giggle, and he pointed a finger in her direction. "Not a word."
She pressed her lips together to stifle any further mirth.
"What's she look like?" PJ asked. As if there might be two cats in the house, and he needed to make sure he found the right one.
She couldn’t help smiling a little at that.
Only Casey seemed disinterested, his arms crossed and staring off into space.
"She's a tortoiseshell," Noah said. "Black and orange. At least, that's what the guy who sold her to me said she looked like."
Lindsey and PJ ran off, calling for the kitten.
Casey followed, dragging his feet. "This is dumb."
Jilly stayed with Noah, determined to try and figure out what he was playing at.
