“Cookies too,” Irene added. “And maybe some fresh bread?”
“Settle down, ladies!” Cyrus chuckled. “First, we need to find out the rules for Pleasant Beans. I hear it’s something called a cat café. They’ve got a few critters wandering around the shop. That’s why we need a meeting with Talia, Grayson, Tilly and Jack. We want everything to go smoothly while they’re on vacation.”
“We should go to Hawaii someday,” Paddy called from the hall. “I think it would be grand!”
“I think it’ll behot,” Mary replied. “But fun.”
“Never mind vacations,” Cyrus said. “We’re here to do a job, the inn and the coffee shop. And if we happen to see an opportunity for a little matchmaking…” He rocked heel-to-toe, hands in his pockets, grinning at the others.
Each knew exactly what he meant. They were masters at matchmaking, always had been. And now, with their new situation in life and a little extra time (okay, a lot of extra time) on their hands, they could play matchmaker for years to come.
“All right, everyone, be on your best behavior,” Cyrus said. “Watch what you say. And stay far,faraway from the museum.”
They all nodded solemnly, then headed downstairs to meet up with Talia and Grayson.
Chapter Two
Lila came downstairs to the kitchen, poured herself a cup of coffee, and then stared at the refrigerator as though it might present her with breakfast inspiration. With a sigh, she opened the door, grabbed some creamer, and stirred it into her cup. She was still debating between eggs and cereal when her cat, Ulysses, trotted in yowling like he was on his last breath.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Ulysses, can’t you wait a measly minute?”
The cat flopped onto his back, stretching dramatically before letting out another long, tragic wail.
“You should take up yodeling with the way you sound,” she muttered. Shaking her head, she went to the cupboard and pulled out a can of cat food.
Instant silence.
Ulysses sat up, licking his lips, eyes wide with anticipation.
“Uh-huh. Fine. Now you’re quiet,” Lila said, scooping the food into his dish and setting it on the floor.
The cat gave a polite meow, then padded over and began to eat.
“If the neighbors weren’t awake yet, they are now,” she quipped, taking a sip of coffee.
Lila fixed herself a bowl of cereal, sat at the kitchen table, and had taken maybe three bites when her cell phone rang. The spoon clattered into the bowl with a splash.
“Now what?” she muttered, grabbing the phone. “Hello?”
“Hello, Lila!” came her mother’s bright voice.
“Yes, Mother, what is it?”
“Don’t forget you have to be at Pleasant Beans this morning. Tilly wants to go over everything with you and the newbies.”
Lila laughed. “Call them new recruits, it sounds better.”
“At any rate,” her mother continued. “You’ll have to keep a sharp eye on them.”
“Mother, if Tilly didn’t think they could do the job, then why did she ask them?”
“She didn’t,” her mother said pointedly. “Tilly asked Grayson, and he swore up and down that since they could run the Clear Creek Inn, they’d be perfectly capable of handling Pleasant Beans for a few weeks.”
Lila tapped her spoon against the bowl. “All right, fine. I know I’m supposed to be there. You don’t have to remind me; I’m not a child.”
“I’m just making sure,” her mother replied. “Because I know your brother will try to get out of working in the restaurant this afternoon, then talk you into covering for him, which means it’ll clash with your meeting at Pleasant Beans.”
Lila sighed. That sounded exactly like something he’d do. “All right, no problem. Love you, Mother,” she sang.
