He walks over to the side closest to me and rubs his head against the wire mesh keeping him safely contained in the “outside” space. The little pet door in the bottom of the door from the kitchen can be locked to keep him securely inside the house when we’re not home. There’s also a door in the catio leading to the backyard, but we set it up so it can’t be opened from the outside, only if you’re in the catio. And it latches automatically when it closes, so someone can’t break in from the outside. Plus, we put a barrel bolt on the inside of that door to doubly secure it. There’s less risk of him accidentally getting out that way.
But at least his days of obsessing over stealing the peanut butter jar seem to have ended, now that he has a new distraction. He’s spent hours out here watching the birds and squirrels eat in the new feeders I’ve put out and keep filled. We make sure he’s securely in the house when we’re gone, but in the mornings and evenings before and after work, he can come and go from here.
Sothisis what contentment feels like.
I take a sip from my bottle of beer, my post-chores reward. I earned it, and hope Tom will be pleased when he gets home and sees he doesn’t have to do anything this weekend except relax and spend time with me.
I’m hoping to talk him into taking a picnic at the falls. It’s been far too long since we’ve done that.
Kelly called me this morning in tears—happy tears—that the first direct deposit of child support hit her account overnight. I guess Dennis wasn’t happy about the wage garnishment I filed for once I tracked him down at his secret girlfriend’s apartment—a girlfriend his other girlfriend didn’t know about—but that’s not my problem. It’s that, or he goes to jail. I’ll stay on his ass about it until he’s caught up everything he owes, establishes a record of making timely payments, and I’m convinced he’s not going to slack off again.
In other words, probably until both boys are over eighteen.
For the second time in just a few weeks, I feel reallygoodabout being a lawyer. Which was the main reason I wanted to get into law in the first place. It was my mom who wanted me to make a lot of money with my career and kept harping on me to go to work for a larger firm.
I’m a little slow sometimes, but once I finally pry my head out of my butt, I do okay for myself.
A little over four weeks ago, we pulled the moving truck up to the garage and started unloading my things into it. I’ve just about got everything unpacked and the garage cleared out again.
It feels darned good to be home.
“Maow.”
I stand up and walk over to him so I can scratch his head through the wire. “I’m going to take a shower, buddy.” I finished working early this Friday so I could come home and do this and a few other chores. I hit the Pig on the way home to stock up with groceries. We shouldn’t have to leave the house if we don’t want to until Monday morning.
When I head inside, I hear Jester hit the little flap on his cat door and he zooms past me and up the stairs, racing me to the bedroom. I’d missed this little guy something fierce. Now we’re talking about maybe driving up to the shelter in Colley and adopting a second cat to keep him company.
I’m in the shower when I hear Tom enter the bathroom.
“The yard looks great, babe.” He pokes his head into the shower and I give him a peck on the lips.
“Thanks. Now we can relax all weekend.” I waggle my eyebrows at him. “Want to join me in the shower?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
* * * *
Tomas
I quickly undress and join him in the shower.
As we usually do in situations like this, we use up all the hot water. Once we’re out and drying off, I remember what I wanted to tell him. “Keith Barnes came in today to start pricing out materials.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Kelly already landed one grant and they’re going to start refurbishing the church and schoolhouse first.”
“That’s great!”
“Yeah. You’re a genius.” I kiss him again. “Thank you for thinking of that.”
He wears a bashful smile. “I’m glad my luck finally changed for the better.”
“Yeah, you haven’t flattened a tire or locked your keys in the car since you moved back.”
He snaps me with his towel, making me laugh. Once we’re dressed we head downstairs, Jester following us, so we can cook dinner.
I’ve been thinking about this all day and now that I’m home, I can have this conversation with him. “Any ideas about next weekend?” I ask.
