Micah facepalms. “Or I should start now …”
Before we can think up a cover for our conversation, Hailey does a verbal about-face. “Miss Iris, where’s Cleo? I wanna play with her.”
Cleo ran for the hills when I started screaming last night. She’s somewhere in the house, but likely still hiding from the noises we were making. Still, she’s usually begging for breakfast by now, so maybe I should go find her. “You know what, Hailey? I think Cleo slept through her breakfast. Want to help me find her?”
Hailey nods enthusiastically, and I take her hand and lead her upstairs. Sometimes Cleo hides in the guest room when something’s going on she doesn’t like, so I check there first. No such luck. Door’s closed.
“Hm … She’s not here. Let’s check the laundry room.”
Back downstairs we go, and I start to worry. I haven’t heard so much as a meow out of her since last night, and that’s not normal. Cleo’s a social cat, and she loves to be in the same room as me. Hailey and I cross back through the living room on the way to the laundry room, and Micah pauses his chewing, brow furrowed as though he’s picked up on my concern.
“Everything okay?”
I don’t want to alarm Hailey, so I play it cool. “Yeah. She’s just hiding. Maybe Karen got on her nerves, too.”
Micah puts his plate on the coffee table and gets up. “Let me help.”
We search the whole house for an hour, but no Cleo. I bite back tears, but Hailey must sense my panic anyway, because she starts crying.
“Miss Iris, where’s the kitty?”
I don’t know. Dear God, I don’t know.
Just as I’m about to start sobbing, my doorbell app buzzes, and there’s a knock at the front door. I wipe my eyes and go to see who’s there.
Tom stands on my porch with Cleo in hand, with Karen seething next to him. I have no idea how Cleo got out, but at least I can breathe easier knowing she’s safe. “Cleo!”
Karen huffs and gestures to Tom to hand Cleo back to me. “I thought I made it clear when you moved in that the cat has to stay indoors. She was eating my azaleas.”
I hug Cleo and sniffle. “I’m so sorry, Karen. I don’t know how she got out.”
Micah walks up behind me with Hailey in his arms. “See, Hailey? The kitty’s fine. She just escaped is all.” He scratches behind Cleo’s ear, and she starts to purr. “I’m sorry. I think this is my fault. She must’ve gotten out when I brought in the groceries for breakfast.”
“Perhaps you should take your meals in your own house,” Karen sneers. She turns around and stalks back down my sidewalk, snapping her fingers at Tom. Like a good little whipped puppy, he follows after her. I shudder to think what that relationship must be like behind closed doors.
“Did you see him jump?” Micah whispers in my ear. “I bet their safe word is something legal.”
I can’t help but snicker. I shut and lock the door and let Cleo go, and she makes a beeline for her food bowl. I guess the azaleas weren’t that filling. Hailey begs Micah to let her go after my cat, but thankfully Micah has more sense.
“No, sweetie. See how Cleo is going to eat? You don’t bother animals when they’re eating. Let her have her own breakfast, and maybe after you can play with her.”
Oh, God, he’s adorable. I could kiss him.
Hailey pouts but agrees to let Cleo eat. By now our crepes are cold, so Micah heats up what’s left for us to finish. We manage to get through the rest of our breakfast without any further crises or interruptions.
After we’ve eaten and Micah and I have cleaned up the kitchen, he takes Hailey home. I hate that they have to go, but he does have his own place after all. I can’t be greedy and want him here all the time.
About thirty minutes after they leave, my phone pings with a message from Micah.
Hey, sexy. I forgot to ask when I can see you again.
I think about it for a minute before typing my response. I don’t want to seem overeager, but I don’t want him to think I’m not interested, either.
Well, my back lawn could use some maintenance. Maybe you could come over tomorrow after work and trim the hedges?
The chat bubbles ripple as he types.
That’s hot. Yeah, I’m down. Mind if Hailey comes over too? I don’t know if I can get a sitter that soon. I’ll bring some of her toys to keep her occupied.
