“Do I have to go inside to hide? It’s so nice and warm out here.” I basked in the sun, feeling the beginnings of the lethargy that indicated I’d soon enter my third molt.
“You cannot stay out here because you’re in plain sight of the living room.”
“I don’t want to be inside a stuffy room on such a glorious day.”
Keanu rose from his lounge chair—which creaked in relief. “Didn’t your boyfriend mention something about a hot tub up on the roof? Ain’t nothing but the birds would see us up there.”
Relief had her nodding. “Yes, there’s another deck. You can access it through the master bedroom. Keep Tigger there and don’t leave until I tell you it’s safe.”
“I don’t like it when you give me orders,” I complained. Did she not understand it was supposed to be the other way around?
“Would it help if I said the rooftop fridge is stocked with drinks, Fudgsicles, and Popsicles?”
“Let’s go.” I held up my arms, and Keanu grabbed me, carrying me as befitted my status. Although, they wouldn’t be toting me around for much longer so long as I kept eating properly. Soon, I’d be towering over them.
The roof terrace proved to be similar to the patio. It lacked a pool but did have a tub of swirling water, which, despite the hot name, actually felt cool to the touch. Just what my overheating body needed.
A pergola-type thing provided shade for the sweating Keanu. It also covered a small kitchen—with the promised edibles!
Before I dove into those icy treats, I beckoned Keanu. “Go and see if you can catch a glimpse of this mysterious doctor.”
“Bossy bugger,” he grumbled, but I ignored it, as the man complained about everything. He lumbered to the railing that overlooked the front of the home.
“Looks like he’s arriving in a rental. Some little foreign thing. Cheap looking. This doctor must not have much money.”
“And the man himself?”
“Just getting out of the car. Average height, not fat but I don’t get the impression he’s muscled either, graying hair. He’s carrying a briefcase.”
“Does he look dangerous?”
Keanu snorted. “He’s a doctor; they all are.”
“Why do you say that? I thought doctors healed.”
“Most are just in the business to make money. Soaking the desperate dry, promising cures if you give them money.” Bitterness hued his claims. Understandable. According to Iolana, he’d lost his wife to a grievous disease.
“He’s alone?”
“Yeah. At least ain’t no one else getting out of the car. He’s gone inside,” Keanu stated before heading for the fridge.
While I wouldn’t usually turn down a treat, instead of hunger, I found myself thinking about the doctor, who might be able to confirm the presence of others of my kind. A man currently downstairs where I’d been forbidden from going.
Me, told what I could or could not do. Time for Iolana to learn she wasn’t the boss of me.
“How quiet can you be?”
“Why?” Keanu’s gaze narrowed as he paused the consumption of his frozen chocolate on a stick.
“I’d like to listen in on the conversation downstairs, out of sight, of course.”
“The main floor is pretty open. Wouldn’t be easy to hide.”
“For you, maybe, but I am small enough I could tuck in one of those leafy plant pots.”
“If I carry you down, they’ll hear me,” Keanu pointed out. A reminder of my small stature that galled. I struggled with stairs, given my legs remained too short to easily climb them.
“It’s not you that’s been forbidden from joining them. You will bring me to the base of the stairs, and while you distract them with your presence, I shall conceal myself that I might listen.”
