Cat-Eye Witness (A Klepto Cat Mystery) (29 page)

“Yup,” Max agreed.

“So, you two get a good night’s sleep,” Margaret said. “You’re going to need it.”

“Yeah, Auntie—Max, we’ll see you tomorrow.” She bent down and hugged her aunt, then reached up and wrapped her arms around Max’s neck. She stood back and looked from one to the other. “Thank you both for everything. I love you guys.”

Margaret smiled adoringly at her niece. She then looked around Savannah, “Vannie, where’s your fiancé?” she asked.

“I think he said he was going to put the plates in the dishwasher.”

Margaret leaned into Savannah, worry lines creasing into her flawless skin. “Is everything okay?” she whispered.

Savannah turned away from Max and Margaret and glanced toward the kitchen. “Sure. Yes, I’m sure.” She opened the front door and ushered them out. “’Bye, you two.”

“I love Maggie and Max,” Michael said as he walked up behind Savannah. “But tonight, I’m happy to see them go.”

She gave him a sideways glance. “Yeah, I noticed. What’s that all about? What’s going on, Michael?”

“Just want to spend some time alone with my soon-to-be-wife.” He pulled her to him in a huge wraparound hug. They held each other, quietly enjoying the moment. And then he said in a rather unnatural husky voice, “Savannah, there’s something I have to tell you.”

“Now?” she asked, her words muffled in his neck.

He pushed her away gently and said, “Yes. It’s important.”

“What’s wrong, Michael? You’ve been acting strange all evening.”

He closed his eyes, took a ragged breath and said, in a strained voice, “No, nothing’s wrong. But there is something you have to know. Let’s sit here.” He led her toward the loveseat and gently pulled her down with him. He held both of her hands in his and softly massaged them with his thumbs. “Savannah, I love you with all my heart. I trust you. But what I have to say may change your mind about…us.”

“Michael you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”

He looked her in the eyes and took a deep breath. “Honey, today I got a call—a very unexpected call—a life-changing call…” He seemed to be a million miles away in his thoughts.

“What Michael—are you sick?” she asked, near hysteria.

He laughed a little. “Oh no. Nothing like that. No. Savannah,” he hesitated. “Marcy called me today.”

“Marcy?” Savannah asked cocking her head.

“My ex-wife.”

“Ohhhhh.” Savannah felt sick at her stomach.
What does this mean? He still has feelings for her? He wants to call off our wedding? She was his high-school sweetheart. Oh dear God, why now—just when I’m so happy?

“She’s in town and wanted to see me,” he continued—watching Savannah’s expression.

“Savannah, what I have to tell you may change your mind about marrying me. That’s why I have to tell you this tonight.”

Savannah began to tremble. She felt as if her perfect world was about to crumble around her. “What Michael—you want her back?” she asked, tears streaming down her face.

He started to laugh—hugged her to him. “Oh heavens no. Nothing has changed for me. I could not love anyone more than I love you.” He kissed the side of her head twice and groaned, “I want you as my wife more than ever—forever.”

She sat back and looked over at him. “Then what is it, Michael? What could make me change my mind? I can’t even imagine it.”

He stared into her eyes, and finally said, “Savannah, I have a son.”

She gulped. “A son?... How?... Who?”

“Remember, I told you that Marcy had an abortion behind my back and how devastated I was when I found out? Well, it appears that she didn’t go through with it. When she left, she was pregnant. I never saw her again until yesterday…with my son.”

Savannah sat stunned and silent. Finally, she took his hand and asked, “Well, Michael, how do you feel about this?”

His face opened up into a wide smile. “I am…I can’t begin to tell you…He is a wonderful boy,” he said, excitement in his voice. “She brought him to me because he has started asking for me and she finally realized how wrong it was to keep him from me and me from him. Oh, Savannah, he’s my clone—he looks just like I did as a child.” He looked over at his bride-to-be, taking on a more serious tone. “Savannah, I want to be in his life. More than almost anything, I want to be his father.”

“Does this mean…?” Savannah started.

He cut her off, placed his hands firmly on her shoulders and looked deeply into her eyes. “What this means is that I want him to be a part of our lives. Marcy lives about an hour south of here with her new husband and another child—a little girl. She agreed to work out visitation for Adam…” He searched her eyes. “But I couldn’t let you marry me without talking this over with you. What do you think, honey? How do you feel about this?”

“Oh Michael, I am so happy for you. I know what having children means to you.” She stood and turned away from him. “Wow!” she said. “What a shocker.” She looked down and moved her head from side to side. “Sure didn’t see this coming.”

“Yeah, tell me about it,” he said with a forced chuckle. He reached for her hand and pulled her down next to him. “Look at me Savannah. Are you okay?” He hesitated. “How do you feel about marrying me now, knowing—well, what you know?”

Savannah started to laugh. “Michael, you ought to see your face. Honey, I’ve never seen you look so spooked.”

He blinked a couple of times. “Actually, I’m terrified,” he said, pulling her to him and holding her. She could feel his body tremble.

“Of what?” she asked hesitantly.

“Of losing you.”

She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “Did you really think a small boy would make me leave you? Oh, honey. That is not going to happen—never, never,” she said nuzzling her face into his neck.

“Really?” he said breathlessly. He pulled back from her. “You’re okay with being a stepmother to a child, as well as a dog and a cat?” He managed a strained smile.

Savannah took his hand and squeezed it, saying, “Michael, I love you. And I love the idea of getting to know your son. This news is—whoooooaaa—quite a surprise, that’s for sure. But it isn’t anything that would make me change my mind about marrying you. I still want a future with you and whoever or whatever you love—cats, dogs…even little boys.”

Michael grabbed Savannah and held her tight—both of them melting into each other, crying and laughing all at the same time. Eventually, Savannah pulled out of the embrace and asked, “Now, when do I get to meet this wonderful little stepson of mine?”

Michael’s tone became serious. “Tomorrow, Savannah. Marcy and her husband are bringing Adam to the wedding tomorrow. What do you think?”

She looked stunned for a moment, blinked a couple of times and said slowly, “I can’t wait.”

***

“Savannah, your wedding was absolutely lovely,” Gladys said. “I’m still weeping. I’m so happy for you. And now to learn that, not only do I have a wonderful new son-in-law, but also a grandson. Wow!”

Savannah couldn’t stop smiling. “I know, Mom. I’ve never been so surprised in my life as I was last night when Michael told me.”

“Oh, so Michael told you?” Margaret said as she walked up to the pair.

“Yes. Last night after you left,” she said. “You knew about this?”

“Yes, I knew. So you were surprised, huh?”

Savannah nodded. “Sure was.”

“So what are you going to do with her?” Margaret asked.

“Huh? Do you mean him? What do you mean what am I going to do with him?”

“I thought it was a girl.”

Savannah looked puzzled. “What gave you that idea?”

“That’s what Michael told me.”

“Auntie, what are you talking about?”

“Your wedding gift.”

“Wedding gift? I don’t think he can be considered a wedding gift.”

“He?” Margaret shook her head as if confused. “What are you talking about?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Peaches,” “Adam,” they said in unison.

“Michael got me that horse?” Savannah asked, her face lighting up like a Christmas tree. “Oh my gosh!”

“Um, nooooo,” Margaret said. She looked askance and asked, “Who’s Adam?”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Michael said as he walked up to the three women. “Mrs. Ivey, I’d like you to meet someone.”

“Ooooh, I’m so nervous,” she said as she looked across the room and realized he was leading her over to where a striking woman and a young boy stood.

“Don’t be.” He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. “He will love you.” Suddenly, Savannah was face to face with a petite woman with pert features, green eyes and curly black hair. “Marcy, this is my wife, Savannah,” Michael said, proudly.

“Hello, nice to meet you.” Savannah held out her hand to Marcy and they greeted one another with warm smiles. She looked to the right of the woman and there, standing tall and straight, a wide-eyed look on his handsome face and even telltale strands of dark hair hanging over his right eyebrow, was an eight-year-old boy.

“And this, Savannah, is my son, Adam.”

“Hello, Adam,” Savannah said, extending her hand.

He took it, looked into her eyes and smiled shyly.

“It’s so nice to meet you. Thank you for coming here today and making this such a special day for us.”

“For him, too,” Marcy said. “All he could talk about for days is meeting the rest of his family.

Savannah smiled at Marcy and then looked down at Adam. He had a wide grin on his face.
What an adorable child. I love him already. “
What kind of things do you like?” Savannah asked.

“Animals—especially cats and horses,” he said.

Savannah and Michael exchanged glances. “Boy have you come into the right family,” he said.

Marcy laughed and looked up at Michael. “Yes, you can’t deny this boy. He is you all over.”

“Cool,” Savannah said. “Do you like riding?”

“Yes. I went riding at summer camp and fell off the horse,” he said looking a little somber. His face lit up. “But I still like riding.”

She smiled. Then looking more serious, she said, “I fell off of a horse not too long ago. And I still like riding, too.”

“Do you have a horse?” he asked looking from Savannah to Michael.

“Yes she does,” Michael responded. “But she doesn’t know it, yet,” he whispered rather loudly to Adam.

The boy looked confused.

“I have a horse?” Savannah asked excitedly.

“Yes, you do—she’s in a corral in our backyard as we speak…” He looked up in time to see Betty and Gil walk into the reception.

They spotted Michael and nodded. Gil gave a thumbs-up, indicating that they had delivered the portable corral and the horse.

Michael smiled broadly. “Yes, as we speak.”

“Oh, Michael, I’m so excited! I can’t wait to get home and see her—my very own horse!”

Marcy and Adam laughed.

“Oh, not very grown-up acting, am I? Sorry about that,” she said, sheepishly.

The boy looked up at Savannah wide-eyed and said, “I’d be excited if there was a horse in my backyard.”

She bent down toward the boy. “Well, Adam, there
is
a horse in your backyard. She’s gentle and well-mannered and you can come over any time your mom and dad say it’s okay and ride her.”

“Hi Thavannah. Do you like your new horth?” Charlotte asked as she rushed up to the group.

Savannah turned and grabbed Charlotte in a bear hug. “I love her.” She pulled away and said, “You knew about the secret, too, huh?”

Charlotte nodded.

Savannah reached over and put her arm around the girl’s shoulders. “Charlotte, I want you to meet Adam. He’s going to come over sometimes and ride with me.”

“Cool. I ride Bonnyth horth Wilthon. He goeth thlow.”

Just then, a man carrying a little girl walked up. Marcy acknowledged him and said to him, “Eric, this is Michael and Savannah Ivey, and their friend, Charlotte. This is my husband Eric and our daughter, Rose.”

Savannah and Michael shook hands with Eric. Then Savannah looked at the round-faced, curly-haired girl wearing little glasses and said, “Well, hello, Rose. How old are you?”

The child held up three fingers.

“She’s darling,” Savannah said to Marcy.

Adam leaned into Savannah and whispered, “She has Down’s.”

“Well she is a beautiful child. You must have a lot of fun together,” she said.

He smiled…nodded.

“THIS SONG IS FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM,” they heard announced. Savannah and Michael took each other’s hands—looked at one another and he said, “Honey, I think that’s us.”

She glanced around the room, “Must be—I’m the only one wearing a wedding dress.” She started to turn and then stooped down and said to Adam, “You are welcome at our home any time. I look forward to us doing some riding together.”

“Me, too,” he said with a big grin.

She reached out and patted his cheek and winked.

As the new bride and groom danced, everyone stood back and watched. Savannah could feel the love in the room as she made eye contact with friends and family. When her eyes rested on Adam, she smiled and waved her fingers at him. He waved back. Michael turned to see what she was smiling about and spotted her communicating with Adam. He hugged her tightly and said, “Savannah, you are going to make the best mom ever.”

Other Stories in the Klepto Cat Mystery Series

Already available on Kindle:

Book One
—Catnapped

When Savannah Jordan agrees to help her aunt while she recovers from a broken foot, she doesn’t expect to walk into a mystery, become part of a not-quite-legal surveillance team, be kidnapped by a deranged stranger and meet a steaming hot veterinarian. Beloved neighborhood cats are missing—the community can only guess at their fate—and Aunt Margaret’s life is being threatened. Is it because she has a clue to the missing cats or is it something more sinister?

If you like light mysteries with only a little terror, if you’re infatuated with interesting cats and if you love a love story, you must read this book.

Coming Soon:

Book Three—
Sleight of Paw

Michael Ivey, the local veterinarian (Savannah’s new husband), is violently attacked by an enraged client and then later accused of this man’s murder. The clues quickly stack up against Michael.