The Cats that Stalked a Ghost (7 page)

“Whatever.  I’ll drive you home,” Katherine yawned.

“Can you drop me off at the bungalow?  I’m staying with Mum tonight.”

“Sure, I’ll go get the car.”

“I’ll come with you.  I don’t want the bogeyman to get you.”  Colleen tipped her head back and laughed. 

Chapter Seven

Katherine, Colleen, and Mum were upstairs in the front bedroom of the pink mansion.  Katherine was fussing with her dress, which was a knee-length, layered, lace dress with a square neckline and silver beaded bodice.  Tugging at the waist, she said, “Women back in the day must have been super tiny.”

Colleen commented, “Your great-aunt must have been a size zero.  Do you think this was her wedding dress?”

Katherine shrugged.  “I don’t know, but I found it in her vintage clothing collection.  The new museum curator let me borrow it.”

Mum said happily.  “Katz, you look absolutely stunning.  Your great-aunt, in heaven, must be smilin’ down upon you.”

Katherine’s eyes grew big. “Oh, no,” she said, surprised.

“What’s the matter?” Mum asked.

“I think the lining just ripped.”

“Get out!” Colleen said.  “Quick, Katz.  Where’s your sewing kit?”

“I’ll get it,” Katherine said, moving for the door.

Mum said, “No, don’t move.  Take the dress off.”

Katherine said to Colleen, “In the back guest room, in the tall dresser, there’s a sewing kit.  I think it’s in the second drawer.”

“Got it,” Colleen said, rushing out of the room.

Katherine carefully took off the white dress and handed it to Mum.  Mum reached into her purse, drew out her reading glasses, and put them on.  She gently turned the dress inside out and scrutinized the lining.  “It’s a small tear. I can mend it.”

“I shouldn’t have eaten so much food Thursday night,” Katherine said, remembering the giant prime rib and baked potato covered with sour cream and butter.  Jake’s mother had organized a rehearsal dinner at the Erie Hotel.

Colleen returned with the sewing kit.  Mum grabbed the box and opened it.  She hurriedly threaded a needle and began stitching the tear.

Colleen said anxiously.  “Mum, hurry up.  We’ve got five minutes.”

“Hold your tongue, Missy.  I’m sewin’ as fast as I can,” Mum scolded.

Judge Hartman, the wedding officiant, knocked on the door. 

“Hello, Judge,” Katherine said.  “Come in.”

“Hello, ladies.  Oh, my goodness, what happened?” she asked Katherine, who was standing in the middle of the room wearing a slip. 

Katherine answered.  “Slight
setback.  We may need a few extra minutes.  Have all the guests arrived?”  The judge was privy to the guest list, which numbered fewer than twenty.

“Yes,” the judge smiled.  “Cokey, Margie, and their daughter just arrived.  They were escorting Jake’s grandparents to the atrium when I came up to check on you.  Jake’s parents, Johnny and Cora are here.  Daryl’s folks, too.  Linda Martin and Mark Dunn came first.  I forget the name of the kid in charge of the music.”

Katherine giggled, “That’s Cokey’s and Margie’s son, Tommy.  He’s a twelve-year-old musical wonder.”

“Russell’s already snapping pictures,” the judge said, beaming.

Katherine knew the couple had been dating, but she also knew Russell had asked Elsa out for a date after the reception.  Elsa declined because she was taking care of the cats, but agreed to meet him for drinks after Jake and she returned from the honeymoon.  She didn’t think the judge would be beaming if she knew that bit of info, but her lips were sealed.  She thought,
Please, dear God, no drama on my wedding day.
 

“’Tis fixed,” Mum announced, using her teeth to cut the thread. 

The judge said, “Ladies, I’ll head downstairs.  Katz, I know we rehearsed this Thursday night, but can you refresh my memory on how you’ll give me the signal to begin?”

“I’ll text you, but promise me, you’ll turn off your phone after you’ve read it.”

“Will do,” the judge said, leaving. 

“Oh, could you please find Elsa and ask her to come up?” Katherine asked.

“Yes, of course,” the judge answered.

Mum warned, “Katz, the lace is a bit fragile on this dress, but if anythin’, the beads and the love of Mary will be holdin’ it together.”

Colleen frowned, “That’s encouraging, Mum,” then to Katherine, “I’m glad you didn’t put me in one of those three-million-year-old dresses.”  Colleen wore a mid-sleeved, V-neck short dress in emerald green.  It complemented her long, red hair.

Katherine smiled, took the mended wedding dress from
Mum, and pulled it over her head.  She sighed.

“I heard that,” Colleen said.  “What’s up?”

“I wish my Mom and Dad were here.”

Mum walked over and hugged Katherine.  “’Tis okay.  They’re here in spirit, I tell ya.  Don’t fret on your weddin’ day.”

Katherine fought back the tears and said, “Colleen, help me with this foreband.  I’ll hold the front, if you attach the back.”

“Here, give it to me.  I think it’ll work better if I simply clasp it first . . . .” Colleen took the Swarovski crystal foreband and placed it over Katherine’s short black hair, which had been swept back from her face.  Katherine looked approvingly in the mirror.  “Okay, that about wraps things up.”

Mum said, “Where’s your earrings?”

“Oh, I almost forgot.”  Katherine moved to the dresser and opened a small cloisonné box.  Taking out a pair of emerald and diamond earrings, she said, “These were my Mom’s.”

Both Mum and Colleen admired the earrings.  Mum reached in her purse and pulled out a Tiffany blue jewelry pouch.  She handed it to Katherine.  “I want you to have this.  It’s a little something I found in Manhattan for you to wear for good luck.”

Katherine opened the pouch to find a sterling silver Claddagh pendant with a deep blue gem.  “Mum,” she gushed.  “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s your birthstone.  The jeweler said it’s Tanzanite.”

“Help me put it on.”

Mum got up and took the necklace from Katherine.  She pinched the lobster claw and wound the necklace around Katherine’s neck. “The necklace accomplishes two things at the same time:  it’s new and blue.”

Colleen moved over.  Taking her cell phone out of her bag, she snapped several pictures.

Elsa came in wearing a very low-neck, sexy, black cocktail dress, with high-heeled sandals.  “Wow, Katz, you look like you just jumped off the cover of
Glamour
magazine.”

Katherine radiated.  “Thank you, and so do you.”

Since August, Elsa had been Katz’s official cat-wrangler.  Her job was to mind the cats while Jake and Katherine attended their wedding reception, and afterward take care of the felines for a few days while the couple was away.  She was also in charge of getting Scout and Abra ready for their part in the wedding ceremony.  Elsa held up a handled bag from a specialty pet accessories store.  “I’ve got the cats’ collars, and Abra’s cape.”

“I can’t wait to see them,” Katherine said enthusiastically. 

Elsa extracted two blue, rhinestone-studded collars wrapped in pink tissue paper.  The lace cape was edged with amethyst-colored rhinestones. 

Colleen asked, “Why’s there only one cape?”

Katherine smirked.  “Because we can’t get a cape on Scout, but we can on Abra.”

Elsa giggled.  “Katz, I hope you don’t mind, but I got these charms for their collars.”  She held one of them up.

Katherine leaned in closer to take a look.  “It’s a silver cat charm.  How cute.”

“It’s sterling silver so it’ll never tarnish.  It fits perfectly on the collar’s metal D-ring thingy.  Scout’s neck is a tad bigger than Abra’s, so to tell the collars apart, I’ll put the single cat charm on Scout’s, and the charm with two cats on Abra’s.  That way we won’t get them mixed up.”

“Adorable,” Katherine said.  “Thanks so much.  It was very sweet of you.”

“My pleasure,” Elsa said, inching to the door. “Okay, before I leave, let me quickly go over my part.  After you go downstairs, I’ll wait up here by the landing. When I hear the famous words, ‘with this ring,’ I’ll send Abra down first.  But, right now, I want to go to the playroom, and put the collars on Scout and Abra.  Then I’ll hang out with the cats.  Can you knock when you’re going down?”

“Yes.  Oh, and please, make sure they’re locked in the playroom with the other cats when the ceremony is finished.”

“Of course, no problem.  Actually, Katz, I have Scout’s and Abra’s new cat carrier tucked away downstairs in the living room.  As soon as their part is finished, I’ll put them in it.  I’ll wait until the service is over, then I’ll carry them upstairs.  See ya later,” Elsa said, leaving the room.

Katherine meant to call after her, and say that putting Scout and Abra in the carrier wasn’t a good idea, but she got distracted by Mum.  Scout hated the carrier and would be quite vocal in letting the wedding guests know.

“Katz, love, I’m going downstairs,” Mum said.  “I’ll meet you at the bottom landing, as rehearsed.  Oh, and Colleen, with those spikey heels, hang on to the handrail.  Be careful coming down.”

Colleen rolled her eyes, “Yes, Mum.”

After Mum left, Katherine said to Colleen.  “I’m a nervous wreck, but when I see Jake, I’ll know that everything will be okay.”

Colleen pinched her on the arm, “Aren’t you glad you moved out here to find the perfect man?”

Katherine grinned
ear-to-ear.  She grabbed her beaded purse and extracted her cell phone.  She sent a text to the judge to begin.  Also, she asked her to signal Tommy to begin the Wedding March.  Muting her phone, she took Colleen by the arm.  “Age before beauty,” she joked.

Colleen tossed back her hair and quipped, “We’re two months apart.  And, Miss Katz, you’re older.”

The sound of the cats in the playroom had become very loud.  Katherine wondered if Elsa had them playing with the laser pointer toy.

Colleen whispered, “Shouldn’t Elsa be trying to calm them down, instead of getting them all riled up?”

“I’ll poke my head in, and see what’s going on.” Katherine slowly opened the door, and tried to peek in.  Iris squeezed through the tiny opening, and bolted down the stairs.  Katherine hastened after her.  Iris stopped abruptly on the second landing.

Katherine called, “Come here, Miss Siam.”  Iris craned her neck, and tried to push her head through the balusters.  Taking one look at the gathering, she hissed, and hiked it back upstairs.  Katherine grabbed her and held her close.  She whispered, “I promise to check on you later.”  Katherine could hear loud laughter from the guests below.  “Wish me luck, my treasures,” she said to her cats.

Iris yowled, Abby chirped, and Lilac me-yowled.  Abra cried a sweet “raw.”  But Scout cried a loud “waugh,” which seem to say to the other cats, “Shut up already, and move away from the door.”

“Thanks, Scout.  I’ll see you in a minute,” Katherine said, closing the door.

“Wait,” Elsa said, following after her.  “I’m sorry.  I promise not to open the door until I hear the word.  I’ll stay right here.”

After the laughter died down, Tommy fired up the CD player, and the Wedding March began — again.

Colleen said, “Let’s get this show on the road.”  She descended two steps and nearly tripped.  Looking back at Katz, she said, “I meant to do that.”

Katherine waited until Colleen had gone down the second landing, then slowly made her descent.  When she turned the corner, all she could see was Jake — the love of her life — waiting for her.  Her brown-haired, brown-eyed handsome man looked dashing in his tuxedo.  She never felt so happy. 

The feeling was mutual.  Jake’s adoring eyes locked onto hers. 

Mum met her at the foot of the stairs and took her hand.  She led Katherine over to where Jake was standing.  Katherine scanned the room and smiled at each of the guests.  Grandpa Cokenberger blew her a kiss while Grandma nudged him in the ribs. 

Judge Hartman stood in parlor doorway, behind a podium.  She nodded at Tommy to stop the music, which he did without a hitch.  She said to the small audience, “Who presents this woman to be married to this man?”

Mum answered in her Irish brogue, “On behalf of those who are with us, and those who have gone before, I give my blessin’ to this union.”  She placed Katherine’s hand in Jake’s. 

The couple stepped closer to the podium, with best man, Daryl, and maid of honor, Colleen, flanked on Jake’s and Katherine’s sides.

“Katherine Orvenia Kendall, do you take Jake Johnny Cokenberger as your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do,” Katherine said, glowing.

“Jake, do you take Katherine to be your legal wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward?”

“I do,” Jake leaned in and kissed Katherine on the cheek.

Smiling at the ab lib, Katherine winked.  Jake continued, “Katz, before these witnesses, I vow to love you and care for you for as long as we both shall live.”

A happy tear slid down Katherine’s cheek and she squeezed his hand.

The judge continued, “The exchange of wedding rings represent the vows and promises the bride and groom have exchanged.” 

Hearing the cue, Elsa opened the playroom door, and was startled to see Scout and Abra curled together on top of one of the cat trees — fast asleep.  Abra was snoring. 

“Scout!  Abra!” Elsa called.  “Wake up! Why did you go to sleep?”

Scout raised her head and muttered a mild protest.  Her sapphire-blue eyes were crossed, and one fang showed.

“Hurry up, you two,” Elsa pleaded.  “They’re waiting downstairs.”

The Siamese casually jumped down.  Meanwhile, the other cats were waking up too.  Iris had already made a beeline for the door. Lilac and Abby were running to the door, as well.

“Oh, no you don’t.  Get back.  Back!”

Elsa was too late.  Iris escaped and streaked down the stairs.  She could hear raucous laughter from below.  “Oh, great, some cat sitter I am,”
she said out loud
.
  Shutting the door, she planned her next strategy.

Inside, Scout and Abra were taking their sweet time coming to the door.  Meanwhile, Lilac and Abby vowed to get out, as well. 

Elsa slowly opened the door again just enough to wedge her right foot in.  Maybe the threat of a mild shoe-nudge would stop the feline escape.  Lilac jumped over her foot, while Abby hunkered down and slithered under it.  Both shot down the stairs.