Four feet together, the little cat looked up as the door opened and threw all his lung power into a shrill “myow.” The unexpected shock of Pal’s greeting provoked a yelp in response. Pal scooted away, legs flying in all directions.
“Sweet sassafras!” Emmy cried, as the cat flew over her foot and shot under a chair.
Bobbi gasped for breath as she stumbled in. “Emmy! What is going on?”
Emmy rose and moved to the door, her face beaming in a radiant smile. She folded Bobbi into a hug. “What a blessed day it’s been. First Bertie comes to see me and then an angel brings me this lovely new pet.”
Bobbi took Emmy’s face in her hands and searched her eyes. “Emerald, listen. Bertie…Albert…your husband…is dead. Albert Junior…Al…you never called him ‘Bertie’…lives in Puerto Rico and has never come to see you. There are no angels…”
Emmy’s mouth popped open.
Bobbi amended herself. “I mean that angels never come and visit people just out of the blue. It’s not normal for you to think an angel just dropped in with a cat in his hands. And dead people can’t come back and speak to you.”
Emmy smiled and took Bobbi’s hands. “I know my Bertie is gone. My nephew named Bertie came to visit. And the angel was just that poor woman next door, Mrs. Daniels. I gave her a plant. She gave me a pet. His name is Pal.”
“Your nephew? I never heard of a nephew named Bertie.”
“I just never got around to telling you about him. That’s all.” Emmy coaxed Pal out from under the chair and patted his head. “Look at that face. How can you resist?”
Bobbi ran her hand across Pal’s head. He answered her with a loud thrumming purr.
“How was your lunch?” Emmy asked.
“Hmmm. Well. I met a new friend.” Bobbi’s cheeks flared red.
“Ahh,” Emmy said. She stooped to release Pal. “You should really give Bertie a chance. He’s such a thoughtful young man. Promise me you won’t let your new friend steal your heart until you’ve spent some time with my nephew.”
“It’s much too soon to know what will happen. I’ll give Bertie the same chance anyone else would get at this point, okay?”
Emmy patted her on the arm. “Do you want dessert? I have plenty left from feeding Bertie.”
“No. I need to get back to campus and I’ll be better off not weighing myself down with sweets. See you later. ‘Bye, Pal.”
Bobbi shouldered her backpack again and walked back out the door. As she closed the door behind her, she caught sight of Peter’s Lexus cruising up the street in the direction of the main road.
“What is he doing?” Bobbi muttered.
