A MEOWvelous Witness (Klepto Cat Mystery Book 17) (21 page)

“Us, too,” Ellen said. “Audrey and I have been everywhere and we’ve done a lot of things worth talking about, but I’ve always felt there was something missing. I knew what it was—my son. My beautiful baby boy. We lost him when he was in his teens. Something happened.” She shook her head and dabbed at her eyes. “Burying him was rather anti-climatic, you know, because he’s been dead to us for over forty years.”

She reached for Damon’s hand. “But to reconnect with you and to see what a wonderful young man you’ve become and to be a part of this beautiful day in your life—the day you took a bride—well, it has done a lot to heal an old and painful wound.”

“Thank you,” Damon said. “I wish I remembered you from when I was a kid. My mother says you were a really good grandmother.”

“I certainly enjoyed being your grandma. You were one smart little boy. And fun. You always made me laugh.” She looked sternly into his eyes. “You know how important laughter is, don’t you?”

Damon nodded.

“But when I got so ill and thought I was at death’s door, my focus changed. I didn’t want to visit my problems on you. It was a long recovery with a lot of setbacks, but when I felt well enough to resume our relationship, your mother—well, she discouraged me from seeing you.”

Damon dropped his head. “Yeah, I was going through my own…uh…illness then and I guess she didn’t want you to see me that way.” He shook his head. “I’m glad she made that decision. It’s better this way.”

“Yeah, we’re both healed,” Ellen said.

Just then several of Damon’s and Colbi’s co-workers stepped up and hugged them both from behind. “Gotta go,” one of them said. “Just wanted to congratulate you both again. What a great couple you make.”

A woman said, “See you at work when you get back from your honeymoon.”

One of the men grinned and slapped Damon on the back. “Yeah, have fun.”

Once the co-workers had walked away, Damon grimaced and squeezed Colbi’s hand. “Honeymoon,” he said. “Wish we could afford one.”

Colbi shoulder-bumped him gently. “Hey, just being together is honeymoon enough for me. At least we get to take time off work and just bum around. It’ll be fun.”

“But I wanted more for you,” he said.

Suddenly Ellen leaned toward the newly married couple. “Kids, I have something I want to tell you and I’d better do it before we get interrupted again. She pulled an envelope from her purse. “You
are
going on a honeymoon. You’re leaving tomorrow evening for ten days in the Hawaiian Islands.”

Colbi’s eyes widened and Damon sat back, a puzzled look on his face. “What?” he asked.

Ellen nodded toward her daughter, who was smiling broadly. “Please accept our gift. It makes us happy to give it.”

The couple looked from Ellen to Audrey, agape. “Oh my gosh, this is such a surprise,” Colbi said. “It’s so over-the-top generous.”

“Yeah, what can we say?” Damon asked.

“Say thank you,” Ellen said, smiling. “And then go have yourself a lovely honeymoon and a wonderful life.”

At that, the couple stood, walked around the table, and hugged both Ellen and Audrey again. “Thank you so much,” Damon said.

Colbi fought back emotion. “Yes, thank you.”

Ellen took one of Damon’s hands in hers, then reached for Colbi’s. “Kids, that’s not all.”

They looked at each other, obviously puzzled.

“My husband left me—you might say—well-heeled. Audrey and I have lived well. You, my dear grandson, were born into this family, and you were cheated out of what is rightfully yours.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Your father didn’t provide for you.” She clenched her jaw. “I hate what he became and I hate that he didn’t treasure the one thing in this world he ever produced that was good.” She looked into his eyes. “Damon, I aim to make up for his neglect in every way possible.”

“Oh, now, that’s not necessary…” Damon started.

“Well, maybe not, but it’s going to happen anyway, so just relax and enjoy it, will you?” she said, a sparkle in her eyes. She continued, “You are included in the will, of course; everything will be split between you and Audrey.” She ignored the look of shock on his face. “But you should also have what was rightfully yours while you were growing up, and what better time than right now? Here’s a check for $300,000 to help you start out on your journey as a married couple.”

Stunned, Damon eased down onto the chair next to his grandmother and grinned at her. “You sure know how to knock a guy off his feet.” He looked at the check. “I don’t think you should feel like you owe this to me…” he started.

“And that’s one reason why you’re getting it, young man,” Ellen said firmly. “Damon, I like who you have become. I’m pleased with the life decisions you’re making. You are part of our family and I want you to benefit as we have. I just hope that we can become close in the time I have left.”

Damon wiped at his eyes, then hugged his grandmother again. He stood and edged toward Audrey with a hug for her. “Damon,” she said, “I agree completely with Mother.”

“Thank you,” Damon said quietly. He stepped back and put his arm around Colbi, who couldn’t hold back her tears of joy. “We both thank you from the bottom of our heart.”

Ellen nodded. “You make me very happy.” She turned to Audrey. “We’d better get back to the hotel. It’s time for my nap. I want to rest up for our trip home. I’m sure Daisy is missing us.”

“Daisy?” Colbi questioned, still dabbing at her eyes.

“Our cat. She loves our cat-sitter, but she can get a little cranky if we’re gone for too long.” She looked at Colbi as she stood. “You really must come over to the coast and meet Daisy. She loves having company.”

“We would enjoy that…a lot,” Colbi said.

“Definitely,” Damon agreed.

“And bring your cute tabby twins. Our home is large enough to accommodate three cats even if they decide they don’t want to be cordial.”

After ushering Ellen and Audrey to their car, the newlyweds returned to where the Iveys sat talking to Leah and Harrison. Colbi laughed when she saw Savannah holding Charlie in her arms. “I’m surprised my brother let you hold the baby. He’s been quite the baby-hog, you know.”

“Well, I took him from Leah when he left to get some punch.” Savannah looked down at the baby. “He’s even more beautiful than the last time I saw him.”

“Handsome,” Harrison corrected, smiling. He ran one finger over the baby’s cheek. “I sure have missed him and his mommy.”

Leah took Harrison’s arm and hugged against him. “It’s been hard being apart, that’s for sure. But we both have things to finish up before we can be together.” She looked at him. “Right?”

“Yeah, right.”

“So when will you be finished with culinary school?” Michael asked.

“With the opportunity to work in the restaurant as part of my classes, just another few weeks.”

“Will you come out then?” Savannah asked Leah

“I’m thinking about it.” She sighed. “But my parents don’t want me to make the move until Harrison and I are ready to be married.” She crinkled her nose. “They’re old-fashioned, you know. And since I broke their heart once by disappearing like I did, I feel strongly that I should do things their way this time.”

Savannah and Michael looked at Harrison, who said, “I have no problem whatsoever with that. I’ll fly out to the east coast and marry her in a heartbeat.” He offered Charlie his finger and smiled when the baby gripped it. “I mean marry
them
.”

Leah smiled. “When the time is right.”

“Now what does that mean?” he asked.

“When we’ve known each other long enough to be sure,” she explained.

Harrison scowled. “I’m sure.”

“I’m sure, too,” she said. “But…”

“But what?” he asked. “I just don’t understand why we can’t set a date in late April or May—even June.”

Suddenly Savannah looked beyond the couple. “Oh, here comes Craig.”

“Hi, stepfather of the bride,” she called.

He walked up to them, grinning. “Yeah, how’d I do?”

“How’d you do with what?”

“In my role as stepfather of the bride?”

Savannah patted his arm. “Oh, wonderful.” She turned to the others. “Didn’t he do a good job today?”

“He sure did,” Michael said. “I saw him handing Iris tissues like crazy. Good job, old man,”

After greeting Harrison and Leah and baby-talking little Charlie for a minute, he looked around then asked Savannah, “Where’s
your
little one?”

“With my sister and my aunt, last I saw her,” Savannah said. “Maybe I should go look for her.”

“Here, I’ll hold Charlie,” Colbi said, eagerly taking the baby from Savannah.

At the same time, Craig sat down next to Savannah. Before she could step away, she said, “Oh, here come my aunt and my sister. Hi,” she greeted. “Where’s Lily?”

“With Max,” Margaret said, sitting down next to Craig.

Brianna pulled a chair up next to Savannah. She pointed. “There they are. Looks like he got her some refreshments.”

“She wanted a cookie,” Max explained as he walked up, leading Lily by the hand.

Savannah let out a sigh. “Lemon or vanilla might have been a better choice than chocolate, Max.”

When he looked down at the toddler, he said, “Oh, yeah. I see what you mean. Now her pink dress is all dirty, isn’t it?” Looking sheepish, he said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was such a messy eater.”

“It’s okay,” Savannah said, pulling a wet wipe from her purse and proceeding to clean chocolate cookie crumbs from Lily’s face and hands. “Was it good?” she asked.

“Uh-huh,” the toddler said, nodding.

“Why don’t you get her some fruit, Max,” Margaret said. “That’s better for her than cookies.”

“Want some fruit?” Max asked the baby.

When she nodded, he reached for her hand and led her back toward the refreshment table.

“Cute,” Craig said, smiling. He turned to the Iveys. “Have you two met your new neighbors yet?”

“We have new neighbors?” Michael asked.

“Yeah, you mean you haven’t missed Mr. Crankshaw? I think his kids moved him closer to them, and they moved some younger people with a family into his home there next to you.”

“Now, how do you know all this?” Savannah asked.

“Well, I guess there’s been some suspicious activity over there.”

“Oh, what’s going on?” Michael asked, frowning.

He hesitated. “I’m not really sure. The complaints are vague. So far, we haven’t found anything unusual.”

“Savannah, what’s wrong?” Michael asked when he saw her posture stiffen. “Do you know something about the new neighbors?”

“Uh, not really.” When the two men continued looking at her, she said, “Well, I did have a strange encounter one day when I was out in the orchard. I thought I heard an animal in distress. I had Lily in the stroller and I followed the sound toward the house and came across a little girl. When she saw me, she picked up the dolly she was playing with and disappeared through a gate. By then the…uh…haunting sound stopped.”

“Yeah, they seem to have quite a few children,” Craig said.

Savannah looked surprised. “They do?” I haven’t seen any, except for that little girl and I only saw her once. You know, they built that eight-foot fence around their property.”

“Yeah, I saw that go up a month or so ago. I wondered why,” Michael said. “Maybe to keep the children inside—close to the house.”

“Yeah, but this little girl was outside the fence, sitting under the old apple tree near where Uncle Jed’s barn used to be.

“What do you think you were hearing?” Michael asked.

“I have no idea, but it was kind of eerie. I haven’t heard it since. Is that the kind of complaint you’re getting, Craig?”

He shook his head. “No, it’s more about territory—who’s-infringing-on-whose-property type of thing. I imagine the older folks in the area are not thrilled to see all those kids move into their peaceful neighborhood.”

Michael chuckled. “It was probably their egg beater or food processor you heard—maybe the washing machine.”

“What?” Craig and Savannah asked, looking confused.

“The sound you heard that day.” He faced the detective. “Craig, she has the most incredible super-hearing power.”

Savannah slapped at him playfully. “No, it wasn’t an egg beater or washing machine. It sounded human…or not human…animal, maybe.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what it was, but it sent chills down my spine.”

“Maybe it was spirits,” Colbi said. When Savannah frowned, she said, “Could be they’re doing séances there. Was the sound sorta other-worldly? Ghostly?”

Savannah thought for a moment, then shook her head. “Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that in a while. It was probably nothing.”

“Maybe he…or she…is a dentist and it was a high-tech drill you heard,” Brianna suggested.

“Leave it to a doctor to think of that,” Margaret said. She paused, then continued, “Well, I’m not aware of any sounds, but I did hear a rumor.” When everyone looked at her, she asked, “Do you want to hear a rumor?”

“Sure.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“What is it?”

“Craig’s right. They do have a lot of children over there and they stay very close. I ran into the Thompsons in the store last week. You know, they live across the street. Frank Thompson said neighbors have been trying to figure out if they’re running a daycare, if they are foster parents, if they’ve adopted a lot of kids, or if these are all their children. But he says there are a horde of them.”

“So they’re child hoarders, is that it?” Michael joked. He turned serious and asked Craig, “It isn’t one of those child-trafficking rings you hear about running in the big cities, is it?”

Craig pursed his lips and ran his hand over his graying hair. “I certainly hope not.” He turned to Savannah and Michael. “Just keep an eye out for what goes on over there, will you? It’s probably nothing out of the ordinary, but if you happen to see anything, please let me know.”

At that, Brianna stood and started to step away from the group. “I want to get some more of that punch.”

“Me too,” Savannah said. “Want some, hon?”

Michael shook his head. “Not now.”

“Be right back,” Brianna said, giving Bud, who had just joined them, a peck on the cheek.