A Paw-sible Theory

“Don’t buy a cat in a bag.”

––Unknown

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: Back To Work

The first item on Alyx’s list of things to do that morning was to thank Novie Moresby for her willingness to testify for Ethan. The short article in the newspaper about Ethan’s release, and his statement about the part that the female cats and I had played in solving the case and preventing a murder made me an instant celebrity. For the most part, the customers loved having me around, and I sort of liked being there. I was still worried about Alyx though, so when she was ready to leave to go see Novie, I put up such a fuss that she thought it best to bring me with her.

Novie greeted Alyx with a smile and a hug.

“I hope you’re okay with the cat,” said Alyx to her next door neighbor. “He’s on a leash and I know he won’t be a problem.” The last part was said directly to me just in case I had other ideas.

“It’s fine,” Novie smiled, “I’m so glad to see you back to work. You look great.”

She directed Alyx to an empty table in the rear of the café and asked the server to bring two coffees and muffins.

“Novie, I just want you to know how much I appreciate your willingness to testify for Ethan.”

“I’m glad everything worked out,” Novie replied. “I can only imagine how awful this whole experience has been for both of you.”

“Honestly, no parent should have to experience what I just went through. I felt so helpless, you know, everything was against him. Ethan’s life was in the hands of strangers who didn’t know him. True, they had some factual information about him, but they didn’t know him like I do.”

All of Alyx’s emotions were now out in the open as she continued, “They knew about his financial problems and they believed that was his motive for wanting to kill me. I won’t make excuses for his fiscal irresponsibility, but I understand.

No one really knows how rough it was for Ethan when he was young. I was working for minimum wage. What I made, plus the small child support payment from his father, allowed me to meet our needs, but not our wants. Although, like every parent, I wanted to give Ethan the world, I refused to go into debt for our wants. Ethan had to settle for whatever was on sale. Toys, and, later, the more expensive things like skateboards and surfboards came from garage sales. In this commercial driven world, it’s hard for a child to understand why they can’t have the latest toys, or the hot new bike like their friends have. A teenager may understand why they can’t buy the designer clothes at the mall, or the two hundred dollar pair of athletic shoes and why they have to settle for whatever is on sale, but it doesn’t make it any easier for them.”

She paused and took a sip of coffee. “I’m sorry, Novie, you probably don’t want to hear any of this. I didn’t mean to get into it,” and, steering the conversation in another direction, she asked Novie if she had given any more thought to selling her building.

“I really haven’t decided yet. Rupert is pressuring me to sell, but owning this café is something I’ve wanted for a long time and I’m just not sure I want to sell.” She looked around the room, her face reflecting the pride she felt.

“My parents struggled to make a living, starting with a small grocery store and eventually buying this building twenty-years ago,” said Novie. “My father was the first African-American to buy commercial property outside of the black community they lived in.”

“I understand completely,” replied Alyx. “It took a lot of hard work and sacrifice for Maggie and me to buy our building and make our business a success. Maggie doesn’t really want to sell either, but she thought we should talk about it. Poor Maggie; I feel so strongly about what we’ve accomplished that I’m afraid I got mad at her for even thinking about selling.”

Then Alyx brought up the Merchant’s Association meeting and asked Novie what she thought of the idea of hosting the Annual Arts Festival. Novie thought it was a great idea and, as usual, promised to support Alyx and Maggie when the issue came up at the next meeting. Alyx saw that the restaurant was starting to get busy, so she finished her coffee and they said their good-byes. I got a pat on the head from Novie and some quizzical looks from customers as we left the restaurant.

We returned to the store. The second item on Alyx’s list of things to do was talk to Maggie about having a celebration dinner. Maggie thought it was a great idea, and suggested that they invite David Hunter, as well, and so Alyx did just that.

She phoned Hunter at his office and invited him to dinner the following Friday at the best French restaurant in the area. He said he lived near there and would be happy to meet the group at the restaurant at seven.

Maggie walked in the office just as Alyx was returning the phone to its cradle.

“You’re all flushed. What’s the matter, did someone give you a hard time?”

“Well, no, not exactly. I was just talking to David Hunter, inviting him to dinner Friday, and well, I just got a little flustered, that’s all.”

“Oh, you just got a little flustered, did you now?” teased Maggie.

“I was doing just fine until he said he didn’t have a wife, or a girlfriend,” she laughed. I don’t know if he’s married. I don’t believe he is. At any rate, I don’t remember seeing a wedding band, but I thought I should invite his wife in case he was, and he gave me an ambiguous answer. He said he wasn’t currently living with one. Now, what does that mean?”

“I suppose,” said Maggie with a sly smile, “that it could mean he’s either separated or in the process of getting a divorce, but it could also mean he’s not married.”

Maggie poured a cup of coffee and sat across from Alyx. “That’s a typical lawyer answer, isn’t it? Speaking of married men, has Charvette ever talked to you about a boyfriend?”

“Not in so many words, but judging from some of the things she says, I assume she has been seeing someone.”

“Don’t you find it strange,” posed Maggie, “that he’s never picked her up for lunch, though we know from her actions and what she says, she’s had lunch with him before? And how about those afternoons when she takes off for a couple of hours and comes back positively glowing?”

“I know what you mean,” responded Alyx, scowling. “You don’t suppose she’s seeing a married man, do you?”

“Of course, it’s none of our business as her employers but yes, I think it’s possible, and she doesn’t want us to know who it is.”

”Then it’s probably someone we know. Don’t you think?”

“It could be but it would surprise me; she’s too smart to get involved with a married man,” noted Alyx, then she added, “Anyway, at Charvette’s age, she should know better.”

“You’re right,” agreed Maggie, “but some women never learn, believing the situation is different for them––and sometimes it is.” She said this last with a slight sigh.

Maggie then said she had an appointment, but before she left, she asked Alyx if she had dinner plans.

“No, why?”

“Let’s try that new place down the street. I hear the owner is really good-looking!”

Alyx couldn’t help but smile, “How about the food?”

“Oh, I hear that’s real good too,” she answered, not missing the good-natured dig.