A Paw-sible Theory

“What greater gift than the love of a cat?”

––Charles Dickens

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: The Dinner Party

The following day, I heard Alyx cancel the dinner at the restaurant. She opted, instead, to host a dinner party at home to celebrate Ethan’s release and all other good things that deserved a celebration.

“Murfy, you and your friends are invited too,” she said as she hung up the phone.

The night of the dinner party, Alyx paid more than the usual attention to her appearance. She couldn’t decide what to wear. She stood in front of her closet, pulling one outfit after another off the hangers, holding them up to her front, and then hanging them back up with disgust. The girls and I were getting dizzy watching her. Amazed at what she saw, Misty wondered if there was something wrong with Alyx. I said she was nervous about seeing that lawyer, David Hunter.

Misty and Pooky were all excited until Alyx decided on a generic black dress which, according to Misty was more suited for a funeral than a party. Alyx laid the dress out on the bed, undressed and stepped in the shower.

Misty immediately jumped on it, intent on destroying it, and invited Pooky and me to join her in the fun. I ran off, not wanting any part in what the girls were doing. Minutes later, I heard the water shut off and I sneaked back into the room. As I predicted, Alyx wasn’t happy when she came out of the shower and saw the felines resting comfortably on her dress.

“Oh, no!” she moaned, “Look what you’ve done to my dress. Now what am I going to wear?”

Alyx sat on the bed and dialed a number.

“Maggie, I don’t have anything to wear. I have thirty minutes to get ready for company, and I have nothing to wear. I had a dress picked out––that black sleeveless sheath I wear to all parties––laid it on the bed while I showered, and the cats got on it, bunched it all up and it’s full of cat hair. Any suggestions?”

Alyx laughed. “Yes, you’re right; the cats do have good taste, and yes, it is just a dinner and not a lifetime commitment. I’ll see you shortly.”

Maggie arrived and helped Alyx select a soft, flowered chiffon skirt, and a mauve, spaghetti strapped silk top, with a lacy, deep V-neckline. She wore no jewelry, but did wear sandals. Satisfied she didn’t look too dressed up, Alyx joined Ethan in the living room to wait for the rest of the guests.

Ethan didn’t bring a date. He told Alyx he wasn’t ready to bring anyone home to meet the family. He had finally called Lea and told her what was in his heart. As it turned out, she hadn’t lied to him after all. Her friend, Steve, had spent the night, but on the couch––he was just a friend as she had told Ethan. Ethan and Lea parted on a friendly note, recognizing they weren’t right for each other anymore.

“Thanks for the party, Mom.”

“I’m thankful we can do this. It could have just as easily gone the other way; I could be visiting you in jail or you could be visiting my grave.”

“I don’t ever want to go through that again if I can help it. The arrest alone was enough to traumatize me.”

“You haven’t told me what happened. Do you feel like talking about it?”

“I don’t mind talking about it. Two thoughts wiggled through my head when Smarts said I was under arrest. One consisted of what if they never find who did it? The other––I didn’t do anything. The latter made me mouthy, making me look even guiltier.

“My feelings were certainly not spared when we arrived at the police station. They roughed me out of the car, the handcuffs bruising the bones under my skin. Once inside, I was pressed against a cold wall with eight others. After standing in line for over three hours, I was finally called to the window, where there was the meanest woman I’ve ever had the misfortune of speaking to.

“Everything was taken out of my pockets and placed into a plastic container, sealed with its own special number, in case I ever got out to claim it. From there, they placed me in a holding cell for a good five hours before I was given any food, or allowed to make phone calls. From the conversations going on around me, it seemed everyone was eager to share their story of how and why they were there. It was like a social gathering of misfits, and I didn’t want any part of it. I patiently waited in the corner for one free phone call, thinking about whom to call. Maggie said she would have called a lawyer. I thought about calling Dad. In the end, I called no one.”

“We survived this, Ethan, and we’re the better for the experience.” She took his arm, “Come on. I’ll buy you a drink.”

Alyx looked over the table setting, making sure nothing was missing, lit the candles, and greeted everyone as they came in. The dinner––shrimp scampi and rice catered by Angelo’s on the River smelled delicious; the dessert, a bowl of fresh fruit and cannoli, not so much. She added croutons and cubed Feta cheese to the salad of mixed baby greens when her brother, Tom, arrived with his wife, Susan. Tom joined Ethan, who mixed him his drink of choice.

Maggie and George walked in with David Hunter. Alyx was talking to David when Bob arrived. Maggie, wearing a sleeveless, pale yellow, lightweight linen dress answered the door, looking uncomfortable in her role as greeter.

Alyx excused herself and went to her friend’s rescue.

“Hi, Bob; I’m glad you could make it,” and looking around him added, “Is Helen with you?”

“No, she couldn’t make it; she’s allergic to cats.”

Maggie appeared to stifle a laugh when Alyx glared at her. To everyone’s relief, Ethan approached his father and led him to where the bar was set up.

“Maggie, behave yourself. Give him a break,” Alyx pleaded, “Do it for Ethan’s sake.”

“Okay, you’re right; he has tried to redeem himself and who am I to hold a grudge if you and Ethan are willing to forgive him.”

Ethan asked everyone to take a seat around the table and Alyx raised her wine glass for a toast.

“Thank you all for coming to my celebration of all good things and for your help and support during a difficult period in my life and Ethan’s; I don’t know what I would have done without you.” She turned to Ethan, “Do you have anything you want to say?”

“What Mom said goes for me too. Thank you.”

My roommates and I strutted to the kitchen for the shrimp and rice that Alyx had spooned into our bowls before she sat down to dinner, and we had our own celebration.

THE END