Alfie The Holiday Cat

Chapter Six

Thankfully we had made it to the end of our first week on holiday relatively unscathed. Despite the threat from Andrea, so far we were all still here and on the whole having a lovely time. Although Polly, Franceska and Claire had been a little shaken by Andrea’s words and her vague threat that she would get Seabreeze Cottage, they had eventually pushed it to the back of their minds and decided she was as much hot air as she was big hair. They said they wouldn’t let anyone ruin our perfect holiday. Or get her manicured hands on Seabreeze Cottage, whatever that meant.

Polly had been surveying how much they had got done with the building work and had a review with Colin. We had only five weeks left, so she said they were doing well but couldn’t afford any delays.

And thankfully, as it was Friday, the men were coming down for the weekend. Even Tomasz was leaving the restaurants for a couple of days, although to be fair he had managers now and, although he liked to keep a very close eye on them, he was far more willing to take time off nowadays. There was a time when he’d spent so much time at work his family hardly ever saw him, but they seemed to have resolved that, thankfully. I was excited, I’d missed Jonathan, Matt and Tomasz and it would be lovely to have the family all together again for a couple of days.

Unfortunately the weather had turned and although it was warm it was raining. Claire suggested taking the younger children to the local town to have a look around, so they weren’t in the way of the builders, and Polly said she was happy to leave them for a bit and go with her, while Franceska was going to stay and try to get everything organised for when everyone came. Despite the fact it was raining, Aleksy and Tommy begged to be allowed to put on wellies and coats and go to the beach, which she said they could, but she would be watching them and they weren’t allowed to go too far. They had more freedom here than they did in London, but that was village life, apparently. And Aleksy was very responsible for his age; I thought it would do him good to have more independence to be honest.

Unlike George.

George begged to be allowed out to see Chanel, but I told him no. Not only was it raining but also she was horrible. He argued and whined, a bit like Summer, but I stood firm. I said that when the rain stopped I would take him out for a nice walk but not before. He ran upstairs and sulked under Toby’s bed. Kittens!

I decided to help Franceska — or at least keep her company. She seemed happy and I knew that she was looking forward to seeing Tomasz, just as the others were looking forward to seeing their husbands. It hadn’t been a bad first week, but it was strange without our men. In fact it made me the man of the house.

While Franceska was watching Aleksy and Tommy play on the beach, I went to the utility room. The builders had finished downstairs for now and were in the attic. I was careful to keep out of their way. They were all very nice, but they had big feet and tools which looked quite dangerous. The utility room was a bit of a draw to me still, there was definitely an alien smell which kept bugging me. I sniffed around, and felt baffled. I still could have sworn it was the scent of a cat, but not me or George — or even Chanel. And although I hadn’t seen another cat around here, the scent hadn’t faded while we’d been living here. It was a mystery.

I fleetingly wondered if, when I was sleeping with Claire, another cat was sneaking in through the cat flap and I decided to stay up tonight to make sure. Jonathan would be with Claire anyway and he wasn’t as keen on me sleeping on their bed as Claire was — I knew he’d probably banish me to my bed on the landing. I felt a little bit better having a plan of sorts, and I was determined to get to the bottom of the smell, so I decided to go and check on George. Boy that kitten could sulk for England, I thought as I made my way upstairs.

I looked in the boys’ room, but there was no sign of him. Not under the bed where Toby slept, or on the bed itself. He hadn’t climbed up onto the top bunks either. I felt a bit panicked as I ran around the rest of the upstairs, even braving the builders to check the attic, but he was nowhere to be found. I bounded downstairs, checking every room, but he wasn’t there. My heart sank. Not only did I feel panicked but I also believed I knew exactly where George was.

I remembered Andrea saying she was in the house to the left, so I turned in that direction out of the house, feeling the rain soaking into my fur straight away. Wasting no time, I crawled under a hedge, where there seemed to be the best access, and found myself in the neatest garden I’d ever seen. Andrea’s house wasn’t like ours, it was taller, squarer, the windows were huge. It also looked a bit grander. Why on earth would she want our house when hers was definitely more suited to her? Thankfully, I found George huddled under one of the windowsills. He was sheepish when he saw me.

‘Sorry, Dad, but I was going to come back before you’d noticed I’d gone.’ Yes, that would work. Honestly, my boy still had a lot to learn.

I wasn’t sure how to play this. I knew that he was besotted with the awful Chanel but also I needed him to understand that he shouldn’t be out on his own. After all, the last time I left him alone he’d been catnapped, but I also knew that he was a little older now and would want more freedom, a bit like Aleksy. Being a parent was so hard, getting the balance right was difficult.

‘George, I do understand you wanted to see Chanel, but we are in a new place and we don’t know it very well, so I would be happier if you stayed with me, at least for a while.’ I hoped I didn’t sound too angry. ‘But if you have to go off then you must tell me exactly where you’ll be.’ I tried to be conciliatory.

‘Oh, Dad, I am sorry but she is so beautiful, and I just needed to see her lovely face.’ Oh boy, he had it bad.

‘And have you seen her?’ I asked, softening. I was a romantic cat and so I didn’t want to underestimate his feelings. I understood about love, after all.

‘Yes, she stood at the window! She was making a lot of noise but I didn’t really know what she was trying to say.’

I guessed she was telling him to get lost.

‘Did she sound angry?’ I asked, treading carefully.

‘Well some might say she did, but I think she was just teasing me. Although she did wave her tail at me angrily before she jumped down and ran off. I sat on the windowsill for a while but she didn’t come back.’

‘And you got soaked.’ Oh my poor boy. ‘Look, George, come home with me now, get dried off and warm and I promise that as soon as it clears up we’ll go for a lovely walk,’ I coaxed.

‘OK, I will see her soon though, won’t I?’ he said.

‘Yes, son, you will.’ We ran back to the hedge, and I saw George safely through the gap. I was about to follow him when something, or someone, caught my eye. At the back of the house, Andrea was standing under a wooden shelter with what looked like one of our builders. I crawled a little closer, straining my eyes. I was sure it was one of the younger ones, Liam, I think he was called. He was wearing his scruffy builder clothes and a big jacket. She was laughing and then she put a hand on his shoulder and he turned red. What the hell was he doing with her? I was about to move closer when George called out.

‘Dad, come on, I’m hungry.’

I took a last look at Liam and Andrea and wondered what on earth they were doing together. I felt as if there was something, something big. Being a perceptive cat, I was pretty sure, what with George’s inappropriate crush, Andrea’s determination to get her hands on our house, and the funny cat smell in the utility room, there was a lot going on. Mysteries were apaw. I could feel it in my fur.

‘I can’t believe you dragged us to Devon with the promise of sunshine and it’s raining,’ Jonathan moaned as he swung Summer around.

‘Gosh, is this a record? You’ve been here five minutes and you’re already complaining,’ Claire teased.

I rubbed against his legs; I’d missed Jonathan, I’d missed all the men actually.

Polly had picked them up from the train station just after lunch and we had all been incredibly excited when they arrived. The children had been hyper, and George and I could barely contain ourselves. The cottage did suddenly feel smaller with the men in it, but it also felt more like home. Polly showed them the work done so far and introduced them to the builders. I went with them while they inspected the attic. It wasn’t looking bad actually. Walls were being built and there was a landing which would lead into each room. As it stretched across the whole house, it was big, but the ceilings were a bit lower, making it perfect for the children I guessed. I was excited suddenly, as I saw the transformation happening. It might take a while — apparently these things did — but you could see the difference already, even within the space of a week. The men seemed to be happy with the work and Jonathan even said, ‘Good job,’ to Colin. Praise indeed.

It had also been decided that we were going to have fish and chips for supper. There was a local chip shop, which was normal for a seaside village apparently, and George and I were very excited as we were both pretty sure we’d get some fish.

Claire and Jonathan went to collect supper. They had a big umbrella which was kept on the porch, and George and I looked out of the window and saw them go. I felt warm and fuzzy despite the horrible weather; it was going to be such a wonderful weekend. As long as George didn’t keep running off to see Chanel, that was.

‘You cannot beat fish and chips by the proper sea,’ Matt said, as everyone was crowded round the table. They just managed to fit, although it was a squash and Summer had to sit on Jonathan’s lap, and Martha on Matt’s.

‘It’s not exactly the sea, darling,’ Polly said. ‘It’s the estuary.’

‘Yes but it’s water and beach, so near enough surely?’ Tomasz said.

‘Near enough,’ Franceska laughed. ‘Isn’t this fabulous us all together like this,’ she said, beaming.

‘We love it here,’ Aleksy said. ‘We made some friends already and the beach is the coolest thing ever.’ His eyes were shining with excitement. ‘And, Dad, we went paddleboarding, and it’s not as easy as it looks.’

‘Really? It does look pretty easy,’ Jonathan said.

‘Maybe you should try,’ Aleksy suggested with a giggle.

‘Yes, Jon, why don’t I book you a lesson?’ Claire suggested with a smile.

‘Thanks but I am going to concentrate on relaxing when I’m here. Anyway, I’ll leave that to the kids.’

‘I agree,’ Tomasz said. ‘I’m not so fond of the water,’ he added.

‘Meow,’ I agreed.

Later, the men put the children to bed, apart from Aleksy and Tommy, who were told to get washed and ready before being allowed to play on their tablets in the smaller living room. The adults then decamped to the larger living room. Claire and Jonathan were on one sofa, Franceska and Tomasz on the other and Polly and Matt squeezed together on an armchair. I sat on the arm of the sofa, looking around at all the adults I love. There was so much harmony in the air, I felt as if life was calmer than it had been in a long while.

‘So how is Edgar Road?’ Claire asked. ‘I know we’ve only been away a week but it feels like ages.’

‘Nothing much to report. Vic and Heather are making sure we behave ourselves, that’s for sure,’ Jonathan laughed.

‘So how is it down here? I mean, the builders seem to be making progress.’

‘Oh they’re so much easier to deal with than London builders,’ Polly said. ‘They turn up when they say and they don’t skive. I’m loving Colin.’

‘Hey!’ Matt laughed. ‘The kids seem to love it.’ He smiled, indulgently.

‘They do, and it might have rained today but we’ve had three good beach days, and they’re all getting on pretty well,’ Polly said.

‘There is only one fly in the ointment,’ Franceska said. I knew Franceska and Tomasz would always be Polish but they certainly had the hang of British sayings.

‘What?’ her husband asked.

‘Oh, there’s our neighbour. I’m sure you’ll meet her. She’s called Andrea and she came to see us,’ Claire started.

‘That’s nice, isn’t it?’ Jonathan asked.

‘No, not only does she look as if she’s just stepped out of a beauty salon but she thinks she’s the Queen of Sheba,’ Polly said.

‘She turned up with her cat who’s called Chanel,’ Franceska added.

‘Oh, and she invited herself back when the kids were all asleep, and said she was happy to slum it.’

‘OK, so she’s a snobby well-heeled woman with a funny-named cat?’ Jonathan looked amused.

‘She asked to buy the cottage,’ Claire replied.

‘Oh?’ Tomasz looked confused.

‘And of course we told her it wasn’t for sale,’ Polly explained.

‘But she said she wouldn’t take no for an answer and said she always got what she wanted,’ Franceska said, shuddering. Franceska was the most easily intimidated of all the women.

‘Did she make you an offer?’ Jonathan asked.

‘Jon, Seabreeze is not for sale. But she did say she’d pay more than the market value.’

‘Why does she want it so much?’ Matt asked.

Good question, I thought. I still didn’t trust her motives.

‘Oh, she banged on about how important it was to her to preserve village life and she didn’t like us interlopers taking the best property.’

‘She’s got a point,’ Jonathan said. Judas, I thought.

‘Jon, we are going to fall out if you don’t stop it. Anyway, I do not believe she wants to buy it out of a sense of community spirit. She owns the big house to the left, she acts as if she owns the village in fact. I think there’s more to it.’

‘I’m going to ask Colin next week,’ Polly said. ‘Maybe she knows something we don’t.’

‘Whatever her motives, Seabreeze is not for sale,’ Claire reiterated.

‘You love this cottage already, don’t you?’ Jonathan said, sighing.

‘I do, and so do the kids. It’s just perfect.’

‘Then we won’t let anyone buy it off us,’ Jonathan said, loyally. I wondered where that had come from.

‘You’ve changed your tune,’ Matt said, echoing my thoughts.

‘Everyone seems relaxed, the house is going to be gorgeous when it’s finished and I for one am suddenly appreciating getting out of London. I had my doubts, mainly financial, but this … well, seeing you and the kids so happy seems priceless.’ Ah, there was my sentimental Jonathan again. I rubbed against him. ‘And what about you, Alfie? Do you and George like it here?’

‘Meow!’ I nuzzled him to tell him I absolutely did.

‘Right, well let’s have a toast, to our holiday home.’ Jonathan picked up his beer bottle.

‘To Seabreeze Cottage,’ the others said.

‘And to many, many happy holidays here,’ Claire finished as they all clinked glasses.

I left them chatting. It was getting late but I wanted to stay awake. I went to the kitchen and ate a little more fish that was in my bowl on the floor. I then went and hid in the utility room. If anyone was visiting us at night, I would be ready for them.

‘Yelp!’ A voice woke me up and I leapt. I found myself nose to nose with a big cat, who looked a bit like a leopard. He didn’t look exactly pleased to see me. What was it with these village cats?

‘Hello?’ I said. He sprang back and glared at me. ‘Do you live here?’ I asked.

‘I do. I did. But then you arrived. I was hoping you’d leave so I’ve been watching the house but it seems you’re not going anywhere.’ He sounded gruff.

‘I’m Alfie,’ I said, in a friendly manner. ‘We don’t exactly live here, me and my kitten George, but you see our families own it and we are on holiday.’

‘Cats don’t go on holiday, even I know that.’

‘Well I know most people think that but, guess what, we do! Anyway, it’s a long story but we’re here for the summer.’

‘Right and what am I supposed to do?’

‘I don’t know, where’s your family? You don’t belong to Great Aunt Claire, do you?’

‘I have no idea who you’re talking about. I live here, alone. Or I have done for quite a while now. Very happily I may add.’

‘You don’t have a family?’

‘No.’

‘But—’

‘Listen, I don’t have time for this. I need my sleep. I am out finding food all day and then at night I come back and sleep. It’s my life. That’s all you need to know.’

‘Hey, you can have some of my food. There’s bowls out, for me and my kitten George, but we are very good at sharing. Or I am, anyway.’

‘Humph. That’s kind, but I’m used to looking after myself.’ He wasn’t exactly warming to me.

‘Well if you change your mind …’ I heard footsteps. ‘My humans are coming to clear up, probably before bed, but I won’t disturb you if you want to stay here.’

I didn’t quite know what else to say or do. The cat wasn’t very friendly but then I remembered being homeless and I didn’t want to make him think he couldn’t stay here. It sounded as if it was his home anyway — well, as far as he was concerned.

‘I’ll stay out of sight, just until I can find another empty house to live in.’ He still didn’t sound friendly.

‘OK then, sleep well and you know we don’t mind you being here. What’s your name?’ I asked.

‘Gilbert,’ he replied. He eyed me suspiciously, I raised my whiskers in what was meant to be a welcoming way.

‘Alfie, where are you? It’s time for us all to turn in,’ Jonathan said and I quickly turned to face him, but I didn’t need to worry, Gilbert had slunk back into the shadows as if he was never there. If it hadn’t been for his scent I would have thought I’d imagined our entire exchange.