Page 11 of Beg, Borrow, or Steal

SUBJECT: Word to the wise…

Oh god. Was that really a Jack-in-the-beanstalk joke? I haven’t heard that since freshman year of high school when I shot up a foot overnight and had to wear high-water pants for a week.

Give me a minute. I’ll think of an embarrassing name to call you.

For now, I know you’re obsessed with me, but try to keep your eyes on your own property.

FROM: Emily Walker

TO: Jack Bennett

DATE: Mon, May 27 9:33 AM

SUBJECT: Word to the wise…

Good luck. There’s nothing embarrassing about me. I’m perfect.

FROM: Jack Bennett

TO: Emily Walker

DATE: Mon, May 27 9:35 AM

SUBJECT: Word to the wise…

Oh really???…Emily Stalker…

FROM: Emily Walker

TO: Jack Bennett

DATE: Mon, May 27 9:35 AM

SUBJECT: Word to the wise…

Please. That was barely even a zing. You can do better than that, JacksonBonnet.

Chapter Four

Emily

“Okay, where is she?” says Annie, practically shoving me out of the way as she barrels through my door to get in my house.

“You know, ever since I got this cat, you never come over just to see me anymore.”

“That’s the price you pay. Where is the little angel?” Annie, my youngest sister, is a tender soul. But right now, she looks like a gremlin while dropping to her hands and knees in her green overalls to search under the couch for the cat. Her head is whipping in all directions, pretty blue eyes bugging out of her head. I’ve never felt terrified of her before—but right now…

“She’s probably back on my bed. That’s where she likes to sleep.” I end the search just so I don’t have to witness her like this anymore.

Annie is little more than a puff of smoke as she races down the short hallway to my room, emerging a few seconds later with a squishy orange bundle of fur in her hands. She holds Ducky up so she can smoosh their noses together. “I love you I love you I love you,” she says in the babiest of baby voices.

Honestly, I don’t blame her. I love Ducky more than anyone should ever love a cat. I got her a few weeks ago, when I couldn’t take the complete isolation in my house anymore. I went down to the animal shelter and spent the afternoon there, sampling kittens like Ben and Jerry’s flavors. I played and snuggled with probably twenty different cats before finding Ducky. She was a little underweight after living on the street for too long, and I was told she would need a lot of love and attention. We were an immediate match made in heaven.

Once again, my front door swings open, and my sister-in-law, Amelia, rushes in. Her eyes zero in on Annie and Ducky and she shape-shifts into a missile about to launch. “Give me the child!” she says, racing to Annie’s side and snatching the kitten away to the sounds of Annie’s protests.

Amelia looks me in the eye and, with the most serious expression I’ve ever seen, says, “I’ll pay you a million dollars for her.” I think she might be serious. Her bank account would be good for it.

I smile at Amelia. “No deal. I love Ducky more than anything in this world.”

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