Page 9 of Santa of the Creek
I turn to see Hebe, Tony, and James staring at us as if we’re the entertainment for the afternoon. I raise an eyebrow. Hebe just shoots me a wicked grin.
They’re about to get moving when Echo squawks, “Wait, my cat. I need to feed my cat.”
“Have you got a neighbor you could call?” Tony asks.
I guess it’s not the first time he’s come across that particular issue.
Echo shakes his head, looking upset. “She’s away at the moment.”
“I can’t feed her,” Hebe murmurs. “I’m allergic to cats.”
“I know you are,” Echo says, trying to soothe her.
Tony and James look at me.
“Uh…uh…I guess I can do it,” I stutter. “I don’t know much about cats.”
“Dump some smelly crap in the bowl,” James says impatiently. “How complicated can it be?”
Echo stares at him. “Man, my cat is fed like a princess. She doesn’t eat smelly crap.”
James throws up his hands. “Whatever. But we need to get this show on the road. Echo, give him your keys and instructions.”
Echo hands over his keys. I note the alligator on the keyring.
I tuck them in my pocket and pull out my phone. “Okay, tell me what to feed the beast.” By the end of his instructions, I’m sweating. Seriously, would the cat notice if I just fed her something out of a tin?
“And everything is in the pantry,” Echo finishes, “or Ariel steals the food.”
“Geez, the beastie eats better than I do,” Tony says. “My wife should come to you for instructions.”
James snorts. “I’ll tell her you said that.”
“Please don’t,” his partner begs.
“What’s it worth?”
They bicker like long-time partners, then focus on Echo.
“Time to go, man,” Tony says.
Echo grabs my hand. “Her name is Ariel.”
I squint at him.
“My cat. You know.The Little Mermaid.”
“Oh. Ariel. Okay.” I smile at him and squeeze his hand.
“You have lovely eyes,” he murmurs, staring into them.
I give a brief laugh. “That’s the pain meds talking.”
James squints at us, but he doesn’t say anything. “Okay, Echo, no more stalling. It’s time you take a ride to the hospital.”
Echo grabs my hand as James and Tony make sure they’ve got everything. “Dean, can you call Gloria? She’s expecting me to call her.”
“I will,” I promise, although despite my bravado earlier, the girl terrifies me.
