Page 17 of Bride in Blue
“Oh, my,” she said, jumping back as a cat appeared through the glass. Opening the window, she could see that there was sloping roof just below the window. She was on the second floor of the building.
The cat hopped through the window and dropped to the floor where the sunshine lit up the floor. The cat stretched out his leg and began cleaning his toes. Cassie gave a giggle. They weren’t allowed pets at the tenement.
A cat would have been nice, she thought.It probably would have kept the mice and rats away.
She pulled over a chair and looked at the cat cleaning itself. It was a dark grey with white feet and white marks on its chest and forehead. Even one of its ears was white.
“Where did you come from, little one?” Cassie asked. She reached down to pet the cat’s head, and he rolled over giving her access to his belly. She rubbed the animal’s belly until he reached out and grabbed her arm in his paws and bit at her hand. He didn’t break the skin, but she did get scratched when she jerked her hand away.
The cat jumped up and strutted to the door, scratching on it to be let out. Cassie was about to open the door when she heard a voice call in the distance. “Mr. Gladstone! Where are you?”
That was Mr. Blue! The sound seemed to be coming from outside. Cassie left the cat and opened the window again, sticking her head outside.
“Are you looking for your cat, perchance?” Cassie called to Max. He was standing in the alleyway between the two houses. He looked up at her, and she saw his face break out in a grin. She placed her hand on her chest and forgot to breathe for a moment.
“Have you seen him?”
“A plump little thing? Gray and white?”
“That’s him. He got out last night when we came home.”
“He’s in here.”
“How did he get in there?”
Cassie shrugged. “I guess he jumped on the roof. He was at the window.”
“Stay there, I’ll be right up.” Cassie watched him disappear around the corner and soon the sound of heavy footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs.
Cassie opened the door and Mr. Gladstone slipped out into the hallway. The cat took one look at his owner and ran in the opposite direction.
Max stopped in front of Cassie and knelt placing his knees on his hands. He must have run up the steps because he was out of breath. “At least I know where he is.”
“It he your cat?” she asked.
“Yes. I brought him with me from New York. He has decided to get out as often as he can and visit the lady cats around town.”
“Sounds like a rake.”
Max laughed. “I guess he is.”
“You call him Mr. Gladstone?”
“It is better than Cat, which was his name for the first year. I named him after the Prime Minister of England.” He looked at Cassie thoughtfully. “I’m glad to see you are awake.”
“I don’t recall what happened. Is this your house?”
“Yes. I hope you like it. You fainted at the stable. I brought you and your father back here. I couldn’t have you staying with a bunch of horses.”
“Did you… uhm…” Cassie traced an invisible pattern on the floor with her toe, “…change my clothes?”
Max looked mortified. “Oh heavens no. I had Maybelle help. I wouldn’t want to compromise your reputation.”
“Is Maybelle your wife?”
“No. She owns the bakery down the road and lives a few houses down. I’m not married.” Cassie saw a flash of pain cross his eyes. “I don’t think I’ll ever get married.”
“Why not?”
