Page 26 of A Box of Wishes
“Where did you find him?” She brushed her hands over Morris’s ragged coat. “And what happened to him?”
“He’s Ben’s. He was in an accident last week. I’m watching him while Ben’s at work. And I told Ben to bring him today because he shouldn’t be home alone.”
“Who? Ben or the cat?”
Both of them, really. Not that he wanted to make a big song and dance about it. “Cara isn’t here yet,” he said. “Or Alastair.”
“Sleeping in, I suppose? It wouldn’t be surprising. Java’s a long way away.”
“Singapore.”
“What?” She took Ryan’s chair and settled Morris on her lap. “Cuddling you is like carrying a baby around,” she said to the tabby. “That hadn’t even occurred to me.”
“Alastair was in Singapore,” Ryan said. “I’ve called him, but he doesn’t answer.”
“He’ll turn up. You know how he is with the jetlag.”
“Yes, I know. And he looked exhausted. But… Ma, he’s sad. Really sad. I’ve… I’ve tried to get him to talk about it.”
“No luck?”
“None.”
“That’s our Alastair. Ignores anything that makes him uncomfortable or pretends there’s nothing wrong. He’ll come around.”
Ryan hoped she was right. Alastair shouldn’t look so weary.
“Cheer up. He’ll be here, all sheepish about sleeping past his alarm, you’ll see. If he doesn’t show, your da and I will drive by his place later and check on him. As for Cara, she’s stuck in Toronto. We’ve been on the phone with her all morning. That’s why we’re late.”
“Oh no. Is she in trouble?”
“Snowstorm, closed the airport. They had enough warning, so she’s still in her hotel.”
Ryan felt another pang of regret. He’d not seen his sister in two months, and now he’d not see her for Christmas either. “That’s a shame.”
“Aim for New Year. She’ll call you tomorrow, unless she’s on a plane. Doesn’t want to make today crazier than it already is.”
Morris lifted his head, demanding chin rubs, and his mother complied immediately. It was cute beyond belief, and it made Ryan smile. “He’s trained me to do that, too.”
“He’s a clever boy. When are you going to introduce me to your detective?”
The door to the office swung open before Ryan could reply, revealing a smiling Ben. “There you are. Your dad is looking for pink peppercorns which aren’t pepper at all? That’s beyond me.”
Ryan blinked twice before Ben’s words registered. He’d dragged his ma off to meet Morris and hadn’t thought about introducing Ben. His mother wasn’t giving him a chance to perform proper introductions, either. She jumped up and headed towards Ben, Morris once more cradled in her arms. “So… you’re the detective?”
“Ben Hobart.” Ben stuck out a hand, then chuckled when he realised Ryan’s mother didn’t have a hand free to shake. “We can do the handshakes later. Morris doesn’t like to be jostled.”
“And that matters to you?”
“Of course. He’s been training me for years. I won’t show him up by displaying bad manners.”
He grinned, and Bridget narrowed her eyes at him. “Dutch courage?”
Ben’s smile grew even wider. “Paula may have doctored my tea before she went. I’ve already met your husband, and he needs Ryan to find pink peppercorns. Please come sit with us. Nobody should be alone today.”
Ryan groaned. He’d never seen Ben as bouncy as this, not even after three beers and a mug of mulled wine. “What has Paula been feeding you?”
“Christmas spirit, I think. Go find the pink peppercorns,” his ma admonished and traded grins with Ben.
