Page 40 of A Cozy Christmas Blizzard
Too bad the current Christmas song was “Rudolph,” instead of “Mele Kaliki Maka.”
K.O. welcomed him and had just poured his eggnog whenthe doorbell chimed again. Ah, the moment she’d been waiting for. Her friend had arrived. K.O. glided toward the door and swept it open as if anticipating Santa himself.
“LaVonne,” she said, leaning forward to kiss her friend’s cheek. “How good of you to come.” Her neighbor had brought Tom with her. The oversize feline was draped over her arm like a large furry purse.
“This is so kind of you,” LaVonne said. She looked startled at seeing Max.
“Come in, please,” K.O. said, gesturing her inside. She realized how formal she sounded—like a character in an old drawing room comedy. “Allow me to introduce Wynn’s father, Max Jeffries. Max, this is LaVonne Young.”
Max stood and backed away from LaVonne. “You have a cat on your arm.”
“This is Tom,” LaVonne said. She glanced down lovingly at the cat as she stepped into the living room. “Would you like to say hello?” She held Tom out, but Max shook his head adamantly.
By now he’d backed up against the wall. “I don’t like cats.”
“What?” She sounded shocked. “Cats are magical creatures.”
“Maybe to you they are,” the other man protested. “I don’t happen to be a cat person.”
Wynn shared an I-told-you-so look with K.O.
“May I get you some eggnog?” K.O. asked, hoping to rescue the evening from a less-than-perfect beginning.
“Please,” LaVonne answered just as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” began.
Eager for something to do, K.O. hurried into the kitchen and grabbed the pitcher of eggnog.
She heard Tom hiss loudly and gulped down some of her own eggnog to relax.
“Your cat doesn’t like me,” Max said as he carefully approached the sofa.
“Oh, don’t be silly. Tom’s the friendly one.”
“You mean you havemorethan one?”
“Dad,” Wynn said, “why don’t you sit down and make yourself comfortable. You’re quite safe. Tom is very well-behaved.”
“I don’t like cats,” Max reiterated.
“Tom is gentle and loving,” LaVonne said.
Max slowly approached the sofa. “Then why is he hissing at me?”
“He senses your dislike,” LaVonne explained. She gave Max a dazzling smile. “Pet him, and he’ll be your friend for life.”
“See, Dad?” Wynn walked over to LaVonne, who sat with Tom on her lap. He ran his hand down Tom’s back and the tabby purred with pleasure.
“He likes you,” Max said.
“He’ll like you, too, as soon as you pet him.” LaVonne was still smiling happily, stroking the cat’s head.
Max came a bit closer. “You live in the building?” he asked, making his way, step by careful step, toward LaVonne.
“Just across the hall,” she answered.
“Your husband, too?”
“I’m single. Do you enjoy cards? Because you’re welcome to stop by anytime.”
