4. Ivy
Ivy
I look up from my phone and see the big cat coming toward me. It’s not a mountain lion. It has long silvery hair. It’s a Wizard.
Not wanting to spook the floofy kitty, I look around, pretend to be uninterested until we’re close enough to each other that I can almost reach out and touch him. I squat down and extend my hand. “Hey, Wizard. It’s nice to meet you.”
He closes the distance between us and rubs his head against my hand.
“Oh, you’re a sweetie, just like Myrna said.” His meow is loud with a hint of a screech to it. “She was right about you being noisy, too.”
The enormous cat purrs as I drag my fingers down his back. “Oh, listen to that growly purr. Are you a lion? Is that what you are, Wizard? A big, silver lion?”
“How do you know my cat?”
The voice startles me. Damn, she’s stealthy. Wizard’s back arches as if she’s surprised him, too.
I stand to introduce myself. “You must be April. Hi, I’m Ivy.”
“Oh, so you’re Petra’s little darling, huh?”
“Excuse me?”
“I heard about you already, that’s all. You’re the granddaughter.”
“What else have you heard?”
“Well, let’s see. I’m supposed to be nice to you. Not comment on your affair with Stinger—”
“Affair? Neither one of us is married, so we’re not having an affair.”
“You’re scrappier than I expected.” She pulls her head back and examines me from head to toe. “Taller, too.”
“Who described me as meek and short?”
April laughs and runs her hand through her hair. It’s the color of a paper grocery bag, darker than beige, but not quite brown. She’s shorter than me, but average height. Most everything about her seems fairly nondescript. Except her personality. Her attitude probably surprises a lot of people when they first meet her. Thankfully, I’ve been warned.
“Nobody called you meek, just sweet.”
“I can honestly say no one described you that way.”
She laughs harder at this. “Well, good. Then I won’t disappoint.”
Josephine’s car slows so we can step out of the road and let her pass. She waves at me through the windshield, but she doesn’t stop, doesn’t even roll down her window.
“Figures you’d be friends with her.”
“What does that mean?”
“Aren’t you friends?”
“Sure, I’d say we’re friends.”
“Well, there you go. It was nice to meet you, Ivy. Come on, Wizard.”
The cat follows her. Very doglike. I think I’ll buy him a toy to replace the destroyed one he left on my doorstep.
I knock on Josephine’s door. April may not have wanted to explain their beef, but I need to know.
“So, I see you’ve met April.”
“I met Wizard first. And then she appeared out of nowhere, asking how I knew her cat.”
“Owning that cat is her most redeeming quality.”
“What’s the deal between y’all?”
“She thinks she had something going with Cujo and I messed it up for her.”
“What does Cujo say?”
“He says everybody makes mistakes, and she was one of his.”
“Ouch. I hope nobody calls me a mistake.”
“They wouldn’t. He’s nice to her, just not nice in the way she wants him to be, and that pisses her off, so she blames me.”
“Were they a couple or just—”
“More like a couple of times.”
“Oh. What’s weird is that she doesn’t seem like the clingy type. More like she’d push everybody away.”
“Yeah, well, she wants to cling to Cujo.”
“He definitely doesn’t seem like he’d be into a stage five clinger.”
“Not at all.”
“That’s why he’s into you. Your independence.”
“How do you know it’s not my excellent blowjob skills?”
“I’m sure that doesn’t hurt. But the free tattoos are probably the real draw.”
“I haven’t tattooed him.”
“Why not?”
“He’s never asked.”
“Wait a minute. You showed up at my door with your kit, saying you desperately needed to tattoo someone like it was an addiction. You’ve never asked him?”
“He has an artist. A talented one. I don’t know.” She shrugs and looks away. “He might not think I’m good enough.”
“You won a competition on a TV show. You’re business partners with a famous tattoo artist, and if that guy thinks you’re good enough, why wouldn’t Cujo?”
“He doesn’t really pay attention to other people’s standards. He has his own.”
“But he’s never said he doesn’t think you’re good enough, right?”
“And I don’t want to give him the chance.”
“You’re good enough, Josephine. For anybody and anything. You’re good enough.”
“Thanks. But coming from someone who won’t let me tattoo her . . .”
“I don’t let anyone tattoo me!”
“I’d probably never question my worth again if you’d trust me to be the first.”
“Nice try.”
“Dammit.”
“April might need some ink.”
“Sure. I’d definitely be her first choice.”
Josephine needs to know Cujo thinks she’s good enough. I think his opinion might hold more weight than anyone else’s. I wonder if he realizes that.
It’s not like I’m going to tell him. Not outright, anyway. But maybe he’s good at picking up clues. If someone were to just drop a few hints, he’d probably catch on in no time. He probably just needs a little nudge.