Chapter 14
When Nancy opened her bedroom door the next morning she almost tripped over Cobweb as the cat streaked across her feet, over to Phyllis’s room.
‘Sorry. I opened the back door and she was in before I could stop her,’ Jackie puffed, leaning against the wall on the landing. She’d obviously chased Cobweb all the way up the stairs.
Cobweb sat outside Phyllis’s bedroom and miaowed loudly.
Phyllis opened the door. ‘Cobweb!’ she gasped, as the cat dashed in.
She glanced over at Nancy. ‘I’m so sorry.
I took her back to Aurora’s last night but she’s clearly escaped again this morning.
She must be missing me.’ She bit her lip.
‘I’m sure she’ll get used to it in a day or two.
It’s probably very strange for her to be living with Aurora.
I’ve had her since she was a kitten. I’ll take her into work with me in a minute. ’ Her bottom lip wobbled.
She went back inside and closed the door.
‘Oh dear,’ Jackie said softly.
Nancy felt guilty again at being the reason Phyllis and her cat had to be parted. But they were together all day in the shop; it was only in the evening they were apart. It wasn’t so bad for the cat, was it?
* * *
She told Pam about it when she arrived at the shop. ‘What should I do?’ she asked.
‘Don’t fret, I’m sure the cat will soon get used to her new home.
It’s not as if she’s with strangers or doesn’t see Phyllis at all,’ Pam told her.
‘Now I have to pop out and deliver these wedding flowers. I’ll only be a couple of hours.
There’s a few orders to make up. I’ve written details in the book.
’ She picked up a huge box. ‘I’ve got the bouquet in here.
I’ll put it in the van and come back for the rest.’
‘Shall I close the shop for a few minutes and help you load the van?’ Nancy suggested.
‘Thanks, but I’ve parked around the back so it won’t take me long.’
Just then someone came in wanting to order a special floral birthday gift – Pam had a selection of them – and by the time Nancy had finished serving her, Pam had loaded the van and gone.
The day passed fairly quickly with a constant stream of customers so Nancy didn’t have time to think any more about Phyllis and Cobweb.
* * *
When Nancy got home. Jackie was coming down the stairs.
‘Hello, Nancy. I’ve just dashed home quickly to get changed. It’s my art class tonight.’
Of course, Jackie had mentioned that she worked at the art college a couple of evenings a week and some Saturdays.
‘What sort of painting do you teach?’ Nancy asked. ‘Abstract? Oils?’
‘Oh, I don’t teach.’ Jackie said casually, mooching in her handbag. ‘Now where are my car keys?’
‘Oh, sorry, are you a student there? I must have misunderstood.’
Jackie’s eyes met hers and she smiled. ‘Oh no, I’m the life model. The students paint me.’ She pulled her keys out of her bag. ‘Ah, there they are. See you later.’
Nancy stared after her, speechless. A life model? Jackie actually stood there in the nude, while the students painted her? She couldn’t believe it!
She walked into the kitchen to find Phyllis reading her tea leaves, concentration on her face, as she peered first inside the cup then the saucer. She frowned and shook her head.
‘Not bad news I hope,’ Nancy asked.
‘Not bad, but puzzling.’ Phyllis shook her head. ‘I can’t make it out at all.’
Nancy thought it was all a load of nonsense but politeness stopped her from saying so. She looked around. There was no sign of the black cat. ‘Has Cobweb gone home with Aurora okay today?’ she asked.
‘Yes, and she’s going to try and keep her in all night. I’m sure she will get used to it in a few days. I give her extra cuddles in the daytime to make up for it.’
Nancy felt a bit sorry for both Phyllis and the cat.
Phyllis must have been desperate for a room to stay in to leave her beloved pet with someone else.
Was she being cruel not allowing the cat here?
Then she reminded herself that there would be cat hair everywhere and scratches on her furniture.
‘I hope she settles down soon,’ she said, because she felt that she had to say something.
‘I hope so, too, dear.’ Phyllis stood up, rinsed out her cup and saucer and went upstairs.
* * *
Later that night Nancy was sitting watching the TV in the lounge when she heard a cat howling loudly at the front door.
Not again! She opened it gingerly and Cobweb shot in, almost knocking Nancy over.
Goodness, that cat was a danger. Once inside Cobweb halted, and pushed her little face against Nancy’s leg, miaowing softly, as if asking her to stroke her.
How could she resist? Nancy bent over and caressed the soft black fur and Cobweb nuzzled her head into Nancy’s hand, purring contentedly.
Then she scampered off up the stairs to find Phyllis.
Nancy didn’t have the heart to stop her.
So Cobweb ended up spending the night in Phyllis’s room again and going to the shop with her the next day. And the next. All week, in fact.
‘What should I do? Cobweb just won’t settle with Phyllis’s friend.
She comes over every night and I haven’t got the heart to turf her out,’ Nancy told Val when she met her for lunch on Saturday.
She didn’t add that whenever Cobweb did turn up she went straight to Nancy for some fuss and that she was actually becoming quite fond of the little cat.
‘It’s a difficult one, but it hasn’t been quite a week yet since Phyllis moved in. And remember, the cat’s not officially living with you so best to keep it that way. Once you allow one lodger to have a pet, all the others might want one.’
Val was right, Nancy decided. She sighed. Being a landlady wasn’t easy.