Chapter Eight #4
Oakley didn’t want to upset his dad further by suggesting that perhaps the cat simply figured out a way to open the door and escape all on his own.
Mewington was quite the genius. They’d found him hiding in a closet once.
Then there had been the time he’d been spotted inside a dresser drawer.
Each time the cat had been quite proud of giving them a scare.
Probably this disappearance would be similar and they’d find the cat quickly.
“Let’s focus on getting Mewington back safely.
The website I was on says that most indoor cats are recovered within a three-house radius, so it’s not time to panic. ”
Unless someone had stolen Mewington because he was a pure-blooded Maine coon. Despite his dad’s assertions, Oakley didn’t want to entertain that thought.
“We’ll get him back, Dad,” Maisey reassured. “Let’s go look for him now.”
When the server handed Oakley his drink, he asked for the bill for the table.
He’d go through one of those late-night drive-throughs and get something to eat once they found the beloved purebred cat.
He took a few sips before setting the rest on the table.
“I got the check,” he told his siblings.
“Go with Dad and I’ll meet you there and we can search. ”
But hours later, there was still no sign of the kitty. They’d searched everywhere, shining flashlights under cars and into bushes. Clemons left the door to the catio open, and he set out food. Meanwhile, Jagger set up cameras that would alert their father if triggered by a cat-sized creature.
It was almost 2:00 a.m. before they called it quits. By then Avery had posted Mewington on all the lost pet and neighborhood apps.
“I’ll laminate these flyers tomorrow and we can start hanging them,” Maisey said. “Hopefully he’ll be in his catio when you wake up tomorrow morning.”
As he trundled off to bed, Clemons was still grumbling about how someone had to have opened the catio door.
“We have to find that cat,” Evanston said as he locked the door to the house behind them. The siblings paused at the end of the sidewalk near their respective cars.
“I’ll come over first thing tomorrow morning,” Avery promised. “I can make the time. That way someone is here when Dad wakes up.”
Oakley nodded. “Thank you. I can help tomorrow, but I’ve got to be in Dallas on Thursday and won’t be back until late Tuesday.”
“No, we’ve got this,” Jagger said. “We know how important this weekend is for your business. There’s enough of us to help Dad. We’ll text you if we find Mewington.”
“Then I’ll be at the office if you need me,” Oakley said.
On a routine patrol, a police car drove down the street.
The officer stopped, but Oakley didn’t recognize him.
As Evanston began to tell the officer who they were and about the lost cat, Oakley checked under his car.
He then waved at his siblings as he drove off.
Before turning on the radio, he said a prayer that they’d find Mewington quickly, then threw the manifestation out into the universe.
His father was still grieving the loss of his wife, not to mention already being on edge from the move to Emerald Ridge. Fate wouldn’t be so cruel as to let their dad lose his precious cat as well.
Oakley was tired and hungry. He gave a huge yawn and glanced at the dashboard clock.
None of the drive-through places were open this late.
If he worked from home tomorrow, he could get a few hours of sleep and be available should his dad or siblings need him.
He dictated a text to Rachel before turning off the car and shutting the garage door.
Then, he strolled into the house and rummaged through the mostly empty refrigerator.
Peanut butter and jelly would have to do.
It was probably for the best he didn’t see Rachel tomorrow anyway.
His heart had jumped when she’d confirmed she’d go to Dallas.
He was excited about everything there was to show her, from the actual rodeo to the people in the office he wanted her to meet.
He planned to ensure she had one of the best seats in the house, especially as she’d said she loved attending rodeos with her dad.
After all her hard work these past few weeks with organizing and coordinating, she deserved to fully enjoy the weekend.
But her going to Dallas with him also meant they’d be in tight confines, from the car ride there and back to attending meetings and the Sunday night banquet, alongside rodeo participants and his employees. That wasn’t even including the opening events, such as the cocktail party.
Rapid fire thoughts raced around his head as Oakley slathered the peanut butter onto white sandwich bread. Despite the fact the sun would be up in a few hours, he found himself wide awake. This was shaping up to be a great weekend.
He simply had to remember to be professional and that Rachel being there didn’t mean it was a date.
But as he finally climbed into his bed, he had to admit knowing he’d have an entire weekend with her made it feel like one.
And he didn’t mind one bit.