Chapter 32
A listair
We’ve had a busy day. The mail carrier just left, and three packages were delivered to the front door this morning.
Roman and Eve—obviously—had leapt out of their warm beds to race to the door, barking their heads off.
Household security was one of their primary jobs, and I appreciated their attention to it.
I knew we still had hours to go before Maggie or John got home. The cats coiled on the sofa, looking like someone had stitched them into a furry throw. Eve and Roman were in their baskets by the hearth. Because my attic was so cold recently, I stayed downstairs.
The dogs and I were getting drowsy when the click of the opening garage door roused us. Eve and Roman lifted their heads from their paws to listen. Someone opened the door from the garage, and they bolted from their beds. I followed at a more decorous pace.
Maggie came through the door, depositing her satchel on the floor. She bent and greeted her faithful companions, then hurried through the house and raced up the stairs to her bedroom.
The three of us followed at her heels.
Maggie slipped off her business suit and tossed it onto the bed. She kicked off her heels and removed her expensive gold watch and fine jewelry, depositing them on a tray atop her jewelry chest. She entered her closet, pulled on a sweatshirt and sweatpants, and shoved her feet into fuzzy slippers.
Before we even had time to make ourselves comfortable, she tore out of the room and back down the stairs.
The mistress of my house was a creature of habit. Her bedroom routine always included hanging up her clothes and storing her jewelry. Today’s behavior was most out of character. Something was up.
I was at her side when she stepped off the bottom stair onto the first floor. I expected her to retrieve her satchel and begin typing away at that silver rectangle that unfolded. That was what she did when she came home in the middle of the afternoon. But Maggie did no such thing.
She lit fires in the library and the living room while humming“My Funny Valentine.” She was in fine spirits, so I knew nothing was wrong, but I couldn’t figure out what was going on.
I didn’t have long to wait.
The doorbell rang, and Maggie was there so fast she beat both Eve and Roman. She flung open the door, and there stood two of my favorite people.
Susan was on the threshold, holding the hand of a small person I knew had to be Julia, although she was so thoroughly bundled up against the cold, I could barely see her face.
Maggie drew them both inside and shut the door behind them.
“Grammy!” Julia’s excited cry was muffled by her scarf.
Maggie dropped to her knees and helped the little girl out of her protective outerwear. Julia flung her arms around her grandmother, almost knocking Maggie to the floor. Maggie rocked her granddaughter from side to side, then steadied the little girl and got to her feet.
Susan placed a bright pink backpack decorated with Disney princesses by the stairs. “Did you check with John?” she asked. “Is this really okay?”
“Oh, please,” Maggie said, rolling her eyes. “You’d think that man had won the lottery. He’s picking up a cheese pizza on the way home and promised to be here by five thirty.”
“Julia loves cheese pizza,” Susan said. “I hope you didn’t order that only because she likes it. You should get whatyouwant.”
“It’s fine,” Maggie replied. “John and I didn’t even talk about it. He simply texted me that he’d ordered it.”
“He certainly wins Grandpa of the Year—again,” Susan said, grinning. “I hope he understands how grateful Aaron and I are.”
Maggie took her daughter’s elbow. “He does,” she said warmly. “And now, I think you’d better turn around and get out of here. You’ve got a dinner date with your husband—and enough time to relax in a bubble bath before you go out.”
“That sounds like heaven,” Susan said. “I can’t remember the last time I did that.” She placed her hand on the doorknob. “If anything goes wrong, or if you need us to pick up Julia, say the word. We’ll come get her anytime.”
“You won’t need to,” Maggie said. “Enjoy yourselves. I’ll drop her off at your house on my way to work tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Mom. Aaron and I couldn’t have asked for a better Valentine’s Day gift.” She opened the door only wide enough to slip out, but the cold air still gusted in and blew me back into the living room.
Maggie and Julia spent the afternoon drawing hearts on pink construction paper as a Valentine card for John.
When Julia grew tired of that, Maggie read her an excellent rhyming book about a llama, and then they watched a show about a blue heeler puppy.
I was so entertained, I didn’t notice until John came home that the sun had set.
Not only did he have the pizza, he entered the house carrying a teddy bear the size of Julia.
“Gramps!” Julia sprang from the sofa and ran full tilt into his arms.
They ate dinner, and Maggie reminded John that Julia’s bedtime was approaching. It had been an unexpectedly engaging day. I was greedy and couldn’t stop myself from wanting more.
“I’ll put away the leftover pizza and wipe the counters,” Maggie said. “It’ll only take five minutes. I know Julia’s excited about playing her favorite game with her grandpa.”
I whipped my head around to look at John.
He took Julia’s hand and led her into the living room. John went down on all fours. “Ready for the animal guessing game?” he asked.
Julia cheered and clapped her hands.
It was going to happen. I executed three fast spins out of sheer joy.
John raised one arm in front of his face and let out a trumpeting sound.
“El-fant!” Julia screamed.
John grinned. “Very good.” He rocked back on his heels, bowed his arms, and scratched at his sides with his fingertips, while making a who-who-ha-ha sound.
“Monkey!” Julia shouted.
“Can you show me the monkey?” he asked.
Julia leapt to her feet and threw herself into her impersonation.
John’s grin stretched so wide it almost turned him inside out. I grasped the mantel to steady myself.
The game continued through a wide range of zoo animals, farm animals, and domestic pets. Julia knew them all.
Maggie, who had slipped into a chair by the hearth, finally spoke as John was searching his brain for another animal. “We may have a future veterinarian here,” she said, smiling at them.
John grinned. “That’d be fine by me. But I want her to pursue whatever career interests her as an adult.”
Maggie got up and rubbed his shoulder. “I know you do,” she said softly. “And, right now, we don’t need to think about it—because it’s time for a bath and bed.” She held out her hand to Julia.
Julia grabbed the giant teddy bear John had given her and stumbled toward Maggie.
“I’ll carry that upstairs for you,” John said, taking the bear from her.
The three of them joined hands and walked together up the stairs.
I hung back and savored the sight of these people who brought so much love into my house.