Courting Alley Cat (2 page)

              She bent over to pick up the paper, and when she stood up, the guy from next door was running toward her. It took valuable seconds to realize he was actually jogging down the sidewalk, but by the time she figured that out, it was too late to pretend she hadn’t seen him. He slowed, and stopped in front of her.

              “Hi,” he said, bending at the waist, his hands on his knees.

              Oh, my. He was twice as hot up close as he was through the ivies and past two driveways. His eyes were the bluest blue she could imagine. He hadn’t shaved yet and the hint of dark facial hair gave him just a hint of… well… badness. A lock of damp hair fell across his forehead. He was wearing shorts and a t-shirt soaked with perspiration.

              “Hi,” she said back, automatically. Every morning of her life, she religiously got up, showered, put on her make-up, and straightened her hair with a flat iron. She was always presentable by ten o’clock, even when she had no plans. Because plans invariably came to her. Even when she had a day off, someone would stop by her apartment or call to invite her out to lunch or dinner. She usually went. In fact, hardly a day passed when at least one friend or neighbor didn’t stop by the apartment – but never before ten – there was unstated rule against getting started too early. Now here she was. She hadn’t so much as brushed her teeth.

              “You must be Alley,” he said, smiling.

              Ok, three times as hot. Unable to help herself, she smiled back. “Yes, how do you know?” She thought of the coffee waiting inside. What she wouldn’t give for a jolt of caffeine right about now to get her neurons firing.

              “Granny told me.”

              “Granny, oh, right.” Did everyone call her that? She really should have visited more often.

              “I’m Justin York, from next door,” he told her.

              “I see,” she said, though she really didn’t. It was just too blooming early in the morning to figure all this out.

              “So... is everything going ok? Do you need anything?”

              “No, just a cup of coffee.”

              His eyebrows furrowed. “Do you have coffee?”

              “Oh yes, it’s brewing right now,” she said, glancing toward the front of the house.

              “I understand. Well, just let us know if you need anything. Nice to meet you.”

              She barely had time to nod and utter, “you, too,” before he was jogging toward his driveway. Morning people. She quickly went back inside, skipped the coffee for now, and went straight to the shower. The chance for that first impression was shot, but next time she would pick up the paper after she was presentable.

              Dad was right. Life was different here.

              One rule, however, was the same. Don’t go out the door without taking care of basic hygiene.

              Alley pulled on jeans and a t-shirt, swiped on her basic make-up which included powder, mascara, and lipstick, and dried her hair straight. Then she went to the kitchen for coffee and sat down to read the newspaper. She was finished in seven minutes - and that included looking at grocery ads which seemed to be the highlight of the day’s news. She had to remind herself that it wasn’t a Dallas paper.

              After turning on the news channel, she went to her desk and pulled open the blinds. Since there was no activity at the Bark and Purr, she sat down to work. She had just begun creating her second graphic novel. Her first one had been accepted for publication and she had signed a three book contract. She wanted - and had somehow promised her editor during what was surely a moment of insanity - to finish this second one this summer.

              Hence, the summer spent in semi-isolation, housesitting her grandmother’s house.

              She was also a graduate student in clinical psychology, working on her master’s degree. If she were honest with herself, though, she had to admit that she really wanted to spend all her work time drawing stories. Which was what she was doing with graphic novels - drawing stories. Some people just wrote the stories and had someone else illustrate them and some people illustrated or inked only. She wanted to do it all. She loved drawing and she enjoyed making up stories. She just couldn’t make a living at it, at least, not yet. Besides, she had enough of her dad in her to want to have a good degree to fall back on if she didn’t make it in the creative business world.

              She was quickly absorbed in her current story. She already had a location sketch done and had started on the picture panels. She had most of the characterizations done, since this was the second in a series.

              Quickly absorbed back into the world of Allora and Winston, it was four o’clock before she looked up. And when she did, her heart did an unusual little flip. The York’s driveway was right outside her dining room window and Justin York was standing there, his arms propped on an open car door, looking right at her. She blinked and quickly assessed the situation. He was talking to someone on the other side of the car door. She had a vague impression that it was a man with a small dog in his arms, but her attention was riveted on Justin.

              He smiled at her and she felt herself smiling back. He had cleaned up after his run and was dressed much as he was yesterday, except he wasn’t wearing the baseball cap. He had nice hair, she thought, then mentally shook herself. She realized she was still staring at him, but he had turned back to the man on the other side of the car door and was engaged in a conversation with him.

              She stood up and walked the few steps to the kitchen for a drink of water and changed her view to the kitchen window as she sipped. At least, here, she was camouflaged behind the ivies. She chuckled at herself – being a small-town nosy neighbor. Putting the glass in the sink, she went to the bedroom and checked her cell phone. She had three messages. Two of her girlfriends didn’t pick up when she called them back, so she left messages, and called Steven.

              “Hi girlfriend,” he said, answering his phone.

              “Hi Steven.”

              “So, what’s going on in the small town of Hanover, Louisiana?”

              “I have no idea. I’ve been working all day.”

              “Wish you were here. Some of us are going out dancing tonight and you know, you’re our best dancer.”

              She groaned. “Don’t do that to me. You know I’m trying to focus. Anyway, I hope you guys are saving some money so you can come over and visit me soon.”

              “Does your granny have enough room for us?”

              “Are you kidding? Granny has a five bedroom house and a plasma TV. And we’re only thirty minutes from regular restaurants and theaters.”

              “No kidding? Well, why didn’t you tell me? We’ll be right over.”

              Alley laughed. Steven had no idea how far he’d have to drive from Dallas. “No, not today. I’m on a deadline, remember?”

              “Right. The creative artist.”

              They hung up and Alley had to fight feelings of forlornness. She tried to remember why she was here. Granny was paying her to housesit and she had a book to write and draw. At that point she remembered to go outside and get the mail. As she headed toward the front door, ready this time for whomever she might run into, she came to a stop. The mail was there on the floor. Apparently it had been dropped into the little slot in the door. What a concept!

              Impressed, she picked it up and took it into Granny’s office. Why couldn’t the newspaper guy put the newspaper through there? Except for the newspaper issue, she could stay locked in here for days with no one to see except for Charlie. She shuddered.
Perhaps I’m turning into a hermit.

              It then occurred to her that she hadn’t seen Charlie since early this morning, at least not that she remembered. The food she had poured for him was still in his bowl. She finally found him in Granny’s room in his carrier. She pulled him out and carried him into the kitchen with her. He only ate a few bites of food, before heading off again.

              Alley, by that time was digging in the freezer and didn’t think much of it. She was starving. She finally put some tater tots and a veggie chicken patty in the oven, set a timer, and went to straighten up her desk to get it ready for tomorrow. She had worked enough for one day.

              While straightening, she thought of something to add to one of her drawings, and when she looked up again, it was an hour later, and smoke was coming from the oven.

              Wondering how she hadn’t heard the timer, she tossed out the burned food and started over. Charlie showed up and checked to see if anything new had been added to his food bowl. She topped it off and he ate.

              This time, she was determined to finish straightening her work area without getting pulled back into work. She was successful and settled down in front of the TV to have dinner. She couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten two dinners in a row alone. She always had either friends around or her parents. This was a little weird, but she’d gotten more work done today than she had gotten done in one day in a long time.

              She was just getting into a rerun of Homeland when Granny called.

              “How’s everything there?”

              “Everything is fine. I’m getting lots of work done.”

              “That’s wonderful. How’s my little Charlie?”

              “Charlie is doing great. He’s been in his carrier all day, but he slept with me last night.”

              “Really,” Granny’s concern was evident in her voice. “If he doesn’t seem right, take him next door to the Bark and Purr.”

              “I will, Granny, don’t worry about him. Are you having a good time?”

              Granny was having the time of her life. Her world tour included the castles of Europe. Granny had always loved castles. Now she was getting to visit them. Granny gave her a few of the highlights, then had to go catch the tour bus.

              “I may not have cell phone service for awhile, so if you need anything, just leave a message,” Granny said, before hanging up.

              “Don’t worry, Granny, we’re going to be fine.”

              Alley picked a mystery novel about a cat named KoKo off Granny’s bookshelf and curled up in the bed to read. It took her mind off her friends out partying in Dallas and...  Justin next door - the mystery man that she hadn’t had a chance to ask Granny about.

              The next morning Alley woke with the sun’s rays falling across her face. Charlie was up sitting in the window of her bedroom. He had shoved the curtains aside in the process of finding a way to watch the birds outside. Apparently he had gotten the idea that she didn’t like to be up early.

              Alley stretched and had a sudden need to do something to earn her keep. It was only seven o’clock. Not hot yet, it was a good time to mow the grass. She washed her face and brushed her teeth, then put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. She pulled her long blonde hair into a ponytail and went into the kitchen to pour coffee. She was pleased with herself for remembering to set the timer last night – earlier this time. A full pot of hot coffee was waiting for her. She looked out the front window and spied the newspaper lying innocently at the end of the driveway. Did she dare try to retrieve it?

              It was an hour and a half later than she had ventured out yesterday. If Justin was a creature of habit, which most joggers were in her limited experience, then he would already be safely back inside in own house.

              She decided to risk it. She rushed out the front door, hurried down the stairs, and all but ran to the end of the driveway, scooped up the paper, and did actually run back to the porch and up the stairs. Back inside, she breathed a sigh of relief. That was just too much stress. After reading the paper in only five minutes - no ads today, and finishing her cup of coffee, she headed into the backyard.

              She rolled the push-mower out of the garage, checked the gas and the oil level, and attempted to start it up.

              Fifteen minutes later, she stood glaring at the lawnmower, her hands on her hips. A door slammed behind her and she whirled. Justin York pushed open the wooden gate separating their backyards and was walking toward her. What was it with this guy and early morning pre-shower greetings?

              “You have to choke it and hold that lever there on the handle,” he said.

              “I’d like to choke it,” she answered. “Where?”

              He laughed. “No, choke it,” he repeated. He came up next to her, pushed a button on the mower five or six times, held down the lever on the handle, and jerked the pull cord. It roared to life.

              “Show off,” she said, but with an impressed smile.

              “You’re welcome.” He nodded toward the mower. “Mind if I try it out?”

              Her forehead creased, she tilted her head to one side. “I guess not.”

              He grabbed the handles and took off toward the far corner of the backyard, leaving a row of freshly mowed grass in his wake.

              Why was he mowing her grass? Why didn’t she have a second cup of coffee before going outside her door? Why did she care that she hadn’t showered or put on make-up? She was mowing grass, for God’s sake.

              Halfway down the yard, the mower sputtered and turned off. She groaned. “Now what?”

              “Don’t worry. I can fix it. I’ll be right back with some tools.”

              “What’s wrong with it?”

              “Just need to change the spark plug and I’ll also adjust the cutting level. I’ll just be a sec.” And he took off toward his house.

              Alley watched him go, then looked suspiciously at the mower. “Why are guys with tools such a turn on?” she asked the machine, then rolled her eyes. “Never mind.”

              Less than a minute later, he was back, with what looked like some kind of wrench.

              “Looks serious,” she said.

              “Not really,” he said. “It’s pretty basic.”

              “Why do you have to adjust the cutting level?”

              “I’m just trying to save Granny’s grass,” he said. “Last year was dry and so far this year, we’re getting more rain, so we can lower the blades and keep you from mowing every week.”

              Alley shrugged. “Either way, Granny’s paying me to do it. I don’t want to kill it though.”

              “Uh huh,” he said, squatting down next to the mower. “I’ll raise the blades back up when it’s drier.”

              She squatted down next to him. “Maybe you’d better show me how to do it in case you forget to.”

              He lifted his head, their eyes inches apart. His gaze dipped to her lips and back up to her eyes. “I can assure you, I won’t forget,” he said, his voice oddly hushed.

              Several seconds passed, then Alley smiled and sat back. “Well, just in case you aren’t home, maybe you can show me anyway.”

              “I’m always home,” he murmured and turned back to the mower. “Each wheel has to be done individually - like this.” He adjusted the first one.

              “Oh, is that all there is to it?” She asked. What she really wanted to ask was why didn’t he go to work? But she didn’t ask. If her mother had taught her one thing, it was tact. She would find out, though, eventually. Her dad had taught her persistence.

              “Want to do one?”

              “Sure,” she moved closer, her head nearly touching his. She pushed on the lever, then stopped and looked up at him. “How?”

              “Like this,” he placed his hand over hers and a bolt of awareness shot through her. She swallowed and tried to concentrate on what he was showing her. Together they adjusted the lever.

              He rubbed his thumb gently across hers, forever changing the nature of their interaction. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with this awareness. He lifted his eyes and locked his gaze onto hers. He raised an eyebrow and looked at her quizzically. She leaned back and he smiled. She pulled her hand slowly from beneath his and he let her go. She looked away.

              He quickly adjusted the other two levers and stood up. She stood up, too.

              “I need to get in Granny’s garage,” he said.

              “What for?” She asked, her brain still out of focus.

              His gaze locked onto hers with a strange expression. Then he shook his head slightly. “I need to see if she has an extra spark plug.”

              “Ok.” She walked to the door on the side of the garage, went inside, and stood in front of a wall of shelves filled with containers and tools. “Where do you think it would be?” she asked, knowing he had followed her.

              “It’s probably in one of these,” he said, opening a plastic box filled with miscellaneous items. He rummaged around and pulled out an unopened package. “Ah ha,” he said.

              “You seem to know a lot about lawn mowers.” Maybe he worked in a shop. Unemployed?

              “As a kid, I mowed grass for the neighbors.”

              “And now?”

              He laughed. “I gave up that job.” He went back outside, opened the package, and reached for the wrench.

              He unhooked a wire, then put the wrench over the spark plug and pulled. “Here you go,” he said, holding the dirty, warm spark plug out to her. She held out her hand and he dropped it into her palm.

              “What am I supposed to do with this?” she asked.

              “Just throw it away,” he said.

              “Gee thanks.”

              “So your mom went back to Dallas?”

              “Yep. Just me and Charlie.” Of course, he would know her parents.

              He nodded. “How is the little guy?”

              “He’s good.”

              “Tell him I said hi.”

              She laughed. “Ok.”

              He started up the lawn mower - without choking it and pushed it forward over a fresh row of grass. Satisfied, he turned and steered it back toward her. “It’s ready to go,” he said.

              She stood there, holding the spark plug in her upturned palm and looked at him quizzically. He held out his hand and she dumped the spark plug into his palm. She wiped the grease from her hand onto her shorts and took hold of the lawn mower. She felt him watching her as she pushed it across the lawn, but when she reached the other side and turned back he was gone.

              Justin remembered Alley Alexander.

              She had been thirteen and he had been fifteen. His parents and her grandmother had just moved into their houses. She hadn’t even noticed he existed. She had been too focused on her two girlfriends and their new puppy.

              He pulled his gaze from her tight little shorts and perky ponytail and went into what would have been the lower level in any other house, but was a veterinarian office in his.

              He had a crush on her even then, but it had been too weird to admit. She had only been thirteen, after all.

              He had seen her a few times over the next three years, but he left home at eighteen to go to college and Granny had always gone to the Alexander’s house for the holidays when he was home. So, their paths had not crossed again - until now.

              He opened a metal cage and picked up an old black Persian named Britain. Britain was blind in one eye and half blind in the other. He received fluid injections twice a day and it was only a matter of time before his kidneys shut down and fluid stopped helping him.

              Britain’s mom traveled in her job - some kind of insurance rep - and couldn’t leave Britain at home, so Justin had taken him in. Justin had a feeling she couldn’t handle having to deal with a terminally ill pet and the traveling was a good excuse to not facing it.

              Dr. Justin York had moved back six months ago to take over his father’s veterinarian practice. The older Dr. York was just about ready to retire, but he still spent occasional time in the office when the mood suited him. He just couldn’t handle the emergencies and otherwise long hours. Justin had always known he would come back to Hanover to take over the business. It was his duty. His responsibility. Being an only child, he’d always known it was expected of him. He’d learned early on to quash any fascination he felt toward the excitement of city life.

              He put the needle underneath Britain’s skin and started the fluid flow. He could feel the little bubble already forming under the cat’s skin. When the cat looked up at him with its large golden eyes, his heart ached. The only problem with being a vet was dealing with the short life-span of pets. He loved everything else about it. Especially since he had a boy come in twice a day to clean the cages.

              He removed the needle from Britain’s skin and instead of setting him back in his cage, took him with him into the house. He couldn’t bear the thought of the little guy spending his last days alone, sitting in a cage.

              He stroked Britain’s head and let his thoughts wander back to Alley. It suddenly occurred to him that he been waiting for her.

              Maybe it was time he did something more than wait.