Page 38 of Five Days in July
14
MATT
Ever since I left Lenore last night, I’d been filled with doubts. Did she also think we might be inching toward something here? Or have I misread the entire thing? I’m so used to falling into, as Annie calls it, “situations” with women that I have no real idea how to build a lasting one. Plus, I’ve been so focused on working and building a secure financial base to support my mom and me that I’ve become a bit socially inept. I rarely go out, and Steve regularly makes fun of me for being a bridge troll who only likes to be at home.
I hated that she’d been so withdrawn on the way home, but she could have just been tired, and I’m overthinking things. After what looked like a panic attack and having a textbook of random car information thrown at her all day, I wouldn’t blame her for shutting down.
When I pull into her driveway, I’m relieved to see lights on. Yesterday the house hadn’t looked awake, but it’s alive with movement this morning.
My truck’s clock reads eight-twenty when I park. I’m a little early, but I hoped for a chance to talk and clear the air.
I can see her in what might be the kitchen through the glass of the front door when I knock. Hesitating because it looks like she’s talking to someone, I only knock lightly twice, not wanting to interrupt if she’s on the phone.
She hears it and looks up. Seeing me, she smiles and bends down to scoop something into her arms. From here, it looks like some sort of animal. As she gets closer to the door, I see it’s a cat.
I’m sure there was not a cat here yesterday.
Nore pulls the door open and waves me in. “Hi, come in quick. I don't want it to get outside.” She releases the cat only after I secure the door behind me. It squirms on the way down, and when its paws meet the floor, it stretches, keeping an eye on me.
It doesn’t come closer, and I don’t bend down to greet it since it holds itself stiffly like it’s prepared to bolt. Lenore doesn’t seem to terrify it because she bends down and scratches the little creature’s chin, murmuring happy sounds.
“I didn’t know you had a cat.”
She straightens up too quickly, and the cat jumps back. “Well, technically, I still don’t.”
I raise an eyebrow and wait for her to keep talking. She seems animated in a way that I haven’t experienced yet. It makes me cautious about derailing her excitement with a careless word.
“I went for a walk yesterday, and when I got back, it was eating my leftovers from dinner. So, I fed it, and now I need to see if it has a microchip and get it to a vet because I don’t know if it's got a name or what it is, so I can’t name it yet, so I’ve just been calling it, well It.” She draws in a deep breath. “And I’d love to keep it, but I don’t know if I can.” Her voice cracks with the last sentence.
I watch the cat carefully and then slowly bend down, half holding out a hand to see if it will take a step toward me. To my surprise, it does and promptly spins to present its butt for scratches.
“Well, it’s definitely a guy.”
I look up at her, smirking.
“Ok, we can call it Him. But that sounds even more strange than It. Never mind,” she mutters, bustling back to the kitchen to gather something in a plastic bag before grabbing a smaller lunch bag and her purse from the counter. I’ve noticed she rambles when she’s nervous, so I let her keep talking to herself without interrupting.
“Would you mind swinging by Al and Annie’s this morning? I just got off the phone with Annie, and she said she’d be able to take care of it, I mean him, during the day because I’m worried about leaving him alone all day.”
“Not a problem. I don’t suppose you have a carrier around here, do you?”
“Technically, I’m not supposed to have animals here.” She trails off, and I realize how much she wants to keep the cat. Although I’m sure she’s already called the house owners, most rentals have explicit pet policies.
“He lets you pick him up, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.” I study the cat, which seems friendly enough. “We’ll just be careful when we open the doors.”
“Oh, Matt, thank you!” She nearly jumps me, throwing her arms around my torso and squeezing tightly. “He’s made so much progress already. He came in by himself and used the litter box, just like a gentleman. He deserves a good life.”
If I'd known the secret to her happiness was a minuscule tomcat, I would have told her we could keep him at the garage. Before she lets go, I wrap an arm around her and squeeze gently. She realizes how close we are and springs back. I don’t mention it yet, but if she really can’t keep him, I’ll find a way to give him a home. Either at the shop or, heaven forbid, my house.
“I should have everything if you want to get going.” She grabs the cat again. “I’m not going to make you late for any appointments this morning, am I?”
“As long as we don’t stay too long at Al and Annie’s, we’ll be fine.”
“Can you lock up?” The keys are dangling from her pinky.
The skinny feline is purring again, but it sounds like a pack-a-day smoker, so it's hard to tell if it’s content or issuing a warning. He headbutts my hand when I take the keys and blinks slowly at me.
Lenore gathers her things, and I open the door for them to step out. She scratches the cat’s chin as I lock up and follows me down the path. I open the door to the truck, but with the cat in her arms, it’ll be a feat to climb in.