“I think it was cowhide,” Andrea answered, frowning slightly. “Or maybe moose hide. I really don’t remember, Mother. All I remember is thinking that it was something thick and sturdy.”
“I don’t think we need to worry about it,” Hannah told them, reaching down to scratch Moishe in one of his favorite places, under his chin. “He seems very content and comfortable.”
Doc laughed. “I should hope so. The salesman said those couches were the most comfortable ones in the store.”
Cuddles saw where Moishe had gone and jumped up to settle down beside him.
“Here, Hannah,” Michelle said, handing Hannah the canister of fish-shaped, salmon-flavored treats that both cats loved. “These might keep them quiet while we eat.”
Hannah smiled and nodded, although she really doubted that would happen. There were too many new things to explore and Moishe and Cuddles, like most cats, were curious. She shook out three treats for Moishe and three for Cuddles, when there was a knock on her door.
“That must be Mike and Lonnie,” Michelle said, rushing to the door to let them in. “And Bill,” she added, noticing the third person who was climbing up the steps.
“Oh, good!” Andrea said, getting up from the table and hurrying to the door to greet her husband. “He wasn’t sure he could make it, but I invited him anyway.”
Once greetings had been exchanged and everyone had taken a chair, there were ten people crowded around Hannah’s dining room table. She glanced over at the cats as Ross passed her a piece of pepperoni and sausage pizza, and realized that both of them had disappeared.
“They’re probably exploring,” Ross said, noticing that Hannah’s attention had been diverted.
“I’m sure you’re right, unless . . .” Hannah turned to Michelle and spoke in a low voice. They were eating, after all. “Is Moishe’s litter box still in the laundry room?”
“It’s there,” Michelle answered. “I checked it out the minute I came in. Everything’s in place, Hannah. His food is in the kitchen, his water dish is full, and his litter box is clean. I got everything all ready for you to come home.”
“Thanks,” Hannah said, smiling at her youngest sister. There was no need to check. If Michelle said everything was ready for Moishe to come home, then everything was ready. Michelle loved Moishe almost as much as she did.
“Are you staying over tonight?” she asked Michelle. “I noticed that the guest bedroom is all ready, and it looks just beautiful.”
“Not tonight.” Michelle leaned closer so that no one else could hear her. “Lonnie’s driving me back to school tonight. I’ve got my final in directing class tomorrow.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Not really. I think I’ll do just fine. I’ve been using Mother’s car to commute back and forth for rehearsals.”
Hannah was shocked. “But that’s a two and a half hour commute every day!”
“It was just for three days. My directing class only meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I was here on Tuesday and Thursday to keep an eye on the workmen. And at night, I stayed at Mother’s house. Andrea said it wasn’t smart to vacate a house that was listed and had a For Sale sign in the front lawn. She said her teacher had stressed that in real estate class.”
“I’m sure that’s right in larger towns and big cities, but there really isn’t much crime in Lake Eden . . .” Hannah paused and gave a little sigh, “except for murder, of course. Are you going to continue to commute until it sells?”
“I don’t have to. It sold and the buyers are moving in today. They’re going to pay rent until the paperwork goes through, but they’ve got the down payment, both of them work, and Andrea doesn’t think there’ll be any problem with the loan. Actually . . . I’m really glad it’s over. It was a little scary staying there all by myself. It made me realize that I’ve never stayed alone before. I lived with Mother until I went off to college and I’ve always had roommates there. And when I come back to Lake Eden, I stay with you.”
“You can still do that, you know,” Hannah reassured her. “The guest room is always ready for you.”
“I know, but . . . it’s different now.” Michelle paused and leaned a little closer. “You’re still on your honeymoon. You and Ross should be alone. Or at least you should ask him how he feels about having a third person around.”
Hannah was saved from the necessity of a reply when Bill asked Michelle a question. Truthfully, Hannah wasn’t entirely sure how Ross felt about it. She loved to have Michelle stay with her, but Ross could feel differently. He might regard it as an intrusion. Hannah didn’t think he’d feel that way, because he liked Michelle, but she’d have to check with him to make sure. And that was different too, now that she was married. She’d always made her own decisions, but now that she was married, there was her husband to consider.
The conversation flowed around her and Hannah smiled and nodded. She was fairly quiet, still trying to take in all that her family had given them for their wedding. There was what Andrea had called the “media room,” with the giant flat screen, couches that provided theater seating, and all the other electronic equipment. Then there was the guest bathroom with new, plush towels in colors to complement the freshly painted walls, the guest bedroom with its new, fresh bedding that matched the color scheme that someone, probably Andrea, had chosen. And then there was the master suite, completely redone with the new Mediterranean bedroom set, bedding that looked perfect with the rest of the room, and new fixtures and color-coordinated, plush towels in the bathroom with its remodeled shower and tub.
“At least the towels aren’t his and hers,” Hannah said, thinking aloud.
“What was that, dear?” Delores asked her.