The Year the Cat Saved Christmas - a novella Read Online Free

Aylesworth. I--um, Sandi Vitelli gave me your
number. She said you were driving up to New York tomorrow morning
and--"
    "You need a ride?"
    "I do," she said, trying to sound like she
did this sort of thing every day of the week. "I'd be happy to pay
for gas and any--"
    "Ten bucks."
    "Oh. Well, of course. Gas money plus ten
dollars. That sounds fair."
    A rumbly chuckle, not at all unpleasant,
tickled her ear. "Did I say something funny?"
    "You agreed to the first price I
mentioned."
    "It was a good price."
    "It was a lousy price. You could've had the
ride for gas money."
    "You should have told me that."
    "Then I'd miss out on the ten bucks and I
have a feeling I need it a hell of a lot more than you do."
    "How would you know whether or not I need the
ten dollars?" she countered, temper rising. "You don't know
anything about me."
    "If you needed it, you would have bargained
with me."
    "Maybe I'm just a nice person."
    "If you are, it's because you can afford
it."
    "This has been a lovely conversation, but
I've had quite enough. Good--"
    "Hey, don't get upset."
    "Don't get upset?" She stared at the phone as
if it had sprouted horns and a tail. "You've made a fistful of
insulting assumptions about me and you tell me not to get upset? If
you're one of those working class types who think rich people are
the enemy, then--"
    "I'm sorry."
    Her temper deflated like a popped balloon.
"You are?"
    "Yes," he said. "I have a weird sense of
humor. It's an acquired taste."
    She found herself grinning at the phone.
"I've been told I have no sense of humor."
    "Sounds like we're made for each other. Maybe
we should elope tomorrow instead of driving up to New York."
    "Sounds great," she said, feeling suddenly
lighthearted. "I'll pay for the gas and you can pay for the
marriage license."
    She'd never bantered that way before. Usually
the witty response occurred to her the day after she needed it. It
felt good to make a guy laugh, even if she'd probably never see him
again after they reached New York City tomorrow afternoon.
     
     
    #
     
     
    "Full circle," she said as the memory
shimmered then faded away. They fell in love on Christmas Eve and
now, thirteen years later on a snowy Christmas Eve, they would
finally say goodbye.
     
     

 
    Chapter Two

    How the hell was it possible to sweat when it
was twenty degrees outside and snowing?
    David Whittaker wasn't a scientist but it
seemed to him that he was doing something pretty damn
extraordinary. The heater was turned off. He'd cracked the window a
good two inches. He had the feeling that nothing short of a new Ice
Age could stop the twin beads of sweat from trickling down his
temples.
    His assistant's message had been short and
sweet. Jill called. She said it was important. Call her
back. Ten words, nine of them words of one syllable. You'd
think it would take more than that to screw up your thermostat.
    He told himself it was no big deal, that she
was probably calling about the house or the car or some document
that needed his signature. She'd avoided him at every turn the last
two months. The kids relayed his messages, her attorney answered
his questions--her voice on the answering machine was as close as
he got to making contact.
    And now this. Out of nowhere she'd called
him. His imagination was running riot.
    Come back home, David...I love you,
David...we can't get along without you, David...
    There were at least a dozen variations on
that same theme and not one of them stood a chance in hell of
coming true.
    He turned off the main road and negotiated
the hill that led to Eagle Ridge Drive. The snow was coming down
hard and fast and he wished he was driving the Jeep. The driveway
curved gently off Eagle Ridge and he eased into the turn. He always
stopped at the same spot, just far enough back that he could get a
good look at the house. He used to tell himself he was checking for
gutter problems or trouble with the siding but the truth was, he
just wanted to sit there and revel in the fact