By the next morning, Cyril was (strangely enough) in a good mood. He came into the kitchen actually whistling a tune. Cedric was a little surprised.

"Are your stocks up, Pop?" he asked.

"Better than that, Cedric, my boy!" Cyril shouted.

"What could be better than stocks being up?" Sophia asked. "To you, I mean. Unless you made a million dollars overnight."

"It's even better than that, my dear Sophia!" Cyril shouted. Then he grabbed Sophia's hand and twirled her around for a moment. Then he walked off into his office.

"Did he call me what I think he called me?" Sophia asked, beyond confused.

"I think he did," Cedric replied. "I don't know what happened, but Pop's sure in a good mood because of it!"

Cyril came back into the kitchen just then.

"Don't make any plans for tonight," he said. "I'm expecting company for dinner, and I need both of you, and the Pigs, here."

"Who are you trying to impress now, Pop?" Cedric asked. "Mr. Mammoth?"

"No, Rita Ritzley," Cyril said. "Of Ritzley Incorporated. She's coming over to dinner tonight."

"Rita Ritzley?" Cedric asked, a bit dumbfounded. "You're inviting a businesswoman to dinner?"

"What's so surprising about that?"

"Well, it's just that you've always said that women can't do business. You're always saying that a woman's place is cleaning the house, cooking the meals, and taking care of the kids."

"I've had a change of heart."

Cyril walked off just then, and he looked like he was on Cloud Nine. Cedric and Sophia glanced at each other, wondering what in the world had come over him!

Later in the day, Cyril was in the nursery spending time with Forest. Much to Cedric's and Sophia's surprise, he volunteered to watch the baby for awhile. Usually, Cedric and Sophia had to twist his arm to get him to baby-sit! It didn't matter much to Forest. He adored his grandfather.

"Well, Forest, tonight, you're going to see your grandpa in action," he said. "I've invited a friend to dinner. A lady friend, if you will. Just you wait. You think your dad's the only one around here who can get a girl, then you ain't seen nothin' yet, kid!"

Forest giggled and clapped his hands. He didn't have any idea what Cyril was saying. He only learned to talk not too long ago, but he still had a very limited vocabulary.

Seven o' clock finally rolled around. Cedric, Sophia, and the Pigs were standing around, waiting for Cyril to come down the stairs. He raced down them the minute the doorbell rang, somewhat breathlessly.

"This house is too big," he said. "I may have to renovate the place."

The doorbell rang again, and all Cyril had to do was glare at the Pigs, and they raced for it. Lloyd opened the door.

"Welcome to Sneer Mansion," he said. "Miss Rita Ritzley, I presume?"

"You're pretty sharp for a stupid hunk of bacon," Rita said, coming into the room. She took off her wrap, and promptly dropped it on Floyd.

"I like her already," Lloyd said, sarcastically. "I like her about as much as I like getting my teeth drilled."

Rita walked into the main hallway and looked around. Cyril was a bit dumbstruck then. Rita was wearing a long, red, off-the-shoulder Paris gown, long red gloves, and red high heels. She had her hair swept up at the top of her head. Cyril was practically drooling, at least until Cedric gave him a nudge.

"Pop," he said.

"Oh yeah," Cyril said, regaining his senses. "Rita, good of you to make it."

"Charmed, I'm sure," Rita said. "What a very . . . . . quaint little mansion you have, Cyril. A bit small, but very quaint."

"Small, yes," Cyril said. "Just what I was telling my son moments ago. I may have to renovate the place. This house is too small."

Cedric and Sophia exchanged a glance. There was something about this Rita Ritzley that neither of them liked. Cyril led her over to the two of them (well, three, actually. Sophia was holding Forest).

"Rita, I'd like you to meet my son, Cedric," he said. "And his . . . . . well . . . . . partner, let's say, for lack of better word . . . . Sofa Gir—er, Sophia."

"He doesn't call her Sophia too often," Cedric said.

"Uh huh," Rita said a little distantly. Then she caught sight of Forest. "And what, may I ask, is that?"

"That," Sophia said, becoming a little edgy. She didn't like the way Rita had referred to Forest. "Is our baby."

"Yeah," Cyril said, clearing his throat. "Rita, this is my grandson, Forest."

"Oh how . . . . ." Rita said, a little hesitantly. "Sweet."

"I, uh, take it you don't like children?" Cedric asked.

"Oh nonsense!" Rita shouted, in mock enthusiasm. Then she proceeded to pinch Forest's cheek, something he absolutely hated. And he really hated Rita's grip. It was too tight.

"I simply adore children!" Rita shouted, through clenched teeth. She finally let go of Forest's cheek, and the baby promptly buried his face in Sophia's shoulder, whimpering.

"You know, Forest is very choosy about people," Sophia said. "He knows when he doesn't like someone, and he knows when they don't like him."

"Oh what does he know about people?" Rita asked, taking a compact out of her purse. She opened it, and began to check over her hair and make-up. "He's just a stupid baby!"

"Excuse me!" Sophia shouted.

"Why don't you go put the baby to bed?" Cyril cut in before a cat fight could break out. "Like right now?"

"Gladly," Sophia said, glaring at Rita. "Say goodnight to Daddy and Grandpa, sweetie."

"Night-night, Daddy," Forest said. "Night-night, Gampa."

"Goodnight, Forest," Cedric replied, tussling Forest's hair.

"Yeah, goodnight already," Cyril said. "Get going, Sofa Girl. Move it!"

Sophia gave Rita a final glare, and began walking up the stairs. She put Forest into the crib, and ran her fingers along his ears.

"What do you think of Grandpa's new friend?" she asked.

"Yuck!" Forest shouted.

"My sediments exactly. But we can't do much about it. Let's just hope whatever business he has to do with Miss Ritzley is short lived. Goodnight, Forest."

"Night-night, Mama," was Forest's reply.

Sophia turned on Forest's mobile, and left the room. When she walked into the dining room, she found Cyril and Rita talking money, and laughing over things as if they had known each other for a long time. Cedric was staring at them suspiciously.

"Sophia, do you notice something strange about the way Pop's acting towards Miss Ritzley?" he asked.

"Well, I recognize the look on his face," Sophia said. "He's starting to look at Miss Ritzley in the way you looked at me when we first met. In fact, he was starting to look like that yesterday when they first met at Lady Baden-Baden's party."

"You don't actually think Pop's in love . . . . . . do you?"

"Stranger things have happened, Cedric. But I honestly don't think your father could ever fall in love. Not with anything other than money."

Cedric nodded. Sophia did have a point there, but somehow, he wasn't so sure. He just kept a close eye on the two of them. Cyril was telling Rita about the time he was going to build a hockey arena over the Evergreen Lake.

"And I would have made big bucks on that," he said. "If those stupid Raccoons hadn't botched things up."

"I know what you mean," Rita said. "I was never too fond of raccoons myself. They always cause trouble. Why, I wouldn't even be caught dead hanging around one! And anyone of our status hanging around them is simply . . . . . tacky!"

"Hear that, Cedric?" Cyril asked.

"I heard," Cedric replied. "And I can't say I agree with you, Miss Ritzley."

"Me neither," Sophia said. She stood up, and started towards the kitchen. "If you all will excuse me, I have a column to finish for the newspaper."

"Newspaper?" Rita scoffed. "Oh Cyril, don't tell me your own daughter-in-law works at a newspaper!"

"Unfortunately, she does," Cyril grumbled. "And every winter, she pretends she's Peggy Lemming. I'm sorry to say this, but she has no idea how to handle the high life! Cedric's just as bad. He'd rather play hockey and cook the meals around here than take over the business! With parents like that, I dread to think about how Forest is going to turn out!"

"Come on, Pop, it's not all that bad," Cedric said. "After all, Sophia did win the Olympic gold medal in figure skating awhile back."

"Shut up, Cedric!" Cyril shouted.

"Okay, Pop."

Cedric stood up, and went towards the kitchen. Rita watched him go, and shook her head.

"You do realize he's a bit of a wimp, don't you?" she asked.

"I tried to get him to be more assertive once," Cyril said with a shrug. "But it was a dismal failure. Hey, can't win 'em all. But I never say that when it comes to money."

Rita happened to agree with Cyril there. After what seemed like an endless visit, Rita finally decided it was time for her to leave. She took her wrap from Floyd, and turned to Cyril.

"I had a marvelous time, Cyril," she said. "We must do it again sometime. Have your people contact my people, and we'll do lunch."

"Sounds good to me," Cyril said.

Rita then leaned forward and gave Cyril a kiss on the cheek, which caused him to nearly melt right then and there.

"I'll be looking forward to our next meeting, Cyril, darling," she said, walking out the door.

"I'll be looking forward to our next meeting, Cyril, darling," Floyd mimicked, once Rita was out of sight and earshot. "Yeeccchhh! Ptooey!"

"Oh shut up!" Cyril yelled, giving Floyd a kick in the rear end.

There was no doubt about it. Cyril was definitely in love. So was Rita, as a matter of fact. And she was telling her driver about it.

"Oh Stames," she said. "You wouldn't believe how in love I am. With Cyril Sneer's money! I'll have that old fossil wrapped around my little finger in a matter of days, and then I'll move to his money!"