Chapter 398: Bobbi-Lee's Cottage
Wednesday, February 8th, Afternoon
After another long day at Beaulieu Manor, Bobbi-Lee arrived home and went straight to her spa bathtub. The warm water jets loosened up her tense muscles from the stress of the final details for the next week. Quickly, she ducked her head under the water and slowly raised her head above the water. Her ginger hair was now plastered against her head and down her back.
Leaning back, she pulled on a set of earbuds and pressed play on her smartphone. The music filled her ears and relaxed her. Closing her eyes and just waiting until the bath turned cold.
Getting out of the tub, she wrapped a towel around herself. Gathering up her hair, she wrung it out and wrapped another towel around it. Looking in the mirror, she knew she would have to get her hair done before the show.
After patting herself down, she looked at herself again. Bobbi-Lee smiled and started to reach for her hairbrush. That was when the doorbell sounded.
Bobbi-Lee huffed and reached over for her terry cloth bathrobe. Pulling on the robe, she tied the belt and looked for her slippers. Once, she found her pink bunny slippers, putting her feet in them, and headed down to the front door.
Upon opening the door, Bobbi-Lee came face-to-face with Delilah Blevins. The older woman looked at Bobbi-Lee in surprise.
"Bobbi, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were in the shower," Delilah said.
"I'd have just gotten out of the bath," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Again, I'm sorry," Delilah said.
"Don't worry about it," Bobbi-Lee said, "What could I do for you, Delilah?"
"Well, for one, do you still have Sammy's bike?" Delilah asked.
Bobbi-Lee nodded, "Yeah, it's outback; you could go back there and get it," she said.
"No, please hold onto it for a while," Delilah said.
"Okay?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"You told me once that your sister owns a large tract of land," Delilah said.
Bobbi-Lee nodded, "Yeah, she controls the historic family seat," she said.
"There's a lot of open woods, right?" Delilah asked.
"Open woods?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"Not part of someone's property," Delilah said.
"Well, it's all part of my sister's property," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Well, yes, of course," Delilah said, "I was wondering if there's a possibility I could take the boys camping on your sister's property?"
"You want to camp out on Murphy Land?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
Delilah nodded, "Yeah, I want to take the boys out there for a weekend," she said.
"Ever after what I caught Sammy doing?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"especially, I want to get him away from that crowd," Delilah said.
Bobbi-Lee nodded, "Come," she said and stepped aside.
Delilah walked through the door and into the great room. Bobbi-Lee turned around and closed the door behind her. Delilah was standing there, and Bobbi-Lee nodded.
"Have a seat," Bobbi-Lee said.
"I don't want to keep you," Delilah said.
"You're not keeping me; I'll be right back," Bobbi-Lee said.
Bobbi-Lee went up to her bedroom and dropped her robe once the bedroom door closed behind her. She rattled around her room and found a pair of pajama pants and her well broken-in Carolina Panther's jersey with the number ninety-one on it. She pulled her hair back in a loose messy ponytail and slipped her feet back into her pink bunny slippers.
Before leaving the bedroom, she investigated one of the corners. A small black cat laid curled up in the small box there. Two green eyes looked back at Bobbi-Lee.
"I know, rob, I disturbed you," Bobbi-Lee said.
The cat made no noise and just lowered his head. Bobbi-Lee shook her head and went out to the loft, which served as her at-home office. Bobbi-Lee looked through her desk. After finding what she was looking for, Bobbi-Lee smiled.
Heading downstairs, Bobbi-Lee paused on the stairs and took in the scene. Custis, her oldest cat, had moved from the couch. Custis was now in an armchair shooting daggers at Delilah. Rooney, Bobbi-Lee's middle and most active cat, stood on the coffee table looking at Delilah.
"They don't like strangers," Bobbi-Lee said.
"You never strike me as a pet person, but you have two cats," Delilah said.
"Three," Bobbi-Lee said as she finished walking down the stairs. Walking past the table, she petted Rooney and took a seat in another Armchair.
"Three?" Delilah asked.
"Rob, hides upstairs," Bobbi-Lee said, "One on the table is Rooney, and the lazy one is Custis."
"Oh, why do you have three cats?" Delilah asked.
"Simple, I was told have a plant, if it's still alive after a year get a pet. My plants are alive; I got Custis," Bobbi-Lee said, pointing to the cat in the armchair. "I found he needed company, and that's Rooney," she gestured to the cat on the coffee table, "Someone talked me into Rob. They're all rescues, and I've had them since they were kittens."
"But why?" Delilah asked.
"It's to see if I can keep something else alive and health, to see if I'm ready for a relationship," Bobbi-Lee said.
"The answer?" Delilah asked curiously.
"I'm not sure," Bobbi-Lee said with a shrug.
"So, anyway, about me camping on your sister's land," Delilah said.
Bobbi-Lee stood up and held out a piece of paper she had gotten from her desk. "Contact that person, and they should be able to help," Bobbi-Lee said and sat back down.
Delilah looked at the paper. "Who is J.L. Burke, your sister?" she asked.
"No, my brother, J.L., he helps my sister out as the game warden for the lands; he'll know if you could and where you should camp," Bobbi-Lee said.
"You're not involved?" Delilah asked.
Bobbi-Lee shook her head, "No, and I don't mind," she said.
Delilah nodded, "Okay," she said.
"I do have something to ask you, though," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Okay, what is it?" Delilah asked.
"I have my niece coming up to New York with me, so I need someone to watch my cats this weekend," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Okay, why me?" Delilah asked.
"You're close," Bobbi-Lee said.
"So, what are you doing?" Delilah asked.
"It's New York Fashion week; I have work to do up there," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Your niece is going with you?" Delilah asked.
"She's booked for a show on Saturday," Bobbi-Lee said.
"I didn't know she's a model," Delilah said.
"She's not, but it's a long story," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Okay, well, around here, that means you don't want to get into it," Delilah said.
"Yes, basically," Bobbi-Lee said.
"I have to head home before the boys destroy the house," Delilah said.
"I'll walk you out," Bobbi-Lee said.
Delilah and Bobbi-Lee stood up and walked to the front door. Bobbi-Lee showed Delilah out and closed the door behind Delilah. With a shrug, Bobbi-Lee went upstairs, shutting the lights as she went.
AN: I'll be on a bit of a hiatus for around a week. I'll be at a family wedding. Normal service will resume once I am back. Thank you for understanding.
