Chapter 410: Bobbi-Lee's Cottage
Friday, February 10th, Afternoon
The thumping of her feet on the steps echoed in the great room as she huffed with each step. On the landing, she looked over to see Custis lying on the cushions of the sofa. Bobbi-Lee sighed and adjusted her cropped Wake Forrest Hoodie. After a quick nod, see finished walking down the stairs to the front door.
Opening the door, Bobbi-Lee saw Delilah standing there, under a bulky winter coat and a knit hat looked at Bobbi-Lee. The older women stood on the porch bracing against the cold, looking at the barely dressed Bobbi-Lee.
"Boy, are you comfortable," Delilah said.
Bobbi-Lee looked at Delilah confused, then Bobbi-Lee's got bright with recognition. "Oh yeah," Bobbi-Lee said.
"What's your secret?" Delilah asked.
"My secret?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"How you're in such good shape?" Delilah asked.
"Oh, well, just a lot of hard work," Bobbi-Lee said, "Come in before we let out all the heat and the cats."
"Oh, yeah," Delilah said, "Can I come in?"
Bobbi-Lee nodded and stepped aside, "Yeah, come in," she said.
Delilah came in, and Bobbi-Lee closed the door behind her. Delilah looked around the room and saw the cat lying on the sofa. "So, I don't think you were expecting me," Delilah said.
"No, I was packing for the week," Bobbi-Lee said.
"That's got to be so glamourous, New York Fashion Week," Delilah said.
Bobbi-Lee shrugged, "I guess, I've done it so long it's kind of automatic. A lot of work, until my show, then stress, and there's tons of networking," she said.
"That takes all the fun out of it all," Delilah said.
"Believe me, I was excited my first few times," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Yeah, well," Delilah said.
"So, you're here to learn about the cats," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Yes, I am," Delilah said, with a nervous giggle.
"Well, follow me," Bobbi-Lee said and sighed.
"Okay," Delilah said.
The two women walked over to the kitchen. In the corner of the kitchen was a pair of bowls. Bobbi-Lee looked up at Delilah.
"The downstairs boys, Custis and Rooney; they get fed twice a day," Bobbi-Lee said.
Delilah nodded, "Where do you keep their food?" she asked.
Bobbi-Lee nodded and opened a cabinet door. She pulled out a container of cat food. "Right here," she said.
"Okay," Delilah said, "Any treats?"
Bobbi-Lee nodded and pulled out another container. "One each at the end of the night," she said.
"Okay," Delilah said.
"Their litter box is in the downstairs bathroom," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Alright," Delilah said.
"Any questions?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"You said you have three cats, right?" Delilah asked.
"Yes, I do," Bobbi-Lee said.
"But you mentioned only two," Delilah said.
"Yes, the older two like to stay down here," Bobbi-Lee said, "The third one, Rob, hides upstairs."
"Oh, okay," Delilah said.
"So, follow me," Bobbi-Lee said and headed to the front of the house. Delilah followed Bobbi-Lee upstairs to her bedroom. In Bobbi-Lee's room, her bags were spread out on the bed. Delilah looked it over.
"That's a lot of stuff for a week," Delilah noted.
"There are up to three changes on some days," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Three?" Delilah asked, "Why three?"
"That's far less than some of the models," Bobbi-Lee said with a shrug.
"But three changes?" Delilah asked.
"One for lead up, one for the fashion show, and the final one for the after-party," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Okay," Delilah said, "Where's your third cat?"
"Rob hides most of the time," Bobbi-Lee said, "Rob's food and water are in my bathroom."
Bobbi-Lee moved into her bathroom; Delilah followed behind her. In the bathroom, tucked into the corner, were a pair of bowls, sitting on a tray.
"So, you do the same with Rob as you do with the other cats?" Delilah asked.
"Yes, but you'll find Rob doesn't eat as much," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Okay, no problem," Delilah said.
"Yeah," Bobbi-Lee said, with a nod, and looked at the bed.
"So, when do you leave?" Delilah asked.
"A car will be here to pick me up later," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Oh, are you flying first class?" Delilah asked.
Bobbi-Lee shook her head, "No, private jet," she said.
"Private jet, that's got to be cool," Delilah said.
Bobbi-Lee nodded, "Yeah," she said and smiled, "It can be."
"Can be?" Delilah asked.
"Yeah, I'll probably nap on the flight up to New York," Bobbi-Lee said.
"That doesn't sound exciting," Delilah said and walked over to the bed. She was looking over the clothes on the bed. Slowly, Delilah reached down and touched one of the dresses.
"Sleep when you can," Bobbi-Lee said.
"These are beautiful dresses," Delilah said.
"Thanks," Bobbi-Lee said.
"You're welcome," Delilah said, "I miss wearing dresses like this."
"Yeah?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
Delilah nodded, "When my late husband and I were young, before Sammy or even before our marriage, we would go out on the town, dancing. I always had the most beautiful dresses," she said.
"Yeah," Bobbi-Lee said.
Delilah nodded, "Yeah, I once wore this beautiful sage green dress, it was two years before we got married, and Sammy," she said, "I was invited to have a few murals at the Frost Gallery."
Bobbi-Lee nodded, "There have been some great shows at the Frost Gallery," she said.
Delilah nodded and looked over to the wall. "Who is that?" she asked, pointing to the wall.
"That's my dad and me when I graduated from Wake Forrest," Bobbi-Lee said.
"You're close to your dad?" Delilah asked.
"Not always; we were a bit distant at the time of the picture," Bobbi-Lee said.
"So, you did improve your relationship with your dad?" Delilah asked.
"We were improving until his death," Bobbi-Lee said.
"I'm sorry, Bobbi, cancer?" Delilah asked.
"Thank you, no, he died in a building fire," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Oh, my," Delilah said.
"It's been eleven years," Bobbi-Lee said.
"You never get over the loss," Delilah said.
"How long ago did your husband died?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"Three years ago," Delilah said, "He was lost at sea during a storm."
Bobbi-Lee nodded and watched as Delilah wandered around the bedroom. The older woman stopped at another picture on the wall. Bobbi-Lee nodded; it was one from a few summers ago when she first summitted El Captain.
"Who took that picture?" Delilah asked.
Someone I was on the trip with, I can't remember their name," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Oh, okay," Delilah said.
"Why do you ask?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"I take pictures like that," Delilah asked.
"Oh, cool," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Yeah, I like nature photography," Delilah said.
"Nice," Bobbi-Lee said.
Delilah looked at her watch and nodded. "I have to get home; the boys should be back from school soon," she said.
"Okay," Bobbi-Lee said.
"I'll show myself out," Delilah said.
"You don't have…." Bobbi-Lee started to say.
"It's fine, Bobbi," Delilah said and walked away.
Bobbi-Lee stood there and nodded. Finally, she looked down on her bed and knew she had to finish packing.
