Chapter 737: Bobbi-Lee's Cottage
Wednesday, March 22nd, Afternoon
Looking up from her drawing board, she could see it was afternoon by the way the light lay across the loft's floor. One of her cats lay in the light, basking in the early spring afternoon. The spring came in Monday with a whimper, still fighting the frigid weather. It didn't affect her much; she ran and worked in her loft as often as possible.
With a swipe of her hand, she pushed her ginger red bangs out of her eyes. Bobbi-Lee paused and listened, much like what her cats would do. She looked down at her furry company, but he didn't move. Bobbi-Lee looked over to a framed picture, well, half of a photograph; it showed her in high school after a football game, dressed in her cheerleading uniform, with Jackie Gregory, one of the few times she went to a game, and Johnny Mason in his football uniform.
Bobbi-Lee tried to remember when, why, and who was involved with that picture. Maybe it was Kim, Kate's twin sister; Kate and DZ were in the half that was removed. It might have been Cady, Kate and Kim's aunt, who owns the Fire and Ice Cafe. It's amazing how they say the Irish look out for each other, and Bobbi-Lee knew how much backstabbing happened. Even Jackie was part Irish on her mom's side, which had left Johnny the only non-Irish person in that picture.
She rolled her eyes; she was getting to be like Kelly. To Bobbi-Lee, the only thing Irish gave her was her last name, pale complexion, and ginger-red hair. Her older sister was the only non-redhead but for the uniqueness of being a redhead, which brought all sorts of attention, good and bad.
Bobbi-Lee's train of thought was broken by a sound. It was loud and somewhat jarring, breaking the near silence and drowning out the low music in the background. Bobbi-Lee looked around and down at the cat as he stretched out in the sunlight.
"Did you hear that, Rooney?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"Meow," Rooney answered.
"No, I'm not sure, that's why I asked," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Meow," Rooney said.
"I'm quite sure," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Meow," Rooney said.
The loud sound was heard again. Bobbi-Lee picked up her head and looked around. She turned to look at Rooney. The cat rolled over, not a care in the world.
"There's my answer," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Purrr!" Rooney responded.
Bobbi-Lee nodded, pushed back from her drawing board, and stood up. She put her stool back under her drawing board and listened to the disturbing, repeating noise. She headed in that direction once Bobbi-Lee figured out where it came from.
She found herself in her bedroom and looking at her side window. Bobbi-Lee could look into her neighbor's backyard, the cottage that used to belong to Mrs. Ivanova. Bobbi-Lee missed the older, tough-as-nails woman. But Bobbi-Lee also agreed she needed to be watched, especially after her last accident.
Taking a deep breath, Bobbi-Lee walked over to the side window and drew the curtains. She looked out the window down into the neighboring backyard.
Bobbi-Lee let out her breath when she saw what was happening. The Ivanovas, or the new owners, have hired landscapers. They were clearing out the slowly overgrown backyard. Bobbi-Lee remembered many summer nights Mrs. Ivanova would invite her over for dinner in her garden.
Bobbi-Lee turned away from the window and sighed. She looked at her little black cat lying on the bed. He looked at her with a look of Why are you disturbing me?
"Are you going to be able to sleep with all this noise, Rob?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
The cat looked at her with unblinking yellow-green eyes.
"You're right; why am I even asking," Bobbi-Lee said.
Bobbi-Lee took the opportunity to use the bathroom and went downstairs for a water bottle. There was a knock on her door. Bobbi-Lee sighed, walked by the sofa, gave Custis a few head scratches, and answered the door.
"Hi, Ally," Bobbi-Lee said.
Bobbi-Lee's neighbor's granddaughter, Allyson Ivanova, stood on her porch.
"Bobbi," Allyson said.
"How can I help?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"I hope you noticed we sold Gram's place," Allyson said.
"I did and noticed you're having work done," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Yeah, sorry about that; they're moving here soon, and it happened quickly. So, I didn't get a chance to let you know," Allyson said.
"It's okay, Ally, but thanks," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Well, I also need to talk about the key," Allyson said.
"Do you want it?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
Allyson shook her head, "No, hold onto it until the new owners show up, and just give it to them," she said.
"Okay, what about you?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"I'm leaving Tree Hill," Allyson said.
"You are?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"I am," Allyson said.
"Where are you headed to?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"Austin, Texas, I'm being relocated there," Allyson said.
"When do you leave?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"Tomorrow," Allyson said.
"So, I guess this is goodbye," Bobbi-Lee said.
Allyson nodded, "Yeah," she said.
"Have a safe trip and good fortune," Bobbi-Lee said.
"You too," Allyson said.
The two women parted ways. After closing the door, Bobbi-Lee returned to what she started to do.