Mari & Ilna-you're the best.
McRollers-thanks for reading.
Probably (1/1)
Catherine opened the front door of the beach house to find a smiling Kaitlyn standing on the doorstep with a plate of Halloween treats.
"I didn't know you were coming over tonight," she said as she stood aside and ushered the teenager in.
"I can't stay," Kaitlyn told her. "I just wanted to drop off this plate of samples of all the Halloween treats Angie and DJ picked out for the Tutor Time party."
Catherine smiled as she eyed the goodies. "That's very sweet of you."
Kaitlyn leaned down to greet Cammie, Pumpkin, and Luna who had all come to the door when they heard their guest arrive."I just wanted to bring them a little thank you for all their help narrowing down the choices."
"That really wasn't necessary but I'm sure they'll be thrilled," Catherine said. "They're at the grocery store with Steve right now but you're welcome to wait. They shouldn't be long."
"I'd love to but I can't." Kaitlyn continued to shower affection on the animals. "I'm going to the movies tonight with some of the other volunteers from the shelter. Just tell them I said thank you and I hope they like the choices."
"I'm sure they will." Catherine placed the plate of treats on the coffee table. "They look delicious."
"Luna looks like she's fitting right in with the pack," Kaitlyn observed, trying hard to appear as though she was just making an innocent observation as opposed to a suggestion that Luna might have found her forever home.
Catherine smiled. "Everyone here loves her. Including Cammie and Pumpkin. I think the fostering program is a great idea but I'm not sure how people do it without getting attached to the animals."
"It takes a special kind of heart," Kaitlyn said. "They want each animal to find the one forever home that fits them perfectly." Her eyes twinkled. "But sometimes it turns out their meant to be forever home is with their foster family. We call those foster fails."
"You've mentioned that," Catherine chuckled.
"I'm just saying, I know a happy cat when I see one." Kaitlyn smiled. "And that's a happy cat."
"These ghost cupcakes are delicious," Carrie said as she sat on the deck with Catherine and Elizabeth watching Steve, Joseph, and John play in the surf with Cammie, Pumpkin and Luna. Both cats were sporting brand new Halloween leashes courtesy of Elizabeth's latest trip to the mall.
While Pumpkin stayed well back from the surf, Luna ventured forth bravely, letting the waves lap over her paws.
"It's like that cat was meant to live at the beach," Carrie observed.
Catherine chuckled. "Not you too. When Kaitlyn stopped by earlier she was trying hard to make a case that Luna might have found her forever home."
Carrie licked a bit of marshmallow off her finger. "She certainly looks happy and comfortable here."
"She's going back to the shelter after Halloween," Catherine said in a tone that didn't even sound convincing to her own ears.
Carrie barked a laugh. "It's so cute how you're still pretending you believe that."
"It's true." Catherine watched Cammie try to herd Luna back towards the shore when the protective dog felt her new pack member had ventured out a little too far. "This is just a foster situation."
Carrie grinned. "Not that you've ever had one of those turn permanent before."
"Will you help me here, Mom?" Catherine pleaded.
"Having another animal in the house definitely takes work," Elizabeth said. "Are Angie and DJ keeping up with feeding her?"
Catherine smiled proudly. "They do it without being reminded."
"Are they keeping the litter box clean?" Elizabeth asked.
Catherine nodded.
"Spending time every day playing with all the animals and giving them attention?"
"Absolutely," Catherine said. "It's one of their favorite things to do."
Elizabeth smiled. "Then I'm afraid I have to say I agree with Kaitlyn and Carrie."
Catherine shook her head. "That's not what I meant by help me, Mom."
"What can I say?" Elizabeth took a sip of iced tea. "I call 'em like I see 'em."
DJ and Angie came into the kitchen and Catherine could tell immediately they were up to something.
"Do you want us to go tell Daddy lunch will be ready soon?" DJ asked as Angie stood by his side, bouncing up and down and trying but failing to suppress an excited giggle.
"If you want," Catherine said. She wasn't sure what the kids were planning but they were clearly enjoying themselves so she decided to just let it play out. "Tell him it'll be about fifteen minutes."
"Ok!" DJ said as he took Angie's hand and they rushed out of the room.
Steve was under the Marquis making a few adjustments when he heard the garage door open. He heard a little shuffling, then a few giggles. Finally he heard Angie say, "Fifteen minutes 'til lunch is ready, Daddy."
"Thank you," he told her. "I'll be right there."
He could hear a little more shuffling around followed by some muffled whispers.
"Is there anything else you need?" he asked.
"No," DJ said. "We just wanted to tell you about lunch. We'll see you inside."
A few seconds later he heard the door to the garage close again.
He finished tightening the belt he was working on then started to slide out from underneath the car. When he was halfway out he looked to his left and saw Luna sitting quietly, watching him.
"How did you get out here?" he asked, then remembered the giggles and shuffling from just a few minutes earlier.
He sighed.
"I think this is a set up, Luna."
The cat took a few steps forward and head butted Steve's shoulder gently then sat down and waited for pets.
Steve obliged with some scratches behind her ears.
"Kaitlyn says those head butts are a sign of affection. That you're trying to make me a member of your family."
Luna purred happily.
"This would have been a lot easier if you'd just hidden under the couch the whole time you were here and acted like you wanted to go back to the shelter."
Luna rolled over and asked for a belly rub.
"You're really laying it on thick." Steve laughed. "How long did it take Angie and DJ to train you for this little mission."
He scratched Luna's belly then slid the rest of the way out from under the car and stood. Luna looked up at him then rubbed against his legs.
"I knew this fostering idea was a bad one from the minute I heard about it," he chuckled as he leaned over and picked her up. "Let's go have lunch."
As he entered the kitchen, Catherine was pulling something out of the refrigerator, "Who were you talking to out there?"
She turned around to see him holding a very content Luna.
"Somehow she got out into the garage with me," Steve said, suppressing a smile as DJ and Angie grinned at each other and could barely hold in a celebration that their plan had worked.
He and Catherine shared a knowing look.
"Sorry, Daddy." DJ pressed his lips together to hold in a squeal of excitement. "She must have followed us out when we came to tell you lunch was almost ready."
"Sorry, Daddy," Angie parroted with a wide smile.
Steve placed Luna on the floor and went to wash his hands.
"When we were at the mall with Grandma the other day we saw the perfect Halloween costumes for the kitties. Pumpkin can be a pumpkin and Luna can be a bat," DJ said.
"They will be very, very cute," Angie bubbled.
"Mom showed me pictures," Catherine said with a smile. "They also have some absolutely adorable kitty pilgrim ones for Thanksgiving."
Steve looked at her with a mock glare.
Catherine smiled. "Of course that would only matter if she's still here at Thanksgiving."
"Which she won't be because she needs to go back to the shelter after Halloween," Steve said. He looked down as he dried his hands and saw Luna sitting right at his feet looking up at him adoringly.
He sighed.
"Probably."
THE END
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