Page 72 of Autumn at the Cat Cafe

“This is where we’re camping?”

“Gayla and Kyle’s backyard. Otherwise known as my parents.” She’d called them earlier after Leo insisted on coming with her. Dad had answered, and fortunately he didn’t pepper her with questions.

Leo shook his head in disbelief. “This is why you said you’ll be fine.”

“Told you. It’s the safest camping site around.”

Chapter 18

Via and Leo got out of the car, him carrying Sir in the catpack and her hauling a large canvas grocery bag filled with hot dogs, potato chips, ranch dip, a two-liter of soda, and some outrageously sweet snack cakes as they went to the front door. She knocked once and walked in. “We’re here!” she announced.

“Hello!” Mom breezed into the living room with a beaming smile. A little too quickly, like she had been hovering in the nearby hallway. “I’m Gayla. So wonderful to meet you, Leonardo.”

“You too, Mrs. Brewster.”Leonardo?he mouthed to Via.

Via shrugged. Maybe Dora had told her his full name.

“I’m so glad you can join Octavia on her annual camping trip,” Mom continued. “It’s a family tradition.”

“Really.” He arched an eyebrow at Via.

Dad walked into the room. Her parents both had on matching game day gray-and-red Ohio State sweatshirts, just like the one Via had on. The university was their alma mater and where they’d first met.

Dad shook Leo’s hand. “Nice grip.”

She struggled not to roll her eyes. Why did her father always have to comment on somebody’s grip?

“Sorry I couldn’t fix your sink the other day. Had an emergency.”

“Fergus did an excellent job,” Leo said. “Still no leak.”

“He might hate plumbing, but he’s good at it.” Dad put an arm around Via’s shoulders. “Hi, sweetheart,” he said softly.

She leaned her head on his shoulder for a brief moment. “Hi, Dad.”

“We have everything ready for you on the back deck,” he said.

“You didn’t have to do that. I could have gotten everything out of storage.”

“It’s no bother,” Mom said.

Sure enough, everything she and Leo needed was on the large patio table. Her sleeping bag and Fergus’s for Leo to use, a camping lantern, two big blankets, among other things. “Grab what you can,” she said to Leo, picking up her rolled sleeping bag and the lantern and opening the sliding door.

He put Sir’s catpack over his shoulders and picked up the rest of the items. Mom and Dad led the way past their patio and covered in-ground pool, then down the incline of their huge backyard, to the flat area where the firepit was. They lived at the end of the neighborhood, and their house was the only one in the small cul-de-sac. Behind the fenced-in backyard were thick woods. The barest of breezes wafted through the colorful trees and the weather forecast called for clear skies and a cold night. Perfect camping weather.

“Need any help?” Dad said, putting his hands on his hips.

“No thanks.” She set down the sleeping bag. “Leo, you can let Sir out.”

“You sure?” he asked, putting the rest of the supplies on the ground.

“It’s all fenced in,” Mom pointed out. “Sir’s used to the backyard. He’s not going anywhere.”

Leo took off the pack and unzipped it. Sir jumped out and dashed to Mom, who picked him up. “Who’s a pretty Sir?” she cooed, rubbing behind his ears.

“Handsome,” Dad said. “He’s handsome, Gayla.”

“He’s pretty and handsome.”