Page 86 of Autumn at the Cat Cafe

Via sank in her chair and rubbed her forehead. She had no idea what to do. Leo had insisted he wouldn’t sell the shop to Percival. He gave her his word. But this offer changed everything. Leo was a businessman—a very good one from what he’d told her when they were talking about their jobs. He also knew real estate. And he was determined to sell Second Chapter. He would be a fool to turn Percival down.

She wanted to trust him, to believe that he would keep his promise. But Leo didn’t owe her anything, and besides, he’d lied to her already about his cat allergy. Even now she was thinking about his confession. How sincere he sounded. The way he moved her arms when they were crossed, the way he “made it up to her” by giving her what she wanted—the flyer in the window.

Was opening Second Chapter another way to apologize? Or had he been sincere about thinking about it before? He never said aword or gave her an indication that he was going to. The allergy lie wasn’t a big one where lies were concerned, but she’d spent five years in a relationship where lies small and big had eroded a hole in both her heart and soul.

She opened the drawer and took out the offer. Smoothed the faint wrinkle at the top of the paper. In addition to the amount, Percival had written his plans for Second Chapter—a coffee shop franchise. If he’d told the truth about that, then he was serious about putting her out of business.

Via folded the offer and slipped it back into the envelope, then put it back in her drawer. There was too much going on for her and Leo to talk about this. She had to figure out how to convince him not to sell to Percival, if he did decide to do so. That would take time. She had only one shot to save Pawsitive Vibes. Once this weekend was over, she would show him the offer. Until then, it didn’t exist.

The days leading up to Friday night’s Harvest Fest kickoff went fast. Leo and Via were so busy with getting the shop ready to open that they barely talked to each other. That’s what he chalked it up to anyway—busyness. He dismissed the idea that she might be avoiding him.

He offered to bring in Chinese on Thursday night. His plan had been to have supper together in the reading nook, soft music in the background, the fairy lights glowing against the wall. His sap meter was registering at maximum, but he didn’t care. Even when they were barely speaking due to being so wrapped up in temporary grand-opening preparations, he enjoyed her company. At nightwhen he went home alone to his apartment, the loneliness crept in, and he missed her. Sir Meow and Squeaks too. He’d turned into...shudder... a cat person.

A thought from his conversation with Charlie two weeks ago when he picked up his Turismo came to mind.What we do for the women we love.Was this love? Wanting to be in Via’s presence, even if they didn’t speak? Thinking of drippy romantic things to do just to see her smile? Upending his whole life to keep living next door to her? Because over the past few days, he was seriously thinking about that.

When she begged off dinner Thursday night, he headed upstairs to settle in. Everything was ready for tomorrow afternoon at three, when the doors would open until 9:00 p.m. Then nine to five on Saturday and one to four on Sunday. Then the stipulations would be complete. Second Chapter and the apartment were organized. He’d found all the books on the list. And thanks mostly to Via, the quiz would be a breeze. His inheritance would officially be his.

He’d be at a crossroads after that, and he still wasn’t ready to choose a direction. He’d figure that out on Monday.

If he couldn’t have company, he would read the rest of Earl’s journal. He hadn’t had the time or energy to do it this week, but he had plenty of it tonight. He settled on the couch with a glass of fresh-pressed apple cider from a jug he’d bought at the Corner Store and picked up where he left off.

September 3, 2004: Got another coffee cup for my birthday today from Ms. Abernathy. That’s five in a row. She means well, but I guess she still hasn’t figured out that I don’t drink coffee. Nice that someone remembers my birthday. Glad no one makes a fuss.

Leo grinned. Anna had a crush on Earl. It made her remark about him the other day more poignant.

June 12, 2005: About ready to stop watching TV. Nothing on anymore. If it wasn’t for the History Channel I’d chuck the set out the window.

July 7, 2005: Hit Middlefield again. Found a couple books I didn’t have at the Monday auction. Also had some of the sweetest blueberries I ever tasted at Miriam Yoder’s fruit stall. Reminds me I need to tend the garden behind the church. Weeds are growing like crazy. Looks like we’ll have a good harvest this year.

August 18, 2007: Bennett Pipkin’s after me to write my will again. Guess I’ll finally do it, even though I don’t want to think about dying. Life’s good in Pecan Corner. Funny how when I landed here, the adventure bug left me completely. Second Chapter was supposed to be a warehouse for my collection, but now it’s a business. Never cared about profit. Don’t need it. But people seem to like coming here and browsing the shelves. Only a few complaints about the dust. Some folks even buy stuff. Stop to chitchat a bit. But who’s gonna care about this place after I’m gone? Not Constance. Maybe... Leo? Never met him. Wonder if he even knows I exist. Can’t depend on him caring about the shop or my town, but maybe I can do something about that. Reading up on something called “stipulations.” I’ll talk to Bennett about it just to get him off my back.

And that explained Earl’s will. Frowning, Leo turned the page.

May 22, 2008: Took in a Pirates game at Jacobs Field today. I refuse to call it Progressive Field. Very satisfying, but the nachos and popcorn prices are highway robbery.

May 30, 2008: Fourth night in a row I’ve eaten Lucky Charms for dinner. Think I’ll switch it up and have Honeycomb tomorrow.

March 8, 2009: Mom died last week. Funeral was Friday. Constance didn’t show. Neither did Leo. So much for family.

“Yeah,” Leo muttered. “So much for family.”

September 3, 2012: Turned sixty today. No coffee cup this year. Ms. Abernathy got married six months ago to Joe Shickel. Had a plain burger with pickles and some coleslaw from the diner. Owner gave me a free slice of cake and whispered, “Happy birthday.” Life is good.

December 22, 2012: Got to get another tub for my keys. The one I have right now is overflowing. Almost done with the butter one. Think I’ll wash it and use that. Word’s gotten quietly around about my barter system. One book for one old key, no questions asked. When this next one’s full I’ll take it to the scrap yard, then donate the money to the literacy fund. Can’t think of a better way to get folks back to reading and away from those computers.

Leo stopped. So that’s where all those keys came from. He’d forgotten about the charity in Earl’s will. How many keys had he collected in twelve years? How much money had he donated? Had to have been a lot.

He got up to pour another glass of apple cider. The stuff was addicting. It also took his mind off what he’d been reading for a few moments. How many birthdays had he spent alone since moving to LA? Most of them, although sometimes a thoughtful coworker had thrown him a party or put a cupcake on his desk. He didn’t like a fuss either. The total opposite of Constance... but just like Uncle Earl.

Once he was seated again, he quickly read through the next twenty or so pages that covered the next ten years. Over that time, Earl recorded going to baseball games, more lunches with Bennett, birthdays that came and went with almost no fanfare, and his book hauls, which he recorded with the same matter-of-factness he’d recorded other details of his life. There was very little switch in tone from marking his mother’s death to listing the five best places in the area to find junk.

Then suddenly, an entry got his attention.

June 2, 2022: New tenant moved in yesterday. She’s chatty. Nice smile, but chatty. Has a strange-looking cat. Calls him Sir. Don’t know about this cat café business, but if she pays her rent on time, keeps to herself, and makes sure to wrangle the felines, we’ll get along fine.

Leo couldn’t help but smile. Via.

October 1, 2022: Probably should clean up the apartment today. The dust is gathering dust.