Page 48 of Until Joy

“Ooooh, look at this fella,” Glenda whispered. Her fingers slid across the bars, slow and deliberate. “She’s so tiny.” She turned to me. “She is a she, isn’t she?” Glenda’s tone was coy, almost flirty.

I nodded. “Yes, Rosebud is a girl.”

“She’s just so small,” Glenda said softly as she pushed her finger into the cage. “So defenseless.”

“Exactly. That’s why she’s going to need someone who can be there for her. Someone who can spend a lot of time with her.”

“I get it. Having someone who won’t hurt you. Someone you can trust and rely on is one of the most if not the most important things in the world.”

“What kind of personality are you looking for in a cat? I’ve been taking care of some of these boys and girls for over three months. I can give you the lowdown.”

“I’m looking for someone I can teach and train. I want a cat that’s young.”

I opened up the cage for the eight-month-old snowshoe Siamese cat. He was beautiful. I took him out and started to pet him. “How about this guy? He was brought in after I started. His name is Star because of the white spot on his forehead.”

Glenda pursed her lips. “He’s kind of old. Can you open this one’s cage?” Of course, she was pointing to Rosebud’s cage. The kitten. She poked her finger in her cage again.

“What about all the late nights you work?” I asked again, as I put Star back in his cage.

“Oh, I don’t need to work those,” she said as she continued to push her fingers into Rosebud’s cage.

She was lying. I was sure of it.

“Glenda, if Rosebud is left alone a lot, she’ll act out.”

Glenda swung around and her eyes met mine. “Joy, I would never want to do anything to harm a kitten. Trust me, I know how she feels, all helpless. I just meant that I would start telecommuting in the evenings.”

Helpless?

I tilted my head.

She gave a small, embarrassed laugh. “I know I’m being dramatic. It’s just I get it. What’s more, I would never lie to you. You were there that night when Rob broke my heart. He and I both watched you. I actually thought we were having a good time. Getting back to where we used to be, you know?”

I nodded. What else could I do?

“Then everything crashed and burned.” She shook her head. I could see that her eyes were glassy and I wanted to hug her. “Joy, meeting you now, knowing you were part of those last good moments with Rob, having your friends say we could go out for a girls’ night. This is like some kind of serendipity. I would never want to disappoint you by not taking care of Rosebud. I know what it’s like being taken advantage of, I would never do to this kitten, what Rob did to me.” She looked at me and blushed. Then looked down at the floor.

My heart melted a little. Poor woman. She just needed a friend. Thank God she got away from Rob.

“That is the sweetest thing I ever heard, Glenda. Let’s get you set-up with Rosebud and get you the things you’ll need to take her home with you.”

She reached out and gave me a big hug. “Thank you, Joy. You don’t know what this means to me.”

“And then she hugged me,” I told Graham.

“Of course she did. Who wouldn’t want to get their hands on you?”

I slapped his chest. “You are such a man.”

“Guilty as charged.” I watched as he tipped back his beer. I loved being on his back deck, it was quiet and private, and it had the most comfortable furniture in his place.

He tugged on my ponytail. “What are you thinking about?”

“That maybe it’s time you went furniture shopping,” I grinned up at him.

“I knew this would happen. First, I let you into my pants. Now you want to redecorate my house.” He looked skyward. “Please Lord, help me.”

I giggled. “I’m not the only woman who thinks that you need to have more than a TV and a recliner in your living room.”