Page 34 of Autumn at the Cat Cafe

“He’s going to sell it.” She handed her a long silver ladle.

Mom took it. “The apartment too?”

“His half of the building.” And because her mother would hear about it eventually, she told her about helping him.

“Are you sure you have time for that?”

Via shut off the water and turned to her. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to fall for him like I did Trevor.”

“That never crossed my mind.” Mom eyed her. “Obviously it crossed yours.” She set down the dish towel. “Honey, everyone makes mistakes—”

“Trevor wasn’t just a mistake, Mom. And I don’t want to talk about him.”

“Okay, then let’s talk about your insistence on paying us back.”

Via pressed her lips together. It seemed they had this conversation every few months since her canceled wedding.

“Your father and I would rather you invest your money in your business. Or save it for something else.”

She shook her head. “I owe you.”

“You don’t—”

“I do!” She faced her mother. “We keep going around in circles on this. Please... just take the money, Mom.”

Mom hesitated, as if she were going to refuse. “If it makes you feel better—”

“It does.” She couldn’t erase the past, but she could make up for it. And every time she wrote out that monthly check to them, she was reminded of her failure. Of not seeing the red flags Trevor kept flying during their relationship and letting him make a fool out of her because she refused to see him for who he really was.The financial sacrifice was easy to bear. The emotional one was more costly, but necessary.

They finished the kitchen in silence, and when they were done, Via hugged her mother. “Thank you,” she said. “For always wanting what’s best for me.”

Mom hugged her back and stepped out of her arms. “I’m proud of you, honey. You bounced back from a difficult situation and forged ahead with your dreams. But don’t forget—we’re here for you if you need us. You don’t have to do everything on your own.”

Via nodded, and they went arm in arm to the living room, Sir padding behind them. He sat in her lap as they played dominoes on the coffee table, punctuated with cheers and moans as the Cleveland Browns game played out on TV. Sir pawed at the little dotted rectangles every time they were shuffled. At five o’clock, everyone headed home, and Via put Sir on his leash.

Fergus left first, waving to his sisters before taking off on his motorcycle. Dora was parked behind Via, but before she went to her car, she stopped her. “Are we okay?” she asked, apprehensive.

Via nodded and picked up Sir. He didn’t resist and settled into her arms. “Thanks for not mentioning Leo.”

“Turned out I didn’t have to,” she said, giving Sir a quick chin rub. “I wasn’t going to say anything anyway.”

“Mom and Dad would have found out soon enough. Word travels fast in Pecan Corner. Leo’s flashy car doesn’t help.”

“Charlie can’t stop talking about it.” Dora shook her head. “He’s walked past it every day on his lunch hour, just to get a glimpse.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Me neither.” She smiled. “I hope you and Leo work things out.”

“Dora—”

“Obviously something happened between you two. If you need to talk about it, let me know.”

Via nodded. There was nothing to talk about, mostly because she wasn’t sure what had happened in her office right before he left.

Dora touched her arm. “See you tomorrow.”

They each got into their cars and left. Via lived the closest, and it wasn’t long before she was pulling into her parking space behind Pawsitive Vibes. She and Sir got out of the car and went inside through the back entrance. She was rounding the stairwell when she heard the sound of an engine revving up outside.