Page 111 of Something Borrowed

“You two need to get a room, though. I don’t want to have to see all your canoodling—and the cats certainly don’t like it.”

“Oh yes, it really bugs them,” Vic agreed as Mother plopped down, stretched a back leg above her head, and commenced vigorous cleaning of her not-so-private private parts. “After all, they have such firm boundaries themselves.”

But the plan definitely was for them to have a room. Or rooms, actually. Cal renovated the upstairs, making Vic’s studio official and creating a bedroom oasis out of the large room she and Audra had been storing junk in for years. The main living room where Vic and Cal had their first visit to discuss what work needed done all those months ago was still considered “theirs” as well, though, of course, Audra was always welcome to use it too. She preferred them to come to her, however. And the cats? Well, they owned everything.

“We’re really not going to give them better names? Or, like, give them actual names of any kind?” Cal asked one evening, scritching Sister under her chin.

“Mother and Sister are perfectly good names. They’re specific and clear,” Audra informed him archly.

Vic raised her eyebrows and shrugged. “I kinda like them too.”

“Okay, okay, I can see I’m outvoted.”

Vic and Audra exchanged what Vic could only describe as conspiratorial smiles. They seemed to have come to a hard-won understanding. Occasionally, Vic even felt, all these decades late in coming, that her mother had some affection for her.

One day, not long after Cal had officially moved in, Madeline called. It was Vic’s day off, but for a second her heart skipped a beat, thinking maybe she’d forgotten something. She was making huge strides, and Cal’s consistent, gentle affection and love helped, for sure, but she was still prone to feeling like she did everything wrong.

“What’s up, Mad?”

“Actually, I was hoping I could chat with Cal if he’s around. He gave me his cell number, but I lost the paper I scribbled it on.”

Vic laughed. Madeline and her “important” scrap papers were a constant joke between herself and Gwen. “Sure, I’ll go get him.”

“Wait, wait—before you go. You know me. I always have five things I want to accomplish in one action.”

Vic grinned. “Yes?”

“Pet portraits. I know you’ve done a few since Rumpel, but do you want to do them? I don’t want to keep referring people if—”

“I love doing them. The practice—and the cash—is nice. Please keep spreading the word.”

“Perfect! Expect two calls in the next day or two. A guy named Evan and—well, come to think of it, you know her too, of course. Leigh. From the sushi restaurant?”

“Yes, of course. So she did come by the shop, after all?”

“She did, and she was disappointed to miss you. She said she’ll come back, though—and then, not related, she asked about the ‘woman who paints cats.’”

“My one claim to fame,” Vic joked. “It’ll go on my tombstone.”

“In fifty years or so, then sure, I’ll allow it. Anyway, she was a little shocked you’re the same person—but delighted.”

“Great. I hope she calls. I know it’s weird, but she’s been on my mind.”

There was a beat of silence from Madeline’s side of the call. “Yeah, I get that,” she said slowly. “It’s nothing specific I can put a finger on, but . . . I think she needs a friend. Like really needs one.”

Vic inhaled, suddenly misty-eyed with gratitude, as she so often was these days about her life. “Don’t we all, Madeline. Don’t we all.”

“Yes,” she agreed softly. “Yes.” Then she added, “Shoot! I totally forgot. I’m supposed to be talking to your man.”

Vic laughed, said her goodbyes, and, assuming Madeline had a job or something she wanted done or that Grant was hoping to get help with, fetched Cal and didn’t find it strange when he took the cordless outside to the porch. Audra had her shows on and her door open, and sound was blaring into the hallway, loud even in the kitchen.

It was strange, however, or out of the usual at least, when after dinner one night, Cal asked if Vic wanted to go for a drive to talk—but then, once they were both in the van, he didn’t start the engine.

Instead, he turned halfway in his seat to face her.

“This isn’t the most romantic setting in the world, but I wanted to be in the same place where so many of our important talks and decisions have happened.”

“Uh huh?” Vic’s brow crinkled. She wasn’t worried exactly, but at the same time… What was so serious as all this?