***
Dinner was a solemn affair without Max sitting at Bella’s feet, silently begging her to drop a piece of chicken on the floor. She’d just cleaned up from tea and settled in for a lonely night when there was a knock at the door.
Bella leapt off the couch, hoping like hell someone had found Max. Her hope faded before she reached the door. She hadn’t put her address on the flyers, so that couldn’t be it.
She turned the knob and was greeted by her brother. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Nah. I was just watching Piha Rescue.” Watching the surf lifesavers work their magic was as awe-inspiring as it was alarming. Piha was a beach Bella had no desire to visit. The number of near drownings was astounding, yet people still flocked there in droves.
“Come in.” She stepped aside.
“I can’t stay long,” Dean said. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay, and Shelley asked me to drop this off.” He handed over a container, and she popped the lid.
“Carrot cake!” She dipped her finger in the cream cheese icing and licked it off. “Mm. What did I do to deserve this?”
“It’s a small thanks for helping out with Zachery.”
“Thank you.” She wouldn’t accept payment for looking after her nephew, but she would never say no to home baking.
Her mind flicked to Lisa welcoming her to the neighbourhood. The muffins had been cooked to perfection. The memory of the note she’d left for Lisa made her cheeks heat.
“You okay?” Dean studied her face. “You look a little flushed.”
“Too much sun today.” She shrugged, pleased with her fast comeback.
“Don’t overdo it. You’ll have Mum dragging you back to the South Island before you know it.”
“That’s not going to happen.” She’d forgotten how laid-back Palmerston North was compared to the city. Ironically, her biggest fear when she lived in the busy street was that Max would get run over. Now, here they were in a quiet street and he’d disappeared.
No thanks to Lisa. She should be livid, but her concerns for Max had surpassed her anger long ago.
“Okay, I better get home.”
Back in the living room, Bella pulled a throw rug over her lap and absently played with the edges, imagining it was Max on her lap. Where was he? Heartsick, she kicked her feet up and put her head on the padded armrest. Please come home, puss.
Later that night, a rap on the door made Bella bolt upright on the sofa. She scrubbed at her face. The television was on and the drapes were still open, but it was dark outside.
Feeling spooked—anyone could’ve been watching her sleep—she shut the drapes and listened, her ears on full alert.
Another loud rap made her jump. Fuck. She hated this; people calling around after dark without a phone call first. She might not have cared a year ago, but she’d been super careful since being followed home from a job.
The memory of the jerk trying to push his way into her house made her shudder. She thought about phoning her brother, but he’d probably be in bed by now and Bella didn’t want to wake her nephew.
She fiddled with the wedding band on her finger, hoping the men’s work boots would work as the deterrent she’d bought them for.
“I know you’re in there.”
The distant sound of Lisa’s voice made her want to weep with relief and scream all at once. After all, it was Lisa’s fault Bella had fallen asleep on the couch. She dashed out to the kitchen and stared at the door. “What do you want?”
“I think I have something you want.”
“I’m not interested in a late-night booty call, thank you.” There, take that. She poked her tongue out at the door.
“Fine, I’ll just head on home with Max.”
“What?” Bella unlocked the door and yanked it open so fast she was surprised she didn’t pull it off the hinges. Joy exploded in her chest and she forgot to be mad. She nuzzled Max’s fur, wiggled her nose, and sneezed. He was covered in a layer of dry dirt.
“Where’d you find him?”
“Hiding under my house. I crawled under to get him.”
Bella took in the dust and cobwebs clinging to Lisa’s clothes and felt a great deal of gratitude, but she hadn’t forgotten who caused her cat to flee in the first place.
“I’m surprised he came near you.”
“Wet pussies seem to like me.” Lisa’s grin was as disarming as it was irritating.
“You’re not funny, and as an electrician, you should know better than anyone that water and electricity don’t mix.” Not the best example, but Bella had felt like frayed wire when Lisa hosed her down.
“Is that supposed to shock me?” She finger-quoted the word, her smile never faltering.
“Still not funny.” Bella held her ground.
“Fine, I was just trying to spark up a conversation.” She grinned over her shoulder and disappeared, swallowed up by the night.
Bella’s resolve to be unfeeling crumbled. She flicked on her outside light, left it on until she saw Lisa’s lights come on, then turned it off again.
“Are you hungry, Max?” He struggled in her arms to get down as if he understood.
After locking the back door, she opened a tin of cat food, ecstatic to have him home. Or was that ex-static? Would Lisa appreciate the pun? Did it matter? Probably not. They were nothing more than neighbours barely tolerating each other.
Chapter 10
Lisa walked up her driveway pissed off with Bella and proud of her all at once. Pissed off because she could’ve been grateful to have her cat home, and proud of her because she’d stood her ground.
It was clear she held Lisa accountable for Max going missing, and Lisa accepted some of the blame, but not all of it. They were new to the neighbourhood, so he could’ve gone missing regardless.
When she’d found the flyer amongst her other mail, she’d immediately felt bad. A quick search of her property yielded nothing. But just as she was getting ready for bed, she’d heard a faint meow under the house.
When she called his name, Max meowed again. Surprised by how excited she was to have found him, she hadn’t wasted any time. Flashlight in hand, she’d crawled under the house and enticed Max with a small piece of steak, backing out until she could grab him.
It surprised her as much as Bella that he hadn’t fled the second he spotted her. As long as he didn’t start hanging around, she didn’t care. The main thing was she’d righted a wrong, and Max was back where he belonged.
***
Friday night, rather than drive to the pub, Lisa accepted Cherie’s offer to pick her up.
“What? Not drinking tonight?” Lisa asked as soon as she opened the back door.
“Nah. I’ve got my monthly, and booze always goes straight to my head.”
“Whatever.” Lisa chuckled. “Come on in. I’ll just get my pool cue.”
Cherie stepped inside. “I see you have a new neighbour.”
“Yeah.” Lisa closed windows and shut drapes.
“Have you met her?” Cherie asked, following her from room to room.
“A few times.”
“She’s got a great arse.”
“What?” Lisa spun around, anger rising to the surface. “You know this how?”