Part 12 (1/2)
”No, scratched,” Savannah said as she dabbed at the wound on her arm.
”Did Rags do that?” he asked, stepping in and closing the door.
Savannah nodded. She looked over at their employee, while holding a tissue against the cat scratch. ”Alyce,” she said, ”I don't know what this is about, but he seems to be upset with you. Maybe you'd better leave.” She walked over to the stunned woman. ”I'm sorry. I've never seen him behave that way before.”
”No problem. I'm outta here-gladly. He's one scary cat!” She said as she hurried out through the door.
”What happened?” Michael asked when he and Savannah were alone in the room.
”I don't know,” Savannah said. ”He saw Alyce and went crazy.”
”Well, that's not like him. I wonder if he's in some sort of pain. Here, let me get him so you can take a look.”
”Okay, but just don't let that girl back in here.”
Michael took a step toward the cat and then changed his mind. ”Savannah, let me see your arm.” She held it toward him and he said, ”I'm going to send Bud in to clean it and put a dressing on it. Let's do that before you finish with Rags.” He looked around her and saw that the cat was still huddled under the chair. ”He'll be all right there for a few more minutes.”
”Okay,” she said. Then, ”Oh Michael, don't forget we're having guests in this evening.”
”Oh yeah, what time?”
”Around seven.”
”Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you.”
”Come on you guys, how many birthday parties is a guy supposed to get?” Michael asked.
”Depends on how well loved he is,” Savannah said. ”Now just blow out the candles, will you?”
Margaret looked over at Michael. ”You've already had a birthday party? And we weren't invited?”
Savannah responded, ”Oh we just had an early gift-opening with Adam. He made a present for his dad and wanted to give it to him. We had cake and ice cream last Sat.u.r.day. So who wants chocolate cake and rainbow ice cream?”
”Rainbow ice cream?”
”Sorry, that's what the birthday boy wanted,” Savannah said apologetically. ”Oh wait. I also have a little Oreo cookie ice cream in there.”
”I'll just have cake,” Max said turning up his nose.
”Cake and Oreo ice cream for me,” Margaret said.
About that time, Lexie sidled up to Michael, her nose sniffing toward the cake on the platter Savannah held.
”No chocolate for dogs, girl. Sorry about that.” He then said, ”Savannah, do you have a treat in there for our oldest daughter?”
”She's not your oldest, is she?” Max asked. ”Isn't Buffy more elderly?”
”Yes, I guess she is. Okay then, our largest daughter.” He patted Lexie and hugged her to him. ”Come on, I'll get you a treat, girl.” He got up and headed toward the kitchen. Before he entered, he noticed something sitting on the buffet in the dining room. ”What's this?”
”What?” Savannah asked.
”Someone's keys.”
”Oh yes,” she said. ”I found those at the clinic yesterday morning. I forgot all about them until Rags dug them out from between the seats on our way home this afternoon. I'm going to give them to Craig.”
”Where is Rags?” Margaret asked. ”I haven't seen him tonight.”
”Yeah,” Savannah winced. ”He isn't feeling well-little urinary tract infection.”
”Aputer.”
”For his computer?” Margaret said with a laugh. ”Is he going on the dating channel? Will we see his naked b.u.t.t on his Facebook page?”
”Nooooo, you guys. It's so he can talk in real time with Adam. I gave Marci one to hook up for Adam, too, so they can see each other and talk to each other any time.”
”Really?” Michael said as if disbelieving such a thing existed. ”Did you hear that, Max? Now how cool is that?” He grabbed Savannah and hugged her to him. ”And how thoughtful is my wife?”
”So you like it?” she asked.
”I love it. I am absolutely...well, this is the best gift ever. Thank you, honey.”
”Open our gift,” Margaret said, handing him a gift bag.
He smiled. ”A pretty bag. Thank you, guys.”
”Open it, Michael,” Margaret said, feigning impatience.
”Okay.” He looked over at the couple and asked, ”It's not a kitten, is it?”