Digging Up the Remains by Julia Henry

Author:Julia Henry [Henry, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2020-05-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

The next morning, Lilly was waiting for the coffee to be done brewing when she heard a knock on the door. Three short knocks, a pause and then two more. Ernie’s knock.

Lilly walked over and opened the kitchen door. She had never been, would never be, one to shout “come in!” to someone, even though the door was unlocked.

“Good morning, Ernie,” she said.

Ernie came into the room carrying two bags in one hand and a large box in the other.

“Good morning, Lilly. I came by to bring some gifts for the kitten.”

“Luna.”

“Luna. Great name. I assume this means you’re keeping her?”

“Delia put signs up yesterday. If no one comes forward, yes, we’re keeping her.”

“Good. Cats are good company.”

“Cats are good company,” Delia said. She walked into the kitchen with her bag in one hand, cradling the kitten in the other. “Even when she dances on your head at the first sign of light.”

“Perhaps you shouldn’t let her sleep with you,” Lilly said. Both Ernie and Delia turned and stared at her. “If she keeps you up.”

“She’s a baby, Lilly. She shouldn’t have to sleep alone.” Delia put the kitten down on the floor.

“Come see what I brought for you, Luna,” Ernie said. He began to unpack the bags he brought: a cat bed, a cardboard scratching box, toys. Luna’s bounty was plentiful.

“What’s in the box?” Delia asked.

“A kitty condo.”

“A kitty what?” Lilly asked.

“A two-level contraption that cats can climb on, scratch, and make their own. I got a small one for her since she’s a kitten. Theoretically, it will stop her from clawing your furniture.”

“Clawing my furniture. I’d forgotten about that. We’ll need to get some double-stick tape to put on it. My mother always did that and it seemed to work.”

“Good idea,” Delia said. She sat down on the floor and took Luna’s gifts out and showed each one to the kitten. Luna preferred batting the packaging around.

“Lil, I didn’t just come by to give Luna her gifts. I have a favor to ask. Two favors. First, can you spare a cup of coffee?”

“Always,” Lilly said. She put three mugs on the table and took the cream out of the refrigerator. She sat down and took one of the scones out of the tin Delia had opened. Ginger lemon. Yum.

Ernie took a sip of coffee. “Delicious. Now for the second favor.” He took one of the scones that Lilly offered him and broke off a small bite. “Lilly, I’m wondering if you’d come down to the beach with me. I’m doing a walk-through with some people to talk about the performance space we’re planning, and I need you to hold me back from choking Delores.”

Lilly laughed. While she couldn’t imagine her friend being violent, if anyone could push him to the edge it was the artistic director of the Goosebush Players, Delores Stevens. Delores lived a heightened life when she wasn’t at work at the local bank, and drama oozed out of her pores. She was what Lilly’s mother used to call a difficult personality.

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