Wednesday June 26

Bobbie padded out to the kitchen to see how the kitten was doing. He was sitting beside his Tupperware and there was a mess on the facecloth. Well at least his digestion is working. She put the facecloth in the littler box and then put the kitten in that litter box. She was working on a better bed for him. And was already looking at knitting websites for cat toys. He was a little livelier and wanted to play. She got all his drops sorted and he ate a little. He seemed to like the taste of the medicine. She decided to call him Fosse or Fossy, after the old English word for ditch. After all that’s where they found him. She cut up a felted sweater for his bed and saw that he had peed on the cloth in the litter box. She carefully removed the cloth and took to the laundry sink and rinsed it out. She decided to throw it out anyway. Eventually she’d keep the litter box in the laundry room.

She left him and went in her room to shower and get ready for the day. She messaged Trixie and Barb and said she needed a lunch. She texted Johnny and Jamie and said they could get together today around 3 to practice.

She tidied her room a bit. She stopped for a second. Did Ambrose’s visit need a spreadsheet? Probably not. What would she make for supper tomorrow? He likes fish. She texted Mark and asked him to add a nice 2 pound piece of fresh salmon to his fish order tomorrow.

Her phone pinged and Trixie said they could meet at the patio. Barb agreed. “Great that works for me too.” Answered Bobbie. She went back and looked at the kitten. Fossy was settling on his new bed.

She texted Brose. “We’ve named him Fossy after the old English word for ditch.” She got back a heart.

She checked the house, it looked great. She was keeping it tidy and Effie was cleaning it every week. A knock came to the door and it was a delivery. The parcel was large and flat. Bobbie signed for it. Trixie was coming in as she was opening it.

“What’s that Bobbie?”

“It’s a picture I think. Oh I remember this. Brose took my picture. This is a sixteen year old me posing and looking at the sunset. Brose painted it but I see he used some artistic licence because I never posed like that. See his initials are on the front and his name is on the back.

“Well it’s pretty tasteful but a little risqué. You look like some kind of love goddess. And did you see the title? Haunted Love.”

“Maybe a little pretentious. Where should I hang it? How about over here between the windows?”

“So where were you the last couple of days?” Then Trixie saw the kitten. “And where did you get this little guy?”

“Ambrose came to town on Sunday evening and we stayed outside Green Harbour. Fossy was abandoned in a ditch near 5 Mile Beach.”

“Oh somebody dumped him, I’m glad you rescued him. So Mr. Hennessy was here. You didn’t introduce us! I don’t know Bobbie, maybe you’re a crazy cat lady and there is no Mr. Hennessy.”

Bobbie laughed. “OK, why’d you come over?

“I just wanted to tell you, your buddy Ben the barista is coming to set up a booth at the festival Market.”

“His coffee is perfect for the festival.”

“Do you think that Mark would make a big batch of chili and sourdough bread for a booth sponsored by the Water Wheel Motel?”

“Good Idea, I’ll text him.”

She texted: “Hi Mark, if you have a second, I have a question and do you want to meet my new kitten?”

Before she could turn around, Mark and Rose were at the door. “Hi, where’s this kitten?”

Trixie asked Mark about the chili and sourdough bread and he agreed. Then he went over to see the kitten.

“He’s just used his litter box. What a good boy.” Rose cooed.

They all went down to the patio restaurant and Bobbie told Mark they would be having lunch. Jes 1 came around and they ordered a carafe of sangria and Barb ordered a salad. Trixie ordered a small charcuterie board and Bobbie ordered a burger and fries.

“I’ll probably skip supper, I’m too wound up to eat. I have news.”

“Why are you wound up Bobbie?”

“ I was telling you that I ran into an old friend and we reconnected? Things are moving fast and he’s coming tomorrow for the weekend.”

“Ambrose Hennessy is coming here tomorrow!?

“Is that the politician guy? Asked Barb

“They hooked up at some sailing camp and then she had a little affair with him in the nineties and she ran into him in the Hotel last week. And apparently they can’t keep their hands off each other. Oh and he’s handsome and rich and the Honorable Minister of finance for the government in Capital City.”

“My Gosh Bobbie, you cheated on Alex.”

“Yes we were in a bad place but we got better. Maybe we can leave that detail out of our origin story, Trixie?”

“It’s the most dramatic part. Barb, he painted a practically nude picture of her from when she was 16 and it like a friggen Rembrandt.”

“When I told my mom and Jamie, they were shocked but Mum said I should have talked to her because she knew about cheating. She said relationships are hard and the best ones can weather a big storm. Jamie almost died! Oh and Mom is going out with George Dolan’s father.”

“I love your mother.”

Their food came and Barb and Trixie stole a couple of Bobbies fries and then Barb asked. “So when can we meet this guy.”

“He arrives tomorrow afternoon, Thursday, I’ll have a Friday night dinner. It would be the first in the apartment. He’s going to the festival too.”

“He’ll be recognized a the festival, you’ll have the local chamber of commerce and every entrepreneur in town trying to book a room and steal five minutes with him.”

“He really doesn’t like the idea of me living at the motel. I have to win him over. I’m going to invite Mom and Jamie and Jarrod over for drinks on the roof deck tomorrow and then I want him to myself.”

Johnny walked by them looking overheated and full of paint. “Hi Bobbie, I’m just going to get cleaned up and grab my axe and meet with you and Jamie in 30. Hi Gals.”

Barb raised her eyebrow and Bobbie whispered that she was going to talk to Johnny this afternoon about Hennessy.” I’ll have to talk to George too thought Bobbie.

“It’s a little weird that we started with a very long relationship but are trying to get to know each other.”

“Greg and I started that way too, I guess. We’re all faking it ‘till we make it.”

“What do you think: Brose was out cooking breakfast and I was in bed and he started humming. It freaked me out because Alex used to do that. Then I thought, Alex and I had a great relationship so any other relationship I’m in, will have similarities right?”

“Don’t ask me, I don’t think you’re over Alex.” Said Barb

“Maybe.” Said Trixie. “But I think you have the right idea Bobbie. Happy people hum.”

They paid and Bobbie said. “Well I have to run, we have a music festival to plan.”

She unlocked the apartment and her phone light was blinking. Her heart went into her mouth. Maybe Brose has cold feet. It was her mom.

She called back. “Hi Mom, all questions will be answered tomorrow around 4, Bye.”

Johnny arrived with both his acoustic and an electric guitars. “So wheres the little guy?”

“I named him Fossy. I made some toys for him too.”

She knit a little football shaped toy that Fossy could carry with a bell inside and stuffed it with batting. She knit it out if alpaca and his little claws were felting it. She had another that she made a 25cm I-chord and fasted to it. “So you can drag it around and get Fossy to chase it.”

“You made him feline enrichment equipment.” Said Johnny, smiling.

“Johnny, Before we get on to festival planning I have to tell you that I’ve reconnected with an old friend and we’ve become really close. We’re getting pretty serious and he’s coming to visit tomorrow.”

“I guess I’ll meet him, then.”

Jamie arrived with is fiddle and his mandolin and Jarrod carried his banjo.

“I figured you need an audience.” Said Jarrod. “And they’re painting the walls at our place.”

“Excellent!” Johnny went on to describe the acts he lined up and said we may have to play twice, once in the afternoon and once in the evening. They agreed they’d have 2 sets. We put a good spin on Neil Diamonds Cracklin’ Rosie.

“We should play 5 each set, right? said Bobbie. “Some actual old favourites like Cracklin’ Rosy and maybe even Magaritaville. We’ll need some John Prine too. But you have that great acoustic arrangement for that Greta van Fleet song.”

“I still like the John Hiatt stuff and Maybe sing the Lyle Lovett pony on a boat one in the morning set for the kiddies.”

Bobbie started playing and sang. “Gimme the beat boys and fee my soul…”

Jamie and Johnny joined in and Jarrod said. “You guys gotta play that one!”

They settled on 2 sets that made sense and practised about 5 songs. Around nine and Bobbie said. “We have to give Fossy his eye drops.”

“Who’s Fossy?” Asked Jarrod.

“Well my new boyfriend and I found a kitten.”

While Johnny was ministering to Fossy, Bobbie pulled Jamie and Jarrod aside and said. “Brose is coming to town tomorrow and I want you and Mom to meet him. Can you guys pick her up and meet us here around 4 tomorrow?”

“Sure Bobbie, I can’t wait to meet him.”

Around 10 o’clock Ambrose did call. “Hey Bobbie.”

“Hi Brose. You’re not getting cold feet are ya?”

“No, I’m terrified but I can’t wait to see you.”

“Ha, you are going to stop being the Honorable Ambrose Hennessy Minister of Finance and be transformed into Bobbie’s boyfriend. Can you handle the loss of identity?”

“Should I get my passport changed?”

“Not just yet, you haven’t met my sons, they just might run you off. I was thinking of having a big family dinner on Friday night to present you to the family. Are you game?”

“I see.”

“Love you, good night.”

“I Love you too Bobbie.”

Bobbie was too excited to sleep. She made a Friday night dinner spreadsheet.