Boo Hiss by Rene Gutteridge Read Free Book Online Page B

what?”
    “Alfred thinks Wolfe might want to try religious fiction.” Butch slapped his hand on the table, startling everybody. “How dare he!”
    “Dare he what?” Ainsley asked. “That offends me.”
    “Why?”
    “The Bible is not fiction!”
    “No, no. Religious fiction is a kind of novel, like a genre. Alfred says there’s a whole market for it, and now that Wolfe’s a Christian, he might want to look into it. Wolfe’s skeptical, but Alfred is really on top of things like this.”
    “Wolfe’s a smart man,” her father said. “He knows what he’s doing.”
    Ainsley’s heart warmed. Though her father hardly had an understanding of Wolfe’s life or world, he had taken Wolfe in like a son. For the first time in years, Wolfe had a family. And this Thanksgiving wassure to be his most memorable, aside from last Thanksgiving when he almost died in a snowstorm.
    Her father was suddenly distracted, watching something across the room. When she turned, she saw Martín Blarty and Lois Stepaphanolopolis weaving their way between tables, Lois guiding Martin by the hand. They were both more dressed up than she’d ever seen them. Lois had a shade of red lipstick on that could be seen half the room away.
    “Isn’t that cute!” Ainsley gasped. “They’re on a date!”
    Her father stuck his nose back in the menu.
    “I would’ve never thought those two for a couple,” Butch said. “She’s a foot taller than he is.”
    “So what. I think it’s cute. What do you think, Dad?”
    “I think I’m tired of all the love in the air. I come home, and all I see are Thief and Blot cuddling on the sofa, their tails entwined, meowing some sort of lovey cat language. Not to mention the dozen or so calls a day I get for Butch from women asking about him. Do you think you might want to call at least one of them back?” He gave Butch a harsh look. Butch didn’t notice because he was watching Tammi again.
    He looked at Ainsley. “You’re gone now, happy with the love of your life. The last thing I want to see is Martin and Lois—” He gestured toward them. “Look at those two! They’re acting like high schoolers. Get a room!” he said, but not loud enough for anyone but his table to hear.
    Ainsley glanced over in their direction. They were just sitting and talking at the table like anybody else. Tammi approached for their order. Ainsley hadn’t even had a chance to decide, but Butch was giving her plenty of time by trying to impress Tammi with his knowledge of Middle Eastern delicacies. Tammi looked completely grossed out.
    Peeking over her menu, she watched her dad observe Martin and Lois. She knew immediately. Her father had a crush.
    She ordered for herself and her dad, and while Tammi was still waiting for Butch to say something she could write down on her pad, Ainsley casually said, “Lois asked me to cater the opening night of her new play,
Not Our Town
.”
    “I’m having second thoughts.”
    “About what?”
    “This play. I agreed to play a part, but it’s probably going to be a waste of my time. I’m no good at this sort of thing.”
    Ainsley couldn’t believe it! Her father? Agreeing to be in a play? She knew this was serious, and she had to keep her father in the play, if nothing else, for his pride.
    “You know, Dad,” she began carefully, “sometimes a little competition doesn’t hurt.”
    He glanced sideways at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “The play, of course,” she said. “If you’re worried about someone else doing the part better than you, it might motivate you to turn on your best … acting charm … and take a few Tony-worthy risks.” She was hoping this wasn’t going to take a “wink.” Her dad was a very literal man, and it was hard to
infer
with him.
    Her father stared forward, seeming to get her point. “I miss your mother,” he said suddenly.
    That even got Butch’s attention back to the table. They looked at each other and then at their