Catch as Cat Can by Claire Donally Read Free Book Online Page A

the floor. In typically nosy fashion, he trailed after her to the kitchen.
    â€œNothing to eat,” she told him as she set up the coffeemaker. “And you’re probably the only person in the house who’s not wild about Mrs. M.’s coffee cake.”
    The doorbell rang, and Shadow stared up at Sunny. “There’s the company,” she said, walking down the hall to the door. He trailed along, curious but not necessarily eager to get chummy with the outsiders. Mike was already opening the door, greeting Helena, getting introduced to Abby, and then introducing Will.
    â€œAnd, of course, you know Sunny,” he said as she joined them.
    â€œNice to meet you now that I’m awake.” Abby handed her parka to Mike, revealing a sweater that hugged her curves up top and some mutant offspring of jeans and leggings that were so tight Sunny could see the play of muscles in Abby’s thighs as she walked to the living room. Worse, Sunny noticed that Will had noticed. Since Sunny was wearing a turtleneck, a sweater, and jeans cut to accommodate long underwear, she was not pleased.
    â€œWhat say we get comfortable?” Mike said as they arrived in the living room.
    â€œI’ll bring this back in with Sunny.” Helena Martinson held up a covered cake plate. They left Abby sitting on the couch with Mike. Will had resumed his seat in the armchair.
    In the kitchen, Sunny began filling cups and arranging them on a platter while Mrs. M. cut pieces of cake. “So how was your day with Abby?”
    â€œTo tell the truth I’m not quite sure,” Helena replied. “We took it easy today, just chatting. But I got the feeling there was something Abby wasn’t saying. She still hasn’t.” She looked up from her work, concern in her eyes. “You don’t think she might have lost her job? Could that be why she was interviewing in Boston? Maybe this visit is a way to look into the idea of moving back with me.”
    â€œI’m sure if there’s something like that going on, Abby will bring it up sooner rather than later.” Sunny arranged sugar, sweetener, and a small pitcher of milk on the tray and headed back to the living room. Mrs. M. followed with the cake, plates, and forks.
    After passing the goodies around, Sunny took a seat while Helena sat beside Mike.
    â€œThis is nice,” he said, enjoying a forkful of coffee cake.
    â€œYes, you and Mom seem very comfortable together.” Sunny noticed the edge in Abby’s voice. “That strikes me as pretty incredible, considering the way your daughter and Constable Price seem to spend all their time chasing murderers.”
    Will started to open his mouth but shut it when he caught the look Sunny sent his way.
    This is not the time to tell her that he’s Chief Investigator Price now,
Sunny thought.
    â€œIt seems as though my mother has gotten into a lot of things while I was away,” Abby went on. “Things she’d never do.”
    â€œLike helping a lot of families here in town and all through the county?” Sunny spoke quickly. “Have you heard of the 99 Elmet Ladies? Helena was a founding member and runs their food pantry. If you think we’re getting her to do that—”
    â€œWhy did you change all the doorknobs in our house?” Abby interrupted. “Putting those handles all over the place.”
    â€œThat was quite a project,” Mike said, still not catching on that Abby wasn’t pleased with the change.
    â€œI have to deal with a bit of arthritis in my hands.” Helena carefully flexed her fingers. “Turning those knobs was getting harder and harder.”
    â€œMom—” Abby burst out, then made a scrubbing gesture with her hand as if to remove the word from conversation. She started again at a lower volume. “You don’t have to kid me along about who the invalid is here. What worries me isthat you’re setting up our house