Read Online Claws for a Cause (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 15) by Patricia Fry - Free Book Online
Authors: Patricia Fry
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severed.” She grimaced. “I don’t think he’s getting into trouble, but he still isn’t taking responsibility. I want him to be self-sufficient before I move on with my life. Does that make sense?”
Savannah handed Lily her sippy cup as she responded. “Kiddo, if it makes sense to you, that’s all that matters. It’s your life.”
Colbi peered at Savannah suspiciously. “Cop-out…that was a cop-out, girlfriend.” She laughed. “I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t want to get involved in this either, if it wasn’t my problem.” She thought for a moment. “Savannah, I feel an obligation to Harrison and to my parents.”
Savannah thinned her lips. “I was going to say, it sounds like you’re dealing with a child—sort of taking on the parenting role with him.”
“Yeah, I realize that.”
“It’s something you really need to tackle, isn’t it?” Savannah said.
Colbi nodded.
“Then I can’t say it’s wrong.”
“However…?” Colbi prompted.
Savannah squinted her eyes. “What?”
“I sense that you have more to say.”
“Well, I’d just say to you…”
Colbi cocked her head. “Yes? I really do want your input…please.”
“Just don’t make Harrison your life’s work. That’s all. Leave room for Colbi. You owe that to the memory of your parents, too. Maybe give your brother a deadline, or give yourself a deadline. If your efforts haven’t made a difference for Harrison by a certain time—if he isn’t standing on his own two feet by then—I’d say you’ve done your best and you should think about cutting the ties—at least those ties that bind you emotionally. I mean, you want a relationship with your brother, but a healthy one, right? You can’t make yourself responsible for him for the rest of his life. What kind of relationship is that?”
Colbi stared across the room at her guest for a moment and Savannah took the opportunity to add, her voice hushed, “Don’t let your sense of obligation for Harrison ruin your chances for a healthy relationship with Damon.”
Colbi thought about what Savannah had said. “Yes. What I want is my brother back. I want to be his sister, not—as you heard him call me—his warden. Healthy? Yes, that’s what I’m aiming for—a healthy relationship with Harrison and with Damon.” She hesitated before saying, “That’s a good idea. I don’t know how long these things take or even what I’m doing, other than offering family support and a little tough love. But that’s a good idea to have a deadline of sorts.”
“That’s the least you can do for Damon, for yourself, and for your future.” Savannah stood and reached into her pocket. “Oh, before I forget, here’s our house key. Margaret and Max will be gone overnight Wednesday for that conference, if you don’t mind checking on the animals and feeding them Wednesday night and Thursday morning.”
“Not at all. It’s my pleasure.”
“There’ll be a note with instructions on the kitchen counter. Peaches is boarding with Bonnie this week, so you won’t have to worry about her. It’s just the three cats and the dog.” “Got it. Wednesday night and Thursday morning. I’ll be there.”
Suddenly the women looked up into the stairwell. “What in the world are those cats doing,” Savannah asked, “tearing your house apart?”
Colbi shook her head. “I don’t know. They’re sure making a lot of noise. I’d better go check.” Just as she started to head up the stairs, a streak of fur raced past her. “I think Rags has something, Savannah,” she said, pointing.
Savannah stood. “Oh no, Rags, what have you been into?” She bolted toward the cat, who had plopped on the floor in the dining area, a strange-looking glob lying next to him. “It looks like regurgitated plant life,” she said as she approached the cat. Before she reached him, however, he grabbed the item and ran into the kitchen then out again, with Savannah trotting after him. “Give me that,
Savannah handed Lily her sippy cup as she responded. “Kiddo, if it makes sense to you, that’s all that matters. It’s your life.”
Colbi peered at Savannah suspiciously. “Cop-out…that was a cop-out, girlfriend.” She laughed. “I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t want to get involved in this either, if it wasn’t my problem.” She thought for a moment. “Savannah, I feel an obligation to Harrison and to my parents.”
Savannah thinned her lips. “I was going to say, it sounds like you’re dealing with a child—sort of taking on the parenting role with him.”
“Yeah, I realize that.”
“It’s something you really need to tackle, isn’t it?” Savannah said.
Colbi nodded.
“Then I can’t say it’s wrong.”
“However…?” Colbi prompted.
Savannah squinted her eyes. “What?”
“I sense that you have more to say.”
“Well, I’d just say to you…”
Colbi cocked her head. “Yes? I really do want your input…please.”
“Just don’t make Harrison your life’s work. That’s all. Leave room for Colbi. You owe that to the memory of your parents, too. Maybe give your brother a deadline, or give yourself a deadline. If your efforts haven’t made a difference for Harrison by a certain time—if he isn’t standing on his own two feet by then—I’d say you’ve done your best and you should think about cutting the ties—at least those ties that bind you emotionally. I mean, you want a relationship with your brother, but a healthy one, right? You can’t make yourself responsible for him for the rest of his life. What kind of relationship is that?”
Colbi stared across the room at her guest for a moment and Savannah took the opportunity to add, her voice hushed, “Don’t let your sense of obligation for Harrison ruin your chances for a healthy relationship with Damon.”
Colbi thought about what Savannah had said. “Yes. What I want is my brother back. I want to be his sister, not—as you heard him call me—his warden. Healthy? Yes, that’s what I’m aiming for—a healthy relationship with Harrison and with Damon.” She hesitated before saying, “That’s a good idea. I don’t know how long these things take or even what I’m doing, other than offering family support and a little tough love. But that’s a good idea to have a deadline of sorts.”
“That’s the least you can do for Damon, for yourself, and for your future.” Savannah stood and reached into her pocket. “Oh, before I forget, here’s our house key. Margaret and Max will be gone overnight Wednesday for that conference, if you don’t mind checking on the animals and feeding them Wednesday night and Thursday morning.”
“Not at all. It’s my pleasure.”
“There’ll be a note with instructions on the kitchen counter. Peaches is boarding with Bonnie this week, so you won’t have to worry about her. It’s just the three cats and the dog.” “Got it. Wednesday night and Thursday morning. I’ll be there.”
Suddenly the women looked up into the stairwell. “What in the world are those cats doing,” Savannah asked, “tearing your house apart?”
Colbi shook her head. “I don’t know. They’re sure making a lot of noise. I’d better go check.” Just as she started to head up the stairs, a streak of fur raced past her. “I think Rags has something, Savannah,” she said, pointing.
Savannah stood. “Oh no, Rags, what have you been into?” She bolted toward the cat, who had plopped on the floor in the dining area, a strange-looking glob lying next to him. “It looks like regurgitated plant life,” she said as she approached the cat. Before she reached him, however, he grabbed the item and ran into the kitchen then out again, with Savannah trotting after him. “Give me that,
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