Magnus’s new app had been featured in the news recently for its innovative approach to adopting shelter cats, and donations—as well as cats looking for homes—had poured in. Edie had to sideline her own personal feline behavioral business to devote her full time to the Coffee N’ Cats chain, but she was loving every moment of it. She saw so many cats on a daily basis, her feedback was listened to and applied, and more than that, she saw people interacting with cats, loving shelter cats that had a slim chance before, and people enthusiastic about adoptions. In one month, they had three hundred cat adoptions between all locations of the cafés. Edie was over the moon with that number. She expected it to slow down once the cafés became less trendy, but she and Magnus had already been discussing new ways to continually bump up their social profile and keep the cafés in people’s minds.
Edie was the happiest she’d ever been. Her days were filled with cats and making a difference in their lives. Her nights were filled with Magnus—her sweet, wonderful, funny Magnus who always made her feel like the luckiest woman on earth. Every moment with him felt magical. They decorated, they spent time on the couches watching TV and curling up with cats. They went to dinner together, caught shows, visited friends, and had sex. Lots of sex. Lots of toe-curling, pulse-pounding, Edie-whimpering sex.
Really, Edie couldn’t ask for more.
Which was why it killed her that she missed Bianca. Her sister was an awful person. She knew that. She knew Bianca was manipulative and selfish and all of those horrible things, but Edie still missed talking to her. Still worried about how Bianca was going to take care of herself if she didn’t have Edie’s help with the bills or work as Edie’s assistant.
“I think you should invite her up,” Magnus told Edie one night in bed after she confessed her feelings. It had been a month since she’d moved in with Magnus. One month of complete and utter bliss.
“I’m a little afraid she’ll ruin things,” Edie admitted. “I miss her, but I’m still terrified she’ll wreck my life again somehow.”
“So you bring in an intermediary,” Magnus said, thumbing her nipple casually. He loved to play with her breasts after sex . . . usually because it led to more sex. “Someone who isn’t going to let her manipulate you into a corner again.”
“You?” Edie asked, tracing a line down his chest.
“Not me,” he said bluntly. “I’m afraid I have nothing nice to say to her. I don’t want her in your life, but I’m willing to put up with her because you do. But don’t ask me to be understanding to someone who’s hurt you so badly. Have Gretchen do it. She sees through Bianca’s bullshit.”
***
“Oh my god, they are so cute,” Gretchen squealed, holding one of Lady Cujo’s kittens. The teensy little tabbies didn’t have the gleam of their mother’s purebred coat or her unique swirling pattern, but they did have brilliant striping and the most adorable little faces. “How can you stand to give them all away?” She pulled the kitten close and snuggled it under her chin. “I’d keep all of the little buggers if it were me.”
“Are you kidding?” Edie asked, pulling a rambunctious kitten away from her shoelaces and setting it back down on the sofa. “We already have nine cats. That’s more than enough for anyone, don’t you think? We don’t need more.”
“I love this little one,” Gretchen said, cooing to the kitten in her hands. “He might become Igor’s new best buddy.”
“You’re welcome to take him home with you,” Edie told her. “I can’t thank you enough for showing up today. I need all the solidarity I can get.”
Gretchen held out her fist for a bump, and Edie bumped it. “Girl,” Gretchen said. “You know I’m all over this.”
“Thank you again,” Edie said. If anyone could keep Bianca in her place, it was Gretchen.
“When’s she supposed to get here?”
“Any minute now,” Edie said, snagging another kitten as it wandered past. They definitely had their hands full. Edie never thought she’d say it, but she had too many cats. She was looking forward to the day when things quieted down again. At least her elderly cats didn’t streak across the apartment at full speed several times a day like the kittens did, clawing everything and knocking things over. They were lucky they were so darn cute, because they were nightmares. Cute, fluffy little whirling dervishes with claws.
As they played with the kittens, they waited for Bianca to show. She wasn’t on time; Bianca never was. She loved to make a late entrance, not only because it got her attention, but because it simply wasn’t important to Bianca to stick to anyone else’s schedule. Eventually, though, there was a knock at the penthouse door, and Edie handed her kitten to Gretchen and got up to answer it.
“Be strong,” Gretchen whispered.
Edie nodded and then opened the door. There was Bianca, looking just as pale and fragile as ever. Her big, dark eyes blinked, her tiny mouth quivered, and then she began to cry, dramatically flinging herself into Edie’s arms.
Good ol’ Bianca. “Hey, kiddo.”
“I’ve missed you so much, Edie.” Bianca wept. Bianca didn’t sob. She never sobbed, because sobbing might lead to snot and puffy eyes, and those things didn’t exist in Bianca’s world. She wept. Daintily. “I’m so glad we’re going to get the chance to talk.”
“I felt like we should,” Edie said, a hesitant smile on her face. “Come in.”