A Picture-Purrfect Christmas (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 13) by Patricia Fry

want to be in a place where I can help other people.” She looked down at Rags and Buffy, who were sitting near her. “…or animals. Maybe people and animals.”
    Michael turned to Savannah. “I’ll bet she’d like to volunteer at your aunt’s place.”
    “What a wonderful idea,” Savannah said, her face lighting up. “Marissa, my aunt and uncle run a cat shelter. You met her the other day when she was here entertaining Lily. They help unwanted cats and kittens find homes. They have volunteers who come in and socialize the more frightened cats and kittens.” When she saw the confused look on Marissa’s face, she added, “You know, get them used to being handled and cuddled so they’ll be happy living with people—like Rags and Buffy and Walter are.”
    “Who’s Walter?” the child asked.
    Savannah looked surprised. “Oh, you haven’t met Walter, yet? He’s our shy cat. He hangs out under a blanket on that plum-colored chair in the living room or in one of the bedrooms upstairs.”
    “Oh,” Marissa said. “I want to see him. Maybe I can go look for him after lunch.”
    Savannah smiled. “So do you think you’d enjoy doing that kind of work—socializing frightened kitties?”
    “Work?” she said boldly. “Playing with cats isn’t work. Yeah, I’d love to do that.”
    “How about after lunch we go over to the shelter. I heard they just got a new litter of kittens in.”
    Marissa’s smile widened. “Sure!” She then frowned. “Where did the kittens come from?”
    “Kittens and cats arrive at the shelter from all sorts of situations,” Savannah explained. “People find them living in Dumpsters, under porches, in fields, and they bring them to my aunt because they know she and her husband will take good care of them and find them forever homes.”
    The child thought for a moment, then said quietly, “A forever home. That sounds so awesome. Everyone should have a forever home—especially children and baby animals.”
    Savanna locked eyes momentarily with Michael and he noticed hers were brimming with fresh tears. He said under his breath, “If only children ran the world.”
    ****
    Once lunch was over and the dishes were done, Savannah helped the child put on her jacket. “The cat shelter is next door. Do you want to ride over in the car or you can sit in Lily’s stroller and I’ll push you over there. Which mode of transportation would you prefer?”
    “Oh,” she said sounding surprised, “would I fit in the stroller? That sounds kinda fun.”
    “I can unlatch the tray and move it aside. I think you’ll be able to ride rather comfortably. Shall we try it?” Once they had her situated, Savannah asked. “What do you think? Comfy?”
    “I feel like a princess riding in one of those…chariots. Yeah, it’s pretty comfortable. Are you sure you want to push it with me in it? I weigh more than Lily does, you know.”
    “Not by much,” Michael said.
    She winced. “Yeah, I’m working on that. I know I’m too little for my age.” Her face brightened. “But I ate a good lunch, don’t you think? And breakfast, too!”
    “Excellent,” Michael said. “You have a good appetite. Do you always eat so well?”
    She shook her head and looked down. “I eat what I’m allowed. That’s it.” She then smiled up at Savannah. “Let’s go, charioteer!”
    “Wait,” Michael said. “I think I hear Lily. Let me get her up and we’ll walk over with you.”
    “Okay, hon,” Savannah said. When she saw Marissa start to get out of the stroller, she asked, “Where are you going?”
    “Oh, I thought you’d want to put Lily in her stroller.”
    “No, no,” Michael said. “I’ll carry her. She’ll be just fine.”
    “Or she can sit on your lap,” Savannah suggested.
    “Yeah, I can hold her. That would be a fun ride.”
    Minutes later, Savannah wheeled the stroller into the greenhouse-turned-cathouse at the Sheridans’ cat shelter. “Well, hello there,” Max said when he saw them