Karen Anne Golden - The Cats That 03 - The Cats That Told a Fortune by Karen Anne Golden
Authors: Karen Anne Golden
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Katherine an appetizer with layers of thinly sliced mozzarella cheese, basil leaf, and tomato, arranged on a Breton cracker.
“Oh, my God,” Katherine sighed with closed eyes. “This reminds me of our favorite wine and cheese place on 53rd Street.”
“Uh-huh,” Colleen agreed. “I forgot to compliment you earlier. I like the way you decorated the dining room,” she admired.
Katherine smiled. “The ceiling height is so tall, I asked Cokey to set up a tall ladder so I could hot glue the black crepe paper to the upper plate rail, then run it over and attach it to the cranberry glass chandelier.”
“The plastic bat is pretty cool too. I like the way it hangs from the crystal chandelier. Where did you find a black tablecloth and those sweet dishes?”
“An online Halloween party store. Colleen, I need you to help me with something.”
“Sure.”
“See those gothic-looking place cards? I need to figure out who’s sitting next to whom, and arrange the place cards around the table.”
“Well , first of all, you’ll be sitting next to Jake. I want to be sitting next to Daryl. So everyone else can grab their card and sit wherever they want,” Colleen said mischievously.
Katherine laughed, “You’re a big help! Jake suggested we do boy-girl, boy-girl. So, at the head of the table closest to the carport door I’ll put Jake. On Jake’s right, I’ll sit, which is closest to the kitchen door, in case Carson the Butler isn’t available.”
Colleen said in her best Downton Abbey Lady Mary accent, “I really think the Colfax Abbey needs another footman to serve, preferably one who looks like Tom Branson.”
“Of course, you’d say Tom Branson! Would his being Irish have anything to do with it?”
“Just sayin.’ Tom and Daryl do sort of look-alike in a blond, green-eyed sort of way,” Colleen said with an impish grin.
Katherine giggled. “Margie will sit next to you on the right. Cokey will be at the other end of the table. Michelle will sit to Cokey’s right. Then her date, Glen, will sit on her right. Leslie and Jake’s friend, Wayne, will sit to the left of Jake.”
“What a science! Yes, boy-girl, boy-girl. I know that Mark Dunn isn’t coming, but who was the twelfth person who couldn’t come?” Colleen asked.
“Detective Linda Martin. I so wanted her to come. Since the speakeasy find, I’ve had lunch with her several times. She’s really cool. Plus she loves cats!”
“I remember her from last winter. Why can’t she come?”
“She’s lead detective on the Festival Murders case. She told me she’s working long hours interviewing lots of people.”
A middle-aged man with a crop of gray hair walked in and announced, “I’m the bartender.”
“Frank.” Katherine recognized him. “I thought you worked at the diner?”
“ Yeppers, but I bartend on the weekends for the Erie Hotel. Where do you want me to set up the bar?” he asked, struggling with a large carton of wine, beer, and liquor bottles.
“Follow me,” Katherine said, walking into the decorated living room. The Victorian furniture had been pushed back against the walls, so there was room in the middle for guests to mingle. The fireplace mantel held six pottery pumpkins with tea lights inside. A large, black flowered wreath was placed on a hook above the mirror. Katherine pointed to a sideboard with a mottled pink marble-top. “How about there?”
“Looks mighty fancy to me ,” Frank said with an admiring glance.
“Kindly suggestion. If you spill anything, could you quickly wipe it up? The marble is more forgiving than the wood. I’ve learned that the hard way,” Katherine said.
“ Yeppers, nothin’ like leavin’ a big ugly ring when you set a drink down.”
“Thanks, really appreciate it,” Katherine said, leaving. She headed back to the kitchen to talk to Colleen. Colleen was busy sampling another
“Oh, my God,” Katherine sighed with closed eyes. “This reminds me of our favorite wine and cheese place on 53rd Street.”
“Uh-huh,” Colleen agreed. “I forgot to compliment you earlier. I like the way you decorated the dining room,” she admired.
Katherine smiled. “The ceiling height is so tall, I asked Cokey to set up a tall ladder so I could hot glue the black crepe paper to the upper plate rail, then run it over and attach it to the cranberry glass chandelier.”
“The plastic bat is pretty cool too. I like the way it hangs from the crystal chandelier. Where did you find a black tablecloth and those sweet dishes?”
“An online Halloween party store. Colleen, I need you to help me with something.”
“Sure.”
“See those gothic-looking place cards? I need to figure out who’s sitting next to whom, and arrange the place cards around the table.”
“Well , first of all, you’ll be sitting next to Jake. I want to be sitting next to Daryl. So everyone else can grab their card and sit wherever they want,” Colleen said mischievously.
Katherine laughed, “You’re a big help! Jake suggested we do boy-girl, boy-girl. So, at the head of the table closest to the carport door I’ll put Jake. On Jake’s right, I’ll sit, which is closest to the kitchen door, in case Carson the Butler isn’t available.”
Colleen said in her best Downton Abbey Lady Mary accent, “I really think the Colfax Abbey needs another footman to serve, preferably one who looks like Tom Branson.”
“Of course, you’d say Tom Branson! Would his being Irish have anything to do with it?”
“Just sayin.’ Tom and Daryl do sort of look-alike in a blond, green-eyed sort of way,” Colleen said with an impish grin.
Katherine giggled. “Margie will sit next to you on the right. Cokey will be at the other end of the table. Michelle will sit to Cokey’s right. Then her date, Glen, will sit on her right. Leslie and Jake’s friend, Wayne, will sit to the left of Jake.”
“What a science! Yes, boy-girl, boy-girl. I know that Mark Dunn isn’t coming, but who was the twelfth person who couldn’t come?” Colleen asked.
“Detective Linda Martin. I so wanted her to come. Since the speakeasy find, I’ve had lunch with her several times. She’s really cool. Plus she loves cats!”
“I remember her from last winter. Why can’t she come?”
“She’s lead detective on the Festival Murders case. She told me she’s working long hours interviewing lots of people.”
A middle-aged man with a crop of gray hair walked in and announced, “I’m the bartender.”
“Frank.” Katherine recognized him. “I thought you worked at the diner?”
“ Yeppers, but I bartend on the weekends for the Erie Hotel. Where do you want me to set up the bar?” he asked, struggling with a large carton of wine, beer, and liquor bottles.
“Follow me,” Katherine said, walking into the decorated living room. The Victorian furniture had been pushed back against the walls, so there was room in the middle for guests to mingle. The fireplace mantel held six pottery pumpkins with tea lights inside. A large, black flowered wreath was placed on a hook above the mirror. Katherine pointed to a sideboard with a mottled pink marble-top. “How about there?”
“Looks mighty fancy to me ,” Frank said with an admiring glance.
“Kindly suggestion. If you spill anything, could you quickly wipe it up? The marble is more forgiving than the wood. I’ve learned that the hard way,” Katherine said.
“ Yeppers, nothin’ like leavin’ a big ugly ring when you set a drink down.”
“Thanks, really appreciate it,” Katherine said, leaving. She headed back to the kitchen to talk to Colleen. Colleen was busy sampling another
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