Part 4 (1/2)
”Recipes? He gave you a box of old recipes? How romantic.” Tina tried not to laugh out loud.
”Just because you don't even know how to boil water, doesn't mean I can't be interested in some recipes.”
”Kitty, you are hopeless. I'l humor you. Let's have a look in the box.” Tina pul ed the box across the table and scooped out a handful of papers.
”Meatloaf. Pea Soup. Macaroni and Cheese. Roast Chicken. Apple pie. Any of these excite you yet Kitty?”
”Tina. Look at this. There's no recipes in this folder.” Kitty pushed the other recipes aside and opened the nondescript folder. She looked up at Tina. ”This has information on me. In Frank's recipe box. What's going on?” Tina grabbed the folder. ”Let me see that. What else is in there?”
Flipping through the papers, Tina lined up pages on the counter. ”Information on you. Frank. Sheila. Harry. Nicole. This can't be Frank's folder.
Someone else stuck this in here. Maybe Blake was hiding them here? Look at this Kitty. A note. If you find these files, it means I'm in trouble.
Watch your back.”
”Should I cal Frank?” Kitty went to get her phone.
”No. He's got other things on his mind at the moment. Let's read through this information and see what we can figure out.” Tina picked up her dessert and started to dig into the melting sweet mix before tackling the papers.
Chapter 6.
Kitty heard someone driving up her driveway when she was in the barn watering the animals. Who could that be? I don't want to see anyone right now. If I don't go out, maybe they'll leave.
”Kitty. Kitty. Can I see Henry?”
Kitty couldn't help but smile at the sound of Maddie's voice. She walked outside and was engulfed by two little arms hugging her. Frank walked over with a bouquet of tulips for her.
”Sorry I didn't cal you last night. Sheila showed up and I had to sort through a lot of drama with her.” Frank lowered his voice. ”We brought you some tulips. Maddie picked them out.”
”Maddie. These tulips are beautiful. Thank you.”
”They look like a rainbow. I'm going to go find Henry.”
”Thank you Frank. I love tulips.” Kitty felt her heart quicken. ”I saw you and Sheila at the restaurant last night.”
”I would have rather been with you. She's making my life miserable.”
Kitty smiled and breathed again.
”Tina and I found an interesting folder in that recipe box you gave me.” Frank looked confused. ”Folder? On what?”
”On me, you, Sheila, Nicole and Harry. And a note. I'l show you when we go in. First I'd better get this pony out so Maddie can take a little ride.” Frank just stared at Kitty trying to understand how a folder ended up in his mother's big box of recipes.
Kitty found Maddie in Henry's stal , talking to him and brus.h.i.+ng his mane. Licorice was keeping them company too. The little black cat adopted Henry and never strayed far from his stal . ”Frank, hurry up, take a look at this.” Kitty cal ed and broke Frank out of his thoughts.
With a smile creasing his whole face, Frank told Kitty. I've never seen Maddie so happy.”
”What is Sheila going to do now that Blake is dead?”
”That's what I need to talk to you about. She wants to stay here in Wil ow Fal s, at least until she figures out what's next for her. She's looking for a room or apartment to rent and Maddie wil stay with me.” Frank fidgeted and looked down at his feet when he told Kitty this bombshel .
Kitty was helping Maddie get up on Henry and her back was to Frank. She couldn't face him now and let him see her disappointment. Sheila in Willow Falls? She didn't like that idea at al .
Kitty was surprised to see Mia's blue mini cooper pul up to the house.
Mia hopped out. ”Hi. Is that your new pony? He's adorable. And who's the cute cowgirl riding him?”
”Mia, do you remember my friend Frank? This is his daughter Maddie. She's taken quite a s.h.i.+ne to Henry.”
”Of course I remember Frank. Long time no see. Looks like that pony was made for Maddie. Kitty, did you forget we were getting together to finalize the surprise party for Dottie?”
”Of course not.” She laughed. ”Just let me take Maddie for a couple of loops around the field then we can go in and figure the party out. I'l be right back.”
”Faster Kitty, faster Henry.” Frank and Mia laughed watching Maddie trying to get Henry to speed up his slow walk.
”Are you going to be around for a while Frank?” Mia casual y asked, always hoping to get something to gossip about.
”Actual y, now that Maddie is living with me, I wil be around most of the time. She had been living with my ex-wife, Sheila, until her husband got murdered at the fair.”
”That's horrible. I didn't know who that guy was.”
”He was Sheila's husband. They were just returning from their honeymoon to pick up Maddie and now everything is up in the air. Sheila is talking about renting in Wil ow Fal s so she can be close to Maddie at my house. It's a mess.”
”Daddy. Daddy. Watch me. Henry is trotting.” Maddie hung onto the saddle horn as she bounced up and down in the saddle shrieking with delight.
”That looks like so much fun. Can I try too?” Mia begged Kitty.
”Sure. Down you go Maddie. It's Mia's turn.” Mia put her foot in the stirrup and pul ed her smal , wiry body into the saddle.
”How do you make him go?”
Kitty pul ed Henry's halter to get him started.
”Let's go Henry. Yippee. This makes me feel like a little girl again.” Mia hol ered as Henry walked around the field.
Mia managed to get Henry al the way around the field but then he headed straight into the barn.
”Thank you Kitty. That was absolutely wonderful. Thanks Maddie for sharing Henry with me.” Mia's eyes sparkled with delight.
”Frank, can you take Mia in the house? Give me a few minutes to get Henry back in his stal and I'l join you inside. Maddie you can help me feed and brush Henry.”
”Kitty?”
”Yes Maddie?”