Free Claws for a Cause (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 15) by Patricia Fry Page A

baby’s face as they approached the luggage carousel. “Hey, there’s her stroller,” she said, quickly retrieving it.
    “Good,” Michael said. “Let’s put her in it, then I can grab the luggage. Gladys, why don’t you stand back with Lily? Here, let’s strap her in. Now stay with her, Gladys. Savannah and I’ll get the luggage.”
    “Yes, sir,” Gladys said, grinning a little at her son-in-law’s overly protective behavior.
    Savannah watched as her mother wheeled Lily away. She then turned to face the carousel and quickly motioned toward a red suitcase. “That one’s mine, Michael.”
    “Are you sure?” he asked. “There’s another one just like it.”
    “Yeah, but it doesn’t have a pink-and-purple yarn pom-pom on it.”
    “Okay,” he said, hefting the bag off the moving carousel and placing it next to Savannah.
    She checked the name tag. “Yup, it’s ours.” She pointed. “I’m pretty sure that’s Mom’s. See that black one with the red strap around it?”
    Once Michael had pulled it off the carousel, Savannah turned to her mother for her reaction.
    Gladys nodded.
    “There are two more, Michael—the one with the baby’s things and yours. Do you remember what yours looks like?”
    “I thought I did until I saw all these others. Now I’m confused. It has a blue-and-green flowery pattern, doesn’t it?”
    “Yeah.” She showed him a picture she’d taken on her phone. “See, this is it.”
    “Oh,” he said, “good thinking.”
    “I lost a piece of luggage once,” she explained, “so I’m probably more cautious than most people. Not that a picture would have done much good in that situation. I think someone just stole it. I lagged getting to the carousel; stopped for a cup of mocha. When I arrived, my bag was gone. Someone got off with my ski outfit and I had to buy all new stuff at the resort. That set me back a small fortune. Would have been better off if I’d just hung out in the lodge all weekend.”
    Michael looked into his wife’s eyes. “I’m glad you didn’t do that.”
    She frowned. “Why?”
    “You might have met a handsome ski instructor and I would have missed out on getting to marry you.”
    She grinned. “Yeah, might have.” Then pointing, she said, “There’s Lily’s bag—that big one. And yours is right next to it. I’ll grab the smaller one.”
    “How long are you staying?” Shelly asked, grinning when she saw the load of luggage surrounding the Iveys.
    “I guess you don’t know how much stuff it takes to travel with a baby,” Savannah said good-naturedly. “We had to bring some of her favorite toys, her sippy cup…Her suitcase is mostly filled with diapers.”
    “Oh yes, they would take up a lot of room.” Shelly then said, “I think everyone has their bags; our bus is just outside that door. Ready to go?”
    “Lead the way,” Michael said, pushing an overloaded luggage cart toward the exit.
    “Just smell it, Michael,” Savannah said as they stepped outside. “There’s a perfumey aroma. I love it. And the air—it feels like it’s caressing my skin.”
    “That fragrance is plumeria,” Shelly said. “Isn’t it wonderful? Oh look, there’s a woman selling plumeria leis.” She grabbed Savannah’s arm in excitement. “Let’s get one, shall we?”
    “You just stepped foot on island soil and already you’re opening your wallets?” Michael joked. “The natives will love seeing you two coming.”
    Savannah and Shelly laughed while digging out money for the leis. When they returned to where Gladys watched Michael and another man load their luggage onto the bus, Savannah said, “ Aloha , Mom,” as she placed a fresh plumeria lei over her head.
    Gladys closed her eyes and took in the scent. “It’s lovely. Thank you, Vannie.”
    “Sure. Looks beautiful on you. Don’t you just love the way the flowers feel against your skin,” she said swooning a little. Once they were seated on the shuttle bus, Savannah said, “You’ve