Free Paws and Effect by Sofie Kelly

still angry after all this time?”
    â€œVery,” I said.
    She reached for her tea. “It’s painful to hold on to that bitterness for such a long time.”
    That was Maggie, always taking the compassionate viewpoint. She was unrelentingly kind.
    â€œYou know, it doesn’t really sound like the kind of thing Marcus would do,” she said.
    â€œThat was my thought,” I said, chasing a mushroom around the side of my bowl with a spoon. “But why would you admit to sleeping with your best friend’s girlfriend if you didn’t?”
    â€œThe only reason I can think of is you wanted to hurt him, and I know
that’s
not Marcus.”
    *   *   *
    We finished supper and Maggie went back to her studio while I headed back to the library. It was quieter than usual and Owen and I were on our way home by eight fifteen. Over the summer and early fall I’d been experimenting with the library’s closing hours.
    Owen disappeared—not literally—down the stairs headed for his basement lair as soon as we were in the house. I hung up my things and made a cup of hot chocolate. The one I’d had at Eric’s had left me craving more of the Jam Lady’s homemade marshmallows.
    I took my cup and wandered into the living room. Hercules was curled up in the big chair. He at least looked guilty.
    â€œThat’s not your chair,” I said. To my amusement instead of jumping down he moved over as though he was inviting me to join him. So I did.
    Once I was sitting down with my feet up on the footstool Hercules climbed onto my lap and eyed my mug, whiskers twitching.
    â€œMarshmallows are not cat food,” I said.
    â€œMrr,” he grumbled.
    I swiped my little finger in the creamy vanilla foamand held it out to him. “Do not tell Roma I did this,” I warned. “Or your brother.”
    The moment the words were out there was an indignant meow from the kitchen doorway. Owen was standing there, glaring in my direction.
    â€œHow do you do that?” I asked.
    The little tabby stalked over in high indignation, jumped onto the footstool and looked pointedly at the cup. I swiped another finger through the melted marshmallow and held out my hand so Owen could have a taste. That meant jostling Hercules just a little, which got me an annoyed look from him as well. Finally everyone, including me, had tasted the marshmallows and, in the case of the boys, licked the stickies off their whiskers. Hercules stretched out on my lap. Owen sprawled across the footstool with his head on my legs. And I told them about Maggie seeing Marcus with Dani.
    Neither one of them seemed the slightest bit interested. I realized that I didn’t really want to talk to them. I wanted to talk to Marcus. I put one hand on Hercules so he wouldn’t be disturbed and reached over for the phone with the other.
    Marcus answered on the fourth ring. “Hi,” he said. “I was just going to call you.”
    â€œI was going to come out for a few minutes, if that’s okay,” I said. I could tell by their ears that both cats were interested now.
    â€œIt’s more than okay,” he said. “Are you leaving right now?”
    I smiled. “As soon as I get the cats off of me and put on some shoes.”
    â€œI’ll see you soon, then,” he said.
    Hercules sat up of his own volition, murped at me and jumped down to the floor. Owen, being a little contrary, rolled onto his back and looked at me. I picked him up and set him down on the floor next to the footstool, where he rolled on his back again, paws moving lazily in the air as though he was doing a very low-energy workout.
    I leaned down and stroked the top of his head. “You’re very goofy,” I told him.
    *   *   *
    Marcus was waiting on the back deck when I walked around the side of his house. He looked tired. I could see lines around his mouth and his hair was mussed