“It will be touch and go for a while, but he just might make it.” He delivered the line with such grave seriousness that she couldn’t help but laugh. He cracked a lopsided grin showing off one adorable dimple. He wiped his hand on his jeans and then extended it toward her.
“Aaron Miles,” he introduced himself. She shook his hand briefly, suddenly feeling very awkward.
“Maggie Overton,” she replied, shyly looking away, no longer able to hold his gaze. Something about the way he was watching her made her feel completely exposed. He stood and reached down offering her his hand. She took it and allowed him to help her to her feet marveling at how small her hand looked in his. She stood before him self-consciously wiping the dirt from her knees. The mangy cat chose that moment to walk between them and brush against Maggie’s leg.
“Shoo,” she hissed at the cat, still taking the attack on her plant personally.
Aaron cocked his head to the side and eyed her curiously.
“So you’ll cry over a spilled plant, but turn your back on a starvin’ cat?” he asked curiously, there was no accusation in his tone only puzzlement.
“He’s starving?” Maggie asked, suddenly full of concern. She looked down at the cat, really seeing him for the first time. He was dirty and some of his hair was matted. He did look awfully skinny.
“He’s definitely a stray,” Aaron confirmed, watching her closely. She continued to watch the cat as it weaved between her legs.
Aaron turned and walked to the backdoor carrying the re-potted plant and entering the kitchen without hesitation. The cat quickly followed after him and Maggie watched the two incredulously as they both walked right into the house as if they owned the place.
She followed after them and saw that Aaron had set the plant on the counter near the kitchen window. He then retrieved a small bowl and filled it with water from the sink. He placed the bowl of water at his feet and the cat happily began to lap it up. Then he looked at Maggie, holding her gaze for a brief moment and stealing her breath once again.
“Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Ma’am,” he said with pure southern hospitality as he tipped his head and began to make his exit.
“Wait! Aren’t you going to take the cat?” Maggie asked desperately.
“Nah, looks like he’s making himself quite at home.” Aaron nodded in the direction of the cat and Maggie looked to see that he had curled up on the kitchen floor and fallen fast asleep.
“But I don’t know how to take care of a cat,” Maggie admitted. She’d never had a pet. Perhaps that was why she’d developed the admittedly odd habit of naming inanimate objects.
“They pretty much take care of themselves,” Aaron assured her. “Just give him food and water,” he instructed as he opened the back door to leave. Maggie scrambled to think of something else to say, something clever and charming.
“Alright…” was all she came up with. Aaron smiled and nodded his goodbye, then he was gone. She looked down at the mangy creature sleeping on the kitchen floor and wondered if you could give a cat a bath.
4
As Maggie pushed the shopping cart up and down the aisles of the small grocery store she could feel people’s eyes on her. She was an outsider in a small town and she definitely felt the part. She self-consciously rubbed her arms, which were now covered in cat scratches. Apparently, cats in fact did not like baths. Her arms were visual proof of that. She’d considered putting on a long sleeve shirt to cover the evidence but one step outside into the Georgia heat was enough to make her willing to risk a few extra stares at her bared and battered arms.
She pushed her well stocked cart to the register and smiled hesitantly at the girl behind the counter.
“Welcome to Sweetwater.” The cashier smiled genuinely as she began scanning the items from Maggie’s basket.
“Do I stick out that much?” Maggie laughed nervously.
“When you grow up here you learn the faces.” The girl shrugged. “I’m Andi,” she added with another kind smile.
“Maggie,” she introduced herself and returned the friendly smile.
“You’re stayin’ at the Devereaux place for the summer, right?” Andi asked casually.
“How’d you know?” Maggie found it odd that anybody would know where she was staying.
“I’d heard Ms. Devereaux had brought in another stray,” Andi said offhandedly and then quickly realized her words may have been offensive. “Oh… I didn’t mean…” she faltered.
“No, that’s alright. I guess that kind of is what I am.” Maggie shrugged, smiling at her reassuringly. She thought of the stray cat that had intruded on her morning, and her heart softened to him a little.
“Well, we’re glad to have you!” Andi said a little too enthusiastically, obviously still trying to make up for any slight. “So’d you run into a mountain lion or something?” she quickly changed the subject gesturing to Maggie’s scratched up arms, reminding Maggie of why she was still mad at that stupid cat.