job is to respect your grandmother’s final wishes. I’m sure you can understand that.”
“Yes, well, that’s not really why I called. Mostly I wanted to know what’s to become of my grandmother’s house. I know she’d had that reverse mortgage on it. But since I’m kind of stuck here for a while—I mean, until I get the catsresettled—I hoped I could empty it out a little. Also, there are some family things I’d like to keep if that’s all right.”
“It’s all yours, Garrison. Other than what your grandmother set aside for the cats, the remaining estate is yours. However, you won’t officially inherit it until you get the cats successfully placed in new homes. It’s all spelled out in the packet I gave you.”
“Oh . . . yeah . . . I haven’t read through the whole thing yet.”
“So feel free to do as you like with the house. As I mentioned in my office, your grandmother paid off the reverse mortgage. The house is free and clear.”
“Free and clear?”
“Absolutely. I have the title on file here. When your task is finished, it will be signed over to you.”
“So this is my house?” Garrison looked around the cluttered and run-down kitchen with wonder as reality set in.
“It will be. When the cats are re-homed.”
“Right.” Garrison considered this. “That’s really great. Thanks!”
“Thank your grandmother.”
“Yeah, of course.”
When Garrison hung up, he walked through the somewhat shabby four-bedroom house, taking it all in and suddenly seeing it with a fresh set of eyes. This place had real potential. If he fixed it up and sold it, he might get enough capital to start the halfway house he’d been dreaming of creating. He closed his eyes and sent a silent thank-you to his grandmother. She really hadn’t forgotten him. Not at all.
For the rest of the day, Garrison threw himself into cleaning, sorting, repairing, and disposing. It was good therapy, and the results were making themselves visible by Wednesday.
“My goodness!” Ruby exclaimed when she came in to see what was happening. “I hardly recognize the place. What’s going on?”
“It started with removing some of the furnishings that were beyond hope,” he confessed.
“Yes, I saw the mess in the front yard.”
“Sorry about that. I’ve got someone coming to pick them up on Friday.” He adjusted his particle mask, wiping a streak of sweat from his upper lip. “After that I just kept going. One thing led to another.” He glanced around the somewhat vacant living room. Other than the scratching posts and a couple pieces of furniture, the place looked stark. “I’m afraid I’ve upset some of the cats.” He nodded to an old chair where Rusty and Oreo were nestled together. “I hauled this piece back inside so they’d have something familiar.”
Ruby pointed over to where Spooky was sitting on the stairway, looking at them through the banister with what seemed a disgruntled expression. “That one does not look happy.”
He shook his head. “Yeah. Spooky is pretty mad at me. And Muzzy has been very loudly expressing herself too. Harry’s the only one who seems to still like me.” He made a sheepish grin. “But I figure I’m doing them all a favor . . . making it easier for them to go.”
“Any responses to your ads?”
“A couple of calls, but the people didn’t fit Gram’s criteria.”
“Too bad. Viola is settling in very nicely at my place. She doesn’t even seem to miss the other cats.”
“Good to know.” He considered mentioning the bonus Ruby would receive in a few weeks. “Any interest in taking on a second cat?”
“Oh, no. Viola is plenty of cat for me. And I do believeshe’s happier having me all to herself.” Ruby chuckled. “She’s already decided that my bed is her bed and truth be told, I don’t mind a bit.”
“That’s great. Well, I guess I should write up another ad for the cats. Maybe I can put some kind of Christmas spin on it. Give your loved one
“Yes, well, that’s not really why I called. Mostly I wanted to know what’s to become of my grandmother’s house. I know she’d had that reverse mortgage on it. But since I’m kind of stuck here for a while—I mean, until I get the catsresettled—I hoped I could empty it out a little. Also, there are some family things I’d like to keep if that’s all right.”
“It’s all yours, Garrison. Other than what your grandmother set aside for the cats, the remaining estate is yours. However, you won’t officially inherit it until you get the cats successfully placed in new homes. It’s all spelled out in the packet I gave you.”
“Oh . . . yeah . . . I haven’t read through the whole thing yet.”
“So feel free to do as you like with the house. As I mentioned in my office, your grandmother paid off the reverse mortgage. The house is free and clear.”
“Free and clear?”
“Absolutely. I have the title on file here. When your task is finished, it will be signed over to you.”
“So this is my house?” Garrison looked around the cluttered and run-down kitchen with wonder as reality set in.
“It will be. When the cats are re-homed.”
“Right.” Garrison considered this. “That’s really great. Thanks!”
“Thank your grandmother.”
“Yeah, of course.”
When Garrison hung up, he walked through the somewhat shabby four-bedroom house, taking it all in and suddenly seeing it with a fresh set of eyes. This place had real potential. If he fixed it up and sold it, he might get enough capital to start the halfway house he’d been dreaming of creating. He closed his eyes and sent a silent thank-you to his grandmother. She really hadn’t forgotten him. Not at all.
For the rest of the day, Garrison threw himself into cleaning, sorting, repairing, and disposing. It was good therapy, and the results were making themselves visible by Wednesday.
“My goodness!” Ruby exclaimed when she came in to see what was happening. “I hardly recognize the place. What’s going on?”
“It started with removing some of the furnishings that were beyond hope,” he confessed.
“Yes, I saw the mess in the front yard.”
“Sorry about that. I’ve got someone coming to pick them up on Friday.” He adjusted his particle mask, wiping a streak of sweat from his upper lip. “After that I just kept going. One thing led to another.” He glanced around the somewhat vacant living room. Other than the scratching posts and a couple pieces of furniture, the place looked stark. “I’m afraid I’ve upset some of the cats.” He nodded to an old chair where Rusty and Oreo were nestled together. “I hauled this piece back inside so they’d have something familiar.”
Ruby pointed over to where Spooky was sitting on the stairway, looking at them through the banister with what seemed a disgruntled expression. “That one does not look happy.”
He shook his head. “Yeah. Spooky is pretty mad at me. And Muzzy has been very loudly expressing herself too. Harry’s the only one who seems to still like me.” He made a sheepish grin. “But I figure I’m doing them all a favor . . . making it easier for them to go.”
“Any responses to your ads?”
“A couple of calls, but the people didn’t fit Gram’s criteria.”
“Too bad. Viola is settling in very nicely at my place. She doesn’t even seem to miss the other cats.”
“Good to know.” He considered mentioning the bonus Ruby would receive in a few weeks. “Any interest in taking on a second cat?”
“Oh, no. Viola is plenty of cat for me. And I do believeshe’s happier having me all to herself.” Ruby chuckled. “She’s already decided that my bed is her bed and truth be told, I don’t mind a bit.”
“That’s great. Well, I guess I should write up another ad for the cats. Maybe I can put some kind of Christmas spin on it. Give your loved one
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