The Mirror (The Lost Bride Trilogy #2)

“Isn’t she perfect?” Cleo said. She turned as Sonya came in, arms loaded. “And they got along fine. Here, let me take some of that. Just leave the welcome basket and so on here. I’ll start on the groceries. I’m going to put her litter box in the mudroom if that’s okay.”

“That should be the place for it.”

“But I’m going to teach her to go out with Yoda.”

At the door, ready to go out for the rest, Sonya paused. “You’re going to housebreak a cat?”

“I’m going to housebreak this cat. The litter box will be for emergencies only when I’m done. Come on, Yoda, let’s see if she follows.”

Pye followed, in her own time, and in her perfectly slinky way.

When Sonya came in, Cleo grinned. “I’m going to put her food and water bowls with Yoda’s so they learn to eat together. That’s the first stage of learning to poop together.”

“If you say so.”

“I do. I ordered a cat tree. I’ve been looking at them online, and went with Lucy’s pick, which actually looks like a tree. It can go up in the studio. And I ordered the cutest little bed. It’s like a little pink cave.”

“Pink.”

“She’s a girl. Now, tell me everything.”

“I’ll start with the good stuff. The law firm wants something like what I did for the Doyles. Updated, photos, bios. It’s not a family firm, but I can work the same type of feel, just a bit more formal. They’ve already sent back the contract. I owe Deuce for the speed there. They were already sold.”

“You did the work that sold them,” Cleo reminded her, “but we’ll give Deuce a big hug.”

“They know Corrine, and liked her work so much on the photos, they’re going to contact her, hire her if she’s available to do theirs. So I know going in I’ll have excellent shots to work with.

“Is this that sausage you wanted?”

“Yes. Score! Now if I can make it half as good as my grand-mère. Tell me about Dobbs.”

“Like that other time, you were barely on the road when she started.”

“She thinks divide and conquer, but that’s bullshit.” Cleo’s tiger eyes flicked upward. “There’s no dividing here. What did she do?”

Sonya started at the beginning as they finished putting away groceries, set out Pyewacket’s food and water. And Cleo put the litter box in the mudroom, where Sonya believed it would become a house staple.

“I hate you were alone through all that.”

“I think it’s good, actually. It proved—to her and to myself—I can handle what she tosses out.

“And while I nearly called Trey, I feel incredibly satisfied I got through it on my own.”

“No shame calling him, or me. You remember that.”

“I will,” Sonya promised. “When I need to. But now I’ve got work, especially if I want to carve out a little time for the Ryder presentation. What time for cooking? I want to give you a hand.”

“After Owen checks out the painting and I see his design for my boat.”

“Sounds good.”

“You go on. I’m going to walk out with Yoda and Pye, get them started on that part of her training.”

Surprised, Sonya glanced down at the sleek little cat. “You’re going to let her outside?”

Cleo answered dryly, “Outside’s an essential aspect of housebreaking, Son.”

“Aren’t you worried she’ll take off?”