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In the days following Donna van Dusen’s arrest, Kat thought about contacting Julie but always ended up talking herself out of it. The teenager’s world had been turned upside down, and she undoubtedly needed time and space to process everything. Kat had to respect that.
It wasn’t until the following Saturday when Julie called, asking if she could come over. Kat readily agreed, then spent the next half hour pacing around the living room, unable to sit still.
Matty and Tom seemed to sense something was up. They stuck to Kat’s side like burrs, determined to be present in case she needed them. Their loyalty made her want to weep with gratitude. She couldn’t imagine having to give up her cats, as Julie had been forced to do with Voldemort.
When the doorbell rang, they followed her to answer it.
“Julie,” Kat said, pleased to see the teenager looked well. “Come in.”
Julie shuffled through the doorway. Tom sniffed her shoes before deciding she would do and proceeding to weave around her ankles.
“That’s Tom,” Kat told her. “He loves people.”
Julie crouched down to pet him. “He’s soft.”
Kat grinned. “In more ways than one.”
Matty, on the other hand, had never been a softie. The tortoiseshell didn’t show any interest in their visitor, watching Tom with disdain as he fell all over himself trying to get Julie’s attention.
Kat leaned her shoulder against the wall. “So, how are you holding up?”
“Okay, I guess.” Julie didn’t look at her, keeping her eyes on Tom. “I—I wanted to thank you.”
“For what?”
“Catching Mom’s killer.”
Kat’s throat tightened. “I’m glad I could help. She deserves justice.”
“Also, thanks for not treating me like a kid.” She peeked up at Kat, looking almost shy. “Most adults avoid talking about my mom with me.”
“It’s not an easy subject to discuss.”
“No, I guess not.”
They lapsed into silence, Tom’s purring the only sound in the apartment.
“Have you heard from Brianna?” Kat finally asked.
“She’s going to go stay with her aunt and uncle in Boston,” Julie told her.
“How is she emotionally? Has she brought up harming herself again?”
“I haven’t talked to her, but Dirk thinks she’ll be okay. He said she’s looking forward to Boston. She’s got, like, a million cousins there.”
Kat nodded, relieved Brianna wouldn’t be alone. The teenager would have a tough road ahead of her, but maybe the change in scenery would do her good. She could only hope so.
“What about Turtle and Tucker?” Kat asked. “Willow and I can help rehome them if they’re not going with her.”
“One of her other aunts is taking in the cats.”
“That’s good.”
Julie stood up, adjusting the hem of her crop top. “I can’t stay. Aunt Elsa’s waiting for me in the car.”
“Okay.” Kat smiled. “Thank you for stopping by. I was worried about you.”
Julie glanced into the apartment corridor, but she made no move to leave. “Maybe someday soon we could try that mentoring thing again.”
“I’d like that.”
The elevator at the end of the common hallway chimed, and a second later Elsa stepped into view.
Julie sighed. “I’m coming.”
“Wait for me in the car, will you?” Elsa said. “I’d like to talk to Kat for a minute.”
Julie glanced between Elsa and Kat as though she’d caught them scheming behind her back. Kat shrugged, just as clueless as Julie as to why Elsa wanted to speak with her.
Tom let out a half whine, half meow, clearly not happy so many humans were around and yet no one was bothering to rub his stomach.
“That’s Tom,” Kat told Elsa. “He likes to have the spotlight.”
Elsa smiled. “I love his markings. He’s very pretty.”
“Thank you.”
Elsa gave Julie a pointed look. Julie spread her hands and strode down the corridor. Kat held her breath as they waited for the ding of the elevator to signal they were alone. She was anxious to hear what Elsa had to say.
Once the elevator departed, Elsa turned to face Kat. “I owe you an apology,” she said.
“Oh?”
“I was rather short with you that day you came by. Talking about Carolyn is hard for me.”
Tom arched his back against Kat’s leg. She lifted him up before he could interrupt the conversation.
Elsa picked at a hangnail. “You know, since you’ve stirred up all this stuff about Carolyn again, I realize how selfish I’ve been. I never meant to be so cold toward Julie. It’s just that she resembles my sister so much it’s almost hard to look at her.”
“That’s not her fault,” Kat said. “And she misses Carolyn as much as you do.”
Elsa nodded. “I know. I know she does. That makes it harder in some ways. How can I help her when we’re both hurting?”
“Maybe you could try grieving together,” Kat said.
“How can I do that?” Elsa fished a tissue out of her pants pocket as her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t even talk about Carolyn without crying.”
“I don’t believe she would think any less of you because of that. And you should come clean about how she reminds you of her mother. She might be relieved to know you don’t hate her.”
Elsa didn’t say anything, but she did appear to consider Kat’s words. Kat took that as a good sign. Perhaps Elsa would be equally receptive to what she had to say next.
“Elsa,” she began, “you realize Julie really loves Voldemort, don’t you?”
Elsa dabbed at her eyes with the tissue. “I know.”
“And Ms. Dearborn offered to give him back whenever Julie wants him.”
Elsa met Kat’s gaze. “You think I should let her have him.”
“I do.”
“Is that really wise?” Elsa twisted the tissue in her hands. “With the cats . . . I’m not sure how they’ll like having a dog around.”
“You could try it out for a while,” Kat suggested. “You won’t know how any of the animals will react until you get them together, right?”
“But that dog is so big . . .”
“Big doesn’t mean aggressive. And you can supervise his interactions with the cats until you trust him enough to be alone with them.”
Elsa stared at the tissue. “It’s not just the cats. I use them as an excuse, but that dog . . . he reminds me of Carolyn, too.” She heaved a sigh and looked up. “But you’re right. It’s time I try to move on.”
Kat grinned. “You’re doing a good thing.” Julie was going to be thrilled.
“I’m scared, Kat.” Elsa’s voice was practically a whisper. “What if I can’t move on? What if it turns out I’m not strong enough for this?”
Kat thought about how she’d said something similar when Willow had first asked her to mentor Julie. Now, she no longer dreaded the thought of helping the teenager find her way in this world. In fact, she was looking forward to it.
Kat hugged Tom closer, comforted by the feel of him purring against her. “You might find you’re strong enough to handle anything, if you just give yourself the chance.”
“I hope you’re right.” Elsa didn’t sound convinced, but Kat probably hadn’t either during that initial conversation with Willow.
“Call if you need help with anything,” Kat told her. “Julie has my number.”
Elsa nodded and took a step backward. “I’ll do that. Thank you.”
Tom reached one paw toward her as though to shake her hand goodbye. Elsa’s laugh as she touched a fingertip to his pink paw pad was a little subdued, but genuine nonetheless. It reminded Kat of Julie’s laugh, and for that one brief moment she had no trouble seeing the family resemblance between them.
She watched as Elsa headed down the hallway. Julie would be waiting for her in the car, the two of them perhaps the only family either of them had left.
And, just maybe, Kat thought, that family was finally on their way out of the darkness.
