Vince headed for the stairs. I never knew anyone who preferred stairs to the elevator the way he did, but if that was what made him happy…
“I know you’ll want to talk to Paul, but do me a favor and wait for him to call you. He’s been up for almost twenty-seven hours, and I told him to get some sleep. I’ll have him call you when I get there.”
I touched his shoulder. “Thanks, Vince.”
“Don’t make a big deal of it.”
“Okay. But Vince? Thank you.”
We climbed up to the third floor, and he took out a key ring with a bunch of keys on it. He inserted one key after another into the six locks on his door. That was new; at least they hadn’t been there last fall. Something else I didn’t understand, but it wasn’t my business, so I didn’t say anything.
“Come on in.”
I followed him in and glanced around.
“I have to say we did a great job on this place.” And I was pretty damn proud of it. “It’s so much less…pink.”
“Yeah, it is, isn’t it? Pita!”
“That’s your cat’s name?”
“It’s temporary. I’m giving her to a friend’s mother for Mother’s Day.” He stuck his pinkies in the corners of his mouth and whistled.
“That isn’t the way to call a cat.”
“No?” He laughed as the cat appeared and bounded toward us.
“I should have known you’d have your own way with cats. She’s a beauty. And don’t tell Miss Su I said that. What kind is she?” She was a pretty large, longhaired cat, with a long, fluffy tail.
He rolled his eyes, but said, “The vet said she’s a Maine Coon.”
Like I knew that breed from any other…except the American Bobtail, which was what Miss Su was. “Do you have a carrier?”
“Yeah. It’s in my closet.” He went to get it, and I crouched down to make friends with the gray tabby. Vince stopped and turned back. “Look, is there going to be a problem with your cat?”
“Miss Su? Nah, she’s a sweetheart. I’ll introduce them gradually, but if they don’t get along, would it be all right if I asked the ladies downstairs to mind Pita?”
“That’ll be fine. She has to get used to women.” Had he muttered, “Who won’t run out on her?”
“Vince?”
He shook his head. “Her food’s in the pantry as well, and she has toys scattered throughout the condo. Take whatever you think you’ll need. I’ll go get her bed and the carrier.”
* * * *
Within ten minutes the back seat of the Corvair was piled high with everything Pita would need.
“Um…brush?”
“What?”
“She’s gonna need a brush to keep her coat in good shape.”
“Shit.”
I patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll pick one up. Uh…how long do you think you’ll be gone?”
“As long as it takes,” he said in a cold voice, reminding me this wasn’t a business trip, it was personal, and he wouldn’t be back until Spike was home.
“If we forgot anything, I’ll buy it.”
“Thanks.” He ran his finger against the mesh at the front of the carrier, and Pita rubbed her check against it. “I won’t be gone long, cat. Be a good girl and don’t make me look like a bad dad.”
“Uh…” I felt my face heat up. “Wills and I are talking about starting a family once we’re married.”
“Yeah?”
“The thing is…do you think I’ll be a good dad?”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“Well…the only thing my own father ever taught me was how to throw out a son who was gay.”
“Jesus, Theo. What do you think you were to all the boys who were in your family?”
“Huh? I only have a sister.”
He gave me one of those looks that said he was within an inch of smacking the back of my head, but I had no clue what he was talking about. “All the rent boys you looked out for over the years?”
“They were part of our stable.”
“They were your family. You did good by them, and you’ll do great by any kid you have. What does Matheson have to say about it?”
“Um…pretty much what you said, except about the boys. He…uh…he doesn’t really know about those years.”
“He doesn’t? He struck me as more clued-in than that.”
“Ass.” I poked his shoulder. “Of course he knows what I did, but I never really talked about Bud and Mick or Paul and Spike or Tangerine or the Kid or even Connor.”
“Well, that’s your call, but Matheson obviously has confidence in you.”
“But—”
“Look, Theo, this hypothetical child isn’t in your lives yet. Worry about it then. I’ve got to get going or I’ll miss my flight.”
“Okay, Vince. Keep me posted, okay?”