Chapter 49: Cat's Cradle

In order to help Tom relax a little, Roxanne planned a special outing for the three of them – a special day with her two favorite people. Now that the issues with Baxter and the permit were behind them, they could concentrate on creating happy memories as a family.
Following their morning routine of getting dressed and packing an enormous amount of stuff in a bag for the baby, they were off.
“You’ve been so helpful these last couple of weeks with Eliza. I want to do something special for you,” Roxanne said as she drove them to a surprise destination. Once they arrived, Tom strapped on Eliza in a special baby carrier, and they entered the café.
Inside, Tom’s eyes widened. A dozen or so cats lounged around a cozy coffee shop.
“Surprise,” Roxanne said, waving her hands. “I know you like cats, but always felt like you were too busy to have one of your own, so I brought you here.”
A grey cat with puffy hair rubbed its head on Tom’s pant leg. He knelt down to pet the cat’s head, careful to protect Eliza in her pouch on his chest.
They sat at a table and ordered coffee, watching the cats slink around the tables and chairs. One friendly yellow tabby scooched its way into Tom’s lap and nuzzled itself against Eliza’s back.
Tom looked elated and at ease, watching the graceful felines and stroking their soft fur. Roxanne, being more of a dog person, watched Tom’s eyes twinkle as he examined the cats. She knew he must be thinking about their balletic movements.
Two cats in the corner started swatting at each other, and Tom laughed at their antics. When Eliza started to fuss, Tom handed her to Roxanne who nursed her.
“Thanks for bringing me here,” Tom said. “I appreciate it. I needed a break from work.”
“After all you’ve been doing, you deserve it.” Roxanne gave Tom’s hand a squeeze.
Tom’s phone rang. “Hold on, I should take this,” he said. Roxanne sat back with Eliza.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I have to go. It’s just that we’re supposed to break ground in a few days with the big ground-breaking ceremony, and I’m short-handed.”
“Go, go,” Roxanne waved him away. She tried her best to hide her disappointment.
Tom ran his hand down the back of a wiry black cat before leaving the table and ordering a ride-share. Roxanne knew he had been working hard to keep his big development project on task in addition to helping with Eliza when he could.
His plan included a suite of stores and restaurants with apartments above, along a beautifully manicured boulevard that allowed outdoor dining. The scheme also included several green spaces and a playground for the kids. By making such a project with commercial, recreational, and living space, Tom hoped to promote a family-friendly work environment that even the loan shark agreed, could bring in big revenue.
While Roxanne missed the construction industry, she had her hands full with Eliza and helping with The Hole in the Wall. Looking at her daughter, she was glad to be a mom, but she couldn’t stop herself from trying to help Tom.
Moreover, after her visit from the loan shark’s goon, the success of the project seemed even more imperative. Roxanne was done with the drama, instead preferring to focus on her domestic responsibilities.
With all the permits legally secured, Tom’s next task was making sure he had the right equipment, supplies, and personnel for the job. Naturally, Roxanne called Danny.
“Hey, Danny, my go-to guy,” she said. “Listen, Tom needs some assistance. You know about the groundbreaking ceremony, right? Well, do you think you could help?”
She wanted to make the ceremony a success and traveled to the edge of the city where Tom’s first development project stood. With Eliza strapped in her baby carrier, Roxanne knocked on doors, talking to people about Tom’s new project and invited them to the groundbreaking.
When a kid about 12-years-old answered his door, Roxanne remembered meeting him on her date with Tom. “Hi, David,” Roxanne said. “Remember me?” she asked, referring to the night of her kidnapping when David passed by and offered Tom a secret handshake.
“I remember you, but not the baby,” he said.
“Yeah, she’s new. Anyway, do you think you could help me with a little surprise for Tom?”
“Tom? Tom?” David’s mother said from inside the kitchen. “Anything. We’ll do it,” she said. “Anything for Tom.”
Roxanne’s final destination was a visit to her dad. By the time she walked in the door with Eliza, her back ached and her arms felt heavy, but seeing her dad’s face light up when looking at Eliza lightened her spirit.
“Hi, Pop,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. He grabbed Eliza and stared into her big, round eyes.
“She looks even more beautiful than before,” he said.
“Are you going to say that every time?” Roxanne asked, plopping on the couch.
“No.” Her father sat next to her. “But she’s just lovely. Such a cutie.”
“I know,” Roxanne leaned over and kissed one of Eliza’s feet. “She has Tom’s hair, but my eyes.”
“The best of both worlds.”
Roxanne looked at her father with a slightly sad smile.
“What’s with the sour face?” he asked.
“I know you didn’t mean to gamble all that money,” she said.
“Of course not, but I did.” He blew air on Eliza’s belly, trying to get her to laugh.
Roxanne shook her head and wiped some of her hair from her forehead. “No, dad. You were set up.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, disbelieving.
“It was Baxter.”
Her father patted her arm. “Look, Roxanne. I know you want to pin the blame on someone, but…”
“Dad, I know. I heard it from a good source.”
His usual happy face turned serious. “Listen, Roxanne. I don’t know what you heard or who you heard it from, but I want you to drop it. Everything’s fine now. You and Tom have a beautiful baby, and are developing a great piece of land,” he smiled at Eliza.
“And you have a bar to oversee.” He turned toward Roxanne and wagged his finger. “Don’t go looking for any more trouble. You’ve had enough. Just drop it.”
Despite being a mother herself, she still got scolded from her father. For years, she’d been acting like the parent. In that moment, her father proved he still had both the authority and the wisdom. She realized he was right; she’d had enough drama. She ought to concentrate on her work and her family.
“I will, Dad. But first, I need to ask you a favor.”
“Shoot,” he said.
And that’s how Roxanne set in motion her grand plan for the groundbreaking. With so many people taking part, there was a lot that could go wrong, but Roxanne knew that making Tom happy would be worth the trouble.