Like Cats and Dogs by Kate McMurray (scary books to read TXT) 📗

and dug in. Lauren took Hank’s leash and held it tight after Hank started sniffing at Sunday’s crate. Hank didn’t seem to be anything but curious, but Sunday retreated to the back of the crate and stared at Hank.

“You want me to bring him back inside?” Caleb asked. “Rachel can watch him while I eat.”

“Nah, it’s fine. He probably likes being outside.”

Indeed, Hank lost interest in Sunday when a woman with a beagle walked by. Lauren let the leash out a little so that Hank and the beagle could sniff and bark at each other.

Then two familiar faces approached the table.

Caleb didn’t recognize them at first, or didn’t believe what he was seeing. The row of men in dark suits and sunglasses with earpieces behind them gave something away, though. Then Lauren said, “Wow, Mayor Martinez, Senator Schmidt. Thank you so much for stopping by.”

So that was something significant. The mayor of New York City and one of New York’s United States senators were just standing right there at the table.

Hank went looking for attention and barked at the senator. “Who is this friendly guy?” Senator Schmidt asked.

“That’s Hank,” said Caleb.

“Can I pet him?”

“Absolutely. I believe he would love that.”

Hank’s tongue rolled out of his mouth as the senator scratched his ears.

“So tell us about your business,” said the senator.

“We’re a café that allows customers to have coffee and pastries and then sit with cats in our back room,” said Lauren. “We’ve found hanging out with the cats is good for bringing down your stress levels.”

“We also do cat adoptions,” said Paige. “Our goal is to find forever homes for all the cats in the café.”

“Except Sadie,” said Lauren. “She’s kind of our mascot.”

“What a clever idea,” said Senator Schmidt. “I’ve heard about animal cafés in Japan.”

“I went to an owl café in Tokyo once,” said Mayor Martinez.

“And business is good?” asked the senator.

“Yes, very!” Lauren fidgeted like she was nervous, but it was pretty neat to be talking to high-ranking politicians about one’s business. “Oh, and this is Caleb Fitch. He’s one of the veterinarians at the clinic next door. We work with the vet clinic a lot.”

Caleb stood and shook hands with each man. He felt a little overwhelmed.

“Hank is Caleb’s dog,” Lauren said.

Mayor Martinez chuckled. “So there’s a bit of a cats versus dogs rivalry, huh? Which is better, cats or dogs?”

Caleb said “dogs” at the same time Lauren said “cats.”

“We’re very excited to see such a wide range of successful, flourishing businesses on Whitman Street,” said the Mayor, still chuckling. “Anything else on this block we should be sure to see?”

“Julie’s Closet across the street,” said Paige. “It’s a really nice thrift store. The owner is picky about what she’ll take on consignment, but you can get some amazing deals there if you’re shopping for clothes.”

“Stories,” said Evan. “They sell new and used books.”

“Bloom’s is the best florist in the neighborhood,” said Lauren. “And Stitches, the yarn store over there? They’re very popular.”

“I’m glad so many independent businesses are thriving here,” said Mayor Martinez.

Caleb had to swallow the snort. The development of downtown Brooklyn meant rising rents, to the point that a lot of mom-and-pop businesses were getting pushed out of the area. Whitman Street was like a unique bubble, where these little businesses could still thrive…for now. The chain pharmacy on the corner and the fancy boutique gym across the street were signs that corporate giants were encroaching, too. Some parts of the street were populated mostly by banks and cell phone stores—the sorts of businesses that could afford the astronomical rents. Not to mention that empty café across the street that would surely be some new chain restaurant now that a big developer had gotten a hold of it.

But why burst the mayor’s bubble today?

This building at least was owned by an eccentric rich woman who loved animals enough to want animal-centric businesses occupying her first-floor storefronts.

Speaking of the devil, Diane breezed outside then, floating out from the residential entrance to the building. “Oh, Marco, it’s lovely to see you.” She walked right up to the mayor, and they kissed each other’s cheeks. “I see you’ve met some of my fine young employees.”

“This cat café must have been your idea,” said Mayor Martinez.

“Yes, it was.” Diane chuckled. “Lauren does an amazing job running it, though.”

The mayor and the senator left a short time later to talk to some of the other businesses along Whitman Street, leaving Caleb feeling a bit like he’d been integrated into the fabric of the neighborhood a little. Diane even turned toward him and said, “Hanging out with the girls today instead of seeing patients?”

“We had some cancellations, so I’m checking out the festival,” he said.

“The street closures are probably making it hard to get over here if you’re traveling by car.”

“I imagine so.”

Diane nodded thoughtfully. Hank sat at her feet and let out a little “whumpf” to get her attention. She smiled and pet his head. “Hi, Hank. How are you, big fella? I hope you’re not thinking about trying to get any of the cats?”

Sunday meowed as if to register her displeasure.

Diane laughed. “Oh, I do enjoy festivals like this, though. It feels like spring has finally arrived. That was a hell of a winter, wasn’t it?”

It certainly had been. Caleb nodded. “I’m glad it’s over.”

Diane pat his shoulder. “Well, have a good afternoon with my girls from the Cat Café. I’m going to go find a funnel cake.”

Caleb took a deep breath and shook his head as she walked away. “I should probably get back to work and give Rachel the rest of these empanadas,” he said to Lauren. He reached out his hand to take Hank’s leash.

Lauren handed it over. “All right. We’ll be here until sundown if you get bored again. Then Pop is hosting a party for the vendors who participated in the street fair today, so Evan and I plan to get our martini on if you want to join us.”

“I’ll think about