Catch As Cat Can

                "You're still angry with me and I've done all but grovel, and I repeat for the thousandth time, he was separated from you. Separated."

                Ignoring this because she didn't believe BoomBoom's version of the timing of the affair, Harry plunged in."Well, it hurt like hell. And just why didn't you stay with him?"

                "I could never be a veterinarian's wife."

                Truer words were never spoken. Not only could BoomBoom not stand the schedule of an equine vet, those calls for colic coming right in the middle of a romantic evening, she needed more position, more power, more money.

                BoomBoom's affair with Pharamond "Fair" Haristeen, DVM, owed something to putting herself back together after the shock of her young husband's sudden death. To her credit, though, she never used her loneliness as an excuse.

                On Fair's part, the affair was a flight from responsibility, pure and simple. He realized it. Broke it off after six months and went into therapy-a tremendously difficult thing for him to do, to ask for help. After the first year of therapy, he begged his ex-wife's forgiveness. He still hoped to win Harry back. She was the best mate he could find and he knew it. She understood horses. She understood him. She expected to work hard in this life and what she asked in return was a partner who also worked hard, remained faithful, and had a good sense of humor. He knew he could do that now.

                She remained diffident, although at times she would be pulled back toward him not just emotionally but physically, and that only stirred the pot. Not that she told BoomBoom but Susan knew, of course, and Mrs. Hogendobber suspected.

                The animals remained discreet on the subject.

                Harry, silent for a while, finally spoke."What I don't get is why you won't leave me alone? Why is it so important that we be- something?"

                "Because we're part of one another's lives. We grew up together. And because we're women and women are smarter than men about these things."

                "I don't think I'm smarter than a man about infidelity."

                "But he wasn't unfaithful, Harry. You were separated." BoomBoom made this point again, as though speaking to a slow child.

                "Can we table this?" Harry rolled her eyes heavenward.

                "You've been tabling it for years. Surely we can coexist. We work on all the same projects."

                "So does everyone else. It's a small town," Harry said peevishly.

                "We hunt together, we play golf and tennis together."

                "I hardly ever play golf and tennis. I haven't got the time." Tally fidgeted.

                "Okay." BoomBoom took a deep breath."Will you be Diego Aybar's date?"

                "That's his name?"

                "Diego Aybar. And trust me, he is handsome, full of energy- then if lightning doesn't strike, you'll enjoy his company. Please say yes, Harry. I know he'll like you and it will be an unforgettable weekend for all of us."

                "Fair asked me to the Wrecker's Ball. I could go to everything but that and I'm parade coordinator for the festival"-she paused-"but you know that. 'Course once that last float pushes ff-"

                "Say yes," Pewter meowed."A little shake-up in the status quo can't hurt."

                "All status and no quo." Mrs. Murphy watched her human struggle with conflicting emotions, the most obvious being mistrust of BoomBoom.

                "Harry, if you don't like this, if you suffer through the weekend I'll buy you that new Wilson tennis racquet everyone is raving about. Then you can beat me."

                "I beat you anyway. You don't have to bribe me, BoomBoom."

                "Well?"

                "Clothes?"

                "God, she's a hard nut to crack." Pewter exhaled.

                "And lacking in all spontaneity but I love her," Mrs. Murphy purred as she leaned into Pewter who'd come up right next to her.

                "Don't you two make a pretty picture, but I'm next to Mom and you aren't."

                Rising to the little dog's challenge, the cats leapt onto the back of the sofa. They plopped down behind Harry's head.

                "It will be fun. All you need is a spring dress for the tea. Your white evening gown looks lovely on you. You need only one new dress. I know how you hate to shop."

                "That evening gown was Mother's."

                "Classic. Christian Dior classic. Your mother had fabulous taste."

                "And no money. She won the gown." Harry smiled, remembering her mother and her pride in the gown that she had, in fact, won in a contest to design the Christmas Ball for the United Way. Christian Dior, a friend of Tally's-Big Mim's aunt who knew everyone and anyone-put up the gown as a reward.

                "Come on. It will wake up Fair. He has no competition."

                Harry uncrossed her arms."That's a fact." Her eyebrows twitched together a moment."All right, BoomBoom. I'll do it. I don't exactly know why I'm doing it but I'm doing it."

                "Thank you."

                "Spring fever," Pewter laconically said, a small burp following.

                "Excuse yourself, pig." Mrs. Murphy reached out and touched Pewter on the shoulder.

                "Excuse me. Spring fever."

                "Pewter, what are you talking about?" Tucker wanted an answer. She hated it when the cats got "airy," as she called it.

                "Spring fever. That s why Harry is going out with this new guy."