“Are you hungry?” Ashley asked. “Or do you want to look around first?”

James already knew what to expect. Not only had Ashley sent him pictures of the furniture she was looking at to involve him in the selection process, but she’d sent him pictures of each room afterward. He was more interested in food than exploring rooms he’d already seen through pictures anyway. He hadn’t had time to eat since the packers and movers had arrived at his apartment during the mid-morning.

“Let’s eat,” he said.

Ashley nodded and led the way toward the kitchen. “Come on then.”

James and José followed, stepping into a chestnut-themed kitchen, complete with a chestnut-colored breakfast table that seated six. There was a covered pot on the stove; and the table was already set with place mats, plates, silverware, cups, and a pitcher of water at the center.

Ashley grabbed a plate off the table and went to the stove, dropping a generous helping of cheesy macaroni onto the plate with the serving spoon left laying across the pot’s lid. Then she sat down, poured herself a cup of water, and waited.

James and José followed suit, serving themselves and then sitting down, too. In silence, the trio began to eat their meal, but the quiet didn’t last long.

“When will you start with the school?” José asked.

“Next week,” James replied.

“What about your things?” Ashley asked. “When will they arrive?”

“Saturday morning,” James said.

“Saturday?” Ashley repeated in surprise. “Why not tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow’s Friday,” he reminded her. He didn’t want to miss Jumu’ah because he had to stay by the house and supervise moving men.

She—and José—needed no further explanation. They both knew the significance of Friday to James.

She nodded. “Right. I’ll try to come by Saturday evening to help you unpack.”

James assumed José would tag along. If he had duty that day, he’d probably stop by as soon as he got off work. He wasn’t quite sure what José’s schedule was, though he had no doubt that his sister probably knew it like the back of her hand. He’d be very surprised if she didn’t.

He nodded his agreement. “Sure.”

The table fell into silence again, until José spoke, addressing Ashley, “Are we on for a movie later?”

Ashley shook her head. “Not tonight. I’m going out for a while.”

“Where?” he asked. “I’ll come with you.”

Reluctance crossed her face. “Not this time, José.”

José narrowed his eyes suspiciously and stared at her, and she looked away uncomfortably. He sighed and dropped his eyes to his plate. “Another one, huh? When were you going to tell me?”

James picked up José’s meaning quickly and inwardly groaned. Ashley was dating again. He wisely made no comment. José usually said more than enough anyway.

Ashley shrugged. “Eventually. What does it matter? It’s not like you ever approve.”

“Nope.” José grinned. “If you want someone I approve of, I can set you up.”

A look of horror crossed Ashley’s face before she shook her head. “No, thank you. I can find my own dates.”

José smiled and said nothing.

After the meal was over, the table was cleared, and Ashley made her excuses. “I have to go. I don’t think you need me to look around, do you?”

James shook his head. “No.”

“I’ll try to come by on Saturday,” she promised. Then she grabbed her bag from the den, hugged her brother goodbye, and left.

When the door closed behind her, James and José were left standing in the hall.

“Know anything about this one?” James asked with a sigh.

“Not yet,” his friend replied. “But I will.”

James nodded. Then he left the entrance hall to wander through the house. He’d already seen the den and kitchen, so he moved toward the bedroom wing, aware of José’s footsteps following.

The master bedroom was just as it had appeared in the pictures Ashley had sent him. He had a mahogany bedroom suite that included a king-sized bed, cabinet, two nightstands, and a dresser. She had furnished one other room as a guest bedroom with a queen-sized bed, cabinet, dresser, nightstands, and a desk and chair. The third room seemed to have been set up as Dolly’s room since her litter box, cat toys, and a basket had been set up in there. He’d seen her food and water dishes in the kitchen.

Dolly was laying on her side in the basket when he looked into the room, and she got up and stretched as he and José stood by the door. It was when she started waddling toward them that he noted her swollen sides.

He stared at the enormous cat. Can a cat gain that much in so little time? “What on earth have you two been feeding her?” he asked José. “She’s double the size she was when I last saw her.”

A spark of amusement lit in José’s dark eyes. “Your cat’s pregnant, Curtis.”