Page 33 of Peach Tree Family

Seth stayed with Ace who was buzzing with excitement and trying to share it with the climbing cat. Then Butterfly was allowed out and the first thing she did was climb all over Ace.

"She sure likes to climb. Watch out for her claws," Seth said.

"They've been trimmed," Devina said. "It might not look it, but Butterfly does know the difference between a person and a tree. She won't dig her claws into you."

"She's an outdoor cat?" Theo said.

"I want her to stay with me, not outside," Ace complained.

"She doesn't like to be cooped up, but she'll come back to you," Devina assured him, but Theo looked kind of worried. He must have been thinking the same thing Seth was – what if she didn't come back and Ace got his little heart broken?

They had to hit a pet store after that then deal with the crazy cat climbing all over the truck cabin as they drove back to Peach Tree. Petting would settle her down for a little bit but then she was off. Ace loved it but Theo grumbled the whole way.

"Don't let Butter climb on your brother while he's driving or we'll end up in a ditch," Seth told Ace.

"Don't start with that ditch stuff again," Theo warned him.

"Butter! That's what we're gonna call her," Ace decided.

Back at the house, Seth and Theo were busy unloading, but Ace was busy chasing the cat all around. Finding her way inside, the cat started going from room to room, exploring the house.

"Watch her, Ace. Make sure she doesn't do anything she shouldn't," Theo told him.

Ace was glad to follow the cat while Seth and Ace brought in the stuff they bought. They set up the table and chairs in the living room and two mattresses in Theo and Ace's room, but Seth dropped his mattress in the living room.

"We can leave this here for now, sit on it until it's time for bed," he said to Theo.

"Yeah!" Ace said and he jumped on the mattress.

"That's where we need to put a couch," Theo said, and it seemed like it bothered him that they didn't find one for a good price.

"These folding chairs are pretty comfortable," Seth said as he tested out one of them.

"I was hoping for some real furniture, but these will do for now. And once I get real chairs, these can go out on the porch. After the porch is fixed." Theo sighed. He must have been thinking of everything they still needed to buy and that still needed fixing.

"Time to put away groceries and for me to cook something up," Seth said hoping to cheer him up. Theo went with him into the kitchen to help put things away. "The fridge works and that's good."

"Are you pointing out the bright side to me?" Theo asked him.

"I am. And you can pick what you want for dinner."

"You got those vegetables. We bought a pot. Make a stew," Theo said.

"And there are some biscuits left from the cafe. I'll heat them up in the skillet."

"OK. I have to go lecture Ace about responsibilities of pet ownership. Then I'll be back to help you with the cooking," Theo told him.

"You don't need to do that," Seth said.

"So you don't want help?" Theo said and raised an eyebrow like he was challenging him.

"Umm. You can help if you like," he said and turned away from that look Theo was giving him, like he could see inside him and knew just what Seth wanted. That was something Seth didn't know himself, but it was always nice to have Theo close by.

"The cat was trying to peel the stickers off Ace's new chest," Theo said when he came back.

"The stickers were the whole reason he wanted it."

Theo shut the kitchen door. "I'm keeping this door closed or the cat will be all over the counters. I'd rather not eat cat hair."

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