The Illusion of Danger

Chapter 46

It had been two weeks since Mordecai had sent his letter and was expecting a reply any day now. There weren't any holidays or anything that would have slowed the process of delivery, so it was as the tuxedo was returning home from work on Wednesday the nineteenth that he stopped to check the mail. The moment he opened the box, he noticed that there was a bit more mail than there usually would have been so he grabbed the contents of his mailbox and started up the stairs.
On his way up, his neighbor was on his way down.

"Mr. Heller."
The man said with a tip of his hat; a good sign that Rocky and Calvin had been behaving. There hadn't been any problems yet and Mordecai knew this man to be the kind to voice his concerns without hesitation.

"Mr. Berk."
Mordecai nodded in reply as they swiftly passed each other and didn't look back. Putting his key in the door and stepping into the safety of his living quarters, the tuxedo started to remove his coat and hat. The sound of the radio could be heard playing softly from the parlor.

Rocky and Calvin had been playing cards and listening to the radio when the older tabby's ear flicked to the sound of the door being unlocked.

"Mordecai's home!"
His tail swished excitedly as he dropped his cards on the couch in front of his cousin.

"DON'T YOU DARE PEEK, I'LL KNOW!"
With the threat installed, he slipped off the couch and limped as fast as he could to the door to greet his lover. The younger tabby made a mocking face at his cousin in irritation and rolled his eyes.

"Mordecai! You're home!"
He waited until the man turned around to attack him with a firm hug.
"I've missed you. How was your day?"

"Hello, darling."
The tuxedo wrapped his arms around Rocky in return with an added kiss to the cheek only because Calvin wasn't in sight.

Rocky purred happily when the affection was returned.

"All I can say is that I'm glad I won't have to go back to work tomorrow."
He said before pressing another kiss to Rocky's other cheek and removing the letters from his pocket as he pulled away, waving the envelopes a bit.
"I think I have gotten my answers today."

"You have the day off! Aces!"
He gave the man another kiss on the cheek, then stared at the mail in the other's hands.
"You got a response from your sister!? That's wonderful! I can't wait to see what she said!"

"Would you like to open it together or would you mind if I went ahead and read it to you later when we're alone?"
Mordecai asked as he put the mail back in his pocket and started to guide Rocky back into the parlor.

"I'd love to read it together if you don't mind, but I know you must be anxious to read it so if you don't want to wait that's fine too."
Rocky's tail wagged, eager to know what was in the letter.
"I can kick Freckle out if you want!?"
His eyes dilated and his face beamed.

"It's okay. It's only the details of my mother I'm looking for right now. I won't read anything other than that without you."
The tuxedo stated as they returned to the sitting room, Calvin looking up from his curled-up position on the couch.

"I won't be able to stay for supper this time, so I should get going in a few minutes anyway."
The orange tabby said as he set his cards down and positioned himself to stand.

Even though it may have seemed rude, Rocky was excited to see his cousin leave so that he and Mordecai could read the letter together. He gave the orange tabby a great big smile in thanks. Rocky's hand squeezed Mordecai's arm in excitement.
"Thanks for keeping me company again today cousin. I'd have gone crazy from boredom."

"Sure. I'll see you later."
Calvin nodded as he moved past the two men and toward the door.
The moment the door closed again, Mordecai took a deep breath and looked at his partner with a raised brow.
"How did things go? There wasn't a word from Mr. Berk, which I appreciate."