Dr. Gautron pulled into his driveway at around ten to six. By now, the sun was starting to set, and the sky had turned to a swirly mishmash of pink and purple. Dr. Gautron turned the car off, took out the keys and unbuckled his seatbelt. Cass unbuckled her seatbelt as well, and stretched. She opened the car door and stepped out, examining Dr. Gautron's house.
Dr. Gautron's house was 2 stories tall. The siding on his house was a light grey colour, and the doors and window panes on his house were white. There were two columns that stretched from the front step all the way up to the second floor balcony, where a table and two chairs were placed out for leisurely time. A large, beautiful glass set of patio doors was centered on the second story, leading out to the balcony. Cass walked around to the gate that lead out to the yard and peered in - it was quite small, and had a vegetable garden in the back.
Cass whipped her head around when she heard Dr. Gautron exit his car and made his way up to the front step. He jingled his keys around in his pocket. Cass walked over to him, standing on his left side. He pulled out the house key and unlocked the front door.
"After you." he gently insisted, smiling.
Cass walked into his house, slipping off his boots and placing them on the mat. Dr. Gautron slipped off his dress shoes and his jacket, which he placed on an ornate coat rack that sat in the corner against the white walls.
Cass looked around the house, her eyes the size of saucers. She was amazed - Dr. Gautron's house was almost as impressive as her father's old one before they went homeless.
"Wow." she mouthed, placing her hand on the banister that led to the lower level of the house. Milo paced near Cass, sniffing the floor and getting acquainted to the environment.
"It's not much, but it fits my needs and qualifications." Dr. Gautron stated. He shrugged his lab coat off and untied his tie.
He placed the tie around his shoulders and undid two buttons on his shirt. He walked over to the sink and washed his hands.
"So, what's the plan? Supper first, I assume?" Cass asked. She pulled out a chair at the dining table and sat down. Milo's head perked up and his ears twitched.
"Yes ma'am. A few, expertly grilled steaks, steamed brocolli and roasted potatoes, courtesy, with the delicious culinary skills, of moi." he replied. He rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt.
Cass fiddled around with the white tablecloth, pulling loose threads from the white fabric. She placed the threads in her pocket instead of littering them on the hardwood floor. Milo intertwined his tail with Cass' chair leg and started to purr. Cass bent down and patted him on the head, gradually making her way down his furry body, by scratching his ears next. She looked up at the walls; Dr. Gautron didn't really have much on the walls, but there were a number of plants. Succlents and herbs sat in small pots on the windowsill. A monstera deliciosa's leaves rustled from the wind that was being let in the window. Cass turned to the other windowsill at the other side of the room - a fully bloomed tiger lily and some small cacti pleasantly sat. She then looked the mainly bare walls - no artwork was put up, but there were four family photos, a small mirror, and some plaques and certificates from university and high school. She looked over at Dr. Gautron, who was cutting potatoes and leaving the steaks to grill.
"How would you like your steak, Cass?" Dr. Gautron asked, interrupting Cass' thoughts.
"Doesn't really matter to me. I'll still eat it, even if it's burnt. Is there something we can give to Milo? He looks hungry."
"I don't have any cat food of any sort since I don't live with any pets. I'm sure he'll be fine with our table scraps or leftovers."
Cass left Dr. Gautron unanswered.
"You don't mind if I put some music on, do you, Cass? It helps me concentrate and sets the mood well. If you don't want any on, I completely understand." he asked.
"Yeah, sure. I don't mind."
Dr. Gautron finished seasoning the potatoes, and he flipped the steaks over to the other side - He walked over to his radio and turned it on, tuning it to a classical music station. He paced back over with a bounce in his step, placing a pot of water on the stovetop to be boiled. Cass resumed petting Milo - he was just about estatic now, his paws kneading on Cass' calves, leaving little holes from his claws in Cass' already tattered pants. Among all the sizzling of the meat and the purring from the cat, Cass could hear wonderful humming coming from Dr. Gautron - it wasn't a very well known fact, but Dr. Gautron was a natural singer, gifted with such a rare and beautiful voice that could put anyone to sleep if he started singing. The humming put Cass in a trance, and, before she knew it, dinner was ready. Dr. Gautron set her plate down in front of her. She looked down at her plate and looked at the delictable food, the scents of her meal melting into a beautiful masterpiece in her nose - by this point, she was almost drooling. Milo sat down beside the table leg when he noticed that dinner was being served. Dr. Gautron pulled out a chair at the other end of the dining table, set his food down and started to cut away at the steak. Cass, on the other hand, was wolfing the steak down without cutting at it. She hadn't had this grand of a meal in eons, and, at that moment, she forgot all of her table manners she was taught in her childhood. Juice from the steak dripped down her chin and onto the tablecloth. Dr. Gautron looked up from his plate and gave Cass a rude look. He understood that she wasn't used to eating in someone's house like this, but he hated improper table manners. He took a sip from his drink, his sharp Adam's apple bobbing up and down in his throat when he swallowed. Without saying a word to Cass, he resumed eating. Milo had his front paws on the side of Cass' knee. She looked down at him, the cat giving her a look of hope when he cocked his head to the side and blinked.
"Oh, right. You haven't had anything to eat ever since I met you. Here, let me get you something.." Cass said, as if the cat could understand her. Dr. Gautron looked up at Cass again when he heard her voice.
Cass finally decided to use her steak knife and cut a small piece of steak for Milo. She picked it up and placed it in Milo's face. Milo sniffed it. Disinterested, he turned away, launching himself back onto the ground.
"Not into meat, eh?" Cass remarked. She popped the cut piece of steak into her mouth.
She debated with herself whether or not to try and give the cat a piece of broccoli. She finally decided that "Yes, for Christ's sake, the cat is starving." She picked a piece of broccoli off of her plate and set it in front of Milo. He inspected it, sniffing it, then pawing it around, then sniffing it again. Finally, once he approved of it, he chomped down on the vegetable, using his right paw to hold down his meal, ripping apart at it, like it was a freshly killed animal carcass.
Dr. Gautron looked down at Milo with a funny look on his face. He cleared his throat, with a fist to his mouth.
"Peculiar little fellow, isn't he? I've never met a cat who likes vegetables that much before." stated Dr. Gautron.
Cass gave Milo two more pieces of broccoli. She had her own stomach to fill too, so she saved more for herself. The two finished their meals, Dr. Gautron collecting plates, cutlery, and glasses. He opened up the dishwasher and placed the dishes inside, kicking it closed with his foot. Dr. Gautron lead Cass, with Milo following close behind, to one of the spare bedrooms. It was relatively empty, with only a dresser, a bed, a side table and a few decorations occupying the room. Cass closed the door of the spare bedroom behind her, then taking a running jump onto her bed. She sank into the softness and comfiness of the sheets, blankets, and mattress. She sat up and slipped of her jacket, and then her hat. Milo hopped up onto the end of the bed and curled himself up into a ball of purple fur. Cass slipped herself under the covers and slept soundly, the sound of the far away city soothing her as she fell into her slumber.
