It was nearly 11 pm by the time we had retrieved our luggage from Carousel 30, gotten a cab out in front of the United baggage claim, and were dropped off in the dark to make our way along the side of the garage, unlock the door, and let ourselves in.

If we had a dog, and arrived home late at night after a week away, I suspect our dog would smell us coming and, hearing the outside door to the garage open, its tail would start beating out a wild happy rhythm, and it would be waiting, just inside the door, to shower us with sloppy kisses while running in circles around us and barking excitedly as soon as we stepped into the house.

But we have cats. We unlocked the door to the garage from outside, turned on the garage light, pulled our suitcases in, and then locked the outside door behind us. Took the few steps to the door into the house, and while fumbling for the key, called out fair notice of our arrival, calling out the names of the four cats, letting them know we were HOME!

I cracked the door open, prepared in case a cat might try to dart past us and out into the garage.
There were no cats there to greet us. None. Zero for four.

So I disarmed the security system, turned on lights, and we walked in. Not a cat in sight, despite our calling for them.
Romeo was waiting, stretched out on the futon in our front bedroom. He’s too old and infirm to hide. He cried out a greeting as he saw us.

That was it.

I believe my next cat sighting came when I walked back to our bedroom, and saw the rear end of a big orange cat as it somehow scrambled and shoved its bulk under the bed to hide. I didn’t think Kinikini could possible fit under there any more. But where there’s a will….

At this point, I had the sighting of Kinikini’s rear end, and both calicos were still missing in action.

We retreated to the kitchen to clean up the dishes that had served up the cats’ dinner, check what we could find to eat, and pour a glass of wine. Then we waited.

It probably took close to ten minutes before Bessie finally became the first cat to welcome us home. I think she apepared from a hiding place in our pantry/storeroom. She appeared cautiously from her hidey-hole, ready to run back into the shadows if necessary, but she sniffed out enough information to grudgingly accept us as reasonable facsimiles of the people who left a week ago. Although she approached, her body language said the jury was still out and no final verdict had yet been issued.

We had been home close to an hour before Kali and Kinikini came slinking out of hiding, still ready to take cover if we made any wrong moves.

By this morning, they were properly welcoming. Kali walked on me several times before I was willing to be awake. But as I got out of bed, I didn’t see either Kali or Kinikini. Then I turned around and looked back. There they were on the cat tree. Kali on the middle perch, Kinikini at the time. Watching. Waiting. And then, finally, welcoming.

Here’s Ms. Bessie, staying close by this morning, not willing to let us get out of her sight.