“Well, bread made with sawdust and sand would taste pretty good with that soup,” I pointed out. “But thank you for the compliment. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Parker looked to the cat still curled asleep in the corner of the settee.

“Unless I missed seeing him earlier, it appears you have a new guest.”

“I found him under the boardwalk when I came in. I think he must have been abandoned—he’s not wild. But he’s been on his own for a while and is in pretty poor condition,” I explained.

“Have you graced him—it is a him, isn’t it—with a name yet?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No, not yet. In fact I haven’t even thought about keeping him. But as poor as he is, it wouldn’t be right to try to shuffle him off somewhere else.”

“Then it looks like you’ve picked up another stray, Kennesaw. And if that’s the case—he needs a name,” Parker replied.

I looked at the little sleeping ball of fur and thought for a second. What’s a good name for a tabby? I asked myself. What’s a good name for a little waterfront cat? A salt marsh cat—an island cat. And then it struck me.

“His name is Tybee,” I pronounced.

“Tybee,” Parker repeated. “Tybee—yes, that’s an excellent name. Tybee.”

“And if you’ll lend a hand with the cleanup, I need to run out and get him a few things,” I said as I rose from my seat.

“No, I’ll take care of the washing up—it won’t take but a minute. You go get the little guy what he needs for his new home, and we’ll see him properly settled in when you return.

“All right,” I said. “You need anything while I’m out?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I can’t think of a thing I need.”

“I won’t be long—you make yourself comfortable,” I said as I grabbed my hat and jacket. “And help yourself to the Irish—you know where it is.”

I was back within a half hour with everything a cat needs to set up housekeeping. Tybee was still asleep when I came back into the cabin, but when I popped the lid on a tin of cat food, he leaped from the settee and came and curled himself around my ankles.

I only gave him half a can of food this time. I was afraid of feeding him too much at first. I know what it’s like to overeat after you’ve been almost starved to death. It’s a jolt to the system and in some cases is harmful. I would watch his intake carefully over the next few days and bring him along slowly.