Page 123 of Forfeits

Dr. Ortiz gave Annie a kind look. “It was most likely hypoproteinemia—or protein-losing enteropathy.”

We gave her blank looks.

“We call it PLE for short. It’s when an animal’s body isn’t absorbing the protein from food properly.”

“Oh,” Annie said. “She was eating a lot. I gave her what she wanted.”

“Yes, that’s why you wouldn’t have noticed that anything was wrong. But I’m afraid her body wasn’t getting the nutrients—specifically, the proteins—it needed, and there would have been fluid build-up, which is very hard on kittens as young as this. I’m so sorry.”

“So, it wasn’t anything we did or didn’t do?” I wanted that made clear, so Annie wouldn’t feel bad that she’d missed the signs.

“No. This is, unfortunately, quite common in young cats, and most people don’t notice anything until it’s too late…as in this case.”

Annie nodded and did seem reassured. But then her face fell and she looked up at me.

“Oh, Fletcher. What are we going to tell Lucy?”

* * * *

I had texted Aiden from the waiting room.

Long story. Annie’s kitten collapsed and died. We are at the vet.

He had replied with a shocked face emoji.

Keep me updated.

I texted him while Annie finished up at the counter. I’d offered to help pay for the disposal and the fees, which added up to more than two hundred dollars, but Annie had refused, thanking me but indicating that she could pay it.

I’m driving Annie home. I told her we’d break the news to Lucy.

Horrified face emoji. Then sobbing face emoji. Then three hearts.

At least I wouldn’t have to break Lucy’s heart by myself.

Btw, she’s not going to try to get custody anymore.

A whole line of confetti emojis.

I smiled in response and finally took in everything that had happened over the past few hours. Maybe a kitten’s life was a high price to pay for the clarity of a crisis, but I was so fucking relieved.

Lucy, however, would be devastated.

* * * *

Aiden came over to be emotional support for both me and Lucy.

She was very upset when I told her, but she seemed more worried about Annie than anything.

“God, poor Granny! Is she okay?”

“Yes. She’s going to be fine. She was very upset, and she cried a lot. But she’s a tough cookie.”

“I’m glad you were there, Dad. You always know what to say.”

I glanced at Aiden, who was looking at me with so much affection I almost couldn’t take it.

“Well…I hope I was some comfort to her.”

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