Page 133 of Forfeits

“Ew. Peach pie?”

“I bought brownies,” I said. “Go say hello to your grandparents.”

“Oh, phew,” she said, heading into the living room.

Aiden came over to give me a kiss. “I happen to love peach pie.”’

“Oh my God!” Lucy screamed from the other room.

Aiden gave me a curious look. I shrugged.

“It’s fine. They already cleared it with me.”

“Cleared what?” Aiden asked as Lucy came running into the kitchen holding a gray tabby kitten to her chest. The dogs had followed and were sniffing the poor cat, who was looking rather unnerved and confused.

“They got me another kitten!” Lucy said, her eyes glistening.

“Wow,” Aiden murmured, glancing doubtfully my way.

“It’s okay. It’s staying here.”

“It’s living here?” Lucy shouted. The dogs started barking.

“Yes, but you have to clean the litter box. I’m not touching that,” I said, pointing the knife I was using to spread garlic butter at her.

“I will. I will! Oh my God, thank you Granny and Grandpa!” Lucy yelled, holding the kitten up. “Isn’t he gorgeous? I’m going to name him Mando! Or should I call you Grogu?” she said, turning the cat so she could see its face.

“I like Mando,” Aidan said, grinning now, as Annie came into the kitchen.

“Hello, Aiden,” Annie said.

“Annie,” Aiden said with a smile. “How are you?”

She shrugged, returning Aiden’s friendly smile. “I can’t complain.”

“That’s not true.” Brian’s voice sounded from the other room. “You complain all the time.”

I smiled, and Aiden laughed.

“So, a new kitten, huh?” Aiden said.

“This one’s a bit older,” Annie said. “And Fletcher is a fantastic dad and dog owner. I’m sure little…Mando?…will fit right in.”

The kitten tried to squiggle free, but Lucy held on to him.

“You’d better put him in the spare room and shut the door. There’s already a litter box and water bowl up there,” I said. “We can introduce him to the dogs properly tomorrow, after he’s had a chance to smell them.

“Okay!” Lucy said, disappearing with the dogs. Annie followed her out, as Brian could be heard greeting the dogs in the other room.

“It’s gonna be hard getting Lucy down here for supper,” Aiden said.

“Yeah. But worth it.”

“And worth all the hassle of cat ownership?”

“Please,” I said. “Compared to dogs, cats are easy.”

Aiden grinned. “Tell me that again in a couple of months.”

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