Page 28 of The Matchmaker and the Marine

Melinda leaned back in her chair and smiled back. “You might be right.”

Chapter 12

Adam was driving home when he realized he had forgotten the paper with Beth’s phone number and email at Melinda’s. He slowed and clicked on his blinker, and pulled a U-turn in the road. Should I call Mel to let her know I’m coming back? It’ll be quicker just to drop by.

A few minutes later he parked on the street in front of her house. He was walking up the sidewalk when he heard a soft mewling sound. Taking a look around, he noticed a cardboard box next to Mel’s garbage can. He waited. He heard the faint sound again. If it hadn’t been quiet, he would have missed it altogether.

Moving closer, he knelt down and pulled back the flaps of the box. Sitting inside was a very tiny gray-striped kitten. By the size of it, it couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old. His little eyes looked up and locked on Adam. He was shivering and cried again.

Adam reached inside and brought the kitten to his chest. “Hey buddy,” he crooned, “what are you doing out here?”

The tiny bundle of fur shook in his hands. He tucked the little guy inside his shirt to warm him up. He glanced around. Was anyone lurking who might have left the box? Not seeing a soul, he walked up Mel’s front steps and knocked.

The front door swung open. She greeted him with an easy smile. “Hey there. I thought you left.”

Mewl. Mewl. The kitten continued to cry as he poked its head up under Adam’s chin.

Adam pointed to the kitten. “I came back to get Beth’s information and I found this little guy.”

Taking his arm, Melinda pulled Adam into the house. “Where on earth did you find him?”

He jerked his head toward the curb. “In that box next to the garbage can.”

In a carefully controlled voice, she said, “This sweet baby was left for the garbage man?”

“Yeah. He wouldn’t have survived long; it’s going to get cold tonight.”

“I don’t know anyone in the neighborhood whose cat had a litter. Someone just dumped him, like trash,” Melinda said. “Go into the kitchen, I’ll get a towel for you to wrap him in.”

Adam did as she asked, all the while talking to the kitten, reassuring him that he was safe. Inside his blood boiled. He had zero tolerance for anyone who abandoned an animal, let alone one this vulnerable. It would have surely died if left undiscovered.

Melinda came around the corner and handed him a small towel. “Here you go.”

Adam extracted the kitten from the front of his shirt. It cried as he wrapped it in the towel. “Ouch, little guy, your nails are like razors.”

She chuckled. “You might as well give it up, he’s attached to you now.”

Adam looked at the little face and melted. “In more ways than one.” He looked up. “Do you want to keep him?”

Melinda shook her head. “No. I’m not much for pets.” Adam saw a funny look cross over her face. He wondered if that was the real reason.

“Have you had pets before?”

Melinda walked behind the counter and folded a dishtowel and then set it aside. “I grew up with a cat and a dog.” She smiled slightly. “But they got older and passed away. It was heartbreaking.”

“It is hard. But don’t you think having a pet would be nice?”

Melinda avoided the question and said, “It’s obvious you’ve been adopted, so what are you going to call him or her?”

Adam stroked the top of the kitten’s head. “I’m not sure I’m going to keep him. I’ve never been much of a cat person, although I do like them. I’m more of a big dog kind of guy.”

Melinda grinned. “Yeah, right.” She reached out and scratched under the kitty’s chin. A soft purr was the response. “He’s keeping you.”

“I wonder when he ate last. He’s too young to be away from his momma.” He looked at Melinda. “Any idea what to feed him?”

“No. I’ll grab my laptop and we can look it up.” Melinda walked to her office. Adam settled down on a barstool and stroked the tiny puffball.

“Here we go.” Melinda came back into the room, her laptop open and the screen glowing. She placed it on the counter and clicked a few keys opening an internet search window. “Okay, it says here the kitten needs to see a veterinarian. Since that isn’t practical at the moment, he needs to be fed every two to three hours.”

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