Little Carter turns onto his side and stares at her, then reaches out and touches her face. “You look like Daddy sometimes.”
She takes his hand in hers, her eyes watering, and kisses his fingertips. “So do you.”
I ponder leaving quietly instead of interrupting, but the hellion in my palm won’t be ignored. She lets out a wild mewl, and Apollonia and Carter both turn to me.
“Is that a—”
“Kitty!” Carter squeals and scrambles to his feet.
Apollonia rolls over and sits up, her eyes on the furball in my hand.
“I was going to toss this rude thing out the door, but I thought perhaps you might want to see her before I did.”
“Don’t you dare!” Apollonia jumps to her feet and hurries over.
Carter reaches out and rubs the kitten’s head.
“Careful, she bites, and her claws are like little needles.”
“She’s an angel.” Apollonia sounds offended. “Here.” She holds out her hands, and I transfer the squirming fuzzball to her.
The kitten immediately climbs up her shirt and nestles on her shoulder under her hair.
“She likes you.” Carter jumps up and down. “Can I hold her?”
“Of course you can.” She gently pulls the kitten away and hands her to Carter. “Be gentle. Always gentle. Like this.” She demonstrates with light strokes along the now-purring kitten’s back.
“Like this?” He mimics her.
“Good.” She nods as he sits on the floor and cradles the kitten in his arms.
“What’s her name?” She looks up at me, and right then I have the overwhelming urge to kiss her hard until she’s out of breath.
Perhaps she feels the same, because her gaze darts to my mouth.
I lick my lips. “Well, as the lioness around here, I suppose you should do all feline naming.”
Her smile lights up my world, my heart, my life. And it’s then that I know, with no doubt whatsoever, that Apollonia and I are meant to be forever. That every moment has led us here--from the second I pulled her to safety as a child to the moment I caught her when she fell at the funeral—she is meant for me. And I will do whatever I must to show her just how certain our destiny is.