Page 7 of Elusive Embrace

Sometimes I blame my dad because he taught me that it’s the man’s responsibility to take financially care of a woman. And my mother certainly expected it. Only, if I had talked to Nat, rather than making assumptions, I would have found out that she was nothing like my mother and didn’t need me to offer her a lavish lifestyle. No, the divorce is on me. This is why I didn’t fight it.

There’s a knock at the door as I squeeze the last of the cat food from the pouch.

“Hang on, I’m coming,” I shout as I add a little water to the bowls before placing them on the floor. Egon and Venkman immediately start lapping up the chicken in gravy mush, ignoring me as I give them one last pat before heading to answer the door.

“Hey mate,” I greet Ryan, my next-door neighbour.

“Hey, sorry for popping by so late but Jane sent me because she’s sure something’s wrong with Rossi,” he holds up a ginger kitten. Ryan is a member of the Fellside Mountain Rescue team andthey recently rescued some kittens from a precarious situation. There were four feline survivors and Ryan and Jane, his fiancée, adopted two, with the other two being taken in by another member of the FMR team.

“Hey, Rossi, let’s see what’s wrong with you little man,” I coo as I take the cat from Ryan. “Come in.” I let him walk past before closing the door.

“What are you worried about?”

“His tummy is really bloated. Jane googled it and she thinks it could be worms,” Ryan says as he drops onto my sofa. Egon and Venkman throw us a quick look as they walk past the living room door whilst licking the rest of their food from around their mouths before heading upstairs to my bedroom. It’s their favourite place to rest after the exhausting work of eating.

“Did he vomit or have diarrhoea?” I ask.

“No.”

“Is he lethargic?”

“No, he’s the same playful cat as always.”

“Hmm.” I pull back the cat’s bottom lip and his gums look normal. I hold Rossi up and look around his anus but there are no signs of any worms.

“He looks okay to me.” I place him on the floor and he immediately starts to attack my toes. This cat is as happyas Larry. “Why don’t you bring a stool sample to the clinic tomorrow and we have a look, but I’m sorry to say there’s a chance he is just chubby. How is Buttercup?” Ryan named their male kitten after his favourite motor racing driver. Jane decided to go for a rather more unconventional name when she named their girl kitten.

“She’s a tiny thing but he watches over her like a hawk,” Ryan grins. If you met Ryan in the streets you might take him for a rough biker with his stern looks, beard and tattoos. The last thing you’d expect him to be is a doting cat dad.

“Maybe try feeding them separately or at least watch them. I have a suspicion that Rossi may be eating more than his share,” I chuckle. Wouldn’t be the first cat that doesn’t know when enough is enough.

“Great, you want me to tell Jane that we have to put Rossi on a diet? She’s going to accuse me of fat shaming.”

That makes me laugh. These two are masters of bickering with each other, although never in a malicious way. I’ve felt jealous of their relationship more than once, I’m ashamed to say.

“Well, maybe wait until we have the result from the test before you call him out,” I suggest with a laugh. “Want a beer?” I ask. Ry has become a good friend since I have moved back to Fellside.

“Sorry not today. Jane’s waiting with dinner, do you want to join us?”

“That’s alright, thanks Ry. I have a pizza waiting in the fridge for me. It’s been a long week and it is only Wednesday so I’m going to eat and then work off some steam on the bike.”

“Just know you’re always welcome,” he replies as he picks up Rossi.

“Thanks. I know.” When I walk him to the door my eyes fall on the picture of me and Nat again. I definitely need to push myself today, it’s the only way to drive thoughts of her from my mind.

Chapter 2

Natalie

Irub my handstogether and blow into my fists, trying to chase away the cold. Halloween's just three weeks away, and this chilly weather's a real reminder that autumn's definitely here. I really need to remember to bring my gloves to work from now on.

I hear Leo calling out to me as I push the wheelbarrow towards the garden shed, hidden from the guests' view behind somehedges. It’s just the two of us on the grounds team at Greenview Manor Hotel. I’m the head gardener and Leo’s been my trainee since the summer.

I’ve been working at Greenview Manor for over seven years. Tommy, the owner, promoted me when the last head gardener left. Not many hotels have their own gardener, let alone a team, but Greenview Manor has extensive grounds and a small wood where guests can go for walks. We even have a vegetable patch at the edge of the property where we grow fresh produce for Chef. There’s always something to keep us busy year-round and I know how lucky I am to have this job.

“Nat, Marisa asked me to remind you about the heads of department meeting at three,” Leo grins at me, crumbs from his lunch still clinging to the corner of his mouth.

“Saving those for later?” I wink, pointing at the crumbs. He laughs and wipes his face a bit too roughly. Leo’s a good lad and is always cheerful and willing to learn even when it’s pouring with rain.

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