Page 5 of Claiming Rose

Chapter Three

Rose leaned against the counter at her vet clinic on Tuesday afternoon. “Is that it?” she asked her receptionist, Kate.

“Yes. Paul will be in at ten, and Jeff is already in back.”

“Great.” Paul and Jeff were vet techs. Jeff worked in the evening hours, and Paul overnight to keep an eye on the animals.

“Fifteen minutes to closing,” Angela, her daytime vet tech, said.

Rose opened her mouth as the bell over the door rang. She turned, surprised to see Oliver there with a large round towel in his arms.

“Oliver, what’s up?” He was dressed in a suit sans tie and looked delicious enough to kiss.

“Rose, thank goodness.” He strode over to her. “I need your help.”

The towel moved. “Oh goodness, what do you have there?” She motioned him to the first exam room.

Oliver follower her directions. “I heard them crying at one of the houses I was showing.” He set the bundle down on the steel table and began unwrapping the towel.

“Oh my.” Three tiny kittens came into view meowing with their eyes open. “Did you see the momma cat?”

“No. I looked around, but the kittens were crying and while it is the beginning of summer, I was worried they’d been abandoned.”

“Angela, lets weigh them.” Rose picked up the first kitten. They were all tabby cats mainly a chocolate/brown colors. They were clean, but looked unweight. She placed the first one on the scale. “Ten ounces, let’s call this one Luna since she’s got a half moon on her foot.”

Angela took Luna and put her in a small basket as Rose picked up the next kitten. “A little boy. Eleven ounces. I’m calling you Sunny since your more orange where your sister Luna is chocolate. And our last one, another girl, ten ounces and I’m calling you Star because you have a starburst pattern on your nose.” Rose listened to their hearts, and felt around their bodies.

“Are they healthy?” Oliver asked.

“They’re underweight. I’m guessing they’re about three weeks old.” She picked up the basket and carried it over to the table. “Angela can you tell Jeff to prepare three bottles. These babies need to be fed, and right away.”

“On it.” Angela breezed out of the room.

Rose opened a cabinet, pulled out some small baby blankets, and built a nest in the basket for the kittens. “You said you found them at a house you were trying to sell?”

“Yes. Over on Columbia street. I hear them crying and found them behind a bush.”

“Any signs that a momma cat had been around recently?” Rose glanced up as Angela came back into the room with two bottles.

“Jeff will bring the third one. Sorry, but I’ve got to go.”

“It’s fine.” Angela had to pick up her kid from day care. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Rose took the two bottles and set them on the table. Then looked at Oliver. “You’re going to get a crash course in how to feed a kitten.”

Oliver’s eyes widened and Rose couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her lips. “Don’t look so scared.” Grabbing an extra blanket she laid it out on the table, then she picked Luna up and set her on the blanket. “Ready?”

“I guess. What do I do?”

Rose handed him one of the bottles. “Luna is standing, so put your fingers of your non-dominate hand around her head, and guide the bottle to her mouth. Let her latch on and suckle, don’t squeeze the bottle or force it into her mouth.”

It took a moment, but Luna latched on and started sucking eagerly. “She’s eating.”

“Good.” Rose picked up Star and began feeding her, and Jeff walked in and started feeding Sunny. Thirty minutes later the kittens were fed and snoozing in the basket.

“I’ll take them in back. Paul and I can keep feeding them tonight,” Jeff said.

“Thanks. See if they’ll use a litter box. They should be old enough.” Jeff nodded as he picked the basket up and left the exam room.

“They’re so tiny,” Oliver said.

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