Page 32 of Reckless Harmony

“Do you have a death wish when you’re working out, Ms. Abrams? Is that why you use this crap?”

She sighed and said, “Not all of us can afford the fancy-ass equipment at your personal fancy-ass gym, Stark. Some of us make do with what we have. Now, if you’re finished judging me on my home gym, do you think you can use those fancy gym equipment muscles of yours to carry the litter?”

She loaded the other supplies into a reusable bag as Stark picked up the box of litter. She snagged a cardboard box from the laundry room, and without speaking, they carried the supplies back to his house. She got to work setting up the litter box and filling the dishes with food and water.

“C’mon, Molly,” she coaxed softly. “Come have a bite to eat so I can change your nest.”

Stark had disappeared, and she made some psp, psp, psp, sounds until, with a soft meow, Molly left the babies and joined Rayna. She petted the cat a few times, and when Molly started to eat, she moved to the closet.

Stark returned holding a black garbage bag, and she picked up the kittens, placing them on a towel before picking up Stark’s ruined sweater. Without speaking, he opened the garbage bag, and she put the sweater inside it.

Working quickly, she placed the box on the closet floor and set up another nest of towels and soft blankets inside of it. By the time Molly finished eating and returned to the closet, the babies were in their new nest. Molly jumped into the box and inspected each of them, grooming them lightly before settling in next to them so they could nurse again.

“Good girl, Molly,” Rayna crooned, petting the calico cat gently. “You’re being such a good mama.”

She closed the closet door halfway and climbed to her feet. “The box will keep the babies contained but allow Molly to come and go from the nest. Molly should be fed three times a day with the wet food. She needs more calories now that she’s nursing.”

Looking uncharacteristically uncertain, Stark said, “Will it upset her if I reach into the closet to get my clothes every day.”

“No,” she said. “She’s very friendly, and while she seems protective of the babies, she’s not crazy psycho mama protective.”

She pulled out her phone. “Can I get your phone number?”

He hesitated, and she rolled her eyes. “Trust me, I won’t text you unless necessary. But I need you to fill out the foster form, and you need to be able to reach me in case of emergencies. Things can go wrong with babies this small.”

He tensed. “How am I supposed to know if something’s wrong?”

“The best way is by weighing the babies daily.” She pointed to the scale. “Use that to weigh the babies every day at the same time. They should gain seven to ten grams a day, and if they don’t, text me. If you’re not sure if there’s something wrong, text me. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and it’ll be easy enough for me to pop over and check the babies.”

“This would be much easier if you would just take them to your house, Ms. Abrams,” he said.

“Wouldn’t it?” she said breezily. “But unfortunately, unless you want to be known as the town kitten murderer, the babies and Molly need to stay here.”

God, she really should feel guilty about lying, but she didn’t. Not one bit. She needed a foster for Molly and the babies anyway, and it wouldn’t kill Stark to have a few cats in his house for eight weeks.

He grimaced before reciting his phone number. She added it to her phone. “Perfect. I’ll send you the foster form. Are you still planning on going away this weekend? If so, I’ll need a key to your house so I can feed Molly and check on her and the babies.”

“I’ll be staying home this weekend,” he said.

Enjoying herself way too much, she gave him a cheeky grin and a wave. “Have a great weekend. I’ll show myself out.”

CHAPTER 13

Stark paused the video game and tossed the controller on the bed before cracking his neck lightly. He reached for his beer, grimaced at the warm taste and set the bottle back on the nightstand.

He grabbed his phone and checked messages, staring at the zero new texts before dropping his phone beside the controller. He stared blankly at the television screen on the wall across from the bed. It was Saturday night, and he was sitting alone in his bedroom, playing video games. Christ, it was as if he was living his teenage years all over again.

He studied his phone again. He had only a few friends in New Cassel, and here in Harmony Falls, he had precisely zero. Introverted and obsessed with gaming as a teenager, he’d never found it easy to make friends. As an adult, he’d been more focused on building his company than making friends.

It had never bothered him before. He enjoyed his solitude, but lately… lately, he’d been craving friendship and connection. Hell, a couple of weeks ago, he’d almost asked James if he wanted to go for a beer after work despite his strict rule of never sharing personal information with coworkers.

He picked up the game controller and restarted the game. He played mostly on autopilot, his thoughts returning again and again to his sudden desire for more connection with others.

When the small calico cat jumped onto the bed and butted her head against his hand, he said, “You just got me killed by a zombie, you know.”

Molly purred loudly in response, and he glanced at her. “Aren’t you supposed to be taking care of some babies?”

She butted his hand again, chirping at him.

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