Page 71 of More Than a Little Spark

Cradling the kitten in one hand as she bats at my hair, I read the card.

Daphne, I wanted to get you something you’d really, really like.And I knew when I saw Oreo (or whatever you name her) that she was the perfect gift.And because she can’t live in your apartment, she can live here, and you can visit her a lot, and I’ll help take care of her.(I already asked Dad about this.)

I hope you like her.

Sniffling, I lean over and hug Fred.“This is the best gift.Thank you.”

He beams.“I know it’s not the same as having her in your apartment, butIcan’t change that part.”

“I might just have to find a new apartment when my lease is up.”I give Oreo a scratch.“She’s adorable.Aren’t you, Oreo?”

Fred and Carson exchange a look that makes me curious.But I will not spend the day overanalyzing every glance and reading into every gesture.

She wriggles.And when I put her down, she immediately pounces on the wrapping paper.

Fred slides his hand under the paper, and a battle commences.

I lean back against Carson.“Thank you.”

While Carson and I have talked about marriage in the general sense, he hasn’t mentioned a proposal.I’m hoping it comes up soon.Giving me a kitty that lives here seems like a step in that direction.And the look they shared makes me wonder what else they’ve been planning besides giving me a kitten.

Carson kisses the top of my head.“Weeks ago, Fred showed me her picture and told me his plan.We picked her up two days ago, and he’s handled everything.”

“Mind if we save my gift to him for last?”

“Sounds good to me.”He leans in and kisses me before reaching for another present.

Paper piles up beside the tree, and Oreo treats it as her personal playground, hiding and pouncing until she’s used up all her kitty energy.Then she climbs into my lap.

Fred reads the tag on the last gift under the tree and smiles at me.“Last one.”

I might have gone a bit overboard with this gift, but I did check with Carson first.

While Fred is tearing paper off the box, Carson drops a kiss on my neck.“Later, we should spend some time, just the two of us.”

Stroking the kitty, I nod, but my gaze stays fixed on Fred.

He opens the big box, and his eyes widen.“A PS5!”

“I was a little tricky and put it in a bigger box so that you wouldn’t guess from the package.I know there are consoles in the game room, but?—”

He gives me a tight hug.“This is awesome.You don’t care if I set it up in the game room, do you?This is newer than what we have in there.”

“That’s totally fine.”I love seeing the utter delight on Fred’s face.

He’s acting like a fourteen-year-old, but he has a little-kid grin on his face.

He jumps up.“Are we headed to the main house soon, Dad?”

“Yep.”Carson laughs.“Let me bag this trash.Then we can go.”He holds out a hand to help me up.“And I already talked to Beau about bringing Oreo over.He said it was fine.”

“Yay!I’m glad I don’t have to leave her all alone.”I set her on a throw pillow, and she snuggles in.“I’m going to change.But I’ll be quick.”

“We all go in our pajamas,” Fred says, without a hint of deceit in his expression.

“For real?Y’all aren’t pranking me?”

Fred crosses his heart.“I’m going in mine.”

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