Page 65 of Finding Noah
Jasmine, not to be outdone, soon followed.
Snowy leapt off the bed and headed to the litter box. She went inside, did her business, and then jumped out. Eyeing her food, she leapt back onto the bed and then to the desk where she dug into the wet food I’d put out.
Jasmine, having watched her sister with great interest, leapt onto the desk and started in on her food as well.
“I’ll drop in after dinner to check up on you and as well when I get home from…wherever. Try not to destroy everything.” I placed a small blanket in their crate and put the two beds on the human bed. One was an enclosure and one was just a big basket. Both had enough room for the two cats—should they choose to share.
“Dinner’s ready.” Christian’s voice carried through the closed door.
I eyed the cats. Snowy had finished her wet food and was eyeing the dry kibble. Clearly having decided that could wait, she leapt onto the bed and started nosing around the various beds I’d set out for them. She decided on the enclosure. She settled in and started licking her paw.
By the time I turned my attention back to Jasmine, she’d finished her food, nibbled on a couple of pieces of kibble, and met my gaze with her intense eyes.
“You’ll be happy here, I promise.”
She leapt down and headed over to the litter box.
I waited until she finished, then watched her as she leapt onto the bed. She made a beeline for her sister, and nestled herself into the enclosure as well.
Snowy grasped Jasmine’s head and started licking her ear.
Both cats purred so loudly, I could hear them—despite being several feet away.
They’ll be okay.
Maybe I will as well.
I headed down for dinner.
Chapter Nineteen
Christian
Foggy’s Creamery was like an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, and I had to say McClain was a kind and gentle soul who appeared to have Noah and me nailed—a young couple in love. That seemed to amuse the man with gray hairs at his temples. Maybe even touched his heart? I couldn’t be certain.
Judging by how Noah demolished his ice cream—well, I did as well—we were definitely going to be coming back repeatedly.
After tossing our napkins into the recycling bin, we headed a nice park. I held Stormy’s leash while Noah had Sable’s and River’s. He snagged my hand. “This is nice.”
“It’s a beautiful evening—not too hot and not too cold.”Yeah, like that’s not a super lame thing to say.
“It’s going to be super hot in the summer.”
“And we might have some snow in the winter. So quite similar to back home.”
“Do you miss home?”
“Hmm?” I’d been eyeing a bench and hadn’t caught his quietly spoken words.
“Do you miss home? Do you have any regrets?”
“Nope. None. Want to sit on the bench or keep walking? Walking’s good for the dogs—might tire them out.”
“Tomorrow we’ll try—one at a time—to introduce them to the cats.” Noah smiled. “Stormy lived with several at Paxton’s farm.”
“Snowy and Jasmine are about the same size as the puppies.” I eyed the two who alternated tugging and then needing to be coaxed. They apparently still weren’t sold on the wholewalkingthing.
“Bench would be nice.” Noah headed in that direction, with me beside him.
