Page 58 of Soldier's Chrismas Hope
Nora checked on the kittens frequently. When they started waking up, she placed them in the litter box one by one, and fussed over them proudly when they did their business in the right spot.
The bravest little cat was all black with warm amber eyes. He stalked out a bit further into the kitchen to investigate, and was followed by a gray tabby girl, who stayed right in his shadow.
Within a minute or so, the kitchen was filled with exploring kittens.
“I’ll block off the doorways,” Nora said briskly. “But from now on, we all need to be really careful to look where we’re stepping. We’ve got so many kittens, and it’s our job to keep them safe.”
“So many kittens,”Pixie echoed ecstatically.
“So many kittens,”John-John yelled.
The joyful expression on all their faces was enough to tear River’s heart from his chest.
Careful,he tried to warn himself.
But it was already too late. Pain twisted his insides as he tried to picture himself alone in this empty house again.
15
NORA
Nora sat between the children in bed that night, waiting for John-John to select a book.
She was pretty sure it would beFarmer Bear’s Christmasagain, but the little guy sometimes liked to consider each of the titles on his bedside table before making things official.
For now, she was happy soaking in the warmth of the children tucked in beside her on a cold winter night, and the blessed silence of the country house.
“Today was nice,” Pixie said, leaning against Nora’s shoulder.
“Yes,” Nora agreed. “I’ll bet you’re good and tired too, after all our adventures.”
“I like having adventures,” Pixie said. “I like the farm.”
“Me too,” Nora told her, feeling a tug at her heart.
It was going to be next to impossible to leave this wonderful place when the holidays were over. She tried to comfort herself with the fact that they would at leasthave plenty of happy memories to bring with them back to the city.
“The kittens don’t have a mama,” John-John said suddenly, abandoning his books to turn to Nora.
“No,” she agreed. “They don’t.”
“We’ll take care of them,” Pixie told her brother. But there was the tiniest lilt to her voice, almost like she was asking a question.
“Of course we will,” Nora told them firmly, trying not to let her heart break. “Did you see how happy they were after their meal and their nap, when they were exploring the house?”
“Taking care of kittens is a lot of work,” Pixie said, her voice solemn.
“It is,” Nora agreed carefully, knowing that some part of this sweet little girl might be talking about a lot more than kittens. “But we love them, so we don’t mind a bit, right?”
“They climbed myleg,” John-John exclaimed, melting into giggles.
“They wanted your snack,” Pixie told him.
“Or they were feeling curious about you,” Nora said. “I think they know you’re going to be looking after them now, and they want to know everything about you.”
“Kittens are very curious,” Pixie said, echoing something River had mentioned earlier when one of their tiny charges climbed into his boot.
“They sure are,” Nora told her.
