Page 5 of The Night Before Christmas
It was only then that Felicity looked at the clock for the second time. 3.37am. As the relief kicked in, tiredness washed over her, too, and her eyes began to droop. What a night this had been! But still, she couldn’t relax. This baby urgently needed to feed if it was to have any chance of survival.
Keeping her movements slow and gentle so as not to frighten the cats, she reached down into the cupboard by the door and grabbed a pouch of food. This she rumpled deftly before tipping its contents carefully into a dish for the mother, along with some fresh water. The mother cat pressed herself against the bars until Felicity’s hand had moved well away from the cage, then took a couple of tentative steps forward and, finally, began eating furiously, as if she had never had a proper meal before. They stood and watched, holding their collective breath.
Finally, when the mother had eaten her fill, she sniffed her kitten all over, as if to double check it was hers and not an imposter, and when she was satisfied that all checks were complete, she lay down with her body wrapped protectively around the kitten’s, like a cocoon. Felicity held her breath as the baby slowly responded to her warmth and her nearness, nudging and edging her way into the right position against her mother’s belly, whimpering softly, eyes still closed. Then, joy of joys, she began suckling contentedly.
James finally came out of his trance.
‘She’s feeding,’ he said. His voice was hushed but Felicity could practically see the huge lump in his throat.
‘Got something in your eye there, have you, Penguin Man?’
He smiled but his eyes were glistening. ‘No comment.’
‘This is very good progress,’ said Felicity. ‘Baby may not be able to see yet, but she could obviously smell the milk. And I think this little cat is going to be a great mummy.’ Felicity put a hand on James’ arm. ‘They probably need a bit of peace and quiet now. I’ll check on them in a while.’
They crept out of the room, shut the door quietly, then stood in the corridor.
‘That was amazing,’ said James, turning to her with his suddenly very blue eyes wide. ‘I can’t get over how they responded to each other like that. I’ve never seen anything like it.’
He shook his head as if in disbelief.
‘It’s such a rush to see them safe, isn’t it?’
‘And you…’ He turned a 1000-volt smile her way. ‘You knew just what to do. I can’t thank you enough.’
Felicity blushed from the top of her head to the soles of her feet.
‘It was nothing, really. I guess you just go into autopilot or something,’ she mumbled, suddenly unable to look at him.
‘It was the opposite of nothing. It was genuinely incredible. I mean that.’
She forced herself to look up at him, and was immediately and acutely aware that they were alone together in the middle of the night. Parts of her she had thought were long mothballed began firing off in all directions. Metaphorically speaking.
‘You realise it’s nearly four in the morning? I can honestly say this has been rather an unforgettable Christmas Eve, but don’t you, you know, have a home to go to?’
Her brain and mouth seemed to be out of sync. Of course, she didn’t want him to go anywhere. But it was too late. Her words had broken whatever kind of magic had been woven between them.
‘I… should,’ he said, backing away from her. ‘You’re right, it’s Christmas and it’s so late and I’ve outstayed my welcome I’m sure… besides, well, look at me in these clothes.’
She unconsciously looked him up and down as he said this, and it was perhaps rather more suggestive a look than she intended. He immediately stopped reversing and raised an eyebrow.
‘It’s been… I mean… I could stay of course. If you wanted some company. Assuming you’re staying that is?’
Felicity flushed and nodded, indicating the break room behind her.
‘There’s a camp bed of sorts. It’s not exactly the Ritz. I’m on duty until Boxing Day so I just stay. It’s easier. Anyhow, I couldn’t leave our two little ragamuffins now, could I?’
She grinned but found she couldn’t meet his eye.
‘Well, how about I come over tomorrow and check on you… all?’ he said.
‘Don’t you have plans?’ she asked, and then instantly cursed herself again.
He shrugged. ‘Probably about as exciting as yours. I was planning on sitting about in my pants, getting slowly drunk and eating snacks. I could do that just as easily here. Fully dressed of course. Providing you have more snacks.’
Felicity tried – and failed – to avoid thinking about him in his pants. Again.
‘Not just any snacks. I have M&S snacks.’
