Page 28 of The Day After Christmas
Charlie flushed with pride as he stared down at the little kitten, his dark hair flopping over his face in a way that made her think of James, although his hair wasn’t quite as unruly. He really was very handsome, even if he was practically half her age.
‘You’re staring,’ said Charlie, after a moment, his eyes not leaving the kitten against his chest.
Felicity felt her face and ears grow even redder and inwardly cursed her red hair and pale skin for giving her away yet again.
‘I was looking at the kitten,’ she said primly.
‘Sure you were.’
They worked in silence then, Felicity trying to remain professional as she showed Charlie the best way to hold the tiny kittens while they syringed the milk replacer gently into their mouths. As they fed the first two the other three were mewling from their box, impatiently scrabbling over each other as they waited their turn.
‘You two all right in here?’ said Andrea, passing the doorway.
‘He’s really getting the hang of it,’ said Felicity.
‘Good stuff,’ said Andrea, and sailed out of view.
‘You paid me another compliment,’ said Charlie, gently placing down the first kitten and trying to select another from the undulating pile of fur balls in front of them.
‘I’m nice,’ said Felicity, giving her own kitten a last kiss on the top of the head.
‘Oh, I know that,’ said Charlie in a low voice. Felicity looked up. Was he blushing again? This was getting awkward.
She popped her kitten back in the box and began backing away. ‘I’ll let you finish up here, just make sure you don’t miss the little runty one at the back, and don’t drop any, whatever you do.’
‘As if I would.’
‘Thanks, so much… er… I’ll see you in a bit.’
She practically ran down the corridor.
‘He fancies you,’ said Andrea, without looking up from a pile of sign-over papers, as Felicity walked into her office.
‘Who?’ said Felicity, trying to sound nonchalant.
Andrea rolled her eyes at this pathetic effort. ‘Charlie, of course.’
‘Nonsense.’
‘He does. He keeps hanging around after work trying to get a chance to speak to you. I have to practically march him to the exit.’
‘No, he doesn’t.’
Andrea nodded emphatically. ‘Yes, he does. It’s become quite the awkward end to the day.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘I figured he’d get over it in a few days but it seems to be getting worse.’
‘Oh, I’m sure it’s not that at all.’ Felicity’s words rang hollow even to her own ears. ‘He just seems to really like it here, maybe that’s why he’s hanging around. You should have seen him with those kittens earlier.’
Andrea looked up then, peering at Felicity over her grubby reading glasses, which made her pale-blue eyes even bigger.
‘Want me to ask them to move him somewhere else? I can, if it’s a problem.’
‘Nothing I can’t handle,’ said Felicity, lifting her chin.
‘Good.’
