Page 22 of The Labor Date
There iseither an air of impending doom in the room, or of destiny. I crouch beside Duchess like a general in battle. She is magnificent. My queen. My heart thunders with pride and panic all at once.
Scott kneels nearby, fumbling with towels like a clumsy kid. “You’re doing great, kitty,” he babbles. “Nice and easy?—”
I lash my tail, glaring.Don’t talk so loud, fool. She needs calm, not your rookie pep talk.
Another cry rips from Duchess, and I press closer, licking her ear in comfort. Then I swing my gaze back to him.Towels, now. And warm water, idiot. Move those big hands for once in your life.
To his credit, he does. Maybe he can read my mind, or maybe the panic on my face is clear enough. Still, he stumbles, muttering, dropping a cloth on the floor.Focus! She’s doing the hard work. The least you can do is not screw it up.
The first kitten arrives in a rush of tiny squeaks and slick fur. My chest swells. A prince—or princess—I can’t tell yet, but mine all the same. I nudge my queen, purring fiercely, while Scott’s eyes go wide like he’s witnessing a miracle and a horror show rolled into one.
“Holy hell,” he whispers. “It’s beautiful.”
Of course it is,I hiss silently.She is mine. We did this. Not you.
But then another contraction seizes, and another kitten slips free, and Scott actually steadies the bedding, guiding towels beneath her, murmuring encouragement in a surprisingly gentle tone. My ears twitch. Maybe he isn’t entirely useless.
By the time the third arrives, I’m vibrating with pride, pacing in circles, torn between wanting to claw Scott’s face off and wanting to head-butt him for helping.
I settle for a growl.Don’t get cocky, hockey boy. You’re still on thin ice with me.
He glances at me, sweat on his brow, grinning like an idiot. “Well Winston. We’re fathers.”
I sit tall, protecting Duchess and our newborns, my voice silent but fierce.What’s this “we” business? But maybe you’re not the worst teammate after all.
20
SCOTT
The delivery wasn’t assmooth as I initially thought. Duchess had three kittens, but when the third one lay frighteningly still for far too long, I feared the worst. No squeaks, no movement. My heart stops.
Winston nudges it with his nose, a scene so raw it cuts straight through me. He crouches beside Duchess, eyes low, and for once I understand him perfectly.
My hands shake, but I scoop up the tiny body, clear the mouth and nose just like I’ve seen trainers do with newborns on the farm where I grew up.
“Come on, little one,” I beg, rubbing gently, then lower my mouth to blow a puff of air inside.
For a second, nothing. I try again. Then again. Then the kitten twitches, lets out the smallest mewl, and its little ribcage expands and contracts.
Relief crashes over me. I place the fragile body close to Duchess, letting her lick her baby clean while Winston’s yowls soften into a low, surprisingly approving rumble.
When I glance up, Winston’s blue eyes lock on mine. Not hateful. Not suspicious. Different. Affection? Respect?Whatever it is, it feels like the moment we finally cross some invisible line together.
* * *
It’s been a crazy few days. Between caring for our cat family and my practice and game schedule, I’m exhausted. I never got to do the things for Holly around the house I wanted to, and I definitely hadn’t planned on her finding me sprawled on the couch napping when she returned.
I blink awake to the sight of her hovering above me; her smile wide, eyes misty. “Well, would you look at that,” she whispers. “The two of you are actually getting along.”
Winston is sprawled on top of my chest, purring like he owns me.
I stretch, careful not to disturb him, and grin. “We’ve been through some things. Delivered kittens together. Saved one even. I think we bonded.”
Winston lifts his head, gives me a slow blink, then head-butts my chin before settling back down. I take a risk and stroke his fur. For the first time ever, he doesn’t lash out with the claws, only purrs louder.
Holly chuckles. “If Winston accepts you, then there’s hope for us and our future together after all.”
Hope. Family. Love. For the first time, it feels like I’ve got all three—and I’m not letting go.
