Page 109 of Rival
My stomach rolls violently and I grab a glass of water on the table to sip without asking who it belonged to. Mrs. Cooper slides out of her chair and fills another glass, not worried that I apparently took her drink.
“Sorry,” I tell her, then eye the food again, pressing my lips together.
Mason and his father start chatting about something, but I spend the small break without attention on me willing my stomach to behave so I can try to eat my breakfast.
A heavy hand drops to my shoulder, squeezing gently, before a new plate with some dry toast and a small square of butter to the side is placed in front of me. He snags the plate filled with cheesy eggs and meat, then sits in the empty chair to my right.
“Mason, what are you doin’?” Mrs. Cooper scolds, shifting as if she’s going to get up and take it from him.
“Mom,” he bites out, stopping her in her tracks. “Edith is green around the gills right now. I know it’s been a bit, but I read all about how most women struggle to eat heavy and greasy foods in the morning.” I jolt when I feel a foot bump against mine. Leaning toward me, he gentles his voice. “Only try if you want. You here to see the cats?”
I’m so overwhelmed and taken aback by this little piece of toast, it’s taking everything in me to not dissolve into a puddle of tears.I literally cannot speak right now.
Stiffening when Mason runs a hand over my back, apparently picking up on my turmoil, he pulls it back when it’s clear I’m very much on edge. Instead, he picks his conversation back up with his father and I pretend I can’t feel the way Mrs. Cooper keeps throwing glances in my direction.
I pick at the piece of toast, leaving the butter where it’s at because honestly, barf. The idea of spreading it out is enough to have me emptying my water glass again. This time, it’s Mr. Cooper who takes it for a refill, and I thank him quietly for his thoughtfulness.
Not everybody offers kindness with the expectation that it has to be returned.
My therapist’s guidance has been my lifeline since I got home, and I’m so thankful for the time she’s given me over the past few months.
After finishing half my meal, I glance toward Mrs. Cooper with an apology on my lips, hating that I’m wasting her food. She must know what I’m about to say because she quickly picks up my plate and clears it without complaint.
Standing, both Mason and his father rise with me, but I wave them off. “Please, finish eating. I’m just going to sneak out back to see the kittens and get out of your hair. I appreciate breakfast, and it was nice to see you.”
There, that was pleasant enough.Mason frowns, but surprisingly, doesn’t argue. Maybe he’ll keep his distance until I’m ready to have the bigger conversation we eventually do need, but right now, I just want to see the babies I’ve missed like crazy.
Mrs. Cooper forces me to take a bottle of water, and before I know it, I’m alone outside, hurrying to the barn my kittens have made their home.
As soon as I shut myself in, their cries fill my ears and I drop to my knees, scooping them up to check them over.
“Babies! You’re sobig!” I croon, kissing their heads and reveling in their purrs. Bonnie immediately curls up in my lap once I’m seated on the ground with my legs crossed. Buck and Billy are literally climbing me, fighting over who can tuck their heads under my chin first.
These guys aren’t babies anymore, that’s for sure. They must be around seven months and they look like adult cats, minus the maturity part where they gain those few extra pounds to really fill out. They’re lanky, and I can’t stop my happy tears as they fall. Mason has taken care such great care of them. All three seem so happy and content. I couldn’t have given them the life they need, and that eats at me.
Billy runs away, then brings back a tiny little toy mouse which seems well played with. Dropping it next to me, he bats it with his paw, drawing Buck’s attention. The two of them start tumbling and pouncing on each other as they fight, but Bonniestays right where she is, eyeing her brothers from her perch through slitted eyes.
I’m not sure how long I sit with them, but Mason leaves me in peace through our reunion and we play for so long an ache builds in my lower back, forcing me to keep stretching my right leg out to rub away the pain.
The doctor said I’ll be feeling a lot of hip and nerve tenderness as my body readies itself to give birth, but it’s nothing like I expected. I wish I had someone I could talk to who’s been through this before. Unfortunately, I’ve been limited to my doctor and her few nurses to answer the million questions I always seem to have.
Eventually, all three of the kittens, although Ishouldbe calling them cats now, are curled around me, twitching ears and paws as they doze off in a little pile, Bonnie buried at the bottom.
With a sigh, I debate moving them now or let them sleep and suffer through the pulsing pain shooting through my hip to my knee.
“Why don’t I move them for you? You look uncomfortable.”
Turning my head slowly so I don’t disturb the sleeping babies, I find Mason leaning against the door with his arms crossed and a foot propped behind him.
“How long have you been there?”
“Long enough to see proof the little asshole is fuckin’ with me. He hasn’t given me an inch in the whole five months you were gone.” Looking irritated, he complains, “The shitlovesFin and Jax, though, if you can believe it.”
Peering down at Billy, I run the tip of my finger over the bridge of his nose, smiling when he twitches his whiskers. “So, you three are friends now?”
“We’ve got somethin’ pretty important in common. Only seems fittin’ that we’d handle our shit and find some peacebetween us. Don’t know what you see in them, though. Fin’s a jackass and Jax is a bit full of himself, if you ask me.”
My lips turn down and I open my mouth to argue, but his bark of laughter silences me.
