Page 89 of Desperately Seeking Kitty

“Clint,” she murmured, rubbing the back of my hand currently covering her belly. “Did you hear me the other night? What I said after the first time we…you know.”

“No.” I rubbed my nose against her hair. “What’d I miss?”

“Nothing. I’m the one who missed out on so much.” She laced her fingers with mine. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being you and for getting me. Thank you.” She let out a shuddering breath. “I don’t feel so alone anymore.”

I kissed her ear, already drifting. “Me either, my Kitty.”

The scent of bacon lured me from sleep an undetermined amount of time later, as did the tail flicking my nose and making it itch. I opened my eyes and took stock, realizing I felt much better. Almost clear-headed, thank Jesus. These all-night shifts were getting harder to take, but at least I didn’t have to go in until later.

Post bacon. Kitty was clearly my soul mate.

With a smile, I scooped up Charise off my chest and prepared to roll out of bed, only to see my father sitting on the end of it.

Shit. I should’ve known better than to assume a good day was ahead.

More like I was still hazy about the events of this morning. They were all coming back to me now though.

“I like your young lady,” my father said slowly, as if confounded by this state of events.

I held up Charise to give her kisses, which I’d discovered she really enjoyed. The jackpot round was what she patted my beardy jaw with her tiny paws, spaghetti claws extended.

Ouch.

“Good. I’m glad. She’s a good person.”

“How long have you known her?”

“Long enough. You really came here because Mom was freaking out about Thanksgiving? I know how busy you are this time of year.” All times of year, really. “With the big dinner tomorrow, I can’t imagine you’d have time for a trip out here.”

“You’re my oldest boy. I always have time for you. Mom didn’t have a meltdown but she was concerned when Em informed us you both aren’t coming to dinner. And that she is staying here in town for a while rather than returning to Clintondale. Rented an apartment right in the Cove for the winter.”

I shifted Charise to tuck her against my shoulder. Her claws happily found a new patch of skin to explore. “She didn’t tell me that.”

Em had never fully explained her impromptu visit to tell me about Pierre. If I hadn’t been so full of Kitty and so exhausted from work, I would’ve pressed for details. Even someone as young as she was didn’t pop off on a fairly long drive just on the spur of the moment.

So her missing Thanksgiving must not have been that spur, either. Somehow she’d decided she liked where I lived enough to stay. At least for a while.

I knew the breakup and baby had her scrambling, but she had a life in Clintondale. Her university was located just about between Crescent Cove and Clintondale, and prior to this, she’d commuted from home to the university, so I supposed it wasn’t that far while school was in session.

“Seems like two of my children have been shutting their parents out.”

“Felicia too?” Come to think of it, why wasshehere, other than needing quiet time, whatever that meant?

I would’ve asked for more details had I not been confronted with her hastily put-on clothes and Magnus’s bare behind upon stumbling blearily into my apartment. Felicia had a key but she hadn’t used it in a long time.

Of course she’d had to pick just the right night…

“Felicia has also elected not to come to dinner.” My father folded his hands over his lap. “I don’t think I have to explain to you what not having three of her children at dinner will do to your mother. At least Felicia and Em, she sees often.”

“Yeah, meltdown city.”

“She didn’t have a meltdown.” My dad shook his head. “She’s just worried. We both are.”

I frowned and righted Charise as her head tipped over, then carefully cradled her to make sure she was fully supported. Sometimes I forgot she wasn’t an ordinary kitten. Extra special, she was, and that meant treating her very carefully.

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