Page 98 of The Convict Gets His Girl

Jewel's professional training kicked in, overriding her physical fatigue. "I'm on my way," she said, grabbing her veterinary bag. She hung up and briefed her dad before heading out the door.

The drive to Ana and Skye's house was a blur of fall leaves and her own measured breathing. Her hands gripped the steering wheel, willing strength into her muscles. Lyme disease might be trying to claim her body, but right now, she had a job to do.

When she arrived, Ana was pacing, her face pale. Skye sat cross-legged near Mitzy, who was nestled in a carefully prepared cardboard box. As Skye and Ana opened the box, Mitzy darted out and into the hallway.

"I'm so sorry to call," Ana said, wringing her hands. "I just don't handle blood, like, at all."

Jewel chuckled and shut the door. "No worries. We all have our strengths. Let's see how the little mama's doing."

Skye turned and noticed Mitzy gone. "Oh, no, where'd she go this time?"

Jewel waved a hand to the hall. "The room on the left."

They all went into the bedroom, the walls full of anime posters and soccer superstars. A soft shuffling from the closet had them all crowding in.

On the messy floor of the closet strewn with shoes was a warm, fuzzy hoodie. Mitzy lay curled on it, mewling loudly. Skye reached for her, but Jewel's hand on her arm stopped her.

"No, wait, she's too close and has clearly picked this for her birthing spot."

"But—my favorite hoodie…" Skye whispered forlornly, making Jewel and Ana chuckle.

Mitzy's mewling grew more intense, her body tensing and relaxing in rhythmic waves. Ana clutched Skye's arm, her eyes wide with a mixture of fascination and terror.

"Should we... do something?" Ana whispered.

Jewel shook her head, her veterinary expertise calm and steady. "She knows exactly what she's doing. We just need to watch and make sure everything goes smoothly."

A tiny sound emerged from beneath Mitzy's body—a soft, high-pitched mew that made Ana gasp. Skye leaned forward, carefully peeling back the edge of her hoodie to reveal a tiny, wet kitten.

"Oh my God," Skye breathed. "It's so small."

Ana leaned forward, then went pale as she gasped. "Oh my God."

Skye's head jerked around, staring wide-eyed at her mom. "Mom, no, you can't?—"

Ana slumped forward, and Jewel wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back. She cushioned Ana's fall to the floor, wincing at the pain in her ass as it hit the floor.

"Shit, I'm so sorry, Dr. Jewel! She can't handle blood," Skye babbled, crawling to them and tugging her mom off Jewel.

"Language," Jewel croaked, rolling onto her side as she wheezed.

"Sorry!" Skye said, shaking her mom's shoulder.

Mitzy continued her labor, seemingly unperturbed by the human drama unfolding around her. Jewel pushed herself up slowly, her muscles protesting a familiar reminder of the Lyme disease's constant undermining. But here, in this moment, she felt strong. Useful. She moved closer to Mitzy, checking the mother cat and her newborns.

Ana stirred, still pale but conscious. "Did I pass out?"

"Spectacularly," Skye said, turning back to the kittens now that Ana was awake. Within minutes, two more kittens joined the first, each one a miniature marvel of life. Mitzy cleaned them methodically.

"What did I miss? Is Mitzy okay?" Ana asked, sitting up and wiping her forehead.

Jewel chuckled, then winced. Her body demanded rest, but her mind was sharp. "They all look healthy. Mitzy's doing an excellent job."

"Five," Skye whispered, counting carefully. "Five kittens."

Ana groaned and laid back on the floor, making Jewel worry until she said, "They're going to eat us out of house and home. Then there are shots and getting them all fixed and—and I thought having one teenager was expensive!"

Jewel chuckled and shifted to standing, stretching the pinch in her back. "We're going to have a holiday fundraiser in December. You can bring them to be adopted then and if you charge an adoption fee, it could cover the cost of shots and spay and neuters. They're beautiful, perfect little kittens. Should have no problem adopting them out."

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