Page 38 of From Nowhere

“What have I told you about touching stray animals?”

“He’s a kitten, Dad.”

“Lola, put it down. I’m sure its mom will be looking for it.”

Maren pets the cat in Lola’s arms, not helping my case.

“Dad, I bet his mom is dead, and that’s why he’s all alone. If we don’t take him home, he will die.”

Ouch.This girl packs an emotional punch. “It’s called life, Lola. And how do you know he’s a he?”

“How doyouknow you’re a he?” She rolls her eyes.

Maren tries to suppress her laugh.

“We’re not taking it home,” I say.

“Why not?”

“Because.”

“Because why? And don’t say because you said so. Remember when you promised to always explain things to me?”

When I look to Maren for help, she curls her lips between her teeth and shrugs. In the next breath, she tries to find an excuse. “Lola, what if your grandparents are allergic to cats?”

I silently commend Maren for trying, but that’s not the right defense.

“They aren’t,” Lola says. “They used to have cats. A lot of them. Right, Dad?”

“Lola. We don’t have a car.”

“Put him in your backpack,” Lola says.

“He’ll suffocate.”

She frowns, sad eyes on the kitten before gazing at Maren.

“I bet he finds a good home.” Maren nods with reassurance.

Lola nestles the cat in the bush and mumbles, “I bet something eats him before tomorrow.”

I don’t touch this conversation with another word. She’s relinquishing the cat, and that’s a win, even if I know she’ll give me the cold shoulder for the next few days.

“It was nice meeting you, Lola,” Maren says, sliding her key fob from her pocket.

Lola manages a lukewarm “You too” before sulking toward our bikes.

I walk down the stairs next to Maren and take several steps with her toward her RAV, keeping my back to Lola. “Can I call you later?”

Maren grunts, unlocking her car. “I don’t know, Ozzy. Can you?”

“Let me rephrase. What are you doing later? Want to sneak out with me? Grab a drink at a bar?”

With her chin tucked, she opens her door. “You’re all talk, Ozzy. But sure. I’ll sneak out with youifyou call. But I won’t wait up for you.”

“I’ll check in with you at”—I glance at my watch—“nineteen hundred.”

She giggles, shakes her head, and slides into the driver’s seat.

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