Page 50 of Hell's Kitten

“No,” Ms. Maude interrupts quietly but firmly. She’s not looking at any of us. Her eyes are locked with the cat’s green ones. “She has chosen you.”

“Me?” I say.

She chuckles. “All three of you. Can’t you see? You cannot abandon her now. It would upset the balance.”

“Karma,” Leah agrees in a knowing voice.

“Right…” Selena says. “Em, I know you know about these things, but…”

“Hush, child,” she says warmly with a little smile. “I do know. You and she,” she glances at Leah, “were brought here for the young. The black kitten will take the mother.”

What she says sounds ridiculous until I realize she’s looking at me. Am I the black kitten? I guess that makes sense as a nickname. I am a kitten with dark hair. She probably has no idea about my personal life, but I’m always wearing my cat ear headphones.

“I will?” I say faintly, thinking of thetencats Nim already has.

Ms. Maude stands. “I shall fetch a basket. For now, the family will remain with me until the time is right.” She smiles to herself and presses her hands together. “Yes. The tea leaves never lie. All I needed was a little patience.”

She swishes off, and I watch her with a slightly slack jaw.

“What just happened?” Selena asks.

“Your girlfriend just dumped us all with a cat each,” Leah says incredulously, but there’s a hint of excitement in her eyes.

Selena sighs. “She’s not my girlfriend. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

“Well…I think we’re all linked to her now in some way,” I say. “At least if we want to adopt the cats like she suggested.”

Leah bites her lip. “My new placedoesallow pets,” she admits.

“And they are adorable,” Selena adds.

The two women look at each other, and it could be my imagination, but I feel something stir between them. Then I look down at the cats and find Mama staring right back at me.

My breath hitches. I think about the ten black cats that Nim has back at his apartment, all named after the star signs. He skipped Cancer for obvious reasons. I was glad when I realized that. But then that just leaves…

“Pisces,” I murmur.

Mama cat blinks at me.

I’m not sure I believe in fate or destiny or whatever. But somehow, Nim was there for me just when I needed him. Are the three of us perhaps in the right place and the right time for these little creatures as well? It’s better for everyone if they get adopted directly, I have no doubt. If they go to the shelter, the chances are they might just come to Toe Beans anyway. If no one ever takes the black ones, Mama might just end up with Nim regardless.

Maybe the universe brought us into this little garden to save everyone that heartache. What if it’s asking me to pay Nim’s kindness forward? That sounds like the karma Leah is always talking about.

I don’t have to decide right now. Things are so uncertain with all this nasty business from the mayor anyway. But as Ms. Maude comes back with a wicker basket and gently transfers mother and babies to it, I can’t take my eyes off Mama. When Ms. Maude shoos us away so she can tend to the young, I find myself making a promise.

“See you soon, Pisces,” I say.

CHAPTER 19

Nim

“Come on, little fellow,”I say, trying to coax the tabby kitten off the top of the fridge. I have no idea how he got back there, but it’s dusty and he could fall down the back, so he really needs to get out. The trouble is he’s scared now and keeps backing away from my hand as I attempt to reach him.

Luckily, it’s before seven, so the café hasn’t even opened yet. My staff is tending to the cats and setting up the counter to serve customers, but it’s just Leah and me back here on the rescue mission.

“How did he even get back here?” Leah asks.

I grunt from my position up the ladder. It makes me nervous with all this health inspector nonsense. I’ve never had a cat make it through the anti-chamber into the food prep area. We need to get this little guy out of here as soon as possible. I’m trying to keep my stress levels in control, though, as I’ll only frighten him more if I’m not careful.

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