Page 117 of Crazy Love

“It’s coming!” Sam’s eyes are wild. “I see something!”

It takes some time, but then—oh wow—a tiny, slimy creature slides most of the way out. Penn helps maneuver it the rest of the way with his gloved hands.

“Holy shit!” Penn laughs, holding the little body up for a second before he sets it in front of Jezebel. “We’ve got a baby!”

Jezebel immediately starts licking the kitten.

“That’s a good mama,” Penn coos.

“You did it, Jezebel. You did it,” Sam says.

“Whew. That is alotof blood and fluids,” I say weakly.

Penn cleans Jezebel’s backside with pet wipes as I stare in shock.

“Who even are you right now?” I ask.

He grins like an absolute madman.

“Isn’t this the craziest thing you’ve ever seen?” His brows lift when Jezebel meows and starts shifting her feet. “Oh, I think we’ve got another one coming.”

He moves the kitten out of the way and covers it slightly with the blanket. This time seems a little easier for Jezebel, but she stands and flops to her other side before we see signs of the next kitten. Penn is ready this time. He gently massages Jezebel’s belly while she labors and helps the kitten the rest of the way out when it’s ready. This one is smaller and wobbly, but Penn’s hands are steady as he places it in front of Jezebel.

“You’re like a cat doula,” I say in awe.

“They’re so cute!” Sam says. “Don’t you think so?” he asks Penn.

He leans in, as if he doesn’t want Jezebel to hear him, and whispers, “I still think they’re hideous looking, but there’s something very regal about our Jezebel.”

She keeps going and Penn stays calm the whole time, Sam too. Penn moves the kittens a little closer to Jezebel and helps them latch on. It takes the second one a little longer to nurse, but they have a few minutes near their mama before she starts shifting again. I watch in awe as the third kitten squirms its way into the world.

We wait for a while and Jezebel stretches out like she’s completely spent. When nothing else happens, Penn looks at me.

“I think maybe she’s done.”

When she doesn’t budge, it seems like he’s right.

“They’re so tiny,” I say softly, watching the last one nuzzle into Jezebel’s side.

Penn throws his gloves away and scrubs his hands at the sink. As he’s drying his hands on a towel, he smiles down at the newborns. Setting the towel aside, he leans down. “You did amazing, Jezzy,” he murmurs, stroking her ear.

She’s exhausted but purring, and she nuzzles his hand, as if she’s thanking him.

He looks up at me, swallowing hard.

“Did you see that?” he asks, his voice raspy.

I lean over and kiss his cheek. “I could not love you more right now.”

His face is flushed and his eyes are luminous. “I loveyou. And this thing we’re doing…this life we’re building…it’s fucking intense.”

“You think?” I laugh and we hear Sam laughing next to us.

He reaches for Sam’s shoulder. “And this guy. Such a trouper.”

“So proud of you both,” I tell them. “There were a couple of times I thought I might faint.”

Sam grins at me. “But you didn’t.”

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