Page 46 of Known By You
It wasn’t the safest thing I’d ever done, but after trying to set him down and having his spindly claws latch into not only my shirt but also my skin, I decided to keep him there with one hand and drive on over to the vet’s office with the other.
Along the way, I talked to him.
“I keep thinking you’re a boy, but I’m honestly not sure. I didn’t get a good look and suspect you wouldn’t be veryhappy with me if I tried right now, so we’ll let the vet tell us what’s what.”
He didn’t answer, nor did he stage a kitty revolt and climb me like a rope, so I kept going. “I’m hoping I didn’t just tear you away from family, but you need some help right now, either way. We’ll get the word out and see if we can find your family and if not…”
I trailed off and realized the truth of what I was about to say. “If not, you’ll come home with me and I’ll be your family.”
Call me a loon or a fool or even a hopeless romantic—whatever applied best. I wouldn’t deny any of those. And somehow, the idea that this little beast and I might be—dare I even think it?—meant to be.
It settled in my chest and nestled into my heart. I’d always suspected I’d know… and right now, I knew. This little guy and I were meant for each other.
Another tiny meow came as though in response.
“You like that idea? You and me sticking it out?” I focused on the road, resisting the urge to look away from the windshield and check on him. But soon enough, I pulled into the vet’s lot right as Dr. Monroe was getting out of his car.
“Thanks for meeting me,” I said, slipping out of the car and following him inside.
“Glad I was able to get here quickly. Looks like a tiny one.” He flipped on the lights of the lobby, then hallway, then exam room as he went. “Hold right here for another minute if you can and let me gather a few things. If he’s scared, he might try to run so I want to be ready.”
“Okay,” I agreed, fully acknowledging he knew far more about what to expect from this little creature than I did.
He returned with a stethoscope around his neck, a labcoat on, a towel, and a few other items he set aside. “Normally, I’d have a tech to help if needed, but I’m going to rely on you.”
His dark eyes settled on the little lump against my chest as he fitted his large hands into gloves. “Let’s get this kitten onto the towel and see how it goes. If it starts to jump on us, I’m going to grab it.”
Fortunately, the transition to the towel-topped table went smoothly once we got the claws hooked into the fabric of my shirt removed. I could feel the tremble in the little cat’s body, but he didn’t strike at us or even meow again. Dr. Monroe’s hands held him gently but firmly, and I took note of where and how since I hadn’t interacted with a kitten in years. Plus, I didn’t think Beast’s cat Bones had ever been this small.
“Congratulations, it’s a boy,” the doc said as he examined the cat’s belly and underside.
“I was right,” I said, a little impressed with myself and weirdly bursting with pride to have found this little guy and yet already dreading the possibility the congratulations didn’t belong to me—that I couldn’t keep him, be his cat dad. “He seemed like a boy.”
Dr. Monroe glanced at me, then continued his work, speaking softly in his rich voice to the little one, telling him how his legs looked strong, and his belly was very empty. After another minute or two, he set the cat back down but kept a hand on him.
“You’ve got a very skinny but not unhealthy kitten on your hands. He’s probably between eight and ten weeks old. If his mom’s around, he may not have weaned, but it doesn’t seem like he’s had anyone watching out for him in a few days at least, so I’m thinking maybe he’s been abandoned or lost. He’s likely a fully black cat under all the muck, soyou’ll want to watch out for him, especially around Halloween. People take the lore seriously sometimes and it’s awful.” He frowned, stroking the kitten’s head gently.
I shuddered. How could someone hurt a black cat, let alone any animal? “People are the worst.”
Dr. Monroe chuckled. “Some can be. But you’re a good man and I think you’ll be a good cat dad to this fellow.”
Cat dad.
Me?
I smiled down at the little black face with what I could now definitively see were light green eyes and yeah. Yep. I’d known it the second I heard the first meow, and it solidified in me now like orders for a new mission.
It clicked. I just… knew.
I could absolutely be this little one’s cat dad.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Elizabeth
Living with the knowledge I’d kissed Kenny Carmichael against his wishes stung, but I’d prepared to deal with it at work today.
Being unable to get over the awkwardness sooner rather than later and potentially apologize again because Kenny didn’t show up to work?
