Chapter 10 Chuck
CHUCK
“We’re almost there, I promise.” Patience wasn’t a friend of my boy’s today.
Oscar and I signed the papers on the land and as a mini honeymoon getaway, I booked the same cabin we stayed at back in February. Today, I was taking Tae to see our new place to be and share that with him.
His eyes widened as the old cabin we’d be tearing down came into view. “Oh Daddy, it’s even better than the pictures you showed me.” Glad he felt that way. “Do we get to stay here tonight?”
“No, Silly Boy. There’s nowhere to sleep and that cabin isn’t safe. But I did book the same cabin we stayed in before for a mini honeymoon.” I’d taken Monday off for a three-day weekend.
“Daddy,” hands on his hips and attitude fully present. “We got married a long time ago.”
I smacked his butt as I walked past him.
“Sassy boy, it wasn’t that long ago. We never discussed a honeymoon, so I thought I’d throw one into the mix.
” Given how busy Oscar, Trey, and I have been, this was the first chance we got to getaway.
“Stay out here, Daddy’s gonna make sure the cabin is empty. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
There wasn’t much in here, some trash, a broken chair, and an old blanket that had seen better days.
I moved it all to the same spot, making it easier to haul out before demo started, but when I got to the old mattress I heard the faintest of cries.
Carefully, I lifted it up and there they were.
A mother cat who was not in good shape and three tiny newborn kittens, their eyes barely open.
I grabbed a box from the trash pile and carefully scooped them up then dug through the mattress to see if there were any more. Thankfully, it was just the three.
“Daddy, what’s in there?”
I was afraid to show him and risk upsetting Tae but keeping it from him wasn’t an option. “A really sick momma cat and three babies.” Not sure Momma cat was still with us, but I’d wait for the vet to confirm.
“Oh no, Daddy. We have to save them.”
“Let’s get in the truck and take them to the vet in town and see if they can help.” Tae got himself buckled in and I handed him the box. “Hold onto the box tight, sweetheart.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect them, Daddy.” My sweet bighearted boy. Hopefully this didn’t turn into a traumatizing situation for him.
“Welcome to Taylor Ridge Vet Clinic, how can we help you today.”
Carefully, I set the box on top of the reception counter. “We just found these in an old cabin on the property we bought. I’m hoping you can help us make them better.” Beside me, Tae bobbed his head. Silently, I pleaded with the gal assisting us to choose the right wording.
“They’re so lucky you found them. Let me get Dr. Drew to help us out.” The tiny mews grew fainter with each passing moment.
“Gentlemen, I’m Dr. Drew, what do we have here?” He peeked inside the box then picked it up. “Let me take them back and exam them. Please, have a seat and we’ll be right back.”
Dr. Drew and his assistant took the tiny packages to the back while Tae and I waited. “Daddy, I hope they’re okay. I’m so glad you found them.”
“Me too, sweetheart,” I pressed my lips to his temple and took his hand in mine. “But Tae, I don’t think that Momma was long for this world. I’m only sharing this so you can prepare yourself for that.”
He nodded. “I understand, but I’ll still be super sad. Those babies are too young to be away from their momma.”
Tae’s head went back and forth from the animal show playing on the lobby television to the door they’d disappeared behind. My heart ached for my boy and for those poor babies who’ve likely lost their mother.
About a half hour later, Dr. Drew came out and Tae hopped up and ran over to him. “Are they okay?”
“Thanks to you,” Dr. Drew told him. “The babies are about a week old and should be fine with round the clock feedings and care. I’m sorry to say that momma kitty didn’t make it.”
Tae’s eyes filled with tears, and I wrapped my arms around him. “What can we do to help?”
“Thank you for asking. First question is, are you planning to keep them or would you like for me to place them with a local rescue?”
I had no clue how to respond. Tae had never asked for a pet of any kind, but when those sad eyes met mine, I knew the answer. “We’d like to keep them if possible.”
“Are you local? Maris said you mentioned finding them on property you just bought. Do you have a home here?”
“Not yet. We live down in the valley but are building a second home here as well. As of now, we’re only in town until Monday.
” I hoped that wouldn’t hinder our ability to keep them, but I hadn’t a clue how to care for a cat, let alone three newborns in need of round-the-clock care, as he’d mentioned.
“Tell you what, let me reach out to the local cat rescue. If they know you’re coming back for them, they may be able to foster until they can be weaned, for a donation, of course. Would that work for you?”
That would be a great way to build a relationship with the locals.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea. We’ll be up here regularly working on the house and I bet this one,” I nudged Tae, “would love to volunteer to help out when he could at the rescue and we’d also be willing to provide cash and supply donations as well.
” Tae smiled and nodded, likely already imagining himself rolling around on the floor with a house full of cats.
Dr. Drew smiled. “I know they’d appreciate that. I volunteer with them as well as other local rescues. The spay and neuter when they come of age would be included in your adoption package along with their first shots. Did you want all three of the babies?”
One glance at my bobble headed boy gave me the answer. “Yes, please, and we’d like to start a veterinary care account for them.” Might as well use the vet who helped save them.
“Wonderful,” he paused, “I’m sorry, in the rush to assess them I haven’t asked your names.”
“I’m Chuck Ashwood and this is my husband, Tae.” Guess that was one way to find out how LGBTQIA+ this town was.
“Excellent,” Dr. Drew smiled. “Welcome to Taylor Ridge. I’ll call the rescue now and she’ll likely be right over.” He returned to the back and we sat back down.
“Daddy, do we really get to keep all three of them?”
“That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” I hoped I hadn’t misread his reaction.
“Yes, you don’t split up families.” Ah, this ran deeper than just rescuing cats.
“Then we won’t.”
Shortly after that, a new lady came out of the back and headed our way. “You must be Chuck and Tae. I’m Judy, I run the Feline Sanctuary Rescue. It’s nice to meet you both.”
Tae and I stood and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Are the babies still okay?” Tae asked.
“They’re getting better, thanks to you. Dr. Drew says you live down in the valley and want to adopt them?”
“Yes, please, all three of them. I want to keep them together.” My determined boy stated. “We are building a house up here, so we’ll have two homes for them to play in.”
“That sounds wonderful, Tae. We’re solely funded from donations and would be happy to have you as volunteers. When you’re in town, that is.”
“I’d love to. Can we see where the kitties will be living?” Tae asked. This had only just begun and already I foresee how difficult it was going to be to keep him away from his babies.
“Absolutely. Let me see if they’re ready to go and you can help me get them settled in.
” Judy disappeared into the back and emerged a few minutes later with the same box we brought in.
“Let me give you my address even though you can follow me there. It’s just around the corner but then you’ll have it for future visits.
” She rattled it off along with her number and I added it to my phone contacts.
“Daddy, it’s so sad those babies lost their momma.”
“It is, sweetheart, but now you get to give them their best lives.”
He wiggled and grinned. “They’re so tiny. We have to hold them and cuddle them and keep them safe. That’s most important, Daddy.”
“Very true, my love.” We pulled up in front of a rustic two-story home with a screened in front porch. The front yard was nicely maintained with an array of flower beds. The house could use a fresh coat of paint, but that was the Ashwood side of me speaking. “Come on, let’s follow Judy inside.”
We were greeted by a couple of older cats and was that a… “Parrot?”
“Welcome home,” the parrot chirped. “Who are you?”
I-I, how does one reply to that?
“These are friends, Tulip,” Judy informed the bird.
“New box, new babies,” Tulip chirped.
“Yes, new babies but only for a little while. These nice men are adopting them.” Tulip waddled over to the box and poked her head inside then flew onto her giant perch, seemingly satisfied.
“Don’t mind Tulip, she’s taken it upon herself to play security guard.
Every animal here is a rescue, including her. Let me show you around.”
We followed her through the kitchen and up a set of stairs. “In this room are the nursing mothers which is where your babies will be. Would you like to help get them acclimated?”
“Yes, please,” Tae replied.
“This nursing momma here was very young and in her first litter only one of three babies survived. Let’s see how she takes to your three.
” Tae knelt beside her as she removed the black and white baby from the box and placed it beside the nursing kitten.
The momma kitty sniffed it and laid back down.
“Come on, Oreo, you can do it,” Tae cheered the baby on. Looks like one of three was named. Oreo whimpered and sniffed the momma and the kitten beside him. I hoped with all my might all three survived.
“Might need his siblings to feel safe enough to latch onto her teat.” Judy took the all black one from the box and placed it beside Oreo.
“Twinkle, your brother is beside you, you’re safe now,” Tae assured him.
Two were named, and now to see if the third triggered the others to nurse.
Lastly, Judy removed the tiger striped one and sat it beside the other two. Tae watched, barely restraining himself from trying to help, but was getting concerned the longer it took them to feed.
“Please, Simba, show your brothers how to do it.”
There was something about those initials that…huh, I’ll be damned. Right as it hit me that the kitten’s names all started with the same initials as Tae and his brothers, Oreo latched on and the other two did the same.
“Yay! They’re feeding, Daddy. Err, Chuck.” If Judy had any issues with him calling me Daddy, that was on her. “They’re so tiny. Can I pet them?”
“Gently, so you don’t scare or jostle them or the momma kitty,” Judy told him.
As Tae ran a single finger over each one he whispered, “You’re gonna be so happy with us. You’ll have warm beds, and toys and food and treats and scratchy thingies.”
Judy smiled beside him. “And I’m guessing a lot of love too.”
“So much love,” Tae assured her. Judy had no idea how much love my boy had to give. These babies would be spoiled rotten and never want for a single thing.
With the kittens situated, Tae kissed his finger and pressed it to each one.
Judy wanted to show us the rest of the rescue rooms and then we had a bit of paperwork to fill out.
Tae made a few new friends in the older cat room.
They were far more relaxed than in the juvenile one.
Those cats were a bit crazed, and I assumed those days would be in our future as well, especially with three cats.
From no pets to three.
What was this Daddy thinking?
“If you’d like to make a cash donation, please do so through the website. That’s how our accountant tracks everything that comes into our 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. As far as food, bedding, litter and any other supplies, you can bring those with you anytime you visit.”
“Can we see the kittens again before we go home?” Tae asked.
“Absolutely. Just text me to make sure I’m not out taking care of the feral lot.”
“What would’ve happened if they didn’t nurse?” Tae asked the question I wondered about too.
“It would be round the clock bottle feeding for them. It’s both good and bad we now have enough nursing mothers that it’s rare we have to do that anymore.”
“Good and bad?” Tae was full of questions now.
“Good for times like this one but bad because that means they had to be rescued. I wish people had the forethought to bring their unwanted animals to rescues instead of turning them loose. I also wish every pet was spayed and neutered beforehand to avoid unwanted litters. Some humans don’t deserve a pet’s loyalty and unwavering love,” Judy shook her head.
“Ignore me, I’m a grouchy old lady who loves animals unconditionally. ”
I had a feeling that Tae and I had just become the same.
“My son and daughter in law help out too. Usually, I’m the one home to take care of feedings and litter boxes.
They pick up the food donations and come by for play time, but they have a bit of a zoo themselves at home,” she chuckled.
“Animal lovers bring new animal lovers into the world with zero regrets.”
“Can I help out whenever we’re up here?” Tae was so excited, there was no way I’d tell him no.
“I’d love that, as long as it’s okay with your Daddy,” she winked at me. Guess she didn’t miss that.
“Daddy?”
“Of course, my love.”
Can’t think of a single time I’ve ever said no to him.