Willow
willow
M y day had been a whirlwind of taking and running orders, cleaning up, and catching up on recipe testing. I was exhausted, and still a little sore from last night. Ronan had been…attentive. All day, he’d called or texted to make sure I was alright. And it had been nice—it was different from anything I was used to.
He was unlike any man I’d ever met before. Unlike any man I’d ever slept with.
I’d been in such an amazing mood all day because of him, riding a high I’d never felt before. I told Gracie everything , and she was ecstatic that Ronan and I were finally officially together.
But then…
Then I got a call from my dad, and I couldn’t shake this feeling that my happiness was fleeting. That despite this new way of life with Ronan, it was temporary. The blaring reminder that even if Ronan was seemingly different , he could leave. He could turn out to be just like everyone else.
My family was coming to visit in just a few days, and I stupidly never thought this day would come. When everything started three weeks ago, this day felt so far away. But now we were here. Just a few more nights, and they’d be here , in my town, with my friends, in my home, and at my job. I’d have to put on a mask, force a smile, pretend like their jabs and words didn’t bother me.
And then I’d disappear for a week while I recovered.
I wished I wasn’t like this. I wished I could let their comments roll off my back, but I couldn’t. They sank deep and reopened wounds I thought had closed long ago.
Reaching up, I let my hair out of my claw clip and shook the wavy strands out. My fingers dug into my scalp as I massaged it, groaning at the sensation. I still hadn’t found my favorite one, but I was sure it was hiding under my bed or in a random basket under my bathroom sink.
A sigh left me. Now that Ronan and I were together—really together—everything felt up in the air. It felt uncertain. New things were scary. We were still trying to figure out exactly what this new relationship looked like for us. I knew I needed to go home soon, but I wasn’t ready yet.
Ronan was quickly becoming my safe place, and that was terrifying. Because putting that amount of trust in someone was terrifying. But more than that, I was comfortable at his house. We were figuring out routines, and how to work around, and with, each other. Even if it had only been a few days, and less than twenty-four hours since we became official, it felt right . Being with him, being in his house, being together felt right .
The sand gave way with each step up the steep hill toward the lighthouse. Instead of parking on the hill like I usually did, I parked at the beach and stupidly decided to climb it. For no reason other than I was too lost in my thoughts to notice or care.
The lighthouse towered over me as I approached. Jagged rocks climbed up the edge, stopping only a few feet from its base. The wooden steps leading to the door were rotted with salty, humid air, and the door itself was hanging on by its hinges. Seaweed and trash were plastered to the white siding, and broken wood from abandoned projects was stacked to the side.
What would it have been like seeing her in her glory? When her light was bright and still worked? When she was still a beacon calling sailors home?
Slowly, I made my way toward it, making sure to avoid planks of wood with nails in it or slick seaweed. I’d fallen one too many times and had learned my lesson. Despite it being a clear summer day, every gust of wind brought an icy chill with it. I tugged my cardigan tighter around myself as I continued my trek.
When I finally got to it, I pressed my hand against the cool, slick wall. My eyes fluttered shut, and a deep, cleansing breath filled my lungs.
Home .
Safety.
I let the feel of the chipped paint, the smell of the salty air, ground me. It settled deep in my soul, and anchored me to this moment, to this patch of earth. My hair whipped around my face, and goosebumps rippled along my arms, but I stayed put. I focused on my breathing, and soon all the heavy feelings from today washed away.
Thoughts and worries of my father’s impending trip blew away with the wind as if they’d never existed.
Meow .
My eyes flew open at the sound. I looked around, swiveling my gaze from left to right. I held my breath as I strained to listen, trying to figure out if that was just my imagination or if it was real.
But then I heard it again—a barely there meow .
I crept toward the pile of broken and shattered wood. Carefully, I tugged a piece away, then another. There was a blur of orange in the corner of my eye, and I whirled toward it. A tiny tail snaked around the edge of the lighthouse, and I inched forward.
Crouching, I stopped at the rounded corner. Slowly, I peeked around it, finding the smallest kitten I’d ever seen huddled in on itself. It stared up at me with massive blue eyes, its tiny body trembling uncontrollably. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the cold or because it was terrified.
“Hey, little guy,” I cooed, holding my hand out. “Where’s your mama?” I looked around as if I expected her to leap out at me, but when I didn’t see or hear her, I turned my attention back to the kitten.
It scooted into the wall as I edged closer. Reaching into my purse, I grabbed the bright green scrunchie at the bottom and held it out. The kitten’s eyes latched onto it as I danced the silky fabric in front of its face.
He inched closer, lightly sniffing. Hesitantly, a little paw tipped with delicate claws reached out and gently tapped the scrunchie. He glanced at me as it swung back and forth before doing it again. Something about him—the way he looked at me with those big blue eyes, trusting and scared at the same time—made me feel like I couldn’t walk away, not without making sure he was safe.
“That’s it,” I murmured as I shifted onto my knees. He skittered backward at the sudden movement, and I nearly groaned. What was I thinking? But then he edged closer, his eyes flicking between me and the scrunchie. “Here you go, little guy.”
As he grew braver and nudged his nose against the fabric, I noticed he was limping. Then I saw the dirt caked in its fur—dirt, or blood? He inspected the scrunchie as I inspected him. Was he injured? Maybe not.
I couldn’t tell, but I knew I needed to take him to the vet. He limped closer, and when he finally tapped his nose against my hand, I held in my excited gasp. He jerked away before coming back and nuzzling his head against my palm. He slunk along my arm before settling between my leg and the lighthouse.
Hesitantly, I smoothed a finger over his tiny head, and he meowed. I didn’t know what to do—should I call Ronan? He might’ve known what to do, where to go. But he was busy at work still hunting the burglar down, and he’d already missed so many days because of me. I didn’t want to bother him with more of my problems.
I shook myself. I could do this on my own.
The kitten’s paw slid onto my thigh like he was trying to climb into my lap, and I finally wrapped my hand around his tiny body. He was so small, and as I held him, I noticed that he was trembling even more. Was it a normal amount of shaking, or should I be worried? He smelled like seawater and fish. How long had he been out here?
I chewed my bottom lip as I looked him over. His nose wrinkled as I probed his leg, and he jerked it away. So, he must’ve been hurt.
“Let’s find your mama,” I murmured, scratching between his ears. He rested his head against my chest as I stood, nuzzling closer to me. His claws sank into my arm, and I hissed at the pain, but soothed him until he finally relaxed again.
I didn’t want to take him away from his home, but he needed to get checked out to make sure nothing was seriously wrong. Rocks and wood crunched underfoot as I searched for his mom, but I didn’t find any sign of her—or any other animals.
Just him.
Waves crashed in the distance, and the humid, salty air clung to my skin as I widened my search to the clearing behind the lighthouse before making my way to the sand dunes. Nothing.
My teeth sank into my bottom lip as I stared down at him. He blinked up at me, his eyes watery.
“I think you need a doctor, little guy,” I murmured, smoothing my thumb along his face. His head flopped back, and my heart fluttered. I clutched him with both hands, protectively holding him against my chest as I carefully made my way down the hill toward my car.
I tugged the door open, and he jolted upright. “Shh,” I soothed. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”
I sank into my car seat and turned the car on, settling him on my lap. Curiously, he sniffed at my center console, at the overflow of candy, before he tapped the steering wheel with a dirty paw. I laughed softly as his bravery and interest grew, and he stumbled toward the door.
“Careful,” I told him, gently scolding. But he ignored me as he stumbled onto one of the buttons, pawing at it curiously. The window hummed as it lowered, and he leapt back, startled. I laughed again, holding him tighter as he tried to investigate the center console.
I tried to wrangle him as he moved onto the floorboard, trying to throw himself between my legs to see what my feet were doing. Grumbling to myself, I held him tighter to my chest as I drove through town. His tiny paw reached for the buttons again, and I swore he gave me a smug look before tapping one.
“You’re trouble already, aren’t you?” I mumbled.
After just a few minutes, I pulled into The Purrfect Care Clinic parking lot and sighed. I tapped my fingers along his boney spine, and he blinked up at me, looking more alert than he had been earlier. His shaking had already lessened, and he was acting more normal and less scared. But as I got out of the car and made my way inside, he huddled against me again.
I spoke with the receptionist, explaining the situation to her. We only waited a few minutes before we were called into an exam room.
The kitten tried to scramble out of my arms, wanting to explore, so I set him on the floor. I watched as he limped around the room, tentatively sniffing at everything. My phone vibrated, and I tugged it out of my pocket. I grinned when I saw the message.
RONAN:
Where are you? I’m heading home.
Wanna grab dinner at the diner?Or are you feeling something else?
Sorry I’m such a creature of habit. I promise I’ll be more adventurous.
I laughed at his dramatics and pointed my camera at the kitten to snap a photo. Sending it to him, I watched as the three dots appeared, then disappeared a few times. Finally, his reply came, and I chuckled again.
RONAN:
So…we have a cat now?
The door opened, and I shoved my phone back into my purse. A tall blonde woman strolled in. She smiled at me, then looked at the kitten.
“Who do we have here?” she asked softly, crouching onto the balls of her feet. The kitten scurried backward, his eyes widening as he pressed his body into the corner. She let out a sad laugh as she scooped him up and placed him on the exam table. “I’m Dr. Harper. But that seems incredibly formal, so please just call me Maggie.” I got to my feet and stood on the other side of the metal table.
“,” I said, taking her outstretched hand and gently shaking it. “I just found him at the beach. I’m not sure if there’s anything wrong, but he was limping and shaking. And there was something here—” I pointed at his back leg. “But I couldn’t tell if it was dirt or blood.”
She gently probed at the spot, watching his face carefully. He wrinkled his nose again and pulled his lower half away from her touch, and she smiled. “Did you find any other cats there?” she asked as she continued her examination.
“Just him,” I said softly.
She hummed as she listened to his breathing. “I think he’ll need a few tests,” she said mindlessly. “Are you adopting him, or…”
I just stared at her. I hadn’t thought that far. “Um.”
A breathy laugh left her as she smoothed her hand over the kitten’s back. “No worries,” she said. “Think about it. We’ll need to keep him for a couple days anyway, so you have time.”
She wrapped her hand around the kitten and picked him up, and I immediately had my answer. I didn’t want her to take him away. I didn’t want to leave him behind.
Maggie gave me a knowing look. “I think you’ll be back,” she muttered, and I nodded. “Alright. Flora will get everything set up for you out front. We’ll call you if there’s anything seriously wrong, but I don’t think there is. You can expect to take him home in a few days.”
“Thank you,” I blurted, and she smiled again.
“Thank you for bringing him in.” She scratched her fingers under his chin. “A lot of people would’ve just left him out there alone. You did the right thing.” She pulled the door open but paused. “Think of a name for him, too.”
As the door closed behind them, the room felt unbearably empty. I already missed him, and I’d only known him for thirty minutes. How ridiculous was that?
After checking in with Flora and getting a list of everything I’d need for him, I headed to my car. I contemplated calling Ronan, but I’d see him in just a few minutes, anyway.
I fumbled with my keys, my gaze downcast. What name fit that little kitten? I wasn’t sure. I’d heard a million in my life, but I currently had nothing in my head. Nothing was right .
A man ran into my shoulder, and my keys fell to the ground. I blinked as he continued past without so much as an apology or acknowledgement.
Spinning around, my blood turned to ice.
Braydon kept his head down as he hurried into the vet. It was probably for the best he ignored me—he was likely embarrassed after his altercation with Ronan. Or maybe he didn’t even realize it was me. Either way, I was glad he pretended like I didn’t exist.
I shook him off and slipped into my car. The drive through town was quick, and when I pulled up to the house, Ronan’s car was already in the driveway and the lights to his house were on. It was such an odd feeling knowing that I was going to his side, not my dark, empty half.
Gathering my purse from the passenger seat, I locked my car and trudged across the yard. Names floated through my head as I walked up the steps.
Coral? No, that didn’t feel right. Cove? That was cute, but still, it didn’t feel like him.
I tapped my fingers against the door.
Scrunchie? That was a possibility.
The door swung open, and Ronan grinned at me. “What?” I said, chuckling nervously. “You look like you’re guilty of something.”
His brows creased in disappointment as he took me in. “Where’s the cat?”
“Oh, I had to leave him at the vet for a few days.” I threw my thumb over my shoulder. “Can I come in?”
“Yes. Sorry. Yes.” He stepped aside and waved his hand toward the living room. My laugh was cut short when I saw the bags of stuff littering the couch and coffee table.
“What’s all this?” I asked, putting my purse on the hook by his jacket and kicking my shoes off.
“I didn’t know what to get, so the kid at the store helped me. I’m still setting up the cat tree, but the water and food bowl are back there—” He pointed at the kitchen. “And the litter box is in the spare bathroom. Everything else is toys and treats, and—what’s wrong?” Tears streamed down my cheeks as I took everything in. “? Baby?” Ronan moved in front of me and pressed his hands on my shoulders. “What did I do? Oh my god. I’ll take it all back. Is it the cat? Is he—is he?—”
“He’s fine,” I sniffled, reaching up to wipe my cheeks. “He’s—he’s mine— ours . If you want him.” Every time I looked at the bags, at the half put together cat tree, more tears came. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“The cat needs it,” he said, shrugging.
“I know. I just—I didn’t expect you—this—” I wiped my face again. “Thank you, Ro.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck as he dropped his hands to my waist. “I missed you today, sweetheart,” he murmured, his voice vibrating against my neck.
“I missed you, too.” He shifted his face to press his lips against mine, and when he pulled away, I was breathless. “We have to think of a name for him.”
He flashed me a grin. “Alright, baby. We’ll figure it out.”
I took a deep breath, and a knot in my chest loosened, one I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying all day. I tugged him into another hug, just needing to feel his arms wrapped around me, his safety, his warmth.
The heavy weight I’d felt all day melted away with each beat of his heart.
My gaze flitted around the room again. “You didn’t have to do this, you know,” I muttered, my voice wavering.
“Of course I did.” He said it so matter-of-factly, like there hadn’t been another option. “He’s ours, and I want him to have everything he needs.”
“You make it sound like it’s no big deal.” I laughed, pulling away from him.
“Because it’s not.” He brushed my hair behind my ear, his gaze melting into warm pools of blue. “Taking care of you, and now this cat, will never be a burden to me, baby. It’s just…what I want to do.”
Slowly, my smile faded. I flicked my eyes between his, my heart thudding wildly in my chest. “I’m not used to this,” I admitted. “I’m not used to anyone—to a man —showing up for me like this.”
His jaw tensed as he cupped my cheek. “Get used to it, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere, and I won’t stop doing it.”
My chest rose as I took a deep breath. I didn’t know what to say to that. He was—there weren’t enough words in the world to describe what Ronan Caldwell was. Amazing didn’t feel like enough.
“So,” he said, stepping away. “What should we name him?”
I laughed softly. “I don’t know. How about Ronan Jr.?”
He snorted. “How about…”
“We have time,” I said, waving dismissively. “Dinner?”
“God, yes. I’m starving. I was thinking the diner, but I’m open to?—”
“How about I cook for us?” I suggested instead. He blinked.
“You don’t have to?—”
“I like cooking.” I shrugged. “It helps me relax.”
“It gives me a heart attack.”
I giggled as I pushed onto my toes and kissed his cheek. “Can you go next door and water my plants for me?” I batted my lashes at him, and he rolled his eyes.
“Is this your way of getting rid of me?”
“I’d never do something like that,” I teased. He tapped my ass as I passed him, and I yelped.“Oh, and talk to my babies while you water them.”
His laughter followed me into the kitchen, and as I pulled the fridge open to start dinner, I felt my usual doubt creep up inside me. But then I looked at the bags, at the cat tree, at the bowls on the floor, and pushed those voices away. I wasn’t bracing myself for the other shoe to drop or for things to crumble.
Ronan was everything he promised to be and more. And tonight, he proved that. He showed me he was in this, and his actions soared over all the pretty words and broken promises I’d heard over the years.
He was unlike anyone I’d ever met, and for the first time in my life, I wasn’t scared of him leaving.