Chapter 8 #2
Sarah glared at the screen. The right picture? Don’t want Riley to be confused? How dare he reproach her for adopting a cat?
She dropped the phone back into her purse and tried to ignore it. Today she would not return his text until she was good and ready. Not now. Not here.
They went into a room that was set up with soft chairs, toys, and scratching posts. Sarah made a mental note to buy one of those posts sooner than later to keep her furniture safe.
“Let’s sit down and allow them to approach you,” said Raven.
Riley and Sally sat on the floor a little way from where the kittens were playing. Now the two gray fuzzballs were sitting close to a cat cave, their bright blue eyes alert with interest.
Sarah sank into an armchair behind Riley, and Simon sat a few feet away.
He was watching her again, just as he had at the store. Not in a way that was creepy or uncomfortable. But she was aware of his gaze nevertheless.
He was likely gauging her reaction to the cats. She hadn’t been enthusiastic about this adoption idea, after all. Did he expect her to change her mind at the last minute? What sort of person did he think she was?
Besides, now that she understood how important this adoption was to Riley, there was no way she would back down. She wished she could tell him that, but she was too busy watching the kittens as they peered out when the girls reached toward them.
One of the kittens was bolder than the other. It ventured toward the girls, curious but cautious.
“It’s okay, Dash,” said Riley, calmly coaxing the kitten. “We’re not going to hurt you.”
Sarah was proud of how composed her daughter remained. Sarah wanted to walk over and scoop up the kitten, but instead she dug her fingers into the arms of her chair and waited three or four of the longest minutes of her life.
The other kitten, Dot, emerged from her shelter and followed her brother, picking up her feet and placing them carefully in a straight line as though she were walking a tightrope.
“Look, Daddy,” whispered Sally as the smaller kitten approached. “She’s coming to me.” She squeaked a little, as though her excitement was leaking, and Riley’s shoulders relaxed as Dash continued his trek toward her.
“You girls are being very calm,” said Raven, breaking the silence. “They’re getting used to you.”
The girls continued holding out their hands while Sarah looked on, fully invested in the outcome. Her heart beat hard as the kittens edged forward, and a moment later a wave of relief came over her when Dash butted his head against Riley’s hand.
“You can pick him up now if you like. Gently,” Raven said.
Riley carefully took the kitten into her lap and turned toward Sarah. “He picked me,” she whispered.
“Yes.” Sarah smiled, tears threatening again, and Riley turned her head back toward the kitten, who was happy to be petted and sit in her lap.
Sarah was pleased to find that Dot had made her way to Sally’s lap while Simon surveyed the room, one foot crossed over his knee, sitting back with not a care in the world.
“Well,” he said. “It looks like we’re now the proud carers of Dot and Dash.”
Riley turned toward him and grinned, and Sarah, relaxing for the first time since she’d arrived at the center, released her grip on the chair and smiled.
“Yes, let the games begin.”
Simon stood. “If you give me your keys, I can grab the carrier from your car for you. Then you can stay here with the girls?”
“Sure, it’s in the back.” She relinquished the keys and watched him leave, reflecting that she never gave anyone her keys. Ever. What was it about this guy that made her feel so… safe?
She hung her purse on a nearby hook, leaving her cell phone and Graham’s message where they were and focusing instead on Riley, who was walking toward her, carrying the kitten.
“Mom, do you want to hold him?”
“I do,” said Sarah, taking the kitten from her. “Hello, Dash. Are you coming home with us?” The kitten crawled up onto her chest, lay against her, and emitted a small purr.
“I think he’s taken to you,” said Raven. “Purring is a good sign.”
“Dot isn’t purring,” said Sally, with a worried look.
“Dot seems to let Dash do things first,” said Raven. “Give her time. She just takes a little longer to adjust.”
“Okay,” said Sally, tucking her head down and petting Dot gently. “You’ll like living with me and Dad. He’s a nice guy. You’ll see.”
The door opened then, and Simon walked in, set down the carriers, and returned Sarah’s keys.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Any time,” he answered, in a low tone she hadn’t heard him use before. She caught an expression in his eyes for a fraction of a second. A longing. Or a knowing. She wasn’t sure. But whatever it was, it was already gone.
“Can I hold her?” he asked Sally.
“Okay.” Sally brought Dot to her father and placed her in his hands. The kitten sat on her haunches, dwarfed by his large hands, and stared up at him as though taking his measure.
“Isn’t she cute?” Sally asked.
“She is,” he agreed, not taking his eyes off the kitten. Dot must have decided he was okay because she circled around in his hands a minute, lay down, and, like Dash, began to purr.
“Look,” Sally said to Raven. “She’s purring.”
Raven chuckled. “I told you. She takes a little longer, but she gets there.”
Simon looked up, a question on his face.
“Raven was saying that Dot sometimes takes longer than Dash to feel comfortable or try new things,” said Sarah. “But you seem to have taken all her cares away.” Sarah was sure that if he were stroking her like he was stroking Dot, she wouldn’t have a care in the world either.
He looked up at her and their eyes met. It was just a moment, but long enough for heat to rise up her neck. She quickly turned toward Raven. “Are we able to take them now? What’s next?”
“Well, since you have the carriers, once you pay the fee, you can take them home today. I’ll arrange a time to visit you in the next few days to see how they’re settling in.”
They placed the kittens in the carriers and stopped at the front counter.
“There are coupons inside for the vet,” said Raven, handing them each an envelope with their receipts.
“They’re up to date with shots, but they should be spayed and neutered soon, once they grow a bit more.
They were pretty tiny when we rescued them.
There’s also a brochure there for insurance. ”
They thanked Raven, and Sarah and Simon carried the cats to their respective cars.
“Well, we’ll you soon,” said Sarah.
“Yes.” Simon bent to place the cat carrier into the back seat and told Sally to get in the car.
“Do you have dinner plans?” she found herself asking. “It’s just that my mom left us several lasagnas and… Well, would you like to help us eat one?”
Simon looked across at Sally who nodded up and down quickly, and then back to Sarah. “We’d like that,” he said. “Let us take Dot home first, show her the house and get her used to the place, and then we’ll come over.”
“How about an hour and a half? That will give us time to cook it.”
“See you then,” he said.
Sarah slid into the seat beside Riley, started up the car, and waved to Raven, who stood outside the building, watching them leave.
“Well, Dash, welcome to the family,” she said, pulling away from the building. She felt like this was the best decision she’d made in years.