“Keep talking and you’ll be the one responsible for cleaning its litter,” I throw over my shoulder.
He grumbles but doesn’t complain again.
The kitten, however, makes her objections known as I hurry her through the house and up to Carter’s room. He and Apollonia are there playing. I know this because I can’t seem to stop thinking about my little lioness. I follow her every move, and I always know what she’s doing. Even when she’s avoiding me, I can still feel her. She’s sunk her claws into me, and I never want to stop feeling the pain and pleasure of such a woman.
When I peek into Carter’s room, they’re both lying on the rug, their heads touching as Carter tells her about the time his father tried to ride a donkey but wound up nearly impaled in the vineyard.
She laughs, her peals of joyful giggles infusing the air with a warmth I hadn’t known was lacking until this moment. “That sounds like him.”
Little Carter turns onto his side and stares at her, then reaches out and touches her face. “You look like Daddy sometimes.”
She takes his hand in hers, her eyes watering, and kisses his fingertips. “So do you.”
I ponder leaving quietly instead of interrupting, but the hellion in my palm won’t be ignored. She lets out a wild mewl, and Apollonia and Carter both turn to me.
“Is that a—”
“Kitty!” Carter squeals and scrambles to his feet.
Apollonia rolls over and sits up, her eyes on the furball in my hand.
“I was going to toss this rude thing out the door, but I thought perhaps you might want to see her before I did.”
“Don’t you dare!” Apollonia jumps to her feet and hurries over.
Carter reaches out and rubs the kitten’s head.
“Careful, she bites, and her claws are like little needles.”
“She’s an angel.” Apollonia sounds offended. “Here.” She holds out her hands, and I transfer the squirming fuzzball to her.
The kitten immediately climbs up her shirt and nestles on her shoulder under her hair.
“She likes you.” Carter jumps up and down. “Can I hold her?”
“Of course you can.” She gently pulls the kitten away and hands her to Carter. “Be gentle. Always gentle. Like this.” She demonstrates with light strokes along the now-purring kitten’s back.
“Like this?” He mimics her.
“Good.” She nods as he sits on the floor and cradles the kitten in his arms.
“What’s her name?” She looks up at me, and right then I have the overwhelming urge to kiss her hard until she’s out of breath.
Perhaps she feels the same, because her gaze darts to my mouth.
I lick my lips. “Well, as the lioness around here, I suppose you should do all feline naming.”
Her smile lights up my world, my heart, my life. And it’s then that I know, with no doubt whatsoever, that Apollonia and I are meant to be forever. That every moment has led us here--from the second I pulled her to safety as a child to the moment I caught her when she fell at the funeral—she is meant for me. And I will do whatever I must to show her just how certain our destiny is.
11
Apollonia
“We have to find her.” Carter pleads with me, his eyes filling with tears and threatening to break my heart. I know in this moment I’ll take this house apart brick by brick until I find the kitten for him. I’d do anything to wipe that sad look off his face. He’s had enough sadness for a lifetime already.
“I’ll find her.” I sit on the side of the bed next to him. “She’s a cat. I’m sure she’s only exploring. This is a big house, and cats are curious.” I try to put him at ease.
“Yeah,” he agrees, looking to the door of his bedroom that’s cracked open a little. “I didn't mean to leave the door open.” His bottom lip starts to tremble. I want to throw my arms around him and comfort him. Or maybe it’s me that needs the comforting. I can’t stand to see him this upset. I can’t even imagine how hard it was for Cato to have to tell Carter about my brother's death.
“It’s good for her to go out and explore. I’ll find her in no time unless she beats me to it by coming back for food.”
He nods but doesn’t look convinced.
“Don’t worry. There are too many people around here. There’s no way we won’t find this kitten.”
“I don’t want her to leave and never come back.” Those sad eyes look up at me. I didn’t think it was possible for my heart to break any further, but those few words have proven me wrong.
“No one is going to let anything happen to her. She’s coming back.”
“That’s true. Cato can do anything. He’ll protect her,” he says proudly. I believe him with the way Cato dotes on the sweet boy, but I want him to have faith in me, too.
“I’ll need you to be brave and wait here for her. You lie down, and I’ll go find our kitten. You try and think of a name. We can’t keep calling her kitty. Can you do that for me?”
He puffs out his chest a little. “I can do that.”
“I knew you could.” I kiss his chubby cheek. “If you’re asleep before I get back, I’ll put her in bed with you.” He throws his arms around me and hugs me tight. I hug him back. There’s no way I can come back here without this kitty. Even if I have to ask Cato for help, I will. There isn’t anything I wouldn't do for Carter. Even if it means that I have to play nice with Cato.
“Love you.” He says before releasing me. A knot forms in my throat. It’s the first time he’s said it to me. I’ve said it to him hundreds of times already. No one has said those words to me in a very long time, and I welcome them with open arms.
“I love you, too.”
He lies down, and I can’t help but give him another kiss before I pull myself from his bedroom and leave the door cracked for him. I head back toward my room to put some sneakers on. Before I’d talked him into finally getting into bed, I’d already searched most of the house.
I’m worried the kitten might have gotten out. I need to do a check outside. If the kitten is still inside, then it’s trapped and safe, but if she got out, she could be getting farther and farther from the house with each minute.
I make my way back downstairs. I find myself stopping outside the doors of Cato’s office and wondering if he’s in there. He joined us for dinner like he always does but left after we all were finished eating. I hate the disappointment I’d felt about that. I am still avoiding him, so it works in my favor. But he said he wasn't going to let me avoid him anymore. So what exactly is he doing now?
I pull myself away from the doors even though I want to know what he’s doing. I have more important things to do, like find a kitten. I don’t want him to catch me lingering outside his office, either. He’d never let me hear the end of that, I’m sure.
When he’d brought that kitten into the room and kneeled down on the floor with us, I had the biggest urge to lean over and kiss him right on the mouth. My mind is playing games with me. He has me all twisted up inside. My emotions are everywhere. We aren't some happy family. I can’t let my mind make those mistakes. I will not develop Stockholm syndrome.