There was no way in the world Kate was going to let Bella in on her plans, never mind how much her niece would approve of them. Fate was on her side in looking for a distraction.
‘What on earth is that?’
‘What?’ Bella was looking far too innocent.
‘That noise. That…’ Cocking her head to one side, Kate listened to get an idea of what direction the odd sound was coming from. Having identified that it was coming from Bella’s room, Kate sighed and went hunting.
The scrap of a kitten was apparently not happy about being behind the closed door. It was a smoky grey colour with white on its paws and in patches on its face. A tiny pink mouth was open and the warbling, mewing sound was pathetic but definitely outraged.
‘Bella! You know how I feel about pets. What on earth possessed you to drag a kitten home?’
Bella reached down and scooped up the tiny animal. ‘But I didn’t?—’
‘You’ll have to take it back to the pet shop. What’s the time? When do they shut?’
‘I didn’t get if from a pet shop. It was sitting on the doorstep when I got home.’
‘Then ring the SPCA.’
Kate could hear the astonishingly loud purr the kitten was producing now. It climbed onto Bella’s shoulder and rubbed its head along the line of her jaw.
‘They must have a drop-off place,’ she continued. ‘For heaven’s sake, you’re going away in the morning. What were you planning to do? Just keep it shut in your room and hope I didn’t notice? How irresponsible can you be, Bella?’
‘I was going to tell you about it.’ Bella was scowling. ‘When you’d had a glass of wine or something so you were in a better mood.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with my mood. And a glass of wine isn’t going to change my mind. I work all day. It’s unfair to even think about having a pet.’
‘Cats don’t mind. They’re not like dogs.’
‘I don’t like cats.’
‘You liked Fluffy.’
‘Fluffy was different. He was part of the family.’
‘Well, this one could be part of a family, too. Your family.’
‘I don’t want a family.’ Kate was not going to have the responsibility of something as huge as a pet to care for foisted on her like this. It was out of the question. Bella was not going to win this argument no matter how much she was scowling.
It wasn’t until the words had rushed out of her mouth that Kate heard what she was saying and it stopped her in her verbal tracks.
Did shereallynot want a family?
‘So you don’t want me, then?’ Bella sounded shocked. And then her eyes filled with tears.
‘I didn’t say that. That’s not what I meant and you know it.’
Bella’s head was bowed now. She was nuzzling the kitten, who put out a tiny, bright pink tongue and began enthusiastically washing Bella’s chin.
‘I just don’t want a… a fur child,’ Kate said desperately.
Why was the prospect so appalling? She’d loved Fluffy, the huge ginger cat that tolerated her brother’s family. Was it because a pet of her own really would feel like a ‘fur child’? Too close to the real thing?
‘She chose us.You.’ Bella’s voice was muffled. ‘She’s an orphan and she chose your house. It’s where she wants to live.’
‘Someone’s probably lost her and wants her back.’
Bella raised her gaze. ‘So we could keep her until we find out who that is.’
