Page 40 of The Scars We Heal

In response, she mimicked like she wanted to retort, You’re the one who told her she could keep it.

I shrugged. She started crying, what else was I supposed to do?

That earned me an eyeroll, and she turned back to her daughter.

“If you keep the kitten, you’re going to have to take care of him. That means feeding him and helping me clean his litter box, yeah?”

The pigtails Whitley had bobbed as she aggressively nodded.

“Okay, bug, you can keep him.”

“Thank you, Mommy!” She ran up to Caitlin and stole the kitten away, running back to the guest house.

“Does letting my daughter adopt a kitten count as doing something spontaneous?” She sighed as she took off after Whitley.

I chuckled, following behind her. “Why the hell not?”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

caitlin

The orange tabby kitten my daughter adopted and duly named Cheeto screeched in the kitchen. He was hungry. Again.

“I just fed you like twenty minutes ago,” I grumbled.

He’d escalated from screaming to climbing my leg like a tree, his tiny little claws digging into my skin.

“Ouch!” I tried to shake him free, but the little sucker was hanging on for dear life.

Leaning down, I plucked him off my leg and cradled him in my arms. He mouthed at my hand, making biscuits in the air with his paws.

“It’s a good thing you’re so cute,” I muttered as my phone vibrated on the counter.

Bec

Hey! What are you up to today?

Hi. Currently? Wrangling a kitten that my daughter found. Later? Not sure.

I sent a selfie of me with Cheeto along with the message.

Bec

Aw! How cute! I’m allergic to cats unfortunately. Not deathly, but enough that we can’t have one at home. But Noah loves animals.

So does Whitley.

Bec

I wanted to see if you’re interested in doing a playdate with Noah and Whitley since they’re around the same age.

That actually sounds great. You could come out here if you don’t mind the drive. We’ve got a nice big yard and plenty of room to run around.

Bec

Any chance I might get to meet that hot neighbor/landlord of yours?

Funny, but he’s out of town for a rodeo.