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I let out a soft chuckle. At Mama’s funeral, she looked exactly like she did when she walked out on us. Dark brown hair curled around her face, and she had rosy cheeks, red lips, and an imperious expression even in death. It was like the mortician had known her personally.
“You should’ve told Tova to wear better shoes.” Aggie pushed off the fence. Ansen and Ivy were heading back toward us, a flank of five horses following them.
“I wasn’t married for twelve years to tell a woman what to wear.” I went to the barn. The conversation with my sister continually tugged at my mind. I tucked the memory away to inspect later. I wasn’t making permanent decisions after talking for a few minutes when plans were set.
Tova was crouched with a tabby kitten twining around her. Grayson held an identical kitten in his arms.
Aggie walked by my side. “We had two kittens show up when the snow melted. They must’ve been early spring babies.”
“Can we keep them, Daddy?” Grayson asked, nuzzling one.
“We’re not the animal rescue.” I crossed my arms, enjoying the view way too much. Tova was squatting, her trademark smile in place. Oddly, seeing her play with my kids brought Aggie’s words back to the forefront.
Youmake the decisions based on the now.
How would I do things differently? How could I?
Aggie came to a stop next to me. “When I opened this place, I had horses in mind. So far, the cat rescues outnumber horses.”
“Gray!” Ivy rounded the opening of the barn, Ansen right behind her. “I got to pet Shelby!”
Her appearance and loud proclamation startled the kitten in his arms. The cat wiggled, wielding all its claws. Grayson jumped back and opened his arms so the cat could escape. The only place for the kitten to go was Tova’s bare legs.
She yelped when the cat landed lightly on her legs and scrambled off her, leaving fine red lines in its wake.
“Dammit!” I barked and crossed to Tova, who was straightening and inspecting her leg, unconcerned.
“Sorry!” Grayson took my outburst on himself. Tears sprang into his eyes. “Sorry, sorry, sorry.”
I put my hand on his shoulder and tempered my tone. Aggie had been right. I wasn’t Mama, but I’d been there for them, and I sure as hell was better than Barns. The kid took the heap of responsibility for everything that went wrong. A trait he got from me. “It’s alright, G. It’s no one’s fault. The kittens are getting used to people.”
“It’s not a problem.” Tova’s tone was reassuring. “I’ve been cut worse by a pair of heels in a kick line—and the kitten’s cuter.”
Blood welled up from the scratches. For such a tiny creature, it had scored all the skin of her top right thigh from the hem of her shorts to her knee.
“I didn’t mean to—” He drew in a shuddering breath. A wail would come next, then he’d be embarrassed when he realized everyone was watching, and he’d feel like his visit was ruined. My son needed good memories.
“I know you feel bad,” Tova said, pushing a lock of hair off his face. “And you’re feeling guilty, but it happens. I’ve been scratched by much more ferocious kittens.”
Grayson’s bottom lip wavered, but he nodded.
“Hey, buddy.” I gave his little shoulder a squeeze. “Would you go with Aunt Aggie to the house to get the first aid kit?”
Aggie could tell I was trying to divert his attention. He wouldn’t want to be coddled in front of everyone. She held her hand out to both Grayson and Ivy. “Come on, guys. Let’s do some wilderness medicine.”
The request distracted Grayson enough that he latched on to Aggie. I exchanged a relieved look with Tova, and for a second, I didn’t feel so damn alone.
When they were halfway to the house, Ansen went to a metal cupboard tucked into the corner. The hinges squeaked as he opened the double doors. He withdrew a small, yellow plastic box and tossed it toward me. With a smirk, he jogged after his wife and my kids, leaving me alone with Tova.
She glanced from her shredded thigh to me. “Oh look, a first aid kit,” she said teasingly.
“Grayson needed a moment.”
“He has such a tender heart.” She swiveled her leg from side to side as she scrutinized the damage. “It’s not bad anyway. Just kitten tracks. I’ve seen worse track marks.”
She probably wasn’t joking with that one. I dug into the kit, mostly to take my attention off her toned dancer’s leg. “Have a seat on the hay bale behind you.”
“Won’t it be scratchy?”
