No Kitten Around

by R. J. Blain

  For whatever reason, human women attracted angels more often than human men. I had my suspicions after seeing the desires of men and women alike. Women were more likely to desire a child as their deepest wish. Women were more likely to desire permanency, too.

  Few men were like my father, who longed for only one thing: my mother. I’d seen enough of the world to understand just how unusual an unwavering, undying love for someone was.

  In that, I was my father’s son, but that was where our similarities ended.

  Unlike him, I’d let Kennedy go. My father would never let my mother go. He would chase her to the ends of the Earth to stay with her, and he would give his final breath for her sake. I longed for what he had, but I was different in one critical way.

  I wanted the same in return.

  Kitten, Destroyer of Worlds clawed her way onto my lap, and I yelped at the unexpected feline assault. She paid no heed to her dagger-like talons attached to her cute, tiny paws, turning in circles several times before curling up and flicking her tail over her nose.

  “Have I been neglecting you?” I muttered, unable to stop myself from smiling while I stroked her back. “I don’t suppose you hold the secrets of the universe, do you?”

  Obviously, my kitten had better things to do than humor me, as she went to sleep and ignored my questions. With a soft laugh, I returned to my research, hunting answers to questions I’d ignored for far too long.

  Chapter Seventeen

  If I wanted to learn the truth about my situation and pinpoint the nature of Lucavier’s interest in me, I needed to identify the unknown elements of my genes, which meant a date with the CDC. The tests were expensive unless there was just cause for them, but I thought I’d be able to get them to rule in my favor.

  Change began with a phone call to my doctor with the request for a genetic test, and I cited my desire for a better understanding of my family history as the just cause. As progress was progress, no matter how strange the progress seemed, my doctor promised to refer me to a CDC specialist.

  I left work at ten in the evening, pleased with the progress I’d made finding out more about my heritage so I might be able to understand how I’d become embroiled in a situation involving a devil and an angel. I wondered if it had something to do with my parents and their contribution of genes. I’d never asked which angels or demons made up my genetic makeup.

  Everything I’d read indicated the children of angels didn’t receive the same scrutiny or experience the same prejudices I did, although Luna implied I wasn’t avoided for the reasons I thought. I wasn’t sure if I believed her.

  Hamhock had planted a seed of doubt I couldn’t forget.

  What happened to an angel who lied?

  My thoughts amused me the entire drive home, and I eased my car down the trail leading to my property to discover a vehicle waiting for me with a red-haired woman perched on the trunk.

  Instead of a panic attack, I got a hefty dose of general confusion. Not that long ago, she’d gone to California, and I’d believed I would finally be able to continue on with my life, at ease with where we’d left off.

  Somewhere along the way, I’d gotten lost—or she had. No, she had. Gypsum Creek was nowhere near California, and I’d just gone to work and met a woman about forging a sword.

  The only way I’d find out what Kennedy was doing at my home was to ask her, so I killed the engine and prepared to face her again, torn between excitement and worry.

  Kennedy arched a brow as I got out of my car. “I was starting to think you’d be gone all night. That would’ve ruined my plans.”

  Maybe Kennedy hadn’t gotten lost after all, which added to my sense of excitement. “I thought you were needed in California.”

  “I went to California, finished my business in California, and after about five minutes of thought, decided I’d wander my way back here and impose on you. My boss was delightfully confused by my insistence I’d be coming back here. He regretted asking why but approved my time off while he pursues a transfer closer to the area.”

  “You’re transferring?”

  “I am. Mississippi’s too fucking hot and muggy for my blood, and I have a few good reasons to stick around.”

  Her presence at my home implied I was one of those reasons.

  Had anyone told me my life would completely change within a few weeks, I would’ve laughed at them and recommended my doctors. I’d have to thank Luna for ensuring I hadn’t missed my date with a car accident, too. Of all the disasters to happen in my life, that one had given me what I needed most and had done some serious work on giving me back what I wanted most in life.

  I wondered what my heart would tell an angel; I couldn’t think of anything I actually wanted. Another chance at life topped my list, and I could grab it in both hands if I wanted. Making the decision to take the chance to see what would happen with Kennedy didn’t take me long.

  As she wouldn’t understand my smile, I did my best to hide it. “You’re going to be disappointed to learn Indiana has issues of its own in the weather department.”

  “Perhaps so, but the company is superior here. I’m concerned you’ll get into trouble if left unattended.”

  I couldn’t blame her for her correct assumption, especially as I had a mess of angels and devils on my hands. As soon as I got her inside, I’d get her opinion on the situation. It hadn’t occurred to me to ask someone from the CDC directly for intel on my current set of problems. “How long are you going to be in town?”

  “That depends on a lot of things. Let’s talk about it inside. Your kitten probably needs to perform her acts of biological warfare after such a long drive from work.”

  “Would you believe I sometimes delay going inside a while knowing what’s going to happen?”

  “Without hesitation. And how is your therapy kitten doing?”

  “She feels neglected if I leave her for even ten minutes without paying her dues.”

  “Well, that’s a cat for you.” Kennedy slid off her car and strode towards me. “Your therapists are going to either hate or love me.”

  “There comes a point where repeated instances of ex sex results in the ex part being stricken from the record, right? And I’m pretty sure if you’re living with me, even temporarily, the claims of ex status aren’t valid.” I wasn’t sure if I wanted her to confirm we might be able to build from the rubble or if I hoped she’d get angry, put me in my place, and set expectations at something far shallower.

  As always, she got under my skin.

  It occurred to me I never needed my cursed sight to recognize what my heart had desired all along, which made me far more similar to my father than I liked to think. Even buried beneath the anger and resentment, it’d always been her.

  “We can discuss that inside. I’m expecting you’ll require a trial period, a full disclosure on my work so you’ll know my likely travel schedule, when you might be allowed to travel with me, and so on. And the issue of your therapy kitten.”

  “My therapy kitten stays, non-negotiable. She might be plotting to destroy the world, but she’s my menace to life on Earth. I’m a jealous cat parent, apparently.”

  “I was more thinking you might need a therapy puppy to go with your therapy kitten.”

  In college, we’d both wanted a dog, something our apartment hadn’t allowed. “I’m willing to negotiate on a therapy puppy if we can find one that the therapy kitten likes.”

  “I brought a candidate with me.”

  My brows rose. “You brought a puppy with you?”

  “I found it on the side of the road abandoned. I couldn’t just leave it!”

  Having heard that story before, I wouldn’t blame her. “Kitten, Destroyer of Worlds, I fear Kennedy has been suckered as I have been suckered. Please accept your new canine friend with minimal fuss. So, Kennedy. What did you name it?”

  “I figured I’d take a page out of your book, so I named him Puppy, Savior of Worlds.”

  I clamped my mouth closed s
o I wouldn’t laugh. I choked, coughed, and retrieved my kitten from the car. “We’re possibly the worst pet owners ever to walk the face of the Earth.”

  “I’d say we’re compassionate human beings who can’t let helpless animals starve, and he’s done nothing but drink milk and sleep since I found him. He’s cost me a fortune, though.”

  “I know that story. How old is he?”

  “He’s two to three weeks old, and he gets special milk for at least another week. The vet called it a replacer milk, but I was able to find it at the grocery store. Right now, he’s sleeping. Actually, I always think he’s sleeping unless he’s wiggling around. His eyes aren’t fully open yet. The vet was a little worried about that, but his eyes don’t seem to be bothering him. It could just be because he’s malnourished. Puppy, Savior of Worlds has another appointment next week to see how he’s doing.”

  “Sucker,” I teased, bringing Kitten, Destroyer of Worlds to Kennedy’s car. “Let’s see if the myth of cats and dogs is true, shall we?”

  “Inside, just in case the next world war breaks out. Not that it’d be much of one. He’s really small and won’t be able to put up a fight.”

  “What breed?”

  “Corgi. The vet thinks he’s a purebred, too. He’ll be a nice dog for us.”

  I wondered how I’d gone from resentment to being intrigued at the idea of sharing space with Kennedy and two pets. Had I progressed farther than I thought, or was I clinging to what might have been? I didn’t think it mattered much. Moving forward seemed to be a combination of taking step backs and ditching the baggage I didn’t want to take with me into the future.

  Of all the baggage I’d carried around with me, a second chance with Kennedy seemed a hell of a lot better than an endless stream of unhappy one-night stands. All it would take was a single look into Kennedy’s eyes to know the truth of her heart.

  I was afraid to look, but I wanted it more than I’d wanted anything else in years.

  “I’ll keep her leashed until we see how she gets along with him,” I promised, hauling my cat and the rest of my junk to the front door. While Kennedy had warned me her puppy was small, he was even smaller than I anticipated, and I worried I’d become a doting pet parent within the hour.

  I performed the typical shuffle to unlock my door without losing my kitten or dropping anything, but I disrupted my habits to let Kennedy go in first so she could get settled with her puppy. “Did you remember how to get back here or did you call the power company?”

  “I may have lost an hour or two poking my nose through town to find the entry, but I managed without having to rely on the power company, and I made sure my rental was small enough to get here without scratching it. You don’t mind me imposing on you?”

  “Not at all. And all things considered, that probably makes me a weirdo,” I admitted.

  “You’ve progressed from panic attacks to ready acceptance pretty quickly. Your doctors are going to be happy.”

  “Or horrified I’m inviting my ex to move in with me with her young puppy.”

  “That, too. Do you think flowers will work on a bunch of upset doctors?”

  “Probably not. Since you’ve admitted you have some disclosures to make, I have a few disclosures to make, too.”

  “Sounds good. Where should I put the puppy?”

  “Set him on the floor, and let’s see what happens.”

  As though aware something new and interesting was about to happen, Kitten purred and wiggled in my hold until I set her on the floor. Kennedy knelt and released her puppy, and he wiggled on the carpet, wagging his tailless rump.

  “What happened to his tail?”

  “He’s a Pembroke Welsh corgi. They don’t have tails. I was worried, too. There’s another breed of corgi that has a tail, but he’s not it.”

  “Okay, I have to admit, he’s cute. I can’t blame you for being suckered in.” Uncertain of what my kitten would do, I kept a firm hold on her leash before letting her loose to investigate the pale wriggling ball of fur on the carpet.

  As with everything else new and exciting in Kitten, Destroyer of World’s life, she locked onto the puppy and wasted no time investigating, her tail twitching as she approached.

  The puppy’s high-pitched whining noises cinched the deal. Even if the next world war broke out in my living room, I’d have to find a way to make it work somehow. That the puppy came bundled with Kennedy didn’t matter.

  The puppy stayed, and there were no if, ands, or buts about it.

  “I know that look,” Kennedy said, her tone light with laughter. “He’s my puppy. I found him.”

  “I’m pretty sure you said something about introducing me to a therapy puppy, so he’s mine, but you can live here too and visit as often as you want.”

  “As that falls in line with my plans, I can work around that, but I’m going to require equal visitation rights to the kitten, too.”

  “Only if you help scoop the litter box.”

  “Harsh.”

  I grinned. “Maybe a little. We could just say we’re both in need of therapy and we’ve decided to share our therapy pets.”

  “Think a cat and a dog will be enough therapy for the pair of us?”

  “I hope so. I like to think I’ve been getting somewhere lately.”

  “You didn’t panic when you found me at your house tonight, so I’m going to go out on a limb and say you have.”

  Oblivious to our conversation, my kitten crept closer to Kennedy’s puppy, stretching out her nose to sniff. When the puppy kept whining, she reached with a paw and nudged the squirming ball of tan fur.

  I bet the puppy wanted milk, and he was willing to try his luck on my kitten’s paw. Kitten, Destroyer of Worlds turned her head towards me as though asking what I’d brought into her house. As fur hadn’t started flying immediately, I unharnessed her and let them figure things out. “Where’s the puppy’s milk? I think he’s hungry. I’ll get Kitten fed so we can deal with round one of her biological warfare for the night.”

  “It’s in the car with my bag.”

  “Go get your things and make yourself comfortable. I’ll keep an eye on the beasts.”

  The beasts seemed indifferent to their situation, and after determining Puppy, Savior of Worlds wasn’t a threat to her domain, Kitten, Destroyer of Worlds bounced to her food dish for her evening offerings. The puppy’s whine intensified the instant my kitten abandoned him for her supper.

  Of everything I’d heard about cats and dogs, we’d dodged a bullet or ten, and I wondered when the shootout between the pair would happen. I could see Kitten, Destroyer of Worlds waiting until her foe could put up more of a fight.

  In an act of blatant bribery, I gave her more wet food than normal hoping to convince my cat I wasn’t abandoning her for a ruthlessly cute puppy.

  It didn’t take long for Kennedy to return with a duffel and a suitcase. She dumped the load by the door, huffed, and returned to her car.

  “I think she brought more than just a bag,” I informed to my therapy kitten. “It’s an invasion, and I think I’ve already surrendered. Obviously, I have a weakness for baby animals. I wonder what my therapists will say about that the next time I see them.”

  “That’s a good question. I accept the terms of your surrender.”

  “There were terms?”

  “No, there wasn’t,” she replied with a smug smile. “I brought a puppy to make your surrender easier to bear.”

  While Kitten, Destroyer of Worlds had sunk her claws into my soul through obviously demonic means, the puppy’s helplessness had an innocent edge, and I worried the forces of heaven and hell would take over my home. “For the record, the puppy wasn’t necessary to successfully stage your invasion, but I find myself utterly incapable of rejecting him.”

  “I swear, I was just coming from the airport when I saw something on the side of the road. I stopped and found the puppy. I would’ve been here several hours earlier, but I had to find a vet and buy supplies for him. T
he vet offered to try to find him a home, but I didn’t want to leave him alone in a cage.”

  “That’s how Kitten, Destroyer of Worlds secured her place as my feline overlady. Your canine overlord has taken advantage of you. I just thought you’d appreciate knowing the truth.”

  “Yeah, I figured that out around the same time I was giving a pet store seventy dollars for a dog bed.”

  “And here I thought fifty for the cat bed my cat usually refuses to use was expensive.”

  “We’re suckers.”

  “Definitely. In good news, I can take him to work with me if you have to work and can’t take him with you. My boss won’t mind, especially when I tell him he still needs to be bottle fed.”

  “I have at least a week off, but when I have to travel, I’d appreciate if you could care for him.”

  “I’m pretty sure that’s what people who share living space do for each other by default. I’m afraid to ask how much stuff you’ve abandoned in Mississippina.”

  “Not as much as you’d think. I’ve done a lot of traveling for work. You’re not the only one who needs a good therapist,” she admitted. “You’re just better at admitting it and going to sessions. Your therapists would have a field day with me.”

  Certain they would, I fetched my cell, thumbed through my contacts to retrieve Dr. Dentannin’s number, the poor bastard saddled with any late-night questions, confessions, or urges to communicate I might have. In the years since moving to Indiana, I’d called him a handful of times, each one following a hospitalization due to a panic attack.

  He’d love me waking him up to ask if he wanted to tackle Kennedy’s issues along with mine.

  I connected the call and listened to the ringtone.

  “Did you have a panic attack, Reed?” my therapist asked.

  “For the first time in our relationship, I’m pleased to inform you that I’m not calling you due to a panic attack. I have a question or two for you.”

  “Are you all right?”

  While I understood why he asked, I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “I have a two or three week old puppy in my house. I’m pretty sure ‘all right’ has my picture next to it in the dictionary right now. I seem to have developed a bad habit involving the adoption of young animals. Should I be concerned?”