Page 60

“Okay.” I agreed hesitantly.
I closed my eyes and waited even though I heard whispering and felt the rush of anxiety and anticipation roaring through me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to scream or cry, so I just waited, but it felt like forever until I heard Gunner’s voice.
“Okay, baby, open your eyes.”
He stood before me holding a big white box with an even bigger pink ribbon and a smile on his face. He took a few steps forward and set the box beside me on the bed. “Open it.”
I lifted my hand slowly and let the tails of the satin ribbon slide through my fingers. Pulling the end, I smiled when it instantly pulled apart and fell from the box. I glanced up at Gunner who gestured for me to continue. I nodded, and using both hands, I pulled the top off the box. I peeked down into the box and jumped off the bed, my eyes trained on the cat and kitten looking up at me from inside. The bigger one let out a meow, startling me, and I lifted my hand to my mouth when tears flooded my eyes.
Gunner put his arm around my shoulder and pointed into the box. “The gray cat is the mom, and her name is Lilly.” He pointed at the little one lying tucked in tight next to Lilly. “And the little one is her kitten, a girl name Luna.”
I wiped below my eyes, but it was no use because the tears kept coming. Gunner dropped his arm, only to wrap both of them around me from behind. “Do you like them?”
I nodded my head quickly, but I couldn’t speak yet. He gave me a pet, something to take care of, something to love.
“Baby,” he whispered, kissing the side of my neck. “Are you okay?”
I nodded again and let out a little sob when he turned me and hugged me close to his chest. I felt his warm breath against my ear. “Do you want to hold them?”
Once again, I nodded my head vigorously, and he chuckled before turning me back toward the box. He stepped around me and lifted Lilly from the box, holding her out to me. I wiped my face again before reaching out and taking her from Gunner. I pulled her to my chest, and she meowed, making me giggle while I sniffled. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so I did both at the same time.
Lilly leaned over my arm and looked down in the box at the tiny face looking up. Gunner reached in the box and pulled out the little white and gray furball. “I got them from Sydney Dimarco who volunteers at the shelter. She said they’re bonded, which means they can’t be separated, and I’ve noticed when Luna is out of Lilly’s sight, she looks for her.”
I sat Lilly on my bed, taking Luna from his hands and giggling when she reached her paw up and smacked me on the chin. I snuggled her in tight and felt her purring against my chest.
“Can I come in yet?”
My head jerked toward the door when I heard Becs’s very impatient and excited voice. Looking at Gunner, I giggled.
“She’s impatient.” He tried to seem annoyed, but he was grinning. “Should I let her in?”
“Yeah.” I whispered.
He leaned down and kissed my lips softly before brushing the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. He moved toward the door and pulled it open, revealing a very excited Becs standing on the other side holding an armload of cat stuff. And beside her, stood another woman I didn’t know, also holding a ton of stuff.
Becs pushed past Gunner and laid everything down on my bed before she came to me and hugged me tightly against her. We both laughed when Luna meowed loudly between us and pulled apart.
She reached behind her and smacked Gunner on the chest. “Can you believe he thought of this all by himself?”
My eyes moved past her, and I smiled at Gunner. “I can actually.”
He grinned and I noticed the rest of the stuff was on the bed and the other woman was standing beside him. “Maggie, this is Sydney Dimarco, Cam’s wife.”
She moved forward and held out her hand to me, which I shook. “I hope it’s okay I’m here. I wanted to see your reaction.” She giggled softly. “I get really excited when we have a successful adoption, but when I heard it was a surprise, I couldn’t resist.”
“It’s okay.” I whispered and lifted Luna a little in my arms. “Thank you for this.”
She tilted her head and smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Maggie. For everything.” She took a step back and pointed at the door. “Okay, I’m going to let you guys get settled, but Gunner and Becs have my number, so call me if you have any questions. Okay?” I nodded, and she continued. “And when this is all over, I’d love to get a cup of coffee, and you can tell me how they’re doing.”
“Okay.” I whispered.
She reached down and squeezed my hand, smiling at all three of us before walking out the door.
“Look at all this cool stuff Gunner bought for these two.” Becs pointed at the bed. “Did you leave anything at the store?”
“What I didn’t buy, Ritz did.”
My eyebrows dipped down. “Ritz?”