Page 43 of The Holiday Clause

When he finished with the wood for the day, he removed his work gloves and dragged the soles of his boots over the mat. Tonight, he’d head back to town and try to patch things up with?—

Greyson stilled as something quiet squawked nearby. The leaves rustled in the breeze as he concentrated on the sounds of the wildlife creeping around him.

Another peep, and he turned to locate the source of the sound. Possibly a field mouse. At least he hoped that’s what it was.

Tracking the soft cry to the porch steps, he crouched low. “Please don’t be another—Fuck my life.”

Blue eyes and a tiny black face stared back at him from the shadows. It chirped the second they made eye contact.

“Where did you come from?” Were there more? He kneeled on the cold ground and stretched out his arm, but the little kitten clumsily stumbled away. He grabbed it by the scruff and rescued it from under the porch.

Drawing it to eye level, his stern tone demanded honesty as he asked, “Are you alone?”

The little rat didn’t answer.

It was a tiny thing, but not newborn. Its ears were up, and its eyes were open. Specks of dirt clung to its downy grey fur. When he cradled it in his hand, it barely filled his palm.

“You’re a complication I didn’t need today.”

The kitten mewed, and he carried it inside. The drill never changed. Find a box, grab an old towel, and give it a saucer of cream. The little guy wasn’t the most agile, but once he stumbled up to the milk and realized it was food, his little motor started to purr.

“You’re lucky I found you.” The poor thing wouldn’t have lasted one night once the temperature dropped. Greyson stared down at the dirty little rat. “Where’s your mother?”

The cat was occupied with the milk, so Grey went to the kitchen to call Wren. She answered on the first ring.

“Thank you for calling The Haven, where stillness begins. This is Wren. How may I help you find your reset today?”

“Hey.”

“Greyson?”

“Yeah.”

There was a long pause. “Hi.” She sounded unsure. “I’m glad you called.”

Was she? He frowned. “I, uh, have something for you.”

“You do?” The curiosity in her voice drove his mind to places he shouldn’t go, but he liked when she got inquisitive.

Maybe that was why he didn’t tell her what it was. “Yeah, you might want to get here soon.”

“I can be there in five minutes. Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine. See you in five.” He hung up the landline and stared at the retro receiver.

He should have told her it was a cat.

It wasn’t right to play games with her. That’s what got them into trouble the other day. If he didn’t want a repeat, he needed to be straight with her. No more wavering or mixed messages no matter how good her attention felt.

He picked up the phone and called her back. “Thank you for calling The Haven, where stillness begins. This is?—”

“Wren.”

“Grey?”

“Yeah. I, uh, just wanted to be clear. It’s a cat.”

“Oh.” She sounded disappointed, but quickly recovered. “Is it one of ours?”