Both kids' voices were crowding Jilly's space. Someone shifted from further back across the room. Casey.
"Easy guys." Jilly’s voice was firm. "She's really little. We don't want to overwhelm her."
"She's yawning again.” Lindsey sounded amazed. “Look at her teeth!"
Noah had been counting on Lindsey being drawn to the kitten.
But bringing pleasure to the girl wasn't the only reason he’d brought the pet home. His house now felt too empty when he was by himself. He figured the cat would be pretty quiet. And maybe there was a part of him that wanted to prove to Jilly that he could be happy here without human companionship.
"The cabinet door was closed when I came in." PJ sounded puzzled. "How'd she get in there? What if next time she can't get out?"
"I was putting away some dishes earlier," Noah said. "Maybe I accidentally left one of the doors ajar."
"Can I hold her?" Lindsey asked.
"Why don't we take her in the living room?” Noah said. “I've got a basket of toys, and you kids can sit on the floor and play with her in there."
The kids tripped out of the room at Noah's directive while Jilly carried the kitten.
Jilly helped settled the kids on the floor in a loose triangle with Honey Bear among them. Noah heard the ring as one of them rolled the jingling ball he'd bought across the floor. He stood behind the couch, listening to their quiet expressions of joy.
Jilly came to stand beside him, not quite shoulder to shoulder, but close.
He kept his voice low when he said, "No word from the doctor's office yet, I guess?"
They weren't touching, but he felt her tension as he voiced the question. "Not yet," she said softly. "Probably not until the end of next week. And before you ask, I'm fine."
He shot her a look.Fine. Yeah right.
"Mr. Noah."
Lindsey must've crawled up on the couch. Her voice projected from right in front of him. He pictured her on her knees, leaning her stomach against the back of the couch and looking up at him. "My birthday is next week."
She was still speaking words, not meows. Good for her.
"Happy early birthday," he said.
"I'm having a birthday party. I never had one before."
His heart tugged for the girl. A kid should have a birthday party, and it was a shame that she'd missed out.
"Will you come?"
He was completely unprepared for the question. He fumbled for an answer, looking to Jilly for help.
"Honey, Noah is probably busy."
"But he gets to work whenever he wants to work." Lindsey's statement was matter-of-fact.
She wasn't wrong. It wasn't about not having time. It was the people. Kids and adults. Probably Iris and Callum and their kids.
"I can't—"
"But Mr. Noah, you're my best friend." The girls voice had gone from excited to trembling with what he hoped weren't tears.
"Let's talk about this later." Jilly's voice was gentle as she tried to change the subject.
"But—"
"You'd better play with Honey Bear a little bit more before we have to go home."
Jilly moved away from him. He listened as she talked to the girl, ushering her back to the kitten.
He felt like a heel. And a coward.
But a party with a bunch of kids running around? No thanks.
