Guilt filled Liv’s face, then she leaned back against the wall. Whatever she held was now pinned between her skirts and the corner wall. She stuck out one hand, then the other, and tried to look innocent...and failed.
Hallie and Maddie exchanged knowing looks, but before either of them could speak Liv’s eyes widened with shock and a loud, ear-piercing screech erupted from her skirts. “Ouch! Ouch! Oh cripes!” Liv jumped away from the wall. “Get her off!”
Clinging to the back of Liv’s dress was a huge, muddy cat.
“Ah! Hallieee. Get her off!” Liv hopped in a circle as the poor, frightened cat held on with its claws for all it was worth.
Maddie grabbed Liv by the shoulders. “Hold still, Liv!”
Hallie plucked the frightened cat from her sister’s back, and cradled it in her arms. The cat was so big it spanned from one of her elbows to the other.
Maddie still held Liv by the shoulders. “Why were you trying to sneak the cat inside?”
Liv averted her eyes before she whispered to her toes, “I didn’t think you’d let me have her. She’s so dirty, and you’ve been cleaning everything, and I... I just couldn’t leave her all alone. She probably got burned out just like we did, and I... I just wanted to help her.”
“You should have asked first.” Maddie’s voice was stern but kind, and she had Liv’s full attention, which was not always the case with Hallie and Liv. “Where did you find her?” Maddie asked after a long, silent pause.
“Out back. It’s so cold and she was hiding under some bushes, all alone... crying. I had to do something or else she’d starve.”
Hallie’s arms were growing numb from holding the fat cat, which was now purring in her arms. “Starve? This thing’s too heavy to starve.”
“Maybe she has big bones, then,” Liv argued. “That’s what you always say, Hallie.”
Maddie gave Hallie an exasperated look, then scrutinized the cat and Liv’s tragic face. After a pregnant pause, Maddie said, “I’ll let you keep the cat this time, but you are not to try to sneak anything again. Is that understood?”
“Oh yes! I swear on my eyes” Liv promised.
“And you’ll have to take care of her. Starting right now with a bath.”
“Oh, thank you, Aunt Maddie! I’ll take real good care of her. You’ll see.” Liv’s smile beamed from ear to ear.
“And for trying to sneak her in?” Maddie added. “You will do each of your multiplication tables ten times.”
The start of a groan escaped Liv’s frowning mouth, but to Hallie’s amazement, instead of arguing, Liv held out her arms for Hallie to hand over the cat. “I’ll take her, please,” Liv said. A few minutes later she was happily scrubbing the squealing cat in a tub of dishwater.
Maddie brought out a flannel towel and set it on the drain board. “What are you going to name her?”
“I don’t know.” Liv looked thoughtful.
The kitchen door banged open and the twins galloped into the room, doing their best to mimic a tribe of Indians. They were followed by Duncan, cast in the role of Great White Father. The boys stopped their whooping the minute they saw the cat peek around Liv’s shoulder while she dried its back.
“Golly! It’s a cat!” Gunnar rushed over to get a closer look, and Knut followed.
“It’s mine.” Liv clasped the cat to her chest and the animal meowed a protest.
Knut turned around. “Hallie. Liv’s not sharing.”
Maddie took over. “You boys go over to the table, and we’ll set the cat down so you can look at her. But remember, she’s frightened, so don’t scare her more. And Liv found the cat so it’s hers. When you boys are older and can take care of animals, you’ll be able to have a pet too.” Maddie leaned down toward Liv and whispered, “Let them pet her, and then they’ll leave you be.”
“All right,” Liv relented, but not too graciously. She lugged the towel-wrapped cat over to the wooden table and set it down. Duncan stood quietly by the boys, and Hallie watched as Liv unwrapped the damp cat. The animal was all black, except for a little white around her whiskers and the wide strip of white that covered her huge belly.
“She’s expecting,” Duncan stated.
Maddie groaned.
Knut looked up. “What’s she ‘specting?”
“Kittens!” Liv exclaimed, thoroughly delighted.
