“One of the kids suggested I called the kitten Nugget, like a chicken nugget,” Aster said.
The kitten was fast asleep in his hoodie.
“Nah, it’s gotta be something more magical than that,” Tane said. “How about Aroha? It means love, although it’s usually a girl’s name.”
“Mm, cute but it doesn’t quite fit.” Aster sighed. “I’m never going to find the right name.”
“Names do seem to be your weak point,” I teased.
Aster stuck his tongue out at me.
I had a sudden brainwave. “How about Ebeneezer? It's festive, unique? Definitely complicated.”
“You can’t call an adorable little kitten a name like Ebeneezer,” Tane said.
“Scrooge could be cute though?” Aster mused.
“Oooh, I like Scrooge, although isn’t he kind of an asshole?” Tane rewrapped his scarf.
Aster shook his head. “Not at the end, at the end he does the kind of thing you two both did, takes care of the town.”
“I like it.” I climbed the stairs to the apartment, key in hand. “Oh there’s a delivery...”
In front of our apartment door was a large box, addressed to me in Mom’s handwriting. “It’s from Mom and Dad.”
“Aw, they got it here just in time!”
Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Tane
Christmas morning couldn't have been more magical, all my hardwork and excessive shopping had paid off, and I was grateful to be able to give the day to Dillon and Aster.
All three of us dressed in the Christmas PJs I’d bought, and we sat under the tree and exchanged gifts.
I hadn’t got Dillon any one big thing, just lots of little things, but he absolutely loved the teddy bear I’d found for him.
The care package from their parents had contained multiple gifts for Dillon and Aster, as well as for me. They’d never met me, but Dillon had told them so many things, I guess they felt like they knew me.
Dillon’s presents were wonderful, so thoughtful. He’d bought all kinds of sweets and biscuits from home, when I unwrapped the tin of Milo I choked up.
“I’m making everyone a cup of this right now!”
It was the first time anyone had done anything so thoughtful for me, and it made me feel like I had a bit of home there in Foggy Basin, especially when I served up the milo with the Russian fudge, and cookies I’d made from Ma’s recipes.
Aster put Christmas movies on the TV and we sat on the couch watching them and eating my treats as well as the roasted, caramel almonds Dillon’s parents had sent. Scrooge, the ginger kitten, walked up and down our laps, finally curling up on my lap to sleep. I gently patted him.
After the first movie finished, Dillon stood up. “I forgot, there’s one more gift for you Tane.”
He had a strange tone, sort of flat and tense. “You okay, babe?”
Dillon waved me off and left the room.
“Ooh, uh, I’ll take Scrooge,” Aster lifted the kitten out of my lap.
“What? Why?”
