I shrug. “I had the extra fabric; it’s not a big deal.”
“It’s going to help a lot. We appreciate it.”
Maeve looks to me curiously. “The extra fabric?” she says slowly.
I remain silent, and before I can stop her, Maeve snatches the bag off the counter and riffles through it.
Her eyes widen.
“Oh,” she breathes.
“There’s hats in there and swaddling blankets,” I say as nonchalantly as possible. “Blair had mentioned that the rescue goes viral online when the cats dress up, and…I had some free time.”
Maeve pulls out the largest item in the bag and stares at it. “It’s you,” she murmurs, holding a dark blue blanket. “You’re the anonymous donor. It’syou?”
“His stuff is great, isn’t it?” Ivan adds. “We appreciate everything you do, Travis.”
I nod, while Maeve continues to stare at me, slack jawed.
“Please stop making that face at me,” I say, but her features only twist more.
“We’ve been getting donations for a year! It’s all been you? You?Travis?”
Ivan smiles at Maeve’s excitement, but I’m so uncomfortable I wish the floor would swallow me up.
“I don’t know about all of it, but some of the blankets you could say are from me,” I grunt.
To my horror, Maeve’s eyes fill with tears.
“For fuck’s sake, you don’t have to cry?—”
“This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for the rescue!” she wails, and Ivan just smiles wider. “Why didn’t you tell us it was you? Does Blair at least know?”
I shake my head. “And you’re not going to tell her,” I confirm. “This isn’t some way to win her back; I’ve been doing this since before we got together. Helping the cats makes her happy.”
“Oh, my god. You really love her,” Maeve whispers.
“I have for a long time,” I grumble, shifting uncomfortably. “And stop looking at me like that.”
“You’re just a big old softie,” she continues. “Blair was right.”
“Yeah, Travis, you big old softie,” Ivan echoes.
“Keep it up, and you won’t get any more blankets,” I mutter.
But Maeve and Ivan just laugh together, and I try not to look too bitter as they enjoy each other’s company.
It only makes me miss Blair more.
“Okay, moment of truth,”Ivan says. “Let’s see how these work.”
A sleeping tuxedo kitten, reminiscent of Mervin, lies on its back while Ivan slowly swaddles the creature.
“We have ten appointments today, and I’ll keep an eye on them while they come out of anesthesia,” he says, placing the kitten gently on the table. “This is perfect for them post surgery. They’ll wake up comfortable and warm.”
“It’s like he’s a little cozy burrito,” Maeve sighs. “This is adorable. I have to post this on our account, now.”
“I can make more,” I tell Ivan.
