“That’s a good idea,” he said diplomatically.Perhaps he should give Ginger less attention when she tried to trip him in his human form.
“Of course it is,” Ginger said.“I always have good ideas.”
Nathaniel held back the laugh that threatened to trickle out, although part of him wished to hear what a cat sounded like when it laughed.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” he said.
“If you don’t disappear again,” she pointed out.
“If I don’t disappear again,” he agreed.
He wished he could assure her he wouldn’t, but unfortunately, he could make no such promises, and that was disconcerting.
If only he could know whether he would be a cat in the morning…or a human.
He sighed as he settled into a comfortable place and began to knead the carpet with his paws.He laughed at himself.Of course, he was kneading the carpet.He’d never felt more like a cat.
Hopefully the cat instincts wouldn’t stay when he once again transformed.
If he transformed.
While Ginger might appreciate being a cat, he certainly did not, and right now he would give anything to settle into his own bed.
He missed the children and their antics.
Maybe he would go over tomorrow, whether he was a human or a cat.
But if he went over as a cat… Beth would definitely try to catch him, and she was fast.Probably faster than him.
He didn’t need to be caught by a five-year-old.
***
Nathaniel stretched as he blinked and the room grew brighter around him.It had been one of the best nights of sleep he’d had in a long time.
But then he opened his eyes fully and realized that instead of being in his comfortable bed, he was still on Thea’s floor, and he was still a cat.
If he had the words to say, he would’ve shouted, “Why?!”at the sky.Since he couldn’t, he just groaned.
Why couldn’t he have woken up as a human again?
A noise came from the staircase, and he turned to look as Thea slowly made her way downstairs.She gripped the handrail in a way that was unlike her, and he frowned as much as he could in his cat form—she should not be out of bed, yet here she was.
If he wasn’t a cat, he could do something, but as it was, he was helpless.It irked him, being unable to tell her to put herself back to bed, that he would take care of the café so she could sleep.
Not that she would want to let Nathaniel do it either way, but at least he had a chance if he was human.
He got to his feet as she made it to the bottom of the stairs and paused, gripping the handrail for a moment.
What was she thinking, getting out of bed?
“Good morning, kit,” she said when she saw him.“I’m sorry I wasn’t here yesterday.I wonder if anyone is looking for you.I hope I didn’t make them miss you for longer because I kept you inside, unless Nathaniel let you out yesterday.Was he surprised to see you?I’m sure he had no idea that I’d found you.I should have asked him about you.”
Nathaniel watched as Thea slowly made her way to the counter and began to prep for opening.
Her movements were slow but methodical, as she started by pulling coffee beans out of the pantry.
She usually woke earlier, so at least she’d slept in a bit, but now she would be behind, and she’d be frustrated at herself for that.
