She washed her hands—just in case—then sat at the table and pulled out her phone. She looked up the nearest animal shelter, only to receive an automated recording that it was closed for the night. Same story at the next shelter. And the next. It was only seven o’clock. Wasn’t there any place to take abandoned animals after hours? These kittens wouldn’t make it until morning. Not to mention, she didn’t have time to deal with this, not in general and especially not tonight.
Eve stared at the furry pile of kittens. What the hell was she going to do with them? She’d never had a pet, never cared for an animal in her life. She had no idea how to care for these, but they were obviously too small for solid food. They probably needed milk. Maybe she could warm up some of the half-and-half she kept in the fridge for her morning coffee, but what would they drink it out of?
They were so small, so helpless.
Irritation warred with concern inside her as she typed “what to do if you find abandoned kittens” into the search bar on her phone. The top result was a YouTube video with the thumbnail of a woman with lavender hair holding a kitten about the size of the ones Eve had found. For lack of a better option, she pressed Play.
“Hi, everyone. It’s your favorite kitten rescuer, Josie Swanson, here to tell you what to do if you find an abandoned kitten or litter of kittens,” the woman in the video said.
Eve leaned back in her seat as the knot in her stomach loosened. This video might be exactly what she needed. Josie was pretty, with warm eyes and an endless smile. Eve had never been a fan of unnatural hair colors, but the lavender seemed to work for Josie, accentuating her bubbly personality.
Unfortunately for Eve, the video mostly covered how to care for newborn kittens rather than where to take them. But, worst-case scenario, it might help her keep them alive through the night until she could drop them at the shelter in the morning.
“The important thing to remember is to never bring a litter of orphaned kittens to an animal shelter,” Josie said, staring earnestly into the camera. “Most shelters aren’t staffed to care for bottle-fed babies and will have to euthanize them. The best thing to do is to reach out to local animal rescues and ask for their help. I’ve included a list of resources in the description below.”
Well, this wasn’t good news, but that seemed to be the theme of Eve’s day. Then again, maybe she could find an animal rescue that would take the kittens tonight. She scrolled through the links below the video until she found a kitten rescue in New York City. According to the contact information, Josie herself ran it. Maybe Eve’s luck had turned. She’d give the kittens to Josie and be done. Josie would know exactly how to care for them. She had over a million subscribers and countless videos detailing all the kittens she’d saved.
Eve clicked on the contact button and composed a quick message detailing her situation, adding URGENT to the subject line, because she wasn’t sure these kittens would survive another hour without intervention, let alone overnight. And as much as she needed to get to work and find a client for her replacement episode, she didnotwant a pile of dead kittens in her kitchen…or on her conscience.
Not knowing what else to do, she rewatched Josie’s video while she waited. They’d need kitten formula, which she could apparently get at most pet stores. So much for the half-and-half in her fridge. She had just pulled up a list of local pet stores when her phone rang with an unknown Manhattan exchange.
Eve connected the call. “Hello.”
“Hi,” came the vivacious voice from the video. “This is Josie Swanson. You’ve found a litter of abandoned kittens?”
“Yes,” Eve told her gratefully. “Someone dumped them in a trash can.”
“It happens all the time, unfortunately,” Josie said. “About how old are they, if you had to guess?”
“Newborn, maybe,” Eve said. “Their eyes are still shut, and I think their umbilical cords are still attached. Can I bring them to you tonight? I’m honestly not sure how long they’re going to survive otherwise.”
“I’m so sorry, but I can’t take them. I’d be happy to meet you, show you how to care for them, and give you some supplies, though.”
Eve’s stomach clenched in a combination of disappointment and frustration. She’d been so sure Josie was going to help her. She was tired and hungry, her feet ached, and she needed these kittens out of her apartment so she could get back to the mountain of work awaiting her. “I don’t understand. You run a kitten rescue. Why can’t you take them?”
“I really wish I could, but I own a bar in Brooklyn, and we’re short-staffed at the moment. I’m tending bar twelve hours a day, and these guys will need round-the-clock care.”
Eve bristled at the implication. “I work full-time too. I can’t keep them.”
“Look, you’re in Manhattan, right?” Josie asked.
“Yes.”
“Tell you what. Bring them here. I’ll make some calls while you’re on your way and see if I can find someone to take them for you. If not, I can give you some formula and show you how to care for them, at least temporarily.”
“Bring them to your bar?”
“Yes,” Josie confirmed. “Sorry, but I’m working all night.”
Eve’s entire body tensed, and her pulse quickened. She couldn’t handle walking into a bar, especially not tonight. Her gaze fell on the kittens. What choice did she have? But if she brought them to Josie’s bar, she was going to convince her to keep them, because there was no way Eve was bringing them back home with her. “I’ll be there in half an hour.”
2
Josie Swanson carried a frothy lager in each hand, plunking them on the bar in front of the two men seated across from her. “Haven’t seen you guys all week. I was starting to think you’d found a new bar.” She pressed a hand against her chest. “Don’t break my heart like that.”
Dougie laughed heartily, reaching for his glass. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Jo.”
“Been working late, is all,” Sal added.
