“They’re so lucky you found them. Let me get Dr. Drew to help us out.” The tiny mews grew fainter with each passing moment.
“Gentlemen, I’m Dr. Drew, what do we have here?” He peeked inside the box then picked it up. “Let me take them back and exam them. Please, have a seat and we’ll be right back.”
Dr. Drew and his assistant took the tiny packages to the back while Tae and I waited. “Daddy, I hope they’re okay. I’m so glad you found them.”
“Me too, sweetheart,” I pressed my lips to his temple and took his hand in mine. “But Tae, I don’t think that Momma was long for this world. I’m only sharing this so you can prepare yourself for that.”
He nodded. “I understand, but I’ll still be super sad. Those babies are too young to be away from their momma.”
Tae’s head went back and forth from the animal show playing on the lobby television to the door they’d disappeared behind. My heart ached for my boy and for those poor babies who’ve likely lost their mother.
About a half hour later, Dr. Drew came out and Tae hopped up and ran over to him. “Are they okay?”
“Thanks to you,” Dr. Drew told him. “The babies are about a week old and should be fine with round the clock feedings and care. I’m sorry to say that momma kitty didn’t make it.”
Tae’s eyes filled with tears, and I wrapped my arms around him. “What can we do to help?”
“Thank you for asking. First question is, are you planning to keep them or would you like for me to place them with a local rescue?”
I had no clue how to respond. Tae had never asked for a pet of any kind, but when those sad eyes met mine, I knew the answer. “We’d like to keep them if possible.”
“Are you local? Maris said you mentioned finding them on property you just bought. Do you have a home here?”
“Not yet. We live down in the valley but are building a second home here as well. As of now, we’re only in town until Monday.” I hoped that wouldn’t hinder our ability to keep them, but I hadn’t a clue how to care for a cat, let alone three newborns in need of round-the-clock care, as he’d mentioned.
“Tell you what, let me reach out to the local cat rescue. If they know you’re coming back for them, they may be able to foster until they can be weaned, for a donation, of course. Would that work for you?”
That would be a great way to build a relationship with the locals. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. We’ll be up here regularly working on the house and I bet this one,” I nudged Tae, “would love to volunteer to help out when he could at the rescue and we’d also be willing to provide cash and supply donations as well.” Tae smiled and nodded, likely already imagining himself rolling around on the floor with a house full of cats.
Dr. Drew smiled. “I know they’d appreciate that. I volunteer with them as well as other local rescues. The spay and neuter whenthey come of age would be included in your adoption package along with their first shots. Did you want all three of the babies?”
One glance at my bobble headed boy gave me the answer. “Yes, please, and we’d like to start a veterinary care account for them.” Might as well use the vet who helped save them.
“Wonderful,” he paused, “I’m sorry, in the rush to assess them I haven’t asked your names.”
“I’m Chuck Ashwood and this is my husband, Tae.” Guess that was one way to find out how LGBTQIA+ this town was.
“Excellent,” Dr. Drew smiled. “Welcome to Taylor Ridge. I’ll call the rescue now and she’ll likely be right over.” He returned to the back and we sat back down.
“Daddy, do we really get to keep all three of them?”
“That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” I hoped I hadn’t misread his reaction.
“Yes, you don’t split up families.” Ah, this ran deeper than just rescuing cats.
“Then we won’t.”
Shortly after that, a new lady came out of the back and headed our way. “You must be Chuck and Tae. I’m Judy, I run the Feline Sanctuary Rescue. It’s nice to meet you both.”
Tae and I stood and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Are the babies still okay?” Tae asked.
“They’re getting better, thanks to you. Dr. Drew says you live down in the valley and want to adopt them?”
“Yes, please, all three of them. I want to keep them together.” My determined boy stated. “We are building a house up here, so we’ll have two homes for them to play in.”
“That sounds wonderful, Tae. We’re solely funded from donations and would be happy to have you as volunteers. When you’re in town, that is.”
