“Lake doesn’t know yet,” I said pointedly, so Jack made the zipping his lips motion.
“I’m gonna make you guys something special for dessert,” he said immediately. “Blueberries, right?”
River and Ben shared a private little look and they both nodded.
“Blueberries work,” River answered.
“Do you want to wash the little ones before Seb gets here?” I raised a brow at him.
“Oh, that’s a great idea.”
Jack helped Mona find towels from the utility room, while I grabbed the dish soap we used for the initial wash of any kittens. Apparently, it was efficient and safe used just that one time if you didn’t have anything super safe at hand.
Mona hovered next to the bigger sink in Lake’s bathroom while River and I joined forces to get hissy thing one and two cleaned.
“They seem to have eye infections,” I murmured as I examined them more closely.
“Yeah, that’s what Seb said when I called him and described their condition.”
“The gray one is a boy, aaand the black and white is also a boy.”
River grinned. “Good, at least the names we chose for them are pretty gender neutral in case you are wrong, Dr. Rey.”
“You already gave them names? What are they?” Mona asked excitedly.
“Mona, can you go sit on the couch with Madden, and we’ll bring the kittens to you?” I asked gently, before she could gettooexcited.
“Oh, sure!” She ran off.
River smiled. “You’re good with her.”
I shrugged. “I mean I’ve spent enough time with her to know that if she gets going…”
River chuckled as we made sure the kittens were dry, and tossed the towels into Lake’s hamper.
“This bathroom is so bougie.”
“Yeah, which reminds me that Ben and I really need to budget the bathroom renovation in the cabin as soon as possible.” He lifted the kittens he was holding. “Plus some room for a litterbox.”
“Fatherhood suits you,” I snarked, but I was so fucking happy for him and Ben. I’d never seen River glow as much as he did right now.
Jack was in the kitchen, putting together something with blueberries I assumed, so we went to Ben, Mona, and Madden at the couches.
River sat next to Mona and told her the kittens were a bit spicy, but they’d settle soon. I went to sit next to Madden and leaned to his shoulder.
“They look okay?” he asked quietly.
I appreciated that he asked me, even though I was hardly an expert. I’d told him I’d fostered some kittens during the summer and how I was interested in veterinary stuff, but I was still nowhere near an expert.
“Yeah. Eye infection, but that’s pretty normal, apparently.”
The front door opened, and Theo and Lake stepped in and took off their outerwear.
“Hey guys!” Lake said brightly, then noticed the kittens and squeaked. “Babies?”
“Yeah, we found them on the backroads,” Ben said, smiling. “We already named them.”
Mona’s eyes widened. “Oh right, what are they called?”
