“Marcus, come on. This is all my responsibility. You have to bill me.”
“That’s not happening.”
They stared at each other for several seconds.
“You’re being difficult,” she told him. “On purpose.”
“I am.” He grabbed her hand in his. “You take care of everyone. For once, try not being in charge and let me take care of you.”
“That’s a foreign concept.”
“I know. It requires trust, which isn’t anywhere you usually go. I want you to consider me someone you can have faith in.”
Wow. Just wow. Somehow their simple conversation about paying a vet bill had gotten complicated. Trust him? She wanted to say she trusted the world, only she didn’t. She’d never trusted Harris to take care of her. The kids, sure. He was a good dad, but as a partner? Not even a little.
“I, ah...” She cleared her throat. “Thank you for helping and taking the cat to the vet. You’re a good guy and I guess maybe I can trust you.”
He grinned. “A little.”
“What?”
“You wanted to add ‘a little.’ I appreciate you didn’t.”
She smiled at him. “I wasn’t thinking that.”
“Uh-huh. We both know you’re lying but I appreciate the effort. Now, about the cat. There are logistics to consider.”
She glanced at where the cat was sitting on her chair, Ramon next to him. “I know. For one thing he needs a name.”
Marcus nodded. “And you have to figure out where to put the litter box.”
“Oh, right.” She thought about the layout of the store. “It should go somewhere quiet. I mean everyone wants privacy when they use the bathroom.” She thought about the various spaces in the store. “I keep my apartment locked, so that wouldn’t work. And while I’m probably going to feed the cat in Ramon’s room, I don’t think he would like the litter box there.”
She eyed the small closet in her office. “What about in there? If we took off the door and stored it somewhere, the space would be big enough and private. I can leave the office door open. I can lock my handbag in a desk drawer and my computer already has a password.”
Marcus got up and walked to the closet. It was about four-by-six with shelves. “This would work,” he said. “I’d suggestpulling out the bottom shelf so he doesn’t feel too hemmed in. Leaving your office door unlocked isn’t a good idea. What if we put in a cat door instead?”
“That would work. I’d feel better if I could secure the office but with a cat door, he can come and go. I’ll make sure I leave a light on for him. I know cats are supposed to be able to see in the dark, but a little light would be good.”
Marcus walked to the door of her office and studied it. “I’ll get a kit today and install it tomorrow. I’ll take the closet door and shelf out now if that works for you.”
“Thank you. You’re being amazing.”
“Happy to help.”
Ramon flew over to him. Marcus held out his hand. “You’re going to have to come up with a name for your cat,” he said. “How about Fred?”
Ramon gave him side-eye.
“Or Loki,” Jax offered. “What about Simba? You likedThe Lion King.”
Ramon flew down to the cat and used his wings to usher him out of the room.
Marcus grinned. “I guess that was a no on Simba.”
“The kids are coming over to spend the night in the store with me,” she said, coming to her feet. “We’ll brainstorm then.”
Marcus left to grab the pet shop delivery then go get the cat door kit and she returned to the store. Slowly her world was being made right, she thought happily. Once she got caught up with her sleep, she would be back to her normal, happy self. In the meantime, Marcus had given her a lot to think about.
