“Yes, please. But are you sure you know which is her favourite?” Poppy asked.
“Of course I am!” Michael pretended to look shocked. “It’s a really stinky fish one which is twice the price of any others.”
Poppy wrinkled her nose which made Michael smile. “I’d better go and open up my own shop.”
“I’ll call you if she shows up,” reassured Carrie, placing her hand on his arm.
“Thanks,” he said, looking down at her hand. Her heart rate seemed to ramp up as he placed his own over hers, before saying, “And I’ll let you know if she comes home before visiting you.” Their eyes met for a moment before they parted and he headed back next door.
“I hope Tabitha’s all right,” said Poppy.
“She is,” reassured Carrie. “Cats like to go wandering around and then they just turn up like nothing’s happened, not understanding why everyone’s making such a fuss of them. Why don’t you go and make her chair all comfy for when she arrives?”
Poppy hurried off to complete her task.
Carrie prayed Tabitha was just busy exploring. She was such a grumpy thing but Layla and Poppy, and even Michael, loved her.
She opened the shop and tried to carry on as normal, keeping one eye on Poppy, who was definitely quieter than usual.
“Mummy? Can I have some paper to draw on?”
“You’ve got through your drawing pad already?” Carrie said distractedly as she opened the post.
“I’ve been drawing pictures of Tabitha, for if we need to call the police to help find her and they want to know what she looks like.”
Poppy came over to the counter with her pad.
“Oh, Pumpkin, they’re lovely, but Tabitha will be fine. I bet she’ll love to see these drawings though and you’ll be able toshow them to her as soon as she saunters in. I’ll just get you some more paper from the office.”
The door to the office was ajar. As Carrie pushed it to open it further, she heard a tiny squeak. Spotting a rustling coming from inside a large cardboard box which had contained a shipment of books, and which had yet to be broken down, she knelt down gingerly and checked inside.
“Er, Poppy!” she called. “Come in here, Pumpkin. I’ve found Tabitha.”
Poppy came rushing in. “Careful, darling. She’s in this box, but I don’t think she’s very well. Can you sit next to her and talk to her quietly while I call Michael?”
* * *
Michael closed up his shop immediately and was in the office within minutes. The three of thempeered into the cardboard box.
“Is she all right?” Carrie asked. “Her breathing seems funny.”
“Um, Carrie... I think she’s in labour,” Michael replied.
“In labour?”
“Yes. As in having kittens.”
Poppy’s eyes went wide.
“I thought she was just fat! Sorry, Tabitha,” said Carrie.
“I told you she wasn’t fat, Mummy,” reprimanded Poppy.
“I’m sure she forgives you,” Michael reassured Carrie. “I can’t believe I missed it. I just figured she was being fed by someone else.”
“Are you certain she’s in labour? How can you tell?” Carrie asked.
“I grew up on a farm. And, yes,” he said, stroking Tabitha’s head, “I’m certain. So much for being spayed, eh? I bet it was that ginger tom from down the road.”
