“How many kittens is she going to have?”
“I’m not sure. I guess we’ll just have to be patient.”
Poppy gave herself a little excited hug. “I can’t wait to tell Granny. She’s not going to believe it!”
“She’s really not,” said Carrie with a sigh.
“I can’t imagine you’ll be wanting to go to holiday club this afternoon, will you?”
“No, thank you. I want to look after Tabitha.”
“That’s fine, Pumpkin.”
The bell over the door dinged and a couple of women came in. Carrie went to help them, leaving the door ajar so she could hear if there was a problem.
Michael returned while she was still serving. She gave him a smile as he went past her into the office laden down with a large box full of work and cat things. He gestured to check closing the office door was OK, and she gave him a nod.
Once the bookshop was empty again, Carrie knocked softly on the office door.
Poppy opened it with her finger on her lips. “You can come in,” she said, solemnly, “But you need to be quiet.”
“I promise,” said Carrie, fighting back a smile at how seriously her daughter was taking her duties.
Michael was sat at the desk with his laptop open in front of him. Carrie couldn’t make out what was on the screen, but it looked more like something Poppy would enjoy than anything he was doing for work. “You’ve put music on for the cat?” The corners of his mouth were twitching.
“Yes,” admitted Carrie. “I thought it might relax her.”
“I think that’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard,” Michael said. Carrie felt herself begin to blush and looked away from Michael to check out Tabitha’s birthing set-up.
He’d set her basket down next to the box she’d settled in and placed a small bowl of cat food and another of water in with her.
“What about a cat litter tray?” Carrie asked. “Will she need one . . . during . . .”
“That’s a good point... I’d better go and fetch one. She usually prefers to go outside, but she won’t be able to here. I’ll just be a minute.”
“Can I come and help?” asked Poppy.
“Yep. I think I’ve got some biscuits you can carry back for me.”
Michael and Poppy left and Carrie sat down on the swivelly office chair.
“So, you’re about to become a mother, eh?” she said to the cat. “I’m sure you’ll be very good at it. And sorry again for thinking you were fat. I bet you have a lovely figure usually, and it’ll bounce right back.”
Tabitha shuffled around so she was facing the other way and closed her eyes.
“I guess you really would rather be quiet,” said Carrie.
Thankfully, reinforcements soon returned with a litter tray. Carrie had never realised it was possible to have an awkward silence with a cat. But then poor Tabitha was going through a lot.
Carrie left Michael and Poppy doing drawing tutorials together as the shop began to fill up with customers. Poppy made her turn off the radio in the shop and would appear at the half-open office door looking fierce if she thought the customers were getting too rowdy.
Carrie was closing up for lunch when Poppy came running out of the office.
“Mummy, Tabitha has had a kitten!” she exclaimed loudly, before catching herself. “Sorry, Tabitha,” she whispered over her shoulder.
“That’s wonderful!” said Carrie in her own hushed whisper. “May I come to see?”
“As long as you’reveryquiet.”
