‘Sleepy,’ Bella replied, ‘but alive.’
Noah exhaled. ‘That’s good to know.’
There was a pause on the line. Noah drew another breath, but before he could continue, Bella spoke.
‘So, what’s the plan now, Noah? Is Monty going to continue staying at the cattery?’
‘Well, that’s something I’m going to have to work out,’ Noah hedged. ‘Is he, er, happier at the moment?’
‘He seems to be, but it’s not ideal for him. He needs a bigger space to explore, really.’
‘I know.’ Noah sighed. ‘Look, I need to ask you something, but I don’t want to talk this through over the phone. Can we meet when I’m back in the village next weekend?’
‘Er, sure.’ Bella’s voice radiated curiosity, but also understandable uncertainty. ‘But if it’s Monty’s welfare you want to talk about, you should discuss it with Mollie. She’s in charge around here.’
‘I know, but this isn’t just about Monty.’ Noah rubbed the back of his head, the nerves getting the better of him. ‘There are a few things I need to sort out, but they should be finalised by the end of the week. Can you give me half an hour, say next Saturday afternoon about two o’clock, and we’ll have a chat? Meet me at the cottage?’
Bella’s exasperated huff at the cloak and dagger nature of the conversation transmitted down the phone. ‘Can’t you tell me now?’
‘I’d rather not until I’ve checked a couple of things. Please, Bella?’
‘Oh, all right.’
‘Well, it’s a date, then,’ Noah said by way of trying to end the conversation. ‘Er, I mean, not a date, but a meeting, um…’
Bella’s laughter bubbled at his bumbling ineptitude. ‘Right. I mean, heaven forbid you should be asking me out on a date!’
As her laughter subsided, Noah’s blushes did, too. ‘Look. I know that Monty wasn’t actually put down today, but it meant a lot, knowing you were by his side. Thank you.’
‘It was a close call,’ Bella admitted. ‘Poor Monty was an inch away from not getting his evening meal. You shouldn’t have left it that late, you know.’
‘I know.’ Noah closed his eyes briefly. ‘When it came down to it, I couldn’t let it happen.’ He managed a chuckle, but it was a sound tinged with brittleness. ‘I kept imagining what Grandpa would have said, and I realised how unfair to Monty this all was.’
‘Well, I’m glad you changed your mind. Better late than never.’ Bella’s tone was gentle, and Noah imagined her on the other end of the phone, wisps of red hair around her face, framing that generous mouth and those clear blue eyes. He was jolted by how much he wanted Saturday to come around, so he could see her in person.
‘I’ll see you on Saturday,’ he said quickly, realising he’d paused on the line. ‘Take care, Bella.’
‘You too.’
As she rang off, Noah sat back in his chair, his head spinning. He’d made bigger decisions than this in his life – starting his own business, taking out a gargantuan bank loan, employing people… but somehow, this seemed just as important. If Bella agreed to his proposal it might make things easier for him, and, hopefully, her. And Monty of course, he thought with a wry smile.
25
After she’d made the call to Noah, Bella spent the afternoon settling in a very nervous, pregnant female tabby who’d been found in a cardboard box at Observatory Field, the new housing development that had been recently built on the outskirts of the village. Although the bulk of the development was now complete, there was still a small patch of land with a couple of shipping containers, a wooden shed and various skips that Flowerdew Homes, the developer, had yet to remove. Between the containers a local resident had discovered the cat, seemingly abandoned and looking for somewhere to have her kittens.
‘Why do people do this?’ Bella said in frustration as she prepared an enclosure for the mother-to-be. ‘Some people treat animals like they’re disposable, and when they get inconvenient, they dump them. It makes me so bloody angry!’
‘I know, love,’ Mollie said. ‘And I wish I could wave a magic wand and make people more thoughtful, but that’s why we have to do the best we can.’ She gently towelled dry the cat, who’d not been best pleased at being subjected to an anti-parasite and flea bath, but it was unavoidable given the state they’d found her in. ‘By my reckoning, there are at least four kittens in there, so more mouths to feed.’
Bella noticed how tired Mollie looked. ‘I’ll finish up here, Moll,’ she said gently. ‘You get off and put your feet up.’
Mollie smiled at her. ‘Thanks, love. It’s been a bit of a day, hasn’t it?’
‘Do you mind if I check in on Monty before I go?’ Bella asked as Mollie made to leave the newly cleaned enclosure.
‘Not at all,’ Mollie replied. ‘He’s been a bit sleepy all day, but it should have worn off by now. It’s worth seeing if he’s alert enough to eat any food.’ She shook her head. ‘Noah’s lucky that it was only a mild sedative Ellie gave Monty. Any stronger, in a cat that age, and that might have finished him off.’
‘I don’t get it. He was dead set on having Monty put to sleep the last time we spoke. Why, all of a sudden, has he changed his mind? And talk about a close call!’
