I still, my hand on the doorknob, hoping the fluff ball will have changed her mind and reappear. When that doesn’t happen, I glance at Finn, who’s straightened, plunked her hands on her hips…and is clearly fighting laughter.
“Your fault,” I accuse softly.
She giggles. “I’m not the one who opened the doors.”
“No,Iopened them,” Chloe says proudly, her voice muffled because she’s shoved her head under her bed to look for Olive.
My gaze locks with Finn’s and we both laugh. “That you did, kiddo,” she murmurs, crouching down beside my daughter. “That you did.” She reaches an arm out and?—
A flash of fur as Olive sprints by her and into the hall.
Because I still hadn’t closed the door.
Christ.
“They’re fast,” Chloe says, her eyes wide.
“They sure are.”
From downstairs comes the unmistakable crash of something hitting the floor.
I close my eyes, sigh again.
I only have myself to blame—for the open doorandthe kittens.
“Let’s go get ‘em!” Chloe runs past me, and I follow her…to find Olive halfway up the family room curtains and Pear atop the coffee table swatting at the basket of Finn’s fabric.
“Wow, kitties,” Finn says calmly as she walks over to the table and snags the basket, stowing it away. “You two sure got comfortable fast.”
“Too comfortable,” I mutter, heading for the curtains.
Only…Olive is already out of reach.
Sighing, I snag the ottoman, drag it over.
“Pear!” Chloe calls, rushing over to the coffee table.
“Gentle, baby,” I warn as I climb up.
She slows, crouches, and stretches out her hand. “Here, Pear. Here, pretty, pretty Pear…”
Pear darts off the other side and zooms into the kitchen.
I reach for Olive, but she leaps down, landing softly on her feet and sprinting after her sister.
I curse softly, but it’s Finn’s laughter that stops me from getting frustrated, that has me laughing too.
This is ridiculous.
It’s madness and it’s my life and…
They’re two tiny balls of fur creating chaos.
While looking adorable in the process.
I step down from the ottoman, trail Finn as she heads into the kitchen.
The kittens are beneath the table and she drops to one knee. “Here, kitties,” she murmurs and clicks her tongue softly.
