But if I got a kitten, that would require planning.
I couldn’t help but smile. Planning is what I did best.
It took longerthan I’d anticipated to get the kittens.
The pet store had been crazy busy with people buying last minute pet supplies. Then I’d gone to the house of one of my coworkers, where I’d stood over the box of kittens unable to decide which one to get. Finally, I chose two. They were sisters, and one was a muted tortoiseshell calico while the other was solid black.
On the seat beside me they were mewing almost pitifully, which was going to ruin my surprise. But I absolutely couldn’t wait to see Aubrey’s face when she saw them. I opened the top of the box where they were nestled on a towel. “Look, you’re going to love her, and you’re only going to be in this box just a little while longer. As soon as she opens the box, then I’ll get your litter and your food and everything else you need.”
In response, they mewed at me. Especially, the tortoiseshell one. I could tell she was going to be trouble.
I hummed “Jingle Bells” as I juggled the box on one hip in order to close the car door. I had a bounce in my step as I climbed the stairs to the front door. Why hadn’t I just told Aubrey she could get a kitten in the first place?
Of course, if I’d done that then I wouldn’t have the perfect gift for her right now.
When I walked in, she was at the counter making a salad to go with the pizza she’d ordered. She wore the ugliest Christmas sweater I’d ever seen. It prominently featured a festive llama of all things.
I put down my box. “Hey, you shouldn’t be standing on that foot yet.”
She turned around, and I could see she’d been crying. Thank goodness I had just the thing to cheer her up.
“I’ll finish the salad for you in a minute,” I said, gesturing for her to take a seat at the table.
“There’s enough for both of us, if you’d like.”
“Even better, but first I want you to open the Christmas gift I got you.”
“Oh, Cole. You didn’t have to do that,” she said.
“Of course, I did.”
She sat down and wrung her hands. “Maybe I should wait until tomorrow.”
I stared at her and stared at the box, but it did not mew. It was as though the kittens were in on it with me.
“Just open it. Please?
I’d wrapped the top and the bottom separately—always planning—so all she had to do was remove the lid.
“Oh,” she said, the sound of her voice piercing my heart in a good way. “Oh. They’re adorable.”
She picked up the black kitten and ran her face against its soft fur.
And then she started to cry.
17
Aubrey
Cole’s face blanched. Or I thought it did. It was hard to see through my tears.
“I can take them back,” he said.
“No, oh please don’t,” I finally managed over the lump in my throat.
He had brought me kittens. He had been listening to me all along. He wasn’t the stick in the mud I’d thought he was.
“These are mostly happy tears,” I said.
