Karuk looked at Jeff and then back at Jenny. “Is he our Santa, then?”
Jenny grinned. “It seems so.”
“Really, you two, this is just a gesture,” Jeff said. “I just wanted to make your apartment more homey.”
“Well, it is amazing. Thank you.” She wiped away a tear. “The holidays are important to me.”
“Glad to help,” Jeff said. “Now, let me finish showing you around, so you can get settled. Here’s your patio, and it looks out onto the world.”
“Wow, what a view,” Jenny said, looking out the large window. “Is this patio under that shield thingy too?”
“Absolutely, you can go out there at any time and watch the weather.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out another card. “And here’s the wifi information, so you can check emails and stuff. Though just like before, no photos or anything inside The Bridge, just like on the station.”
“Of course,” Jenny said. “Thanks, I’ll hook in and see what I’ve been missing the last few weeks.”
“I also put a few snacks and drink options in the kitchen for you. We have room service as well, and can get you about anything from the kitchen, just use that tablet that’s on the counter. And if you need anything from us, please ask.”
“Thank you for everything,” Jenny said.
“Of course. Now, I’ll leave you two alone to enjoy your time.”
“Thank you,” Karuk said, bowing to him.
Jeff repeated the gesture back and then left them alone.
Jenny immediately took Mr. F’s cage and opened it up so the cat could get out and explore.
The cat leaped out of the cage and landed on the couch.
“Now where are we? Is that a Christmas tree?”the cat demanded. And turned to look at Karuk.“Are you staying here?”
“Yes, and yes,”Karuk said telepathically back to the cat.
The cat responded by spinning around, and scooting into a corner of the couch, and curling into a ball.
“I guess he approves of this couch,” Jenny said.
“I suppose,” Karuk said.
“Or he’s plotting how he can climb that Christmas tree.”
“Do cats do that?”
“Absolutely. We’ll just have to watch him.”
“For now, he is sleeping.”
“Not a bad idea. But first, I think we should probably put the rest of our things away. Get settled and check out everything.”
“Agreed.”
Karuk and Jennydivvied up space in the residence for their possessions. The whole time, Mr. F slept on the couch, though Jenny believed he was plotting his first attack on the Christmas tree.
There was a natural ebb and flow between them as they put their things away, and he found it pleasing. Like they had a psychic agreement on everything, without having to vocalize it.
Their liaison, Jeff, also sent up Earth food to the apartment for them, as well.
Jenny called it pizza with all the trimmings. Bread cooked with toppings on it. A favorite food of Earthlings, evidently. She had been very excited to see it. There were also sticks made of similar bread and small meat sticks called chicken wings that, while messy, were quite delicious as well. He could have eaten plenty more of them.
