I sign for the packages, and the man helps me bring them inside. As I grab the larger box, I notice the holes at the top, and a small sound makes me freeze.
Meow.
My heart skips a beat. I carefully set the box down and peer inside. A pet carrier sits nestled at the bottom, and from within, another tiny meow escapes.
"Oh my god," I whisper, carefully lifting out the carrier and setting it on the ground. The kitten inside is silver with tabby markings, impossibly tiny and fluffy. Itmeows again, the sound so small it makes my chest ache.
Footsteps thunder down the stairs, and Liam appears, his eyes widening when he spots the carrier.
"You got me a kitten!" he shrieks, his face lighting up with pure joy. "You got me a kitten, Mommy!"
I'm speechless, a storm of emotions swirling inside me. Happiness at seeing Liam's excitement. Shock at the unexpected gift. Fear of Reeves’s reaction—he's been dead-set against getting a pet. And underneath it all, a warmth I can't deny, because I know exactly who sent this.
Liam kneels beside the carrier, coaxing the kitten with gentle words. "It's okay, kitty. I won't hurt you." The kitten is still very cautious. Liam gently scoops it out, cradling it against his chest. The sight makes my throat tight.
I notice a card attached to the carrier and open it with trembling fingers. A check flutters out, and I nearly choke when I pick it up and see the amount: twenty-five thousand dollars. The card itself is simple—a cute kitten on the front, and blank inside, save for a long handwritten message from Caine.
Hello again,
I know I officially won the bet, and trust me, I very much like my prize. ButI also know how much you wanted that surprise, and you played well, so I thought you deserved it. I realize it’s a very bold gesture on my part, and perhaps extremely inappropriate, but I couldn’t stand the thought of Liam longing for a kitten.
I’ve included a box of supplies and all the paperwork: registration and documentation. The kitten is fourteen weeks old, a neutered male. He has all his shots. The kitten is registered with TICA, and this breed is known for its playful dog-like personality, vocal antics and sweet and social disposition. I have one of my own, and I adore him.
You mentioned that you couldn’t afford a cat, so I’ve included a 25 k check, and I hope you don’t find this gesture presumptuous, but this should cover all expenses for the next fifteen to twenty years or so. If any special health concerns arise, feel free to contact me, and I will help in any way I can.
Enjoy your new family member,
Cheers,
Caine
P.S. I wish you all the best! You deserve it. You’re a wonderful person.
I watch Liam on the floor, giggling as the kitten bats at a feather toy.
My heart aches at the sight.
God, I hope Reeves lets us keep him.
Oliver.
That's what Liam named him. I think he already had a name all picked out. It was Oliver for a boy, or Olive for a girl. Ollie for short.
He's been glued to Oliver for hours, his face alight with a joy I haven't seen in months. Oliver is already responding to his name, prancing around with his fluffy tail held high.
The front door slams, and my stomach drops. I'd been so caught up in Liam's happiness that I'd forgotten about Reeves.
"What the hell is this?" Reeves stands in the doorway, his face darkening as he takes in the scene—the cat carrier, the supplies scattered across the living room floor, Liam cradling a silver kitten.
"We got a kitty!" Liam says, stating the obvious, oblivious to the storm brewing on his father's face.
Reeves’s eyes snap to mine. "Where did this come from, Jenna?"
I swallow hard. "Uh… it was delivered today." I suddenly realize the craziness of all this — the kitten, the huge check. Can we even really accept this? But it's too late not to.
"Who sent it?" His voice drops dangerously low.
When I don't immediately answer, his jaw tightens. "It was him, wasn't it? Caine?"
