Page 16 of Herding Cat

“Turned them down?” What on earth for?

“She will not leave her sister. I cannot blame her.”

“And these potential parents won’t take both girls?”

Mrs. Parsons’ smile faltered. “Lui was born with a cleft palate. There are people in certain cultures who believe that physical imperfection is a bad omen. That it may be the mark of evil.”

“What?” Catherine gasped. What a ridiculous concept. Children were innocent and pure and sweet. They deserved a home, parents, love. What one looked like was hardly the point.

“That makes her very difficult to place. Mae believes if she can get her sister the surgery to correct the issue, she will be adopted. We’ve tried to explain things to her, but she is stubborn.”

Catherine shot a look at Mae just then and caught her eye. There was something in that expression that spoke to her. Something determined and mischievous. Something special. The urge to help this girl, and her sister, swelled in her breast. “And how much is this surgery?”

Mrs. Parsons stared at her. Blinked. “I...why... I’m not sure. Over ten thousand dollars, I’m sure. And we simply do not have the money. Our home operates on donations. We’re lucky to keep the girls in school.”

Catherine’s mind reeled. Ten thousand dollars? Ten thousand lousy dollars? It seemed criminal that a child should suffer so, spend her life in limbo, for the lack of such a pittance. Well, it was hardly a pittance, but it wasn’t beyond reach.

Hell, she’d spent nearly that much on this trip.

For some reason, the thought made her feel like a worm. Staying in a five-star hotel, wasting money on a security team, eating at the best restaurants...while Mae and her sister suffered.

There were better ways to spend her money. She was certain of it.

Which was probably why she opened her mouth and said, “I want to help.”

She was aware of the heads whipping around like something out of The Exorcist. Luke, Garrett and Mrs. Parsons. Even Mae gaped at her, her eyes wide and wet.

“I...beg your pardon?”

“I’d like to help Lui.”

“Catherine...” Luke’s voice was low, urgent. She knew, she could tell what he was thinking. That this was a scam. That these people were adept at fleecing tourists, but she just didn’t believe it. She didn’t believe Mae was a con artist and she didn’t believe the shock and relief on Mrs. Parsons’ face was an act.

“May I meet her?”

Mrs. Parsons fluttered. Her lashes, her fingers, her lips. “Well, she’s in bed by now.”

Luke snorted.

“But of course. Please. Follow me.”

They stood then, and followed Mrs. Parsons to the stairs. As they began the long climb, Mae skittered to her side and, to Catherine’s chagrin—and maybe delight—threaded their fingers together. When she looked up, her expression was devastating. One filled with hope and awe. In the whole of her experience, no one had ever looked at Catherine like that and she wasn’t certain if she liked it or not. And she wasn’t certain how to handle it.

So she didn’t. She merely clung.

Mrs. Parsons led them to a closed door and lifted her fingers to her lips as she opened it. On tiptoes, Catherine followed her through a maze of cribs to one by the window. The gentle moonlight flooded in, illuminating a small bundle. It was a tiny girl, wrapped in blankets. She lay on her back, silently staring at the ceiling. Her features were exquisite...right down to her lips, but her mouth was twisted. When she caught sight of Mrs. Parsons, her face broke into a crooked grin and she giggled. When she saw Mae, she began to squirm in delight and quickly escaped her blankets. She grabbed hold of the rail and pulled herself up, and bounced.

She gurgled something and reached out.

But not for Mrs. Parsons or her sister.

She reached out to Catherine.

She had to take that tiny hand. Had to hold it. Had to stare into those beautiful eyes.

And in that moment, she fell in love.

She knew one thing for certain.