answers had been rare. He’d never called, never sent a gift for her birthday or Christmas. As if once he’d gone, they no longer existed to him. Part of her wondered how much of his absence was possibly due to her mom keeping him away. Maybe he’d wanted to see her, but Mama wouldn’t let him. Or maybe he just hadn’t cared. Suzy had tried finding him when Mama got sick, but it was as if he’d disappeared completely that spring morning when he’d said he was leaving for work and never came home.
She shielded her eyes and peered into the passenger side window. Noticed evidence that some animal had made it a temporary home. Shredded paper nested about a foot wide. And, if the soft mewls were any indication, the resident had left her babies behind.
Suzy set the coffee mug on the roof of the car and pulled on the handle to open the door. With much effort, it wrenched free. She popped her head in and wrinkled her nose at the stench. She carefully kneeled on the passenger seat and bent forward. Between the driver’s seat and the control pedals, three gray and white kittens huddled together. They couldn’t have been more than a few days, maybe a week, old. Their eyes still closed. So tiny. So helpless.
Suzy glanced around the car for something to use to carry them inside. Nothing. Despite her mom’s lackluster housecleaning skills, the interior of the car was empty. She’d have to go find something. “Okay, guys. I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
She unfolded herself from the car, slammed the door shut and grabbed her coffee mug from the car roof. She ran to the house and once inside, placed the mug in the sink before searching through piles of stuff until she found an old wicker Easter basket that still had plastic green grass inside. Figuring that the grass would act as a cushion, she placed a clean tea towel over the grass and sprinted back to the car.
The driver’s side door took less effort to open. Probably because she’d found her mom sitting in the seat more than once over the years. She stooped down and carefully removed each kitten and placed it in the basket. Took her precious cargo into the house. Found a baby bottle in one of the boxes. Washed the bottle since dust coated the surface and then filled it with milk. On the couch she took turns feeding each kitten and stroking its head.
As she did so, she wondered what had happened to their mom. They were orphans, abandoned just like her, and that connection made her heart break for them. “It’s okay. I’ll make sure that someone takes care of you. Promise.”
They looked little more than skeletons covered in fur, and they would need more care than she could give. Propping the bottle on a pillow so that the last kitten could still eat, she dialed her best girlfriend Presley’s number at the animal rescue. “Hey, Pres. I’ve got some little ones for you. Do you have room?”
A big sigh on the other end. “I’ll find room. What have you got?”
“The cutest little kittens in the world.” Suzy looked them over again and smiled as they rolled around each other trying to find a comfortable sleeping position. Almost as if they didn’t want to be separated from each other for very long. “Well, they will be once they get some meat on their bones. And they probably need shots. I found them abandoned in Daddy’s car.”
“Any sign of the mother?”
Suzy shook her head and petted the two kittens who had fallen asleep after eating their fill. “Orphans. Just like me.”
Funny how that word still hurt after six months. She kept the smile on her face. As if her best friend could see her through the phone. “I can bring them in before I go to work tonight.”
“Yeah, okay.” The line stayed silent. “Suze, are you all right?”
How many times had she been asked that question since her mom died? She gave the standard answer. Better that than admit she missed Mama so much it ached. “Perfect. Wait till you see these cuties.” She smiled brighter. “They’re going to break your heart.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Once the last kitten had eaten and fallen asleep, Suzy took her shower then got ready for work. She had an hour or so before she needed to be at the nursing home, so she could stay at the animal rescue and help out with the animals. She knew Presley was swamped with strays, which meant less time to walk them and care for them. Suzy could volunteer to do that for her friend.
She nodded. That’s what she’d do. And she’d deal with the backyard tomorrow.
* * *
SEVEN HOURS. WILL paced the waiting room of the hospital. They’d been there over seven hours with no word. No diagnosis. No solution.
Tori sat on a plastic chair, her head bent over a romance novel, but he could see that she’d been on the same page for the last thirty minutes. She was just as worried as he was.
“Where’s the doctor? It shouldn’t be taking this long.” He stood in front of Tori and crossed his arms over his chest. Waiting for her to look at him.
Instead, she kept her eyes on the page. “Stop watching the clock and pacing, Will. It’ll go faster.” She looked up and patted the empty chair beside hers. “Now sit. Read a magazine. Or go get us some snacks. We haven’t had lunch, and I’m starving.”
He shook his head. “If I’m not here when the doctor comes in....”
“Then I’ll talk to him. Not the end of the world.” She put her bookmark in the book and laid it beside her. “Or how about I’ll go get us some food. I need something.” She stood and grabbed her purse from the floor. “Snickers bar? Mountain Dew? Doritos?”
“Fine. Whatever”
He took out his wallet and handed her a twenty which she waved away. “I’ve got this. And I’ll call my neighbor Teresa and ask if she can pick up the boys from school.” She checked her watch. “Hopefully I’ll catch her before she leaves to get her son Noah.”
She flipped her phone open and dialed as she walked out of the waiting room. Will watched her leave then took a seat in her abandoned chair. He noticed her romance novel and picked it up. Flipped through it. Read a particularly racy scene and raised his eyebrows. What was going on with his sister? First the dyed hair. Now the sexy book? Maybe she was finally over her ex.
About time.
When Tori returned with a bulging plastic bag from the gift shop, he held up the book to her. “You’re reading this?”
She nodded and took the seat next to him, before handing him a wrapped sandwich and pop can. “Teresa recommended it. It’s actually quite good.”
He noted the bookmark was more than halfway through the book. “Obviously.” He unwrapped the sandwich and toasted her with it. “Thanks.”
“Anything for you.” She popped the tab on her drink then took a sip. “Still no word?”
Will swallowed his bite and shook his head. “It’s gotta be soon, right? I mean how long can they make us wait for answers?”
“Teresa said she’d keep the boys at her house as long as I need her to.” She took a deep breath. “She’s been a good friend. Especially since the divorce.”
Will put one arm around her. “The hits keep coming, huh?”
She swiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You don’t know how hard it is being a single mom. There’s no one around to give me a hand. To answer the nonstop questions. Or deal with the increasing emotions. To tell them no. And then there’s the hormones.” She shuddered as if a cold finger had run up her spine.
He bumped her shoulder. “Whenever you need me, just call.”
“I know. But I’ve got to do this on my own. I can’t depend on you all the time.” She straightened in her seat. “Stones know how to get the job done.”
She unwrapped her sandwich and took a bite. He did the same, and they sat in silence for a while. The only sound other families chatting while they waited for news and a talk