10
The following Sunday, Michael managed to find time to call.
I aimed the phone’s camera at Patrick. He was bent over, bum in the air, diligently scooping the litter box.
“Patrick adopted a cat. He’s on poop patrol at the moment.”
Michael chuckled softly. “As long as he’s behaving.”
Patrick hadn’t noticed me filming him. When he finished, he plopped down on the floor, his back to me, and started murmuring to the cat cradled in his arms.
Buddy tried to wedge his way in for a cuddle but was gently pushed away. “Buddy, you can’t steal the kitty’s spot. After she has her babies, she’s going to die.”
‘We both have to be nice to her.”
My face fell. I knelt beside him and gave the cat a quick once-over. She seemed perfectly fine.
breathed a sigh of relief. “Patrick, honey, why would you say the kitty is going to die after she has her babi
es?”
Without looking up, he answered, “Grandma and Grandpa told me.”
was stunned by their cruelty, but I kept my voice patient.
‘Patrick, let me tell you something…”
He cut me off, looking at me with serious eyes. “It’s not Auntie Clara. It’s Mom.”
froze for a second. It felt like a feather tracing a line straight to my heart. It was a strange feeling, but not ad one.
‘Okay. Then Mom is telling you that as long as you take good care of her, the mommy cat won’t die afte having her babies.”
‘She and her kittens will stay with you for a long, long time.”
Patrick’s eyes lit up. “Like how you’ll always, always stay with me?”
I kissed his cheek, my voice full of conviction. “Yes. Mom and the cats will always be with you.”
He was beaming. He hugged the cat, kissing her over and over, then wrapped his arms around Buddy’s neck
to comfort him.
“Don’t be sad, Buddy. I’ll always be with you, too.”
