ChapterSeven
Harper pressed her foot hard on the accelerator and whizzed down the alley to the back of her building. She was running late. Dammit. Jinx and Cleo would arrive any minute now. The blue Prius came to a jarring stop under the large metal awning that covered the three parking spaces in the courtyard.
Grabbing the bag containing their regular Wednesday ‘Girls’ Night In’ supplies of Champagne and pineapple juice, she almost didn’t hear the pitiful mew coming from near her foot.
Almost.
A tiny, bedraggled bundle of wet black fur shivered next to the brick wall.
“Oh, you poor kitty.” Harper dumped the bag onto her driver’s seat and, careful not to scare the little mite, scooped up the kitten.
She cooed gently at the tiny creature quivering in her arms. Whether its shaking was from fear or cold, Harper had no idea. Rain had poured all day, and the poor baby was soaked. Using the softest touch, she ran her fingers over the wet fur. Her stomach knotted. Skin and bones.
“Baby, we need to get you warm and fed.”
Harper inspected the area, worried that the kitty may have a mom or siblings that needed help, too. Tall buildings blocked out much of the natural light. A scary place for a desperate animal. But after walking back along the alley and inspecting the courtyard, she came up empty.
The kitten burrowed against her knit top and lifted its head and reached out a tiny paw toward Harper’s face. Oh, my. She had to clear her throat to get her next words out. “Come on, baby, let’s get you inside.”
She slung her handbag over her shoulder and grabbed the bag of drinks.
Once in her apartment, Harper headed to her bedroom. After dropping both bags on her bed, she grabbed a towel from the bathroom. “Okay, honey.” Harper gently pried kitty claws from the light blue material of her shirt before lying the kitten on its back on her bed. A boy. “Let’s get you dry, mister, and fill your belly.”
Striking blue eyes surrounded by black fur blinked up at her. As she patted the towel over his tummy, the kitty’s front paws closed over her fingers.
“Oh, baby, you’re killing me here.” She blew him a kiss as the buzzer for her building’s security door sounded. Harper gathered up her precious bundle in the towel and headed out.
At her apartment’s front door she pushed the video button. Jinx and Cleo’s images filled the screen. “Hey.”
“It’s us, babe. We come bearing pizza and overnight bags.”
Since Jinx’s salon was across the road, and Cleo worked in the bookstore next door to Seven Dishes, it was silly for either to go home after a night of cocktails and a David Boreanaz-World’s Sexiest Vampire marathon.
“Come on up.” She clicked the building’s door release, held the kitty closer to her chest as she opened her door and waited, hearing her friends chatter as they climbed her stairs.
Jinx, dressed all in black from straight leg pants to boat-necked top, carried a stylish brown canvas weekender and a plastic bag filled with candy. Cleo, her long legs encased in denim and teamed with a caramel poncho style top, followed behind with her own overnight bag and two pizza boxes.
“What’s with the towel? We catch you about to grab a shower?” Jinx teased as they passed her and entered the living area.
“No. I found this little guy in the alley five minutes ago.” She lowered her hands and showed them her surprise visitor.
Jinx’s mouth formed an O. “A kitty.” She dropped her bags and came to stand next to Harper. The little guy blinked up at her as she gently stroked his tummy.
Cleo’s bag joined Jinx’s. “Oh my God, I have to hold that gorgeousness.” She raced to the kitchen, returning seconds later sans pizza boxes. “He was in the alley?” The normally bubbly woman’s mouth turned down.
“Yeah, I couldn’t find any other critters, just him,” Harper shared as Cleo slid her hand under the kitty and drew him to her chest. The little guy’s black fur matched Cleo’s ultra-straight long hair.
“He’s so thin.” Cleo’s gaze met Harper’s, reflecting the concern that knotted in her belly. “But he’s weaned. I’m sure of it. His body’s too long for under eight weeks.”
“You don’t have cat food.” Jinx went to grab her purse. “I’ll grab some supplies.”
“No, babe. That’s okay.” Harper headed to the kitchen. “We can survive tonight. I’ve got cans of tuna.” And spare cardboard boxes. For one night, a box and some newspaper would do for kitty litter.
Jinx filled a small bowl with water. Harper spooned some tuna onto a saucer, set it on the floor next to the water and stood back as Cleo placed the kitty before the food.
They held their collective breath as the little guy’s nose twitched. Once he caught a whiff of the tuna, he fell upon the food with a desperation that tightened the muscles in her throat.
Poor little baby.