Page 57 of Keystrokes and Kittens

Finally, I took stock of what I could make for dinner.

Leftover hamburger for me, lean chicken breast for Soren, and more salad for both of us.

Tibby eyed me.

“One hour. Your dinner time is in one hour.”

She cocked her head.

“Oh. I’m just—” I took a deep breath. “Annoyed with your daddy. He could’ve told me. Hell, he should’ve told me. But we are where we are, and now, we make the best of it.”

She laid her chin on my thigh.

I rubbed her ears. “Are you really happy with us here? Me, Peaches, and Jack? They can be…rough. Those little claws are brutal.”

Her snuff of amusement tickled my skin.

“I hear what you’re saying. I just—” I gazed into her dark-brown eyes. “—I’ve never done this before. Any of it. Not just the kissing and cuddling…” I inhaled sharply. “I don’t know if I know how to love someone. See…all the people I’ve ever loved have died. Except Quinta. Quinta is always the exception. And she’s going to love you something fierce. She loves working at the store because she got to hang with all the animals.

“Loved.” I had to correct myself. “Past tense. She doesn’t want to work at the store anymore. She’s met a man. Not exactly ayoungman. That said, he’s not as old as me. He’s certainly not as old as your dad.”

Tibby snorted.

“Right? So I need to be open to meeting this guy and accepting that he might be Quinta’sone.Just like…” My breath hitched. “What if your dad is myone? What if we’re destined to betogether? What if I really can let go of this vigilance and, I don’t know, allow myself to fall in love? Because, let’s be honest, there’s no better man out there. He might be pigheaded, but he’s got a good heart. How many nights did he give up his sleep to take care of my kittens?”

I hesitated.

“That should beourkittens. I can’t fathom making a single decision about them without consulting your dad. So whether he keeps them, I keep them, or we share them…it’s a decision we have to make together.” I grinned. “They are super cute. I miss Carlos, but it just wasn’t meant to be. But Peaches and Jack are thriving. They’re ready to be litter trained. They’re healthy and happy and—” My breath caught. “I can’t imagine my life without them. Just like I’m having a tough time envisioning my life without you and your dad. Which kind of makes me think I need to open my heart to him. To figure out what he means to me and what I mean to him and what the future looks like.”

I sighed.

“Just over a month. Can you really know in such a short period of time? What your new life trajectory can be?” I sniffed. “Well, a crash changed my life in an instant.” I rubbed Tibby’s ears. “I think the moment I agreed to come here with your dad, my life’s course altered. If Quinta had come home, then I definitely would be back living with her. But she didn’t come home. And I haven’t left.”

“I’m glad you haven’t.”

For just a fraction of a second, I wondered if Tibby had spoken.

Then I gazed up to find a rather rumpled Soren looking down at me.

“I’m thawing some chicken for you for dinner. I’m going to eat the hamburger you cooked for yourself so it doesn’t go to waste. Apologies.” I stroked Tibby’s snout. “And you get your kibble.”

She perked up.

Soren chuckled as he moved to put her food in a bowl.

I cleared my throat. “Uh…how much did you hear?”

“Enough.” Soren put Tibby’s bowl on the ground and, after the hound attacked it with enthusiasm, he moved to the table and sat beside me. “Do I wish you’d said those things to me? Sure. Should I have been eavesdropping? No. Will I ask Tibby to break confidences? Absolutely. Now, my expectations are low she’ll actually share what you said to her. She’s good at keeping secrets.”

“She would have to be. To be a good therapy dog.” I smiled as she devoured her food. “You’d think we hadn’t fed her ten hours ago and given her lots of treats in the meantime.”

Her head poked up.

I shook mine.

She resumed eating.

Soren reached for my hand and I gave it. He offered a smile. “I was serious when I asked you to move in. I’m talking in a forever kind of way, and I don’t blame you if you’re confused or panicked.”