Page 45 of Far from Destined

I sat against the wall next to them, keeping an eye on them. And then Dakota was at my side, two cups of coffee in her hand.

“It’s decaf,” she said. “I know decaf is nearly a sin to some coffee drinkers, but sometimes you just need the taste without the boost.”

“It makes sense.” I took the mug. “Thank you.” She sat down next to me, her warm weight solid against my side, and all I wanted to do was sink into her and never let go. But I didn’t. I watched the kittens sleep and nuzzle into the mama cat as she cleaned them before falling asleep herself.

I heard Dakota’s steady breaths at my side as she fell asleep right along with them.

I knew she had to be exhausted, her days starting earlier than even mine, and her nights filled with Joshua—and now this surprise.

But I didn’t wake her. I didn’t move her. I pulled an extra blanket over both of us and let myself pretend that this could be real. That it mattered.

And then I fell asleep too, knowing this wasn’t reality. It was only a moment in time.

But one I wanted to last forever.

Chapter 11

Dakota

Strong arms wrappedaround me as I slowly pulled myself from sleep, my brain foggy as I tried to figure out where I was. A mewling sound came from my side, and then there was a rustling and a low voice that wasn’t too much of a whisper.

My eyes shot open, and I realized that I was on the floor of the laundry room, practically sprawled on top of Macon while Joshua knelt next to the box where the mama cat and her babies slept.

Though from the adorable little squeaks coming from the box, the babies weren’t sleeping too well and were likely hungry.

I scrambled off, thankful that Joshua’s back was to me. Had he seen me sleeping on Macon like that? Again? This was the second time I had woken up clinging to Macon as if he were the last piece of chocolate in the world. And we hadn’t even had sex. Yet.

I didn’t know why I added that word. Maybe because I wanted him?

No, I couldn’t want him. Because if I did, we’d only end up hurting each other in the end. I had too many responsibilities, too many fears to want him. And yet, I knew I did.

I didn’t have time to worry about my feelings or needs because my son and five little furry lives needed me. All of me.

“How’s mama cat doing?” Macon asked from behind me, and I nearly fell over, not realizing he was awake. I should have. I should have noticed that he was moving, the heat of him behind me, but I had been doing my best to ignore it. Just like I had been doing my best to ignore a lot of things when it came to Macon.

“She’s awake, and the babies are eating,” Joshua said, his voice hoarse as he rubbed his eyes. “They make really cute sounds when they’re eating.” He looked over his shoulder at me and smiled that sleepy, dreamy smile that he got when he first woke up. “Did I make those sounds when I ate?” Joshua asked, and I held back a groan. My son was so inquisitive and always asked whatever was on his mind. Even if it wasn’t the best question for a six-year-old.

“You still make gobbling noises when you eat your oatmeal in the morning,” I told him with a straight face. I just hoped he took the bait and didn’t ask me about where babies came from or something.

“I do like oatmeal.” Joshua started snorting like a pig, and I held back a laugh.

Macon knelt by the box as he checked on the mama cat and then made sure all the babies were eating okay. “She has some water, but we’re going to make sure she has whatever she needs since we don’t have a lot of food and litter here. I’ll take her and the family into the office today.”

“That sounds like a great plan,” I said, wondering exactly how I’d found myself in this position.

“Are they going to come back?” Joshua asked.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen,” I answered before Macon had to. Joshua looked up at me, and I did my best to keep my stern mom face on, though not my angry mom face. “Joshua, you know that these babies need someone to take care of them. And we’re not home all the time. It’s not safe for them to be here.”

“I don’t want them to go away. I already want to name them. I want them to be mine.”

“Buddy, you know we can’t have five cats.” I wasn’t even sure we could handle one, considering I could barely keep up with our lives.

“You’re going to split them up? What if they miss their brothers and sisters?”

My heart broke at his words. But thankfully, Macon spoke next, because I had no idea what to say to fix this.

“They’ll remember them just like all other siblings do. I don’t live in the same house as Nate or any of the other Bradys. But I have them in my mind. And in my heart. Just like these kittens will.”