When We Found Home

“I promise.”

“Good.” Delaney released her and smoothed her hair off her forehead. “You look good. A little battered, but otherwise healthy. Are you feeling all right?”

“I’m fine. Where’s Lizzy?”

Carmen handed over the carrier. “Here you go, little one. I’ll bring up some hot chocolate and cookies.”

“Thank you,” Keira said as she dropped to her knees and carefully opened the carrier. Her breath caught. “Lizzy, you’re real. I wondered if I dreamed you.”

She picked up the kitten who stretched and yawned before settling in Keira’s arms and meeting her gaze. Delaney sat on the floor next to them.

“She’s pretty friendly. A little skittish, but she’s warmed up over the past couple of days. I don’t think she was feral, but I’m not sure she had a lot of contact with people.”

“Thank you for taking care of her for me.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’m going to be a really good pet mom. I’ve been looking up stuff online.” She looked at Delaney, her expression serious. “Cats should only have canned food. They don’t have a strong instinct to drink water and dry food gives them kidney problems.” She gently petted Lizzy. “I’m going to clean the litter box twice a day. That’s what the articles say cats like.” Her voice lowered. “I know what it’s like to get used to a strange place, so I’m going to be with her all the time through the weekend. I’m not going back to school until Monday.”

There was so much information in those few sentences that Delaney didn’t know where to begin.

“Why don’t you show me where you want things set up?” she asked. “Have you decided where to put the litter box?”

“In the other room.”

Delaney stood, finally taking her attention from the girl and looking around at her bedroom. It was large, with plenty of windows and lots of light. She pointed to the built-in window seat with a comfortable cushion and lots of pillows.

“Lizzy’s going to love sitting there and watching birds.”

“I know. She can also climb around on my desk if she wants.”

The walls were a pale gray color, the trim was white. The furniture all looked new, which made sense. From what she’d been able to piece together, Keira had been a bit of a surprise.

They carried everything into the adjoining room. It had been decorated as a teen girl haven with two bright pink club chairs, a deep blue sofa and a multicolored upholstered ottoman that acted as a soft coffee table in between. There was an under-counter refrigerator, a big wall-mounted television and plenty of storage. A fun white shag rug sat on top of the more elegant Berber carpet.

Keira pointed to a small alcove near the corner. “There was a dresser here that got moved out. I’ll feed Lizzy on the other side of the room. You’re not supposed to have food and the litter box close together.” She wrinkled her nose. “No one wants to eat in the bathroom.”

It took only a few minutes to get everything set up. Once the litter box was filled and the water bowl put out, Keira set the kitten on the floor, then sat next to her while Lizzy began to sniff and explore.

Delaney split her attention between the girl and the cat. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Better. My headache is gone and it doesn’t hurt to read.” She held out her fingers for Lizzy to sniff. The black-and-white kitten rubbed against them and began to purr. “My teachers put my assignments online, so I’ve been keeping up.”

“I have homework, too,” Delaney said. “Biology is hard.”

“Have you done your dissection yet?”

“No. It got postponed. I didn’t ask why because I don’t want to know.”

Keira grinned. “Maybe it’s an inventory issue.”

“Don’t go there. Talk about gross.”

“How are you going to be a doctor if you can’t dissect something that’s been dead like forever?”

“I’m not sure. I’m still working on that problem.”

Leaving the world of finance to become a naturopath had made sense three months ago, but she was starting to have her doubts. She wasn’t sure she was passionate enough to dedicate the next four years of her life to full-time study.

Keira reached for one of the feather-on-a-stick toys and waved it in front of Lizzy. The kitten immediately attacked.

“Have any of your friends been by?” Delaney asked.

Keira looked at her. “No, but we’ve texted. They wanted to know I was okay. I didn’t feel very good until yesterday and now I have Lizzy. I’m fine.”

“I worry about you.”

“I know.” Keira ducked her head.

Delaney wished she could be more sure about her friend. Keira’s home situation was unconventional at best. Not awful, but maybe not as nurturing as it could have been.

“Carmen seems nice.”

“She’s great. She’s fussing over me even more than usual and she’s really excited about Lizzy.”

At least Keira had someone watching over her.

“Okay, I’m going to let you and Lizzy get to know each other,” she said as she stood. “You have my number. Text me if you need anything. Even if it’s just more cat toys. I’m happy to bring them by.”

“I will.”

Keira carefully closed the door behind them so Lizzy wouldn’t get out. Carmen met them on the landing.

“Malcolm would like to speak with you,” she told Delaney. “If you have a minute.”

Delaney’s breath caught. He was home? Why hadn’t someone warned her before now? Not that it mattered, she told herself. She wasn’t sure how she felt about him. Annoyance and maybe a little outrage had replaced attraction.

“Of course,” she said, trying to sound neutral. She hugged Keira goodbye and reminded her to text or call if she needed anything, then followed the housekeeper down the long second-floor hallway.

Carmen knocked once before entering the suite of rooms. Delaney followed and saw his living space was very similar to Keira’s although instead of entering a bedroom, she found herself in a study/home office. There was a comfortable sofa, a good-sized desk and lots of bookcases. A door stood open and she caught sight of a king-size bed with a bathroom beyond. Malcolm looked up from his computer, smiled and rose when he saw her.

“Delaney, I’m glad you stopped by. I’ve wanted to talk to you.”

Carmen excused herself and shut the door as she left. Malcolm motioned to the sofa.

“Please. Have a seat.”

He looked different, she thought. Instead of a suit, he wore jeans and a long-sleeved shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders. His eyes were dark blue, his jaw firm. Dammit, he looked good and she did not want to be sucked in by that. She hadn’t liked the way he’d been so clueless about his own sister. He wasn’t charming, she reminded herself. She wasn’t the least bit attracted to him.