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in the history of the planet, sat in Stefan’s lap as if she belonged there. She’d taken her spot the minute he’d sat down, rubbing her head against his belly. As disturbing as it was, Stefan realized that he was already becoming used to feeling the soft rumble of her purr against his hand.
    “You’re still making the gingerbread men for the class Christmas party tomorrow, right?” Stef asked.
    “Yes.” Stefan groaned. Loudly.
    “You sound so excited.” She laughed.
    Sliding his arm underneath Sandy’s belly, Stefan scooped the cat up and walked over to the computer. “Thanks for signing me up to be Betty Crocker. If any of his classmates get sick, I’m blaming you.”
    “You’ll do just fine. Jacob will be there to help, won’t you, honey?”
    His nephew nodded.
    “I have to go and pick out my school clothes,” Jacob said. “We don’t have to wear uniforms since it’s the last day, and Uncle Stefan told me I could wear whatever I want to.”
    “That Uncle Stefan sure lets you get away with a lot of stuff,” Stefanie said. “Make sure your socks match.”
    The two blew kisses at their respective computer screens and Jacob raced out of the room. Stefan heard his tiny feet thumping overhead moments later.
    “Your friend looks very comfortable,” Stefanie remarked.
    He peered down at the bundle of fur in his arms. “She’s growing on me.”
    “Any responses to your posters?”
    He shook his head. Truth is, he’d started taking the flyers down whenever he passed them during his morning jog. He knew no one was coming to get this cat. And Jacob liked her.
    Shit, he liked her, too.
    “At least you won’t have to go pet shopping when you get back,” Stefan said.
    “True.” Stef chuckled. “Now, explain something to me. How does a five-year-old convince a grown man to allow him to pick out his own clothes for school?”
    “Because Uncle Stefan messed up again and this is his way of making up for it?”
    Stef regarded him with a questioning frown, and Stefan explained. “I didn’t know parents were supposed to arrive a half hour early for the play. There was some type of presentation of certificates thanking parents for their work throughout the first half of the year. Jacob was the only one who didn’t have anyone there to accept the certificate.”
    “Oh, Stefan, don’t beat yourself up over that. You didn’t know.”
    “I should have. I checked when we got back home and it was on the weekly update note that his teacher sends with him.” He ran a hand along Sandy’s back and let out a tired sigh. “I’m trying hard, Stef, but if I had to grade my performance so far, I’d give myself a solid D.”
    “Stop it, Stefan. You’re doing fine. Look, I know Jacob can be difficult—”
    “He has every right to be. The kid lost his dad. His mom is halfway across the world fighting a war, and he’s stuck with his clueless uncle who can’t even show up to his Christmas play on time.
    “And what about after tomorrow, Stef? Things have been rocky already, and Jacob has been in school most of the time. What do you think will happen when he’s home all day for two weeks?”
    “You’ve had him all day on the weekends.”
    “Yeah, but I made sure to have stuff planned. We can’t go fishing and camping every day for two weeks straight. And his mother has drilled into his head that he can only watch one hour of television a day. I can’t pay the kid to watch an extra minute of cartoons. What the hell did you threaten to do to him?”
    She laughed. “There are more productive ways to occupy his time than watching cartoons. Jacob will be just fine,” his sister insisted. Her slightly pixelated face held a somber smile. “You’re doing wonderfully, Stefan. Being a single parent isn’t easy. I mess up all the time.”
    “You’re the best parent that kid can have,” Stefan said. “But thanks anyway. Hey, I did promise to go caroling with his class. Subjecting myself to spending an evening