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blouse, surprisingly strong. I studied her miniature fingers and nails, surprised a hand could be so small, and yet so perfect. I forgot all about my disturbing vision, and impulsively kissed the top of her downy head, inhaling the sweet scent she gave off.
    “Smells good, doesn’t she?” Abby said, plopping back down beside me. “It’s been so long since you and Cruz were little I forgot.”
    I smiled back at her, and we both watched as she turned her little face from side to side, nudging against me.
    “What’s she doing?” I asked.
    “She’s hungry,” Abby laughed. “I’d better take her.”
    I passed her back carefully and got up to go to my room, “I’d better go check on little Stumpy.”
    “Stumpy? That’s terrible!” Abby said.
    “Blame Ethan,” I laughed my way down the hall.
    I went to my room and picked up the kitten, heartened to see that he seemed to be scooting around a little better. I picked out a roomy tote and packed my favorite jeans and a nightgown, stuffing the rest of the bag with shoes. I imagined how Ethan would tease me and smiled to myself. I couldn’t wait to see him and tell him about Adria. I packed another tote with the cat’s things, slung them both over my shoulder and scooped up Stumpy to take him along with me.
    Abby looked up from nursing the baby, “Where are you taking him?”
    “I think I may have a home for him. I’ll see you later.”
    “Won’t you stay for dinner?” she asked, “Brad and Cruz are coming down to see the baby… And Dutch is making his famous lasagna.”
    “I’m sorry, but I have plans tonight. Tell the guys I said Hi.”
    I hurried out the door before she could ask me where I was going.
    Stumpy turned out to be a good little passenger, settling down on the seat beside me. The purr of the engine seemed to soothe him to sleep, and I looked over to see him curled in a little ball. When I got to Ethan’s I slipped him into the front pocket of my pullover and climbed the vine covered stairs, knocking gently.
    Ethan opened up right away with a smile that widened when he saw my bags. He went to hug me but I pulled back, protecting the little lump I harbored in my pouch.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked, worried.
    I pressed my lips together, and reached into my pocket to pull out the sleepy little cat. I looked up at Ethan hopefully. “Just for a couple of days, until we can find a home for him…”
    He rolled his eyes with a sigh, “You know, that’s the oldest trick in the book.”
    I widened my eyes, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Stumpy blinked a few times and yawned.
    Ethan laughed and took him from me, holding him up with one hand to regard him. The kitten yawned again and blinked. “He is kinda cute.” He pulled me in by the arm and closed the door behind us, leaning over to kiss me. We walked over to the couch in a lip-lock, easing down into each other’s arms. Ethan leaned over to put the cat down on the floor, brushing the hair out of my face and looking into my eyes.
    “I love you Dollface.”
    We were rolling on the couch when a plaintive meow made us both look up. Stumpy was standing up on all fours for the first time, his short back legs wobbling unsteadily, his tail held straight out like a rudder behind him. We looked back at each other and laughed.
    I wiggled out from under Ethan and sat up, “I should probably get all his stuff set up.”
    He grabbed me around the waist and we fell back down again, a tangle of arms and legs and hands and lips. The phone in my purse rang and Ethan started kissing my neck, working up to my ear, “Don’t answer it,” he whispered.
    “Answer what?” I asked, turning into his face.
    The phone stopped ringing for a moment, starting in again immediately. Ethan sighed.
    “It might be important,” I said, wrenching myself from him. I sat up and groped for my purse while Ethan laid his head on my lap and looked up at me with dreamy eyes.
    God he ’ s cute, I thought,