Katherine Nicolai

It had grown slowly, organically, this feeling of being together, being more natural, more comfortable than being apart. And now, Bertie had his own bed beside the others, and his own bowl in the kitchen. He ate different kibble than crumb, and I'd bought a big bag of it from the pet store to keep in my pantry. Talk about commitment.

I went to pet Marmalade in her spot at the window, and she woke as I laid a hand in her fur. She snuggled her head up into my palm as I rubbed her ears and scratched down her back. I started to tell her about something we had planned. I think Crum already knew, since he'd found my suitcase open in the middle of the bedroom and had sat in it and frowned for a while.

I went to pet Marmalade in her spot at the window, and she woke as I laid a hand in her fur. She snuggled her head up into my palm as I rubbed her ears and scratched down her back. I started to tell her about something we had planned. I think Crum already knew, since he'd found my suitcase open in the middle of the bedroom and had sat in it and frowned for a while.

I went to pet Marmalade in her spot at the window, and she woke as I laid a hand in her fur. She snuggled her head up into my palm as I rubbed her ears and scratched down her back. I started to tell her about something we had planned. I think Crum already knew, since he'd found my suitcase open in the middle of the bedroom and had sat in it and frowned for a while.

Now, Marmee, I said, leaning down to talk quietly to her. You've got to be a big girl, a good big sister. You know how Crumb looks up to you. Her tail flicked and she began to purr. You and Crumb and Bertie, you're going to spend a few days with a friend. You know her, the nice lady at the inn. She's going to take care of you all. and you're going to have fun there.

Now, Marmee, I said, leaning down to talk quietly to her. You've got to be a big girl, a good big sister. You know how Crumb looks up to you. Her tail flicked and she began to purr. You and Crumb and Bertie, you're going to spend a few days with a friend. You know her, the nice lady at the inn. She's going to take care of you all. and you're going to have fun there.

Now, Marmee, I said, leaning down to talk quietly to her. You've got to be a big girl, a good big sister. You know how Crumb looks up to you. Her tail flicked and she began to purr. You and Crumb and Bertie, you're going to spend a few days with a friend. You know her, the nice lady at the inn. She's going to take care of you all. and you're going to have fun there.

Bertie's dad and I will only be gone a few days, and we'll bring you back something nice. She turned and looked at me shrewdly, then faced back to the window. where a bright yellow bird with a swath of black across his wings and bold yellow eyebrows sat. An evening grosbeak, a rare, pretty bird. It seemed auspicious. Crumb pranced over, and I scooped him up so he could look out as well.

Bertie's dad and I will only be gone a few days, and we'll bring you back something nice. She turned and looked at me shrewdly, then faced back to the window. where a bright yellow bird with a swath of black across his wings and bold yellow eyebrows sat. An evening grosbeak, a rare, pretty bird. It seemed auspicious. Crumb pranced over, and I scooped him up so he could look out as well.

Bertie's dad and I will only be gone a few days, and we'll bring you back something nice. She turned and looked at me shrewdly, then faced back to the window. where a bright yellow bird with a swath of black across his wings and bold yellow eyebrows sat. An evening grosbeak, a rare, pretty bird. It seemed auspicious. Crumb pranced over, and I scooped him up so he could look out as well.

I was excited for our trip. We were headed somewhere sunny, where we could walk on the beach and see how this little spark we'd started might grow. And I was also nervous to leave the animals. The innkeeper had jumped at the chance to host them. as they were still closed for the season, and she'd mentioned she'd been thinking about getting an animal friend.

I was excited for our trip. We were headed somewhere sunny, where we could walk on the beach and see how this little spark we'd started might grow. And I was also nervous to leave the animals. The innkeeper had jumped at the chance to host them. as they were still closed for the season, and she'd mentioned she'd been thinking about getting an animal friend.

I was excited for our trip. We were headed somewhere sunny, where we could walk on the beach and see how this little spark we'd started might grow. And I was also nervous to leave the animals. The innkeeper had jumped at the chance to host them. as they were still closed for the season, and she'd mentioned she'd been thinking about getting an animal friend.

So we'd, all of us, be testing things this next week or so. I'd pack up my own bag with sandals and sundresses and books to read on the beach, and then I'd pack up their little bags with their favorite blankies and toys and kibble. And tomorrow, we'd drop them off at the inn.

So we'd, all of us, be testing things this next week or so. I'd pack up my own bag with sandals and sundresses and books to read on the beach, and then I'd pack up their little bags with their favorite blankies and toys and kibble. And tomorrow, we'd drop them off at the inn.

So we'd, all of us, be testing things this next week or so. I'd pack up my own bag with sandals and sundresses and books to read on the beach, and then I'd pack up their little bags with their favorite blankies and toys and kibble. And tomorrow, we'd drop them off at the inn.

I imagined them running through the halls, Crum chasing a toy down the length of the ballroom, and Marmalade preening among the houseplants in the library. I was excited to go, and already excited to come back home again. Catnap Marmalade was dozing in her spot by the window. She'd been too small to climb up to it that first winter when I found her, a tiny orange kitten out in the snow.

I imagined them running through the halls, Crum chasing a toy down the length of the ballroom, and Marmalade preening among the houseplants in the library. I was excited to go, and already excited to come back home again. Catnap Marmalade was dozing in her spot by the window. She'd been too small to climb up to it that first winter when I found her, a tiny orange kitten out in the snow.

I imagined them running through the halls, Crum chasing a toy down the length of the ballroom, and Marmalade preening among the houseplants in the library. I was excited to go, and already excited to come back home again. Catnap Marmalade was dozing in her spot by the window. She'd been too small to climb up to it that first winter when I found her, a tiny orange kitten out in the snow.

But the following autumn, the first day the boiler had kicked on, and the radiators began to circulate warmth, she'd discovered it. A broad, flat shelf built over the radiator and right beside a big picture window. She could lay her soft belly against the wood and feel the heat rising up. as she looked out at the birds in the branches. Pure kitty heaven.