Felix put his tiny hands on the sides of the bottle as Kat fed him.
Once again she marveled at how beautiful he was. When Felix was done with his bottle and she set it down, Henry came up and waved to him.
"Hey little buddy," he cooed. Then he made a variety of faces and funny voices. Felix waved his arms and giggled.
"Well, thanks for that! I was just about to put him down for a nap. That won't be happening now that he's all riled up," Kat complained. Henry straightened, embarrassed.
"Sorry," he apologized sheepishly. "I didn't know."
"It's okay." She held Felix up to her as she rocked him gently, trying to lull him into sleep. He squirmed, trying to face his daddy. It was no use; he wouldn't fall asleep for a while now. She sighed and held him out to Henry. "Here, he wants his daddy. Play with him for awhile so he tires himself out again." Henry accepted the baby into his arms, smiling at how Felix waved his arms and gurgled happily at seeing him.
"Once he's tired, take him to his room. I want him to learn to fall asleep on his own. He can't always fall asleep cradled in your arms. Though I know you wish he could," Kat added, seeing the glow of fatherly warmth in his eyes.
Earlier they had managed to scrape up enough money to add another bedroom and bathroom to the home. Felix's bedroom was too big for him now, but once he had toys and things, it would be a good size.
Kat heard a car pull up outside right as she sat down on the sofa. She looked at Henry who was trying to slip out of the room with Felix.
"You don't have work today, do you?" she questioned. Henry kept his eyes on the baby.
"No..."
"Then what is a car doing here of all places?"
Henry shrugged, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I'm not sure. Maybe you should go find out." Pursing her lips and narrowing her eyes suspiciously, Kat put on her jacket and made her way outside.
She was astonished to find a police car parked by the mailbox. She was even more surprised when she saw a friend from work step out of the car.
"Morning, Kat," the officer greeted her.
"Good morning, Michael. To whom do I owe this visit?"
"Your husband," he answered, opening the back door of the car and reaching inside. "He got you a gift, fresh off the shelter."
"The shelter?" she parroted in confusion. Just then, he reappeared with a beautiful brown cat from the car.
"Oh!" Kat cried in surprise. "She's gorgeous!" She ran to where Michael set the cat down.
"Her name is Heidi," he informed her. "Take good care of her." With that, he got into his car and drove off.
Heidi was pacing and surveying the area with her dark green eyes. Kat bent and pet her on the head. To her disbelief, Heidi warmed instantly. Purring, she butted her head against Kat's hand.
Kat smiled at Heidi who was rubbing against her legs, her eyes none the less sharp and aware of her surroundings. Picking her up, Kat took her inside.
Henry was waiting for her when she came inside the house carrying Heidi. Heidi wriggled out of her grasp to go explore, which was fine by Kat, since she had another person she wanted in her arms.
She went over to Henry and gave him a long kiss on the lips. "Have I told you how much I love you today?"
"Mm. Tell me again," he said, kissing her back. He pulled away and looked at Heidi who was clawing at a cat tower Kat had never seen.
"I put out some stuff I bought for her. So, do you like her?"
"I love her. She quite sharp, isn't she? Beautiful fur, too. Did you really find her in a shelter?"
"Yup. All alone in her cage. She looked really agitated." He laughed. "When they opened her cage, she leaped to the floor and took off running. All the people who worked there were chasing her until she finally ran right up my leg and into my arms. I have the scars to prove it." He lifted his pant leg to reveal the angry, red scratches from Heidi's claws as she climbed up him. "She's sweet, but mischievous. No doubt about that," he concluded. Heidi was then poking her head under the sofa, only to return with dusty whiskers.
"I think she's perfect."
...
Felix was about as perfect a baby could get.
He almost never cried or fussed, even when he had a dirty diaper.
Still, the house was a mess. Plates and bottles littered the floor and tables, but Kat and Henry were too busy with work, Felix, and their own needs to even consider cleaning.
Even the cat stank!
After Kat had set Felix down for a nap, she entered the kitchen and vowed to try to clean the mess. As she reached down for a plate sitting on the floor, a green, vacuum-like machine shot in and sucked up the plate.
Kat screamed, mostly out of surprise.
"What is it?!" Henry ran into the room just as the machine was leaving.
"What on earth is
that?" she demanded, pointing to the vacuum-thing.
"Oh," Henry said, obviously relaxing. "I see you've met the CleanBot 3000."
"The
what?"
"I just finished assembling it this morning. It works well," he added lamely. "It'll clean up all the mess around here, so we won't have to worry."
"Just tell me the next time you make some robot and let it loose in the house."
...
Kat was on that same dark street again, but this time she didn't feel scared. No, she felt bubbly and light, a little giddy too. Her vision was blurred, and she swayed slightly on her feet. The two men were there too, in the same spot as always. Her brain told her to run, but her legs didn't respond to the command.
One of the men nudged his friend and nodded in her direction. They started to work toward her. She backed up a little, her legs wobbling. She tried to right herself. Scream!
She had to scream, but her tongue felt heavy and thick in her mouth. It was impossible to say a word.
The men were in front of her now, and one reached out and grabbed her wrist...Kat jerked upright in her bed. The sun was up and shining, and the last thoughts of her nightmare fizzled away. It was Felix's birthday.
Excited, she jumped out of bed and dressed. Henry would go to work, and then when he came home at six, they would bring Felix to his birthday cake.
Henry was already in Felix's room, still in his pajamas.
Kat smiled. He was a fabulous father to Felix, always cuddling him or lifting him into the air, high over his head. She wasn't sure who enjoyed it more: Felix or Henry.
"You can't go to work like that. I think you should hand him over and go get dressed before you miss your carpool." Kat reached for Felix, and Henry somewhat reluctantly gave him to her and went to change. His carpool was driving up outside as he left the room.
At six, a little before Henry had come home, Kat reached into the crib to wake Felix.
"Are you ready to grow up?" she cooed, cuddling him.
She heard Henry close the door behind him as he entered the house. "Yep. Let's bring you to your cake!"
She and Henry walked into the kitchen simultaneously. He stepped back to watch as she showed Felix the birthday cake.
Blowing out the candles for him, Felix watched as each candle flickered out. He clapped his little hands together, not really comprehending what had just happened.
And...
...he grew to be an adorable toddler.
~
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