**A Lucky Gift**
“Oh, what a disaster!” Lillian glanced at her watch and quickened her pace, though she was already nearly running. “If Im late, Ill never hear the end of it.”
The damp, chilly November afternoon was hardly fit for a stroll. Slush covered the pavement, a dull grey sky hung low, and a miserable drizzleneither quite rain nor snowfell steadily. To make matters worse, an overnight frost had left treacherous patches of ice, and Lillian, her nose buried in a warm scarf, winced each time her feet slipped on the slick puddles. Near the bus stop, she finally lost her balance and tumbled onto the pavement, letting out an exasperated curse.
“Blimey! Mum always said swearing in public isnt proper!”
A boy of about ten smirked down at her.
“Need a hand?”
Lillian shook her head. What good would it do now? Her pale coatbought for style, not practicalitywas ruined, smeared with mud. The puddle hadnt been deep, but it was enough to derail her entire day. James would be furious.
“Guess youre not in a hurry anymore?”
The boy hardly seemed inclined to leave her be. She stood, brushing futilely at her coat, shivering as the dampness seeped through her trousers. Her glare only made him shrug.
“Didnt mean to offend. Just here! Take him, yeah? Ive got school, and hell freeze out here. Cant keep himweve got dogs. Already missed first period. Mums sharp, but if I skip the rest, shell have my head.”
A tiny kitten trembled as he pulled it from under his jacket.
“A money cat” Lillian murmured, reaching out almost without thinking to stroke its fur.
“A what?” The boy blinked.
“A money cat. See his coat? All mixed colours. They say they bring luck, fortunemoney to the house.”
“Then you ought to have him! For luck! Go on, take him!”
Lillian shook her head again.
“I cant. I havent the time for a pet.”
But the boy wasnt listening. He shoved the kitten into her hands, waved, and leapt onto the approaching bus.
“Hell bring happiness! Youll see!” His words dissolved into the street noise, and Lillian suddenly realised she was standing theresoaked, muddy, clutching a kitten. She was already late everywhere, with nowhere left to rush.
“Well then” She snorted, remembering his remark about swearing in public. “Looks like the days taken a turn. What am I to do with you now, my little fortune?”
She cradled the shivering creature, stroking its fragile body.
“Never had a cat before. What do you even eat?”
The kitten mewled pitifully, and Lillian sighed. What choice did she have? Abandon the poor thing? A pang of sympathy struck herfor the kitten, and for herself. They werent so different, really. Unmoored, unneeded, ever since Mum had passed.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Tucking the kitten under her coat for warmth, she checked the screen and grimaced. James.
“Where are you?” His tone was icy, and Lillian instinctively braced for excuses.
“Near home, at the bus stop. I fell.”
“You what?”
“Slipped on the ice.”
“Right. Cant even keep your feet under you? How much longer?”
She exhaled, calculating how long itd take to clean up.
“I asked you a question! Mum wont be pleased if were late.”
“I” She began, but the kitten sneezed, wriggling free of her coat. She startled, nearly dropping the phone. “James, I dont think well make it today. Im soaked through, filthy”
“Are you hearing yourself? Is this a joke to you?” His voice rose, sharp with anger, and she held the phone away from her ear. “Weve planned this for ages! Mums gone to the trouble of setting the tablebringing her future daughter-in-law home! And this is how you act?”
“But weve been before. She knows were engaged.”
“And you think that excuses it?” His fury crackled down the line.
Lillian stayed silent, staring into the kittens oddly attentive eyes.
“Are you even listening? Why wont you answer?” His tirade petered out, shifting to calmhis usual pattern. First the explosion, then the measured words. Shed never understood it at first. James was her first proper boyfriend, and shed had no frame of reference for how men ought to behave.
Shed grown up in quiet gentleness. Mum, Gran, Grandadnever a raised voice among them. Her father had died when she was too young to remember. Mum had decided her own love story ended with him, devoting herself instead to Lillian, her ageing parents, and her work. Lillian, like her mother, had been a late childborn when Mum was forty-three.
“Why so late, Mum?”
“Because I was foolish. Chose my career first. I loved my workyou know how it is. A surgeons never off duty. If you want to stay sharp, you cant take breaks. So I didnt. Shouldve started earlier, love. Shouldve had more than just you. When Im gone, wholl you have?”
Lillian would hush her, refusing to entertain the thought. Yet Mums fear of not seeing her grow up had been palpable, as if she knew something Lillian didnt. Every milestoneprimary to secondary school, GCSEs, A-levels, universityMum had exhaled in relief each time.
“Good.”
Shed hidden her health troubles until the end. Only when the truth was unavoidable did she sit Lillian down.
“Darling, Ive done all I can for you. The rest is up to you.” Shed sighed, holding her weeping daughter. “Dont cry. Well mourn together later. For now, listen carefully.” Shed gestured to a folder. “Papers for the flat and the car. Youre quite the catch now, so choose your husband wisely. Take your time. Keep your cards close. The less he knows at first, the better. Watch him. If he puts your needs before his own, then marry him and be happy.”
“How will I know?”
“Let me tell you how I knew your father was the one.”
Lillian had nodded.
“We were at medical school together. Barely knew each otherjust passing hellos. Both in halls, living on student budgets. My parents helpedsent food parcels every month from the village. But your father had no one. His parents were gone, his aunt too far. Then my mother fell ill. Seriously. Two months in hospital, and Dad nursed her while I sat exams. He wouldnt let me visit. First month I managed, but the second Caught a cold. Then pneumonia.” Shed chuckled. “Doctors make the worst patients. My roommate had gone home for break, and I was alone. First two days were bearable, then Fever spiked. Couldnt move. The halls were emptymost had left. The lads still there were cooking something, ran out of salt. Sent your father to fetch some. Instead, he found me. Delirious. Three days without food. Woke up in a strange roomtea, broth, medicine by the bed. And my arms ached.”
Lillian had laughed. “He gave you injections?”
“Badly. Later, I learned hed pawned his mothers wedding ringthe only thing he had left of herto buy chicken and medicine for me.”
“This one?” Lillian had touched Mums ring.
“Yes. He bought it back, gave it to me when we married. We were practically strangers, love. If a man does that, you hold onto him.” Shed smiled. “Doesnt mean you have to fall ill to test them, but watch how they act. Hell show you, sooner or later. Just dont dive in headfirst, even if youre in love. Promise me.”
“Mum”
“Promise!” Her voice had turned steely.
“All right.”
“And neverneverlet anyone shout at you, speak harshly, or raise a hand. If they do, send them packing. Nothing good comes of it.” Shed paused, cupping Lillians cheek. “I know these talks seem pointless now. But I hope youll remember them when the time comes.”
Now, staring into the kittens unblinking gaze, Lillian remembered every word. She lowered the phone. How had she forgotten? Was James anything like the man Mum described?
“No,” she said aloud, startling herself. She pressed the phone back to her ear, cutting off Jamess tirade. “Do you love me?”
Silence. For a moment, she thought the call had dropped. Then:
“Whats wrong with you? Ive been talking for an hour,
