Ian Clarke rushes into the flat, eyes widening as he spots Natalie standing in the hallway. Shes curled up on the sofa, shoulders trembling, and sobbing loudly. I cant make sense of whats happened, Ian says, his voice raw. Your phone died at the worst possible moment, too. Natalie, whats wrong? You look like a wreck.
Mochis gone, Natalie whispers, barely audible. Hes not home.
How did he disappear? Ian asks, bewildered. Did he hide somewhere in the flat?
No, Natalie snaps. Your sister Victoria told me Mochi bolted into the hallway when she and Mike stepped outside for a walk. But you know our Mochihe would never run out on his own. Why would he go out in that weather, when he nearly froze? I think Victoria let him out on purpose.
What? Ians fists clench. Where is she now? Wheres Victoria?
She says she went to the shop I dont know. Ive been looking for Mochi all day, but theres no sign of him. No one in the building has seen him. How could anyone be so cruel, to throw a defenseless cat onto the street in winter?
A person wouldnt, Ian says, but Victoria might. Shes done similar things before. Dont worry, she wont be in our flat any longer. Honestly, why did we let her stay?
A month earlier
Ian walks toward the bus stop when a gray lump catches his eye under a thin layer of snow. At first he thinks its just a stone, but the stone shivers like an old refrigerator left on too long. The unusual tremor draws him in; hes never heard a rock shiver from the cold before.
Curiosity gets the better of him and he steps off the pavement, moving closer. He realises it isnt a stone at all, but a tiny grey kitten, trembling in the snow.
Now thats something, Ian mutters, scratching his head. What are you doing here, little one?
Of course the question is rhetorical. Any Londoner knows that stray cats are just trying to survive, and this one is no differentno meowing, no frantic cries, just a shivering bundle of fur, resigned to its fate.
Ian gently lifts the kitten, brushes snow from its coat, slips it under his jacket, and darts back to the bus stop as the trolley whirs past. While the bus rolls him home, he remembers that Natalie has been longing for a grey, striped kitten for ages but never found the time to visit the shelter. It seems fate has dropped one at his feet, and when fortune offers, you take it.
When he pushes the front door open, Ian announces cheerfully, Natalie, Ive got a surprise for you.
Natalie looks up from the hallway, a smile forming despite the tears. Youve been spoiling me latelygold earrings, that new phone Ive been dreaming of, cinema tickets. Whats this time? A skitrip voucher?
Even better! Ian beams, unzipping his coat to reveal the tiny cat. I found him outside. You wanted a grey, striped one, didnt you?
Natalie gasps, cradling the shivering creature. Hes freezing! Put him here, Ill warm him up. And you, get dressed, wash your hands, dinners ready.
She kisses the kittens head and sighs, Hes beautiful.
Thus Mochi finds a home with Ian and Natalie. They toss around names for weeks, finally settling on the classic Mochi, which feels more fitting than Tom or Lucas.
Its late November, the first snow of the season, so Mochi hasnt yet learned the perils of winter streets. Thank goodnessmany animals never survive their first cold night.
In the two weeks that follow, Ian and Natalie become attached to Mochi almost instantly, their affection deepening day by day. Mochi, in turn, loves his new people; he never gets scolded for toppling a remote off a dresser, only gently reminded to be more careful. He replies with a confident meow, hopping onto the nightstand and knocking over the TV remote as a joke.
Everything runs smoothly until a knock sounds on the door one Sunday morning.
Who could be here at this hour? Ian wipes his eyes, glancing at the clockhalf past six. Outside, its still dark.
Maybe the neighbours? Natalie suggests. Did something happen to them?
Ill check. Ian opens the front door to find his sister Victoria standing on the step, a fiveyearold boy clinging to her hand. The boy, named Milo, looks up at Ian with wide eyes.
Hey, brother, Victoria says with a smile. Were dropping by. Mind if we come in?
Ian, still reeling from the nights events, hesitates. Um
Dont worry, I know its early, Victoria replies, shrugging. I didnt get a chance to call, and I figured youd be asleep. Can you help with the suitcase? Ive been lugging it up to the fourth floor and my legs are killing me.
Ian lets them in, though the sight of a suitcase feels oddvisitors rarely arrive with luggage.
What happened to you? Ian asks.
Victoria sighs dramatically. My husband threw me out. He found another woman, can you imagine? Ive got nowhere to go. If youre okay with it, Ill stay here for a bit until I sort things out. We could even ring in New Year together. Its been four years since we really talked, and were practically family.
Ian knows the reason theyve drifted apart: lies break trust. He says nothing, not wanting to start the day with a fight, and he knows Natalie would never approve of him sparring with a sister whos been cast out.
Five years ago their parents died, leaving a threebedroom flat that was supposed to be inherited jointly by Ian and Victoria. With no other relatives, the flat was meant for both. At the time, Victoria was pregnant, though the father was unknown. She begged their mother to persuade Ian to forfeit his share so she could have the whole place, arguing that she needed a home for the baby and he was still single.
Ian, then living in university halls, reluctantly agreed, thinking hed eventually get his own place. Years later, after Milo was born, Victoria sold the flat, moved in with a new boyfriend who was a businessman named Valerio, and claimed the proceeds were for his venture. Ian confronts her, expecting at least half the money, but Valerios business expenses swallow it all. Their mother stays out of it, insisting the adults will sort it themselves.
Ian remembers the first time he ever found a stray kitten on the streetten years ago, when they lived in a village. That kitten vanished, and he never suspected his mother, whod let it stay. The only person who could have taken it was Victoria, and she never confessed. After that, Ian stopped bringing animals home.
Now, with Victoria and Milo living under his roof, tension builds. Victoria starts complaining that Mochi sleeps on her sofa, jumps around, and looks at her the wrong way. Milo catches a cold, and Victoria blames the cat, insisting its an allergy.
Its definitely an allergy to your cat, she tells Ian. My son used to be as healthy as a cucumber.
It could just be a cold, Ian replies. You take him out for walks, so it might be a virus. Even if it is an allergy, Mochi is part of our family.
Victoria scoffs, Family? I thought youd outgrown that kidlike habit of rescuing stray animals. How does Natalie put up with you?
Its because Natalie loves animals as much as I do, Ian says. You seem to hate them. What have they ever done to you?
Victoria retorts, Theyre a nuisance. I cant sleep because of that cat, and my sons restless nights are stress. When you have your own kids youll understand.
The subject of children hits a sore spot for Ian. He and Natalie have tried for years without success; doctors cant explain the cause, and Victoria knows the whole storyhis mother must have told her.
Ian finally says, Im not putting the cat in a shelter. Mochi belongs here, not with you.
Victoria, feeling exposed, storms off, only to return later and push Mochi off the sofa, banishing him to the far corner. Mochi endures silently, then starts retaliatingknocking over her phone, tearing at her favourite sweater.
Youre ruining my things! Victoria shrieks. Why did you even get a cat if you cant manage it?
Ian confronts her, Remember youre staying in my flat. If you want to remain, keep your hands off my cat.
She finally backs down, muttering, Fine, fine, I wont make a fuss.
On New Years Eve Natalie keeps sobbing on the phone, trying to explain something Ian cant grasp. He asks for the day off and drives home, hoping to find answers.
He bursts through the door, sees Natalie huddled in the hallway, still weeping. Whats happened? he asks.
My phone died again, and I just I cant, she stammers. Mochis gone. Hes not here.
Ian repeats the earlier questions, How did he vanish? Did he hide somewhere?
Natalie repeats Victorias story: the cat ran into the hallway while she and Mike were out. Ians mind races, remembering how Victoria once let a cat out on purpose.
Where is she now? he demands. Wheres Victoria?
She probably went to the corner shop, Natalie says, eyes red. Ive looked everywhere; no one has seen him. How could anyone do that, Ian? Throw a helpless cat onto a winter street?
Ian grips his fists, People wouldnt. But Victoria she could. Shes done this before. Dont worry, she wont be in our flat any longer, and Ill find Mochi.
That night, Ian still cant locate Mochi. Darkness falls, and the cat could be anywhere.
The next morning Victoria arrives with Milo and a suitcase. Ian interrogates her, Why did you let the cat out? He nearly died!
Victoria shrugs, I opened the door and he bolted. I didnt chase him. My kid comes first, not some stray.
Ian sees the lie in her eyes. He knows she deliberately set the cat free, perhaps even moved him farther away.
Tomorrow is New Years Eve. Ive bought champagne. Lets not fight over a cat, okay? Victoria says, trying to smooth things over.
Fine, Ian replies, but pack your things.
What? You cant hear me?
He repeats, Pack your luggage or Ill throw it out the window. And leave.
He drives Victoria and Milo to the train station, hands her a few pounds for tickets£10 for the fareand tells her, You can go to your husband or your mother, or stay at the station. I dont want to see you again. And Im sorry about your sons mother.
Later that evening, their mother calls, accusing Ian of being coldhearted for kicking Victoria out with a child. Ian brushes it off, Shell figure something out.
On December31, the family sits at the kitchen table, the countdown to midnight barely ten minutes away, the champagne still uncorked. The mood is heavy; their beloved cat is still missing.
Natalie, tense, whispers, Someones at the door.
Ivan? Ian mutters, standing up. He opens the door to find Mochi, shivering but alive, on the doorstep. The cat has somehow survived the night and found his way home.
Natalie! Hes back! Ian exclaims, scooping the cat into his arms.
They warm Mochi quickly, feeding him and wrapping him in a blanket. Natalie clutches him, refusing to let go, Hes perfect.
Mochi purrs contentedly, as if saying, I made it home.
Natalie leans toward Ian, One minute to midnightshall we open the champagne?
Absolutely, he replies.
He pops the bottle, pours the bubbly into glasses, and as fireworks explode outside, the family celebrates. As the new year begins, they all know that Mochi will stay with them forever, and theres a feeling in Natalies heart that something new is about to begin.
