Its bad. Its bitter and aching, aching and sore, sore and unfair.
No tears left to cry.
Why? Why would he do this to me?
Seven yearsseven happy years.
Holding hands, never a harsh word, and then just like that, hes gone.
No, not gonehe ran away, cowardly.
The phone keeps ringing, ringingwho on earth could it be?
Mum.
“Hello, love love, what are you up to?”
“Nothing, Mum,”I force my voice to stay steady.
“Well, thats good. Youre not crying over that fool, are you? Not worth the tears.”
“A fools a fool, even in Africa,” Mum chuckles at her own joke. “Listen, love, I wanted to invite you to the cottage this Friday. Auntie Marthas coming, and her nephew, Jeremyyou dont know him, but I do. Decent lad, really. Had a rough go of it.”
“Very decent, but his wifenow there was a useless one. Thank goodness he got rid of her.”
“Strangled her, did he?”
“What? Who strangled who?”
“You said he got rid of her.”
“Oh, for goodness sake, what a dark sense of humour! But thats good, love joke away. Helps, you know? When Colin Mitchell dumped meremember that story? We were at music school togetherme on cello, him on French horn. Sweet boy, bit dopey-looking, blond curls, adorable. I loved him so much and then the rotter ran off with that clarinetist, Natalie. Oh, darling I wept for days. Skipped lessons, walked along the Thames, just miserable. Even thought about”
“Mum Im not really in the mood for this.”
“Oh? Alright, love. So, Friday then? Well expect you.”
“I dont know, Mum. I dont know.”
“Thats not an answer, Lucy. Promise me, alright?”
“Fine, Mum Ill come. Just for a bit.”
“Good. Love you, darling. Dad and I are here for you, hear me? Ohyes, Michael, I told her youre here too. Lucy, love? Dad loves you, we both do”
Wrap myself in a blanket and lie in the dark.
No tears left. Too tired to cry.
Just one question.
One.
Why?
What did I do?
The phone.
Again.
My sister.
If I dont answer, shell raise hell.
“Hello.”
“Lucy, whats wrong? Youre not crying, are you?”
“No, why would I cry? Just got dumped by my husband, thats all. The man I was going to have children with. The man I went through everything with.”
“Good riddance! Crying over some tosser? When Steve left me, I thought Id die. Remember Steve? Gorgeous bloke. Six months together, head over heels And look at me now, eh? So listenwere going camping, couples only, and Davids wife just left him. Nice chap. Maybe you two could”
“Tanya, Ill think about it.”
“Think hard, Lu”
Cold. Cold and hurting. Physically. Cant even open my eyesstinging from tears.
Another call.
Gran.
Lord.
“Hello”
“Lucy, my sweet Come over. Ill make your favourite doughnuts, hot chocolate, even a little sherry. Send Grandad to the shed, just us girls. I know how you feelwhen Nigel Sparrow left me, oh, I suffered. Took up smoking, just briefly. Then your grandad swept me off my feet”
“Alright, Gran Ill think about it.”
All day, its the same. Calls, stories of heartbreak, their pain echoing mine.
By evening, when Lucy finally dozes offsomeone knocks.
Not answering.
But the knocking persists.
Lucy drags herself up and opens the door.
No one there.
About to shut itwhen a cross little voice snaps:
“Well? Standing in the doorway like thatlet us through! This is what we get for trying to help.”
Lucy looks down.
Good Lordwhat in the world?
Marching into her flat, single file
“Uh who are you?”
“Who do we look like? Cats.”
“Wh-what cats?”
“All sorts. Were here to help. Now, patient, close the door before you catch cold.”
“Were family. The Cat family. Surnames Catson.”
“Mum, check her headsomethings off. Son, pulse. Daughter, put the kettle on.”
“Sit, sit.”
Lucy obeys. She knows shes lost her mind, but the cats bustle about like professionals.
“Granny Cat, she needs a story.”
“Purr, my dear let the bad fade, the good come Dad Cat, tuck her in. Aunt Cat, fluff the pillows. Kitten, behaveput that down. Darling, take the phone from the little one.”
Lucy, half-dreaming, watches as tiny Cat Catson takes selfies on her phone.
“Grandad Cat, rub her hands. Uncle Cat, her feet.”
And so, the Cats tuck Lucy in, massaging her until she drifts off, the soft pattering of paws fading as she sleeps.
When she wakes, Lucy feels lighter.
No sign of the Catsonsjust a dream, then.
Outside, the sun rises. A crisp, golden autumn morning.
How sillytaking leave to cry.
Friday. She promised Mum the cottage.
Stepping outside, a tiny mewl.
There, alone by the stepsCat Catson.
“Wheres your family, little one?” Lucy asks, but he just squeaks, pink mouth open.
No one else around. She tucks him under her coat. Cant leave him.
Unseen, the Catson family watches from the corner, high-fiving with their paws before scampering off to their next rescue mission.
Lucy and the kitten board the train.
At the station, a young man looks lost.
“Need directions?” Lucy asks.
“Brightwood. First time here.”
“Same. Come on.”
They chat. His names Oliver. He carries her bag. By Brightwood, theyre friends.
Lucy doesnt want him to leave, but manners
“Lucy, do you know number thirty-seven? Far from here?”
“Thirty-seven? Youyoure Aunt Marthas nephew?”
“And youre Aunt Lizs daughter?”
Laughing, they walk through the gate.
“Whove you been cradling so gently? Thought you might be expecting.”
“Just my little boy.”
“Your boy?”
“Meet Cat Catson!”
“Catson, eh?” Oliver grins.
“Problem?”
“None at all. Lovely surname. Oliver James Catson.”
When Aunt Martha and Lucys parents appear, the two are wiping tears of laughter. The kitten watches, head tilting.
***
A big grey cat sits on the windowsill, tail twitching.
“Where are they? Two months old, and theyre dragging him aboutdisgraceful.”
Once, he was small too.
Lucy still wonders how Cat Catson took those selfies.
She and Oliver have theories. She thinks it was a dream.
But he came oncehim.
With champagne, chocolates.
Lucy wasnt homeshe and Oliver werent married yet, but close.
He thought hed apologise, win her back.
Cat Catson answered the door.
“What do you want?” he growled.
The man froze.
Cat flexed his tiny paw.
“Run along,” he ordered. “And stay away from our Lucy.”
Thencouldnt help ithe was just a kitten, after allhe peed in the mans shoe.
Well, serves him right.
Good morning, my dears.
Hurry, nowthe Catsons are coming.
Hugs, and all my love.
Always yours.
