The next ten days became the happiest and most painful part of fostering.<\/p>\n
The kittens changed almost hourly.<\/p>\n
Susan discovered running.<\/p>\n
She was terrible at it.<\/p>\n
Her back legs frequently seemed unaware of what her front legs had planned.<\/p>\n
Steve recovered more slowly, but each day brought something new.<\/p>\n
A stronger appetite.<\/p>\n
A louder cry.<\/p>\n
A determined attempt to climb the side of the box.<\/p>\n
Greg recorded everything.<\/p>\n
Not obsessively now.<\/p>\n
Almost.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo hundred ninety-eight grams,\u201d he announced one morning.<\/p>\n
I was brushing my teeth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means nothing to me without context.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUp fourteen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExcellent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe also ate\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreg.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stopped in the bathroom doorway.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love Steve.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do not require his complete statistical history before coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n
He considered this.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNegotiable.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled.<\/p>\n
The medication schedule remained on the refrigerator.<\/p>\n
Beside it, Greg had taped a piece of paper labeled INFORMATION FOR NINA AND ROBERT.<\/p>\n
It grew daily.<\/p>\n
Preferred food.<\/p>\n
Sleeping habits.<\/p>\n
Medication tricks.<\/p>\n
Favorite toy.<\/p>\n
Signs Steve was tired.<\/p>\n
The fact that Susan hated having her paws touched.<\/p>\n
I read it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou realize they will discover some of this themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey shouldn\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I already know it.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
He caught himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re allowed to learn their own version of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat wasn\u2019t what I was going to say.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was what you were thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg took the paper down.<\/p>\n
I stopped him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to throw it away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just said\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI said they don\u2019t need an operating manual.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what do I give them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cImportant medical information.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe the name of the toy Susan likes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cA reasonable amount, Greg.\u201d<\/p>\n
He sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cTerrible unit of measurement.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rescue scheduled the adoption for the following Saturday.<\/p>\n
Greg put it on our calendar.<\/p>\n
He did not disguise the entry.<\/p>\n
SUSAN & STEVE GO HOME.<\/p>\n
I stood in front of the calendar longer than I expected.<\/p>\n
Go home.<\/p>\n
Not leave.<\/p>\n
Not taken.<\/p>\n
Go home.<\/p>\n
Greg had chosen the words.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Emma called.<\/p>\n
She had completed another examination.<\/p>\n
The pregnancy remained stable.<\/p>\n
The bleeding had stopped.<\/p>\n
Greg listened without interrupting.<\/p>\n
When she finished, he said, \u201cThat\u2019s wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n
No medical interrogation.<\/p>\n
Emma noticed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m evolving.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, what did you do with Dad?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExtensive behavioral conditioning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n
Then Emma said, \u201cActually, Dad, I need to ask you something.\u201d<\/p>\n
He straightened.<\/p>\n
I saw the old reflex ignite.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re doing the face.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat face?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe emergency face.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no emergency face.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou absolutely do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg deliberately relaxed his shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine. Ask.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel has a work conference next month.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou remember his work conference?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mentioned it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s terrifying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
She continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s three days.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have another appointment while he\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg waited.<\/p>\n
Emma seemed almost surprised he did not volunteer.<\/p>\n
Then she said, \u201cWould you come?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg stared at the screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you come stay with me for a few days?\u201d<\/p>\n
His face changed.<\/p>\n
I felt something twist inside my chest.<\/p>\n
Emma smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t need you to inspect the apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t need you to research doctors.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely don\u2019t need you reorganizing the nursery closet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have a nursery closet yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
She laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t want to go to the appointment alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Daniel\u2019s worried.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma\u2019s expression softened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked overwhelmed.<\/p>\n
Then, remarkably, he asked, \u201cDo you want Mom too?\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma glanced at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d love Mom too, but she has that art workshop.\u201d<\/p>\n
I had forgotten.<\/p>\n
Three days I had booked months earlier.<\/p>\n
I started to speak.<\/p>\n
Greg touched my arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, seriously. Go.\u201d<\/p>\n
I hesitated.<\/p>\n
Then agreed.<\/p>\n
After the call, Greg remained seated.<\/p>\n
I expected triumph.<\/p>\n
Instead he looked thoughtful.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe asked.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe actually asked.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t offer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI noticed.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to be unbearable about this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you have learned nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
His smile widened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll try.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next morning, Greg bought plane tickets.<\/p>\n
Only plane tickets.<\/p>\n
No rental car.<\/p>\n
No list of household projects.<\/p>\n
No shipment of prenatal vitamins.<\/p>\n
I considered this remarkable progress.<\/p>\n
That afternoon, Nina texted through the rescue.<\/p>\n
She asked whether Lily could bring something for the kittens when they picked them up.<\/p>\n
Greg read the message aloud.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of something?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk.\u201d<\/p>\n
He typed.<\/p>\n
A minute later the answer came.<\/p>\n
A blanket.<\/p>\n
Lily had chosen one so Susan and Steve would have something new that smelled like their new home.<\/p>\n
Greg looked toward Michael\u2019s blue blanket.<\/p>\n
His face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
He walked into the guest room.<\/p>\n
I followed.<\/p>\n
The kittens were asleep together.<\/p>\n
Michael\u2019s blanket lay partly beneath them.<\/p>\n
Greg touched the repaired corner.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother made this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe used it until he was four.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCloser to six.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe denied that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was embarrassed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg smiled.<\/p>\n
Then he lifted one edge.<\/p>\n
Susan immediately grabbed it.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe likes it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stood there for a long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want them to take it.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael\u2019s blanket?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou refused to put it in storage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou nearly accused me of treason when I suggested donating it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was emotional.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was twelve years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been emotional for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed.<\/p>\n
Then I realized he was serious.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really want to give it away?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked down at Steve.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I waited.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think I should.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
He ran his thumb over the worn yarn.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause keeping it in a closet didn\u2019t preserve anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
I said nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael isn\u2019t a baby because I kept his blanket.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother isn\u2019t here because I kept everything she made.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it kept Susan warm.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Steve.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled faintly.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe that\u2019s what things are for.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt tears sting unexpectedly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg nodded.<\/p>\n
He called our son.<\/p>\n
Michael answered from work.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, you never call me at work because nothing happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to give your baby blanket away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
Then Michael said, \u201cThat was not on my list of possibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg explained.<\/p>\n
Michael listened.<\/p>\n
When he finished, our son said, \u201cDo it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want it someday?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour children.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s not create imaginary grandchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really want the kittens to have it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked at them.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen they should have it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour grandmother made it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019d hate that cats are sleeping on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat makes it better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad you called to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo am I.\u201d<\/p>\n
The morning of the adoption arrived too quickly.<\/p>\n
Greg woke before the alarm.<\/p>\n
This time he did not leave bed.<\/p>\n
We lay there listening to the house.<\/p>\n
Eventually I said, \u201cYou okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWant to keep them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWant to cancel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre we going to?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
We went downstairs.<\/p>\n
Susan and Steve greeted us with impatient cries.<\/p>\n
Their final breakfast in our house was ordinary.<\/p>\n
That somehow made it harder.<\/p>\n
Greg fed Steve.<\/p>\n
I fed Susan.<\/p>\n
Afterward, he packed their supplies.<\/p>\n
Medication records.<\/p>\n
Veterinary paperwork.<\/p>\n
Food.<\/p>\n
Toys.<\/p>\n
Then Michael\u2019s blanket.<\/p>\n
He folded it once.<\/p>\n
Stopped.<\/p>\n
Unfolded it.<\/p>\n
Pressed it briefly against his face.<\/p>\n
Then folded it again.<\/p>\n
I pretended not to notice.<\/p>\n
At ten fifty-five, the doorbell rang.<\/p>\n
Greg froze.<\/p>\n
Five minutes early.<\/p>\n
He hated that.<\/p>\n
\u201cReady?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I touched his back.<\/p>\n
He opened the door.<\/p>\n
Nina, Robert, and Lily stood outside.<\/p>\n
Lily carried the new blanket.<\/p>\n
Greg looked at it.<\/p>\n
Soft green fleece.<\/p>\n
Brand-new.<\/p>\n
No history.<\/p>\n
Not yet.<\/p>\n
They came inside.<\/p>\n
Susan immediately recognized Lily and attacked her shoelace.<\/p>\n
Steve approached more carefully.<\/p>\n
Robert sat on the floor.<\/p>\n
Within minutes, Steve was beside him.<\/p>\n
Greg watched.<\/p>\n
Nina reviewed the medical schedule with us.<\/p>\n
She had already booked Steve\u2019s follow-up appointment.<\/p>\n
Greg asked the date.<\/p>\n
She knew it.<\/p>\n
He asked the cardiologist\u2019s name.<\/p>\n
She knew that too.<\/p>\n
Finally I touched his arm.<\/p>\n
Enough.<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
Denise arrived to complete the paperwork.<\/p>\n
The signatures took five minutes.<\/p>\n
The goodbye took forty.<\/p>\n
Lily placed the green blanket inside the carrier.<\/p>\n
Greg looked at Michael\u2019s blue one in his hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can keep that,\u201d Nina said gently.<\/p>\n
Greg shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina smiled sadly.<\/p>\n
Greg crouched beside Lily.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis belonged to my son.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily looked at the blanket.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he was a baby?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mom kept mine too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother made it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily touched the repaired corner.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s old.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cSusan likes chewing this side.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily looked at the kitten.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll watch her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Steve sleeps better when part of it is folded near his face.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg handed her the blanket.<\/p>\n
His hands remained on it for half a second longer than hers.<\/p>\n
Then he let go.<\/p>\n
Lily placed it inside the carrier.<\/p>\n
Susan climbed onto it immediately.<\/p>\n
Steve followed.<\/p>\n
Greg laughed through tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cTraitors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert shook his hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg\u2019s face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor getting them here.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was nothing clever to say to that.<\/p>\n
Greg nodded.<\/p>\n
When the family carried the kittens outside, he followed them to the driveway.<\/p>\n
The carrier went into their car.<\/p>\n
Lily climbed into the back beside it.<\/p>\n
Greg stood with his hands in his pockets.<\/p>\n
Nina lowered her window.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll send pictures.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The car pulled away.<\/p>\n
He watched until it disappeared.<\/p>\n
Then he remained standing in the driveway.<\/p>\n
I stood beside him.<\/p>\n
The house behind us was quiet.<\/p>\n
Too quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow bad?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
Greg breathed in.<\/p>\n
\u201cPretty bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRegret it?\u201d<\/p>\n
He thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I slipped my hand into his.<\/p>\n
For several minutes, we stayed there.<\/p>\n
Then Greg said, \u201cI don\u2019t know what to do now.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost answered.<\/p>\n
Instead I waited.<\/p>\n
He looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He considered it.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoffee?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
We went inside.<\/p>\n
The guest room felt enormous.<\/p>\n
The warmed box was empty.<\/p>\n
The bottles waited beside the sink.<\/p>\n
The rocking chair stood still.<\/p>\n
Greg walked into the room.<\/p>\n
I followed.<\/p>\n
He sat.<\/p>\n
His eyes moved toward the empty place where the kittens had slept.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought this would feel like losing them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
I waited.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked toward the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd not exactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg thought for a long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike finishing something.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was closer.<\/p>\n
He touched the arm of the rocking chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe that\u2019s what I never understood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat something ending doesn\u2019t mean it failed.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sat beside him on the bed.<\/p>\n
Outside, a car passed.<\/p>\n
Then another.<\/p>\n
Ordinary Saturday noises.<\/p>\n
Greg leaned back.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael leaving meant we did our job.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEmma leaving too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother dying was different.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t fix that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut going home when she told me to wasn\u2019t abandoning her.\u201d<\/p>\n
My throat tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
For twelve years, that sentence had apparently waited for him.<\/p>\n
He opened them again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I know that now.\u201d<\/p>\n
I reached for his hand.<\/p>\n
His phone buzzed.<\/p>\n
A photograph.<\/p>\n
Lily had already sent it.<\/p>\n
Susan and Steve were curled together in the carrier.<\/p>\n
Beneath them was Michael\u2019s faded blue blanket.<\/p>\n
Across the top lay the new green one.<\/p>\n
Old home.<\/p>\n
New home.<\/p>\n
Greg stared at the picture.<\/p>\n
Then smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey look okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey do.\u201d<\/p>\n
His phone rang almost immediately.<\/p>\n
Emma.<\/p>\n
Greg answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, sweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, quick question.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you still have that rocking chair?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked at it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma hesitated.<\/p>\n
Then laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Daniel and I were talking, and if everything keeps going well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg stopped breathing.<\/p>\n
Emma continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thought maybe we could use it.\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyes filled instantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Dad. For decorative storage.\u201d<\/p>\n
He laughed.<\/p>\n
I covered my mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can have it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t ship it yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked at the empty room.<\/p>\n
The kittens were gone.<\/p>\n
The blanket was gone.<\/p>\n
Soon, perhaps, the chair would go too.<\/p>\n
A month earlier, each disappearance would have felt like evidence that his useful years were being dismantled piece by piece.<\/p>\n
Now he rested his hand on the worn wooden arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhenever you\u2019re ready,\u201d he told her.<\/p>\n
And for once, he meant exactly that.<\/p>\n
The next ten days became the happiest and most painful part of fostering. The kittens changed almost hourly. Susan discovered running. She was terrible at it. Her back legs frequently … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13480"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13504,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13480\/revisions\/13504"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}