The Gift Ch. 11-15

"I'm fine," she insisted. "Please tell me you will talk to them about Poppy."

Chris sighed, moving away from her, his arms dropping to his sides. He had no doubt Luciana would love every cat like she loved Cleo. But he still needed to make sure she was making the right decision for the right reasons.

"Are you sure you want to adopt Poppy because you love her?" he asked. "And not just because you are afraid to go back to an empty house?"

In the silence, she seemed to mull it over. "Isn't that a valid reason?" she asked, her voice unsure and hesitant.

"No." Chris turned towards her, his eyes dark and brooding. "It means you're trying to find a replacement for Cleo."

"I'm only trying to give Poppy a better life!" she retorted. "That poor animal doesn't come out of her basket except when she sees me. I'm just--"

He lifted a hand to stop her, eyes closed, nostrils flared. Luciana visibly recoiled, her mouth going dry. He didn't look pleased. Something told her he'd be dangerous when angry.

"Your fear of going back to an empty house cannot be the decisive factor behind adopting an animal," he said slowly. "You're grieving, emotional, easily swayed by your heart. You are searching for your lost cat everywhere."

He held her upper arms again, pulling her close to his body. Luciana felt her chest brush against his strong pectoral muscles, making a course of liquid heat run down her body. She momentarily closed her eyes, only to gaze into deep blue depths when she opened them again.

"Poppy isn't Cleo," he explained, his eyes moving all over her face. "She will never be Cleo. She is a different cat with a different personality, however alike they may seem to you. Do you understand that?"

Luciana remembered what she had said to him mere days ago, in that very place. That Cleo was irreplaceable, that she was afraid of getting another pet, that she wouldn't be able to live in the fear of losing it again. But that had changed now. She was ready to embrace her fears and apprehensions, choosing to live for the moment rather than be afraid of a future she couldn't control.

"That was before I met Poppy," she answered, avoiding his gaze. His face was so close to hers, it was hard to breathe. "That was before she chose me."

When she met his eyes, he was still giving her that quiet, brooding stare. "You don't want me to adopt Poppy, do you?" she posed reluctantly.

Chris kept staring without offering a reply. Luciana didn't know what she saw in his gaze, but it made her body prickle with sensual awareness. She was conscious of his strong fingers on her upper arms, the warmth of his hand invading the fabric of her t-shirt to reach her skin. For a long minute, neither of them moved nor spoke. Chris could feel her tense muscles, his eyes rolling over her countenance, and when they paused on her lips, her heart threatened to give up on her.

And then he laughed. The spell broken, Luciana gawked at him in surprise and wonder, the sound of his deep laughter booming through the room not going unnoticed. He moved away from her and sank back in the couch, dropping his head back as he continued to chortle. She crossed her arms, slightly vexed at his bad timing.

"You thought I'd have a problem with you adopting Poppy?" he asked her, still laughing. "Of course not."

"No?" she felt relief washing over her. "But you—"

"Relax, I was only testing you," he explained, briefly tapping her cheek with two fingers. "I wanted to be certain you knew what you were talking about. With the holiday season here, it's time for people to adopt pets on a whim. After the festivities are over, they realize they can't care for a pet." His laughter gone, he now sighed. "Most of those animals are returned to shelters shortly afterward."

He glanced at her, his lips curving into a smile. "I'm glad you're better," he said. "That it isn't too painful anymore to get a new pet."

"So you'll talk to them?" she asked, looking at him from lowered lashes. He nodded.

"It's easy. You have to complete an application, pay the fee and you're good to take her home. Usually, they assess an application to see if the person is the right fit, but since they already know you -- and I will be putting in a word -- it shouldn't be the case."

Luciana hadn't felt that surge of joy in many months. She beamed, and before he knew it, she was throwing her arms around his neck.

"Thank you," she murmured, closing her eyes. "Thank you so much. You don't know how much it means to me."

Slightly taken aback at first, Chris didn't know what to do with his hands. He wanted to pull her tight against him, but he resisted, raising a hand to briefly stroke her back. He felt the bones of her spine but he also couldn't help but notice how her body seemed to fit against his. He could smell a trace of cologne on her, and although the moment was quick and fleeting, his senses seemed to come alive.

"I know," he whispered in her ear. "Because it means a lot to me too."

---

Chapter 12

Since moving out of his parents' house when he went to vet school, Chris hadn't had pets of his own. It needed too much time and commitment and he had odd hours and often a punishing schedule at work. His ex-wife hadn't been fond of pets, so it was out of question. He was anyway surrounded by animals all the time, whether he was at the hospital or a shelter. That day, he had treated an injured raccoon that some rescue workers had brought in, and the girls had promptly named him Milo. When Larry had said that raccoons should always be called Rocky, the girls had protested vehemently.

Of course, it would be a different experience to be chosen by an animal who wanted to come home with you. Perhaps someday he could find the time and the opportunity, but as of now, he was content to watch Luciana and Poppy bask in each other's company. The adoption process had been quick and easy, and before they knew it, they were walking out of the shelter with the fluffy black and white cat that no one had ever seen happy. It was hard to believe now, when she purred contentedly in Luciana's arms and looked at her with eyes full of love.

It wasn't hard to tell that Luciana still missed Cleo. She had spent more than ten years with her, made memories that were impossible to replace or forget. When they talked, she sometimes became silent and seemed to disappear inside herself. Whenever Chris sensed her brooding over the painful memories again, he would gently remind her that she had someone else to look forward to— Poppy.

Although the shelter staff wasn't sure of her breed, her fluffiness led them to believe she was a Turkish Angora cat, much like Cleo had been. There was no mistaking the similarity between the two— the only things different were her limp and the patterns of black on white fur. The upper part of Poppy's body, as well as her tail, were black but her belly and legs were white. The top half of her face was black, appearing around her eyes like a masquerade mask. She also had a small black patch right under her bushy tail, which Luciana thought was a birthmark.

Aside from bringing Poppy home, Luciana had also found forever homes for a few of the cats rescued from the hoarding house. She had later handed him a long list of names, which Chris had passed on to his hospital staff as well as the shelter staff. That, besides donating money and food to a few of the shelters Chris worked with.

When she brought Poppy home, Luciana also chose to bring along her basket and the yellow blanket she loved. Later, she repeatedly asked Chris to formulate a diet for her that would prevent kidney disease -- or any disease -- in future. He had only suggested wet food or home-cooked meals, with the reminder that animals could develop various diseases despite receiving the best care. He was aware that she thought Cleo's sickness was her fault, but it wasn't. He wondered if he could ever make her realize that.

On Halloween, the children from around the neighborhood came for trick or treating. Much to Chris's amusement, Luciana had a big stock of healthy candies for the kids, including grain-free cheddar crackers, naturally flavored gummy packs, real fruit tapes, and peanut butter cups made with dark chocolate and sunflower seed butter. Yes, they were candies that children would love, but she could rest easy knowing she wasn't contributing to obesity.

Till late into that night, they sat in Elijah's living room, sharing a bottle of wine and talking about random things—their love for romantic comedies from the 1930s and 1940s, Italian food, bike riding, and indoor picnics. She told him she loved to dance, having been a ballet student for a few years as a child. Chris let her know that he had taken dance lessons before his wedding, and that he was still good at it. She asked him if he'd ever want to go dancing with her, and he only laughed enigmatically in response.

For some reason, sitting there with Chris was strangely reminiscent of the postprandial drinks she often enjoyed with Matt by the poolside. Although Matt had a weird sense of humor and could get high on music, he was an introvert who loved his space. On many evenings after a game of tennis, they sat by the poolside in their lounge chairs, simply staring at the shimmering water or at the night sky. Luciana always thought it was impossible for her to find that kind of companionship or comfort level with anyone else, but sitting next to Chris, she knew she was wrong.

He told her about his travels, his time in Australia and Africa, the thrill of seeing Victoria Falls and the mist, the rainbows and the incredible roar that came with it. Later, he gave her a commentary on every house and every neighbor in that locality, from the pets each household had to the quirks of the neighbors to the ones it was best to remain away from. His colorful and detailed descriptions of people and places made her feel she'd been with him to experience all of it, and she found herself wondering if he had shared those same stories with his ex-wife...or any other woman. When a tinge of jealousy surfaced within her, she quickly turned her attention to Poppy in her lap and how happy she had made her.

Chris thought she looked more peaceful than ever. Elijah was out of town for a week, and although he knew his sister was going back home the next day, he wouldn't be able to make it. He chose to not dwell on how different it would be to not see her every day. Instead, he took another sip of the wine and leaned back in the couch.

The room was dark except for the small lamps on either side of the couch and the fire burning in the hearth. In the soft halo of the pretty yellow lights, Luciana looked radiant, even as she stared out the window while stroking Poppy's fur. The little animal hadn't taken long at all to realize she was her new human. Having had decades of experience with animals, Chris recognized the look of contentment on a pet's face when he saw it. Poppy didn't have that sad face anymore. Even when she was falling asleep in Luciana's lap, the gentle rise and fall of her body was an indication of being at peace.

"How old is she?" Luciana wondered aloud, looking down at her.

"As far as I can tell, not more than three years," he replied, reaching out to stroke her head. Poppy lifted her head and looked sleepily at him, licking his hand when he held it out for her. "How has she been all day?"

"Good," she nodded with a smile. "We went out while it was snowing. She hated it."

Chris laughed. "You've been chosen again," he observed. "Cats do seem to love you."

"At least I'm not alone anymore. Going back home doesn't seem as scary now."

Matt had been surprised when she'd asked him to bring Cleo's stuff out of the basement and put them back in her apartment. When she told him about Poppy, he'd been overjoyed, but also worried about how she would react to the dogs. Because Poppy had been found on the street, the shelter staff didn't know if she'd be comfortable around dogs. Matt had assured her that he and Kyle would restrain the dogs until Poppy got used to them.

When Chris cleared his throat, Luciana looked at his face. She saw the hesitation in his eyes, as if he wanted to ask something but didn't know how to.

"Is anything wrong?" she asked quietly. "You look pensive."

"I'm alright," he replied, without lifting his gaze. "When are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Maybe late afternoon. Matt and Kyle are going to Australia for a week, so I have to go back and watch the dogs until Matt's brother comes to take them away."

"How many dogs?"

"Four."

"Four dogs?" Chris laughed against his will. "What kinds?"

"Pug, bulldog, Dalmatian and Labrador."

"Different breeds, different sizes," he mulled it over. "They must be a handful."

"They are. Saffy the pug in particular." She shifted slightly and uncrossed her legs, waking up Poppy in the process. "That's okay, go back to sleep," she cooed to her, and Chris smiled at her sing-song voice.

"You seem close," he said after a pause. "What does he do?"

"He's a DJ," she answered. "And very successful at it too. He's usually never home during the night and then sleeps the whole morning." She eyed him with an amused look. "It takes time getting used to him. He's kind of in-your-face sometimes."

"You grew up together?"

"Uh-huh. I was possibly the only female friend he ever had."

"Why is that?" he asked, curious.

"Perhaps because I was the first one to realize he was gay but made no big deal about it," she shrugged. "I think you will like him. He's very kind, just like you."

"I'm honored that you think I'm kind," he said in a low voice. "I'm going to miss you."

The abruptness of those words surprised her a little, but they seemed to echo what she had been feeling the past few days. It had been like a whirlwind, right from bringing Cleo to the hospital on that cold night to getting to know him to finding Poppy. She knew for certain that if Chris hadn't been around to help her, she would have sunk into a deeper depression and never recovered. When the thought made her heart ache, she gently placed a hand upon his.

"I want you to know that you've given me my best gift ever," she said, her eyes traveling to Poppy. "If those 200 cats hadn't been brought to the hospital and you hadn't told me about them, I wouldn't have gone to the shelter with you or found Poppy there. You did more than just save those cats. You saved me."

Chris remained silent, letting her words penetrate before saying anything. Luciana smiled fondly when Poppy sat up in her lap, stretched and walked over her legs towards Chris. He stroked under her chin, and after a happy purr, she kneaded on his leg for a few seconds before flopping down.

"Can I..." he began, his voice catching for some reason. "Can I tell you something?"

"Of course."

"You wouldn't be mad at me?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Why would I be mad at you?" she asked.

"Because..." He didn't know how to put into words what he wanted to say. He ran a hand through Poppy's fur, trying to muster some courage. "It isn't possible for me to look at you as only a neighbor. Or the top cop's sister. Not anymore."

Luciana traced her finger around the rim of the glass, resisting his words and yet welcoming them at the same time.

"I haven't been with anyone since the divorce," he continued, absently playing with Poppy's paw. "Not a date, not even a weekend fling. My brother joked that I was planning to be a hermit for the rest of my life."

He let out a sad laugh at his own words. "After the marriage ended, I lived in constant fear of relationships or attachments. I kept thinking of all the reasons why the marriage didn't work out, and in my mind, I blamed it all on myself. After all, if I hadn't neglected her, if I hadn't spent long hours at work, she wouldn't have needed to seek someone else, right?"

Chris took a swig of wine, hoping it would help him get the right words out. "I didn't want another relationship," he said. "I was afraid and unsure. But that was until I met you. Your eyes, your self-effacing demeanor, your easy forthrightness, your love for animals... everything seemed to call out to me."

The deep rumble of his voice seemed to echo down to the marrow of her bones. When she lifted her eyes from the wine glass and met his gaze, she found them moist. Chris bent down to kiss Poppy on her nose, and the cat purred in her sleep.

"I have become so used to seeing you here," he said wistfully. "It gives me an odd sense of comfort and happiness when I see you playing with Poppy on the porch, or when you are picking out weeds from the lawn, or simply sitting there reading. I don't know what it's going to be like without you."

Despite the wild pounding of her heart, Luciana reached for his hand. Chris took her left hand in his right hand and pressed a chaste kiss on to the back of her palm, eyes locked with her. "I'm glad you found Poppy," he murmured. "I hope she gives you peace."

Luciana stared at his face, still able to feel the moist imprint of his lips on her hand. Putting the wine glass away, she decided enough was enough, and inched closer to him. The next thing they knew, she had her mouth locked with his in a passionate, relentless kiss, his hands grabbing her face while she clawed at his shirt. Poppy yelped and struggled out of the tight space that trapped her between them, then sat on the coffee table and watched them suspiciously while their kisses turned sloppy and breathless. When they finally pulled apart after several long minutes, both of them were panting.

"Did you practice that speech?" she asked.

"Of course," he smirked. 'I've been thinking all evening."

Luciana giggled, feeling a little tipsy. "I want you to visit me," she breathed, her forehead resting against his. "I have a nice house."

Chris nodded. "I will," he grinned, pressing another kiss on to her lips. Poppy jumped back on to the couch, and as she cuddled up to both of them, he felt an unexpected sense of completion fill his heart.

---

Chapter 13

"We have an iguana and a gecko coming in today," announced Clara, as she handed Chris the list of patients for the day. "Aren't geckos adorable? I always wanted to have one as a pet when I was a kid."

"It's illegal, though," he pointed out, scrolling through the list with one hand while eating his lunch of a grilled chicken bowl with the other.

"That's exactly why my parents didn't get one for me," she said. "Did you see Troy yesterday?"

"Yeah. He's healing well."

"Does he remember your jerky treats?"

"Yes, he does." He looked up at her. "What's a vet without jerky treats, right?"

Clara chuckled. "You have a way with animals," she nodded. "What are you going to do about the gecko?"

"I'll probably charm everyone with my amazing knowledge of exotic animals and their anatomies," he replied, handing the list back to her. "What's wrong with the iguana?"

"I'm not sure. Possibly an infection."

The door of his office opened and Elaine appeared in the room. She gave Clara a smile and a pat on her shoulder.

"I'm pleased to announce that all 200 cats and kittens have been moved from the hospital," she beamed. "You guys did a remarkable job. Chris, you should talk to the board about a raise."

He rolled his eyes. "They just got a raise six months ago," he said. "Besides, money shouldn't be the only motivation for vets. It's more than just a job."

Clara only giggled, stealing a glance into Chris's lunchbox. "You know, doc," she said. "For someone who loves food so much, you have amazing self-control."

"I'm proud of my body, thank you very much," he stabbed a piece of chicken with the fork and put it into his mouth. "A little restraint always helps."

"Yeah? Doesn't seem so when you go through three bags of chips a day," she quipped before leaving the room. Elaine laughed at their interaction.