As if he knows we’re talking about him – and, considering his attention-loving source of existence, that’s probably true – Mittens climbs up over the back of the couch, meowing and parading back and forth with his tail high.
Mom and Cora’s mouths drop open as they stare first at the shadow cat, and then at Daphne, who bundles him off of the back of the sofa and into her arms.
“I told you to stay hidden, you little menace,” she whispers, blushing and looking down at the cat who gnaws playfully at her thumb.
“Well well,” Cora says, leaning back against her couch cushion and grinning at the love of her son’s life. “I guess Dominic owes me fifty bucks after all.”
I gasp, leaning forward and staring at my mom and aunt. “You bet on our love lives!?”
“No, baby!” mom protests far too innocently, frowning at me like she’s ashamed I’d even suggest it. “We’d never do that!”
“This is so unfair, Cora has an advantage, she’s all of our godparents,” I say, pointing at her.
“That’s why I get terrible odds,” she says with a sigh, nodding. “Roger hates it.”
“You’re both unbelievable,” I sigh, sitting back on the couch and glancing at Daphne, pleased to see that the blush has faded from her cheeks just a bit. But Cora notices it too and pounces, not letting her off that easy.
“So,” she says, leaning forward and peering into Daphne’s face. “Is my boy a good boyfriend? He’d better be polite to you – you have my permission to smack him if he’s not –“
“He’s – he’s very polite!” Daphne sputters out, laughing and blushing again.
“But not like…too polite, right?” Cora says, narrowing her eyes a bit. “I didn’t raise my boy to be too scared to grab his girl and –“
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