Emma, are you home? Daniel burst through the hallway, freezing the moment his eyes fell on his wife huddled in the entrance. She was curled up, sobbing loudly. I cant make heads or tails of whats happened. You were shouting, I could barely hear a word. Then, as if the universe were mocking us, the phone died. Whats wrong, Emma? You look like youve seen a ghost.
Whiskers is gone Emma whispered, her voice breaking. Hes not back at the flat.
Gone? How? Daniels throat tightened. Where could he have vanished to? Could he be hiding somewhere in the flat?
No. Your sister Claire she told me Whiskers slipped out into the stairwell when she stepped out with Jack for a walk. But you know, Daniel, our Whiskers wouldnt run off on his own. Why would he brave the street after almost freezing to death? I think she let him out on purpose
What? Daniel clenched his fists. Where is she now? Wheres Claire?
She said shed gone to the corner shop Im not sure. Ive been searching everywhere for Whiskers, but theres no sign of him. No ones seen him. How could this be, Daniel? Could a person be that cruel, throwing a defenseless animal out into a winter night? Is that even human?
People no. Claire she could. Shes done similar things before. Dont worry, her feet wont be treading our floor any longer. Honestly, why did we ever let her in?
A month earlier
Daniel was pacing toward the bus stop when something grey caught his eye beneath a thin veil of snow.
At first he thought it was just a stone, but the stone trembled like an old, rattling refrigerator.
Curiosity, rare as a warm summer day in December, drove him off the pavement. He knelt and realised it wasnt a rock at all but a tiny, grey kitten shivering on the cold ground.
Well, look at that he murmured, scratching his chin. What are you doing here, little one?
It was a rhetorical question. Anyone could guess the answer: stray cats fight to survive, and this one was simply trying to stay warm.
The kitten made no sound, no plaintive mew, just a trembling shiver as if it had accepted that the world didnt care.
Gently, Daniel scooped the creature up, brushed the snow from its fur, slipped it under his coat, and sprinted toward the approaching trolley.
On the way home he remembered Emmas repeated wish for a grey, striped kitten. Theyd never found the time to visit a shelter. Fate, it seemed, had dropped one at his feet. When destiny offers, you take it.
Emma, Ive got a surprise Daniel announced, bursting through the door.
Youre spoiling me again, love Emma laughed, stepping into the hallway. Gold earrings, a new phone, tickets to the cinema what now? A weekend at a spa?
Better than that! Daniel beamed, unzipping his coat to reveal the kitten. Look what I found out on the street. You wanted a grey, striped one, didnt you?
Oh, dear Emma gasped, cradling the trembling animal. Hes freezing! Put him here, Ill warm him up. And you, get changed, wash your hands, dinners on the table.
Emma stared at the kitten, a smile softening her features. Hes perfect.
Thus Whiskers entered Daniel and Emmas lives. They tossed around dozens of names before settling on the classic Whiskers. It felt more fitting than Tom or Lucas.
It was late November, the first snow of the season, so the kitten hadnt yet known the harshness of a British winter. Thank heavens many a stray doesnt survive the first frost.
In the two weeks that followed, Emma and Daniel fell in love with Whiskers from day one, their affection deepening with each passing hour. Whiskers, for his part, adored his new humans, never once causing a scene. When he knocked a remote off the dresser, they merely asked him to be more careful.
Always will! he seemed to purr, leaping onto the nightstand and scattering a handful of cushions.
Everything was blissful until a knock echoed at the front door one Sunday morning.
Who could be calling at this hour? Daniel rubbed his eyes, glancing at the clock: half past six. Outside, the streets were still cloaked in darkness.
Maybe the neighbours? Emma guessed. Something happened to them?
Ill go see.
When Daniel opened the door, his sister Claire stood there, a small boy in tow. The boy, Jack, was about five.
Hey, brother, Claire said with a forced smile. Mind if we pop in? Its a bit chilly out there.
Well Daniel started, but Claire cut him off.
I know youre busy, but I didnt get a chance to call. The train left early, and I thought youd let us in. Could you help with the suitcase? Ive been lugging it up to the fourth floor and my legs feel like jelly.
Daniel let them in, though the sight of a suitcase at the doorstep felt odd visitors rarely arrived with luggage.
Whats happened? he asked.
My husband threw me out, Emma. He found another woman. Ive got nowhere to go. If you dont mind, Ill stay here until I sort something out. We could even ring in the New Year together. Its been four years since weve spoken properly were family, after all.
You know why we drifted apart Daniel sighed. Lies make solid relationships impossible.
Oh, stop. Claire waved a hand. Whats past is past. I made a mistake, who hasnt? Everyone slips up.
Daniel wanted to retort but held his tongue. He didnt want to start the day with a fight, and Emma would never approve of him taking on his sisters drama.
Five years earlier, their father had died, leaving the threebedroom flat to both Daniel and Claire. No other relatives existed. Claire, then heavily pregnant, begged their mother to convince Daniel to relinquish his share so she could have a place. Their mother, softhearted, urged him to help.
At the time Daniel was living in a student hall, so he agreed. He thought hed find his own place later, perhaps a mortgage the common route these days.
When Claires baby arrived, she sold the flat and moved in with a new boyfriend, Val. He needed money for his business, and Claire claimed the flat was hers to dispose of.
Daniel was livid. The original agreement had been different. He asked for at least half the proceeds, but the money vanished into business development. Their mother stayed out of it, saying adults would sort it out.
Back then, when Daniel was a schoolboy, hed found a stray kitten on the street and brought it home. It disappeared soon after, and he never suspected his mother, whod allowed it to stay. The only suspect for the disappearance was Claire.
Tell me where you hid him! Daniel had shouted. Youve been tormenting the cat from day one!
Claire never confessed, though Daniel saw the lies in her eyes. She later brought another kitten, which also vanished. The coincidences were too stark to ignore.
Now, with Whiskers finally home, the old tension resurfaced.
Emma, what should we do? Claire asked, eyes pleading. Let him stay a while? He cant be turned out onto the street with a baby.
Fine, Emma sighed, wiping a tear. He can stay until you find somewhere else.
Daniel felt a cold knot form in his stomach; nothing good would come of this.
The next day Claire began complaining about Whiskers. Hed disturb her sleep, lounge on her sofa, stare at her oddly. Her son Jack developed a cold.
Its an allergy to your cat, Claire declared. My little Tom used to be as strong as a cucumber.
Not necessarily, Daniel replied. He could just be sick. Youre taking him out for walks anyway. Even if it is an allergy, what do you propose? Whiskers is part of our family.
Oh, stop your nonsense, Claire laughed. Family member I thought your childhood days of rescuing strays were over. How does Emma still put up with you?
Emma loves animals, as do I. You seem to hate them. What have they ever done to you?
Theyre a nuisance. I lose sleep because of Whiskers, and Jack cant rest. When you have kids of your own, youll understand.
Daniel fell silent. The subject of children was a raw nerve. Emma and he had tried for years without success; doctors offered no answers. Claire certainly knew that, perhaps from their mother.
I suggest we put the cat in a shelter, Claire said flatly. Jack is my son, Im his mother, and I wont let a cat ruin our lives. My mother would agree.
Do you even hear yourself? Daniel snapped. A shelter? Whiskers lives here, unlike you. If you dont like him, youre free to leave. I didnt invite you. Find a flat and go.
He thought, Give the child to a shelter, thats clever, but kept the words inside, fearing a fullblown argument.
For a while Claire seemed calmer, but she continued to push Whiskers out of the sofa, shoving him into a corner where he could barely breathe. The cat endured, then began to retaliate. He knocked her phone off the nightstand, shredded a seam of her favourite sweater.
Youre destroying my things! Claire shouted. Why get a pet if you cant raise it properly?
She never mentioned how her son once yanked Whiskers tail and stole his favourite plush toy, stashing it in her suitcase.
Listen, sister, Daniel warned, voice hard. Youre staying in my flat. Touch my cat and youll answer to me.
Alright, alright no need to lose your temper
On New Years Eve, Emma called Daniel, crying, trying to explain something. He left work early, desperate to understand.
He rushed home, heart pounding.
Emma, are you home? he shouted as he entered, stopping dead at the sight of his wife curled in the corridor, sobbing. I couldnt make sense of anything. You were shouting, the phone died, whats happened? You look like a ghost.
Whiskers gone Emma whispered hoarsely. Hes not in the flat.
Gone? Daniels voice trembled. Where could he be? Did he hide somewhere?
No. Claire said he ran into the stairwell when she took Jack out. But you know our Whisker he wouldnt run off. Why would he go out in the cold? I think she let him out on purpose
What? Daniels fists clenched. Wheres Claire now?
Shes probably at a shop I dont know. Ive been looking everywhere, but no ones seen him. How could this happen? Could a person be so cruel?
Not a person Claire she could. Shes done this before. Dont worry, Ill find him.
He searched the streets until night fell, but the cat was nowhere.
When Claire arrived with Jack later, Daniel interrogated her with a fury born of betrayal.
Why did you do it? he roared. Why throw the cat out into the freezing night?
I didnt do anything, Dan, Claire shrugged. I just opened the door and he ran. My child comes first, not some stray.
He saw the lie in her eyes. Emma had been right: Claire had deliberately set Whiskers loose.
Tomorrows New Years Eve, Ive bought champagne. Lets not fight over this, okay? Claire smiled weakly.
Fine, Daniel muttered. Pack your things.
What? Claire sputtered.
Are you deaf? Pack your suitcase, or Ill toss it out the window. he snarled.
He drove Claire and Jack to the station, handed them some cash for tickets.
Go wherever you like. I dont want to see you again. And tell me, how did your mother raise a child with a mother like this?
Later that night, their mother called, accusing Daniel of coldness.
Claire came to you as family, and you drove her away with a child. How could you?
I think shell find a way to survive. Im done with her.
31December, the family sat at the festive table, the clock ticking down to midnight, the champagne still unopened. The atmosphere was heavy; their beloved cat was still missing.
Dan, do you hear that? Emma asked, tension in her voice. Someones rattling the door.
Claire again? Daniel muttered, rising.
He opened the door, and there, shivering, lay Whiskers, trembling from the cold but miraculously alive.
Emma! Hes back! Hes back! Daniel cried, scooping the cat into his arms.
They wrapped Whiskers in blankets, fed him, and Emma clung to him, refusing to let go.
He purred contentedly, as if saying, I made it home, where Im loved.
Dan, a minute to midnight, Emma whispered. Shall we pop the champagne?
Absolutely!
He cracked the bottle, the fizz spilling into glasses just as fireworks erupted outside, mingling with cheers.
They say the way you greet the New Year is the way it will be.
Now Whiskers would stay with his owners forever and, unbeknownst to Daniel and Emma, the cat sensed the new life blossoming in Emmas heart as she held him close.
