Emma, are you home? James bursts into the flat and freezes when he sees his wife standing in the hallway, huddled on the sofa and sobbing loudly. I cant make sense of whats happened to you. Youre wailing so hard I cant hear a word. And, as if fate were against me, my phone dies at the worst moment. Whats wrong, Emma? You look pale.
Muffins gone Emma whispers, her voice breaking. Hes not in the flat.
How did he vanish? James asks, bewildered. Where could he have gone? Could he be hiding somewhere in the flat?
No. Your sister Olivia she told me Muffin bolted into the stairwell when she stepped out with Harry for a walk. But you know, James, our Muffin wouldnt run off on his own. Why would he head out into the street when he almost died out there? I think she let him out on purpose
What?! James clenches his fists. Where is she now? Wheres Olivia?
She said she went to the corner shop Im not sure. Ive been searching for Muffin all day and hes nowhere. No ones seen him nearby. How can that be, James? Can a person really be that cruel, tossing a defenseless animal into the street in winter? Is that even allowed?
A personno. Oliviayes. Shes done similar things before. Dont worry, she wont be in our flat any longer. Honestly, why did we ever let her stay?
A month earlier
James is walking toward the bus stop when a grey shape catches his eye beneath a thin layer of snow. At first he thinks its just a stone, but the stone trembles like an old fridge on its last legs. That odd vibration pulls his attention; hes never seen, let alone heard, a rock shiver from the cold.
Curiosity getting the better of him, he steps off the pavement and approaches. He soon realises it isnt a stone at all but a tiny grey kitten, shivering on the frosted ground.
Now thats something, James mutters, scratching his head. What are you doing here, little one?
Its a rhetorical question. Anyone knows why stray animals end up on the streetstheyre simply trying to survive. This kitten makes no sound, offers no plea, only lies there trembling, as if it has already accepted that nobody cares. It tries, in its own way, to keep warm.
James gently lifts the kitten, brushes snow from its fur, slips it under his jacket, and dashes toward the bus stop as the trolley pulls up. On the way home he remembers Emmas wish for a grey, tabby kitten. Shes never had the time to visit a shelter, and fate seems to have dropped one at his feet. When destiny offers something, you take it.
Emma, Ive got a surprise for you, James says cheerfully as he steps into the flat.
Oh, youre spoiling me again, Emma smiles, stepping into the hallway. One day its gold earrings, the next its a new phone Ive been dreaming about, then cinema tickets Whats it this time? A holiday at a ski resort?
Even better! James beams, unzipping his jacket to reveal the kitten. Look, I found him outside. You wanted a grey, striped one, right?
Lord, hes freezing, poor thing, Emma gasps. Put him here, Ill warm him up. And you, strip off, wash your hands, and head to the kitchendinners ready.
Emma gazes at the kitten and coos, What a beautiful little fellow
Thus Muffin joins James and Emma. They toss around a dozen names before settling on the classic Muffin, agreeing it suits him better than Tom or Lucas.
Its late November, the first snow has fallen, and the fledgling cat has yet to learn the harshness of winter streets. Thank heavens, because for many, that would be the end.
In the two weeks since Muffin moves in, Emma and James become devoted to him. They fall in love with him on the first day, and each subsequent day only deepens that affection. Muffin, in turn, adores his ownerskind, gentle people who would never throw him out like his previous caretakers. He stays calm, even when he accidentally knocks a remote off a dresser; they merely ask him to be more careful.
Will do! Muffin seems to purr, leaping onto the nightstand and sending the TV controller tumbling once more.
Everything runs smoothly until a knock sounds at the door.
Who could be calling on a Sunday morning? James rubs his eyes, glancing at the wall clockhalf past six. Outside, its still dark.
Maybe the neighbours? Something happened to them? Emma suggests.
Ill check.
James opens the front door to find his sister Olivia standing with her fiveyearold son, Milo. He frowns at the sight of a suitcase at her feet.
Hey, brother, Olivia smiles, were here to visit. No problem?
Actually
Dont worry, I know youre busy. I didnt get a chance to warn you, and at this hour you probably wouldnt answer anyway, so I thought Id just show up. Let me in and help with the bags; Ive already been dragging them up to the fourth floor and my legs are killing me.
James lets them in, though the suitcase throws him off balancepeople dont usually arrive with luggage.
Whats happened to you? he asks.
Olivia shrugs. My husband threw me out. He found a new woman, can you imagine? Ive got nowhere to go. If you dont mind, Ill stay here for a while, sort out my next steps, and maybe we can ring in the New Year together. Its been four years since we really talked, after all.
James sighs. You know why we stopped speakinglies dont build solid relationships.
Olivia waves it off. Old grudges are pointless, love. Im sorry, Im only human.
James wants to retort but stops; he doesnt want to start the day with a fight, and he knows Emma would disapprove of him attacking his sister, whos already been kicked out by her husband. Still, Olivia deserves criticism.
Five years ago their father died, leaving a threebedroom flat that was to be inherited by both James and Olivia. No other relatives existed. At the time Olivia was pregnantpaternity unknown. She pressed James to relinquish his share, arguing she needed the flat more than he did, as he was still single and living in a student hall. Their mother urged James, Your niece will need a place soon. James, sympathetic, agreed to give up his portion, thinking hed later find his own place or get a mortgage, as most do nowadays.
Later, after the baby was born, Olivia sold the flat, moved in with a new suitorValerie, a businessman who needed cash for his venture. Its my flat, Im doing what I want, she told James. He confronted her, expecting at least half the proceeds, but the money vanished into business development. Their mother stayed out of it, saying adults would sort it out.
Years earlier, when James was still a schoolboy, he had found a stray kitten on a street and brought it home, only for it to disappear later. He never suspected his mother, who had allowed the animal to stay (they lived in a country house then). The only person who could have taken the kitten was Olivia. He shouted at her, Where did you put it? Tell me now! She didnt confess, though her eyes betrayed the lie. That kitten had haunted her from day one. Then another one vanished after he brought it home. Coincidence? Unlikely.
Their mother just shrugged, and Olivia feigned innocence. After that, James stopped rescuing strays, and his relationship with Olivia grew tense.
Now Olivia appears early, asking to stay.
James, can we let her stay for a bit? Emma sighs, She needs a roof until she finds somewhere else. We cant drive her out with a child on New Years Eve. Maybe this will finally patch things up.
Fine, James waves his hand. If youre okay with it, she can stay.
He intuitively feels nothing good will come of it.
The next day Olivia starts complaining about Muffin. He disturbs my sons sleep, hes always on the sofa, he looks at me oddly. Then her son catches a cold.
Thats definitely an allergy to your cat, she tells James. My own cat, Whiskers, was as gentle as a cucumber.
Its not proven, James replies. Maybe he just caught a cold. You take him for walks, after all. If it is an allergy, what do you propose? Muffin is family.
Again with the nonsense, Olivia laughs. Family member I thought youd outgrown that childish habit of dragging stray animals home. How does your wife put up with this?
Emma loves animals as much as I do, James says. You seem to hate them. What have they ever done to you?
Theyre a nuisance. I cant sleep because of Muffin. My son cant rest either. When you have your own kids, youll understand.
James falls silent. The subject of children is a sore spot; Emma and he have been trying for years without success. Doctors cant pinpoint a cause, and Olivia knows this, perhaps from their mothers whispers.
In short, I suggest we put the cat in a shelter, Olivia says. Milo is my nephew, Im your sister, and we cant keep suffering because of a cat. A cat is just an animal, after all. My son and I are your real family, right? Mom would agree.
What are you talking about? James snaps. A shelter? Muffin lives here, unlike you. If something bothers you, youre not welcome. I didnt invite you. Find somewhere else to live.
He thinks, Maybe I should send my child to a shelterif anyones that clever. He doesnt voice it, knowing it would only spark a bigger fight.
Olivia pretends to calm down but still despises the cat. When James and Emma are out, she shoves Muffin off the sofa into a corner where he cant even be seen. Muffin endures, then begins to retaliateknocking her phone off a nightstand, tugging at her favourite sweater.
Your cat is ruining my things! Olivia screams. Why keep a pet you cant discipline?
She even snatches Muffins favourite plush toy, hides it in her suitcase, and claims she never saw it.
Listen up, James snarls. Remember youre staying in my flat. If you want to stay, dont touch my cat.
Alright, alright, calm down
On the eve of New Years, Emma keeps sobbing on the phone, trying to explain something. James, distracted, cant grasp the details, but senses something serious, so he asks for leave early and heads home.
He bursts in, sees Emma crying in the hallway, phone dead again. Emma, are you home? he repeats. I cant understand whats happening. You were shouting, I couldnt hear a word. The phone died at the worst moment. Whats wrong? You look like youve seen a ghost.
Muffins vanished Emma whispers, tears streaming. Hes not in the flat.
How could he disappear? James asks, bewildered. Where could he be? Did he hide somewhere?
No. Your sister Olivia said he bolted into the stairwell when she walked the dog. But you know, James, our Muffin wouldnt run off. Why would he go out to a street where he almost died? I think she let him out on purpose
What?! Jamess fists clench. Where is she? Wheres Olivia?
Probably at the shop I dont know. Ive been looking all day, but hes nowhere. No ones seen him. How can that be, James? Can a person be that cruel, throwing a defenseless animal into the street in winter? Is that even decent?
A personno. Oliviayes. Shes done this before. Dont worry, she wont be in our flat any longer. Ill find Muffin.
That night, James cant locate Muffin; darkness settles outside, and the cat could be anywhere.
The next morning, when Olivia arrives with Milo, James subjects her to a fierce questioning.
Why did you do it? Why did you send the cat outside? You know he almost died!
Olivia shrugs. I just opened the door and he ran out. I didnt chase him. My child comes first, not some stray cat.
James sees the lie in her eyes. Hes convinced Olivia deliberately let Muffin out, perhaps even took him further away.
Listen, James, New Years is tomorrow. I bought some champagne. Lets not fight over this, okay? Olivia says, smiling.
Fine, James replies. Pack your things.
What? You cant hear me?
Gather your luggage, or Ill fling it out the window. And leave!
James drops Olivia and Milo at the station, hands them a few pounds for tickets, and tells Olivia, You can go to your husband, your mother, even spend the night at the station I dont care. But I never want to see you again. And Im sorry for your sons mother.
Later that day his mother calls, accusing him of heartlessness.
Olivia came to you as family, and you drove her out with a child. How can you live with that, son?
James thinks shell manage somehow, but he refuses any further contact.
On 31 December, seated at the festive table, Emma and James arent excited about the incoming year. Ten minutes remain until the clock strikes midnight, and the champagne is still unopened. Its no wondertheyve been searching for Muffin all morning, but hes vanished as if swallowed by the earth.
James, do you hear that? Emma asks anxiously. Someones rattling at the door.
Olivia again? James mutters, standing up.
He opens the door to find Muffin shivering on the doorstep, trembling from the cold but somehow having survived the night and found his way home.
Emma! Hes back! Hes back! James exclaims, scooping the cat into his arms.
They warm Muffin quickly, feed him, and Emma clings to him, refusing to let go for a second.
Muffin purrs contentedly. He made it. Hes home, where hes loved.
James, its a minute to midnight, Emma whispers. Will you open the champagne?
Of course! he replies, popping the bottle, pouring the fizz into glasses just as fireworks explode outside and cheers fill the air.
They say you spend the New Year the way you welcome it.
Now Muffin will always be with his ownersand, as it turns out, with Emmas unborn child too. Emma, holding Muffin close, feels the stir of new life in her heart.
