12 December
Emily, are you home? I stumbled into the flat, stopping short as I caught sight of my wife crouched in the hallway, her face streaked with tears. I couldnt make out a word of your callyour crying drowned everything, and then the line cut out. Whats happened, Emily? You look absolutely shattered.
Its Arthur hes gone, she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. Hes not here.
Gone? What do you mean? I asked, bewildered. He cant have just vanished. Are you sure hes not hiding somewhere?
No. Your sisterVictoriashe said Arthur slipped out when she left with Henry for a walk. But you know as well as I do, James, Arthur would never run off on his own. Hes terrified of the outside after last time. I think she let him out on purpose
My fists clenched. Where is she now? Wheres Victoria?
She said she was popping to the corner shop I dont know. Ive looked everywhere for Arthur, but hes nowhere to be found. No ones seen him on the street. How could someone be so cruel, James? To send a helpless creature out into the cold. In December. Who does that?
No one with any decency. But Victoria shes pulled tricks like this before. She wont be welcome here again after today. I wish wed never let her stay.
***
A month earlier
I was trudging towards the bus stop, boots crunching on the icy pavement, when something pale caught my eye beneath a dusting of snow.
At first, I thought it was a stone, but it trembledlike a kettle rattling on the stove.
That odd shiver drew me closer. Stones dont shake from the cold.
I stepped off the pavement, curiosity getting the better of me.
Thats when I sawa tiny grey kitten, not a pebble at all.
Well, arent you a sight I muttered, running a hand through my hair. What are you doing out here, little fellow?
I already knew. Strays on English streets are just scraping by. This one was no different.
He didnt mew or beg. He just lay there, shivering.
He seemed to have given up. Instead of searching for help, he curled up tighter, trying to keep warm.
I gently scooped him up, brushed the snow from his fur, tucked him inside my jacket, and hurried to the bus stop just as the red double-decker arrived.
On the ride home, I remembered how Emily had always wanted a grey tabby, but wed never made it to Battersea.
Now, fate had delivered one right to me. And when fate offers a gift, you take it.
Emily, Ive brought you something, I called as I stepped into the flat.
Youre spoiling me these days, Emily smiled, appearing in the hallway. First those silver earrings, then the new phone Id been hoping for, then theatre tickets. What is it now? A weekend in the Lake District?
Even better! I grinned, unzipping my coat to reveal the kitten. Look! Found him outside. You always said you wanted a grey tabby, didnt you?
Oh, goodness, Emily gasped, gathering the trembling kitten into her arms. Hes frozen stiff, poor thing. Let me warm him up. You get your coat off and wash your handsdinners ready.
She looked at the kitten, a smile breaking through her worry. Hes beautiful
Thats how Arthur came into our lives. We spent ages debating names, tossing around all sorts, but in the end, the old-fashioned one just fit.
I think Arthur suits him best, Emily decided.
I agree, love, I said.
This happy turn arrived at the end of November, as the first snowflakes fell. The kitten was spared the worst of winters chill.
Thank goodness. For many, the cold is a final test they dont survive.
In the two weeks Arthur spent in his new home, Emily and I grew deeply attached.
Truthfully, wed loved him from the first day, but with each morning, our affection grew.
Arthur, too, adored his new peoplegentle, kind souls who would never harm or abandon him as others had. He felt safe. Even when he knocked something off the table, we never scolded, just gently asked him to be more careful next time.
Ill try! Arthur seemed to promise, leaping onto the dresser for the tenth time that day, sending the TV remote clattering again.
Everything was peaceful, until one Sunday morning, a knock rattled the door.
Whos calling at this hour? I rubbed my eyes, glancing at the clockhalf six.
The world outside was still wrapped in darkness.
Maybe its the neighbours? Emily guessed. Perhaps somethings happened?
Ill see.
I opened the door to find my sister Victoria on the step, her young son Henry beside her. Henry was five then.
Morning, big brother, Victoria grinned. Weve come to visit. Hope you dont mind?
Well, actually
Oh, I know, I shouldve called first, right? But things got a bit mad, and I figured you wouldnt answer this early anyway. So here we are. Can you help with the suitcase? My arms are about to fall off after dragging it up four flights.
I let them in, though the suitcase unsettled me. People dont bring luggage for a simple visit.
Is something wrong?
Isnt it obvious? Victoria snapped. My husbands thrown me out. Found someone else, can you believe it? Ive nowhere to go. If you dont mind, Ill stay here a bit, until I sort myself out. We can see in the New Year together. Itll be nice, right? Weve barely spoken in years, but were still family.
You know why we havent spoken I said quietly. Its hard to trust after so many lies.
Oh, come on. Let bygones be bygones, as they say. How long are you going to hold that over me? Everyone makes mistakes.
I wanted to argue, but held my tongue. No point starting the day with a row. Emily wouldnt want that, not after Victoria had been kicked out.
Still, I had my reasons for keeping my distance.
Five years earlier, our father had died. He hadnt lived with us for ages, but always helped out. Hed owned a spacious three-bedroom in London, meant to be split between Victoria and me. No other family.
Victoria, pregnant at the timeby whom, no one knewhad, with Mums urging, begged me to give up my share. She needs it more, youre a man, and single, Mum pleaded.
I hadnt put up much of a fight. I understood Victoria needed a home more than I did. I was living in student digs then, so I agreed. I figured Id manage, maybe get a mortgage like everyone else.
But after Henry was born, Victoria sold the flat and moved in with a new boyfriend who was happy to take her and the child.
Simons got a business, and he needs the money to get it going, Victoria had explained. Besides, its my flat, so Ill do as I please. Got it?
I was furious. Wed agreed on something else entirely. If shed sold the place, she could have at least given me half the money. But I never saw a pennyit all went to the business.
Mum stayed out of it, saying we were adults and should sort it ourselves. Shed always been hands-off, even when we were kids.
I remembered once, as a boy, bringing home a stray kitten. Not long after, it disappeared. I never suspected Mumshed let me keep it, after all. The only one who could have been responsible was Victoria.
Tell me where you put it! Tell me now! Id shouted.
But Victoria never admitted it, though I could see the truth in her eyes. That kitten had bothered her from the start. Later, I brought home anotherand it vanished too. Coincidence? I doubted it.
Mum just shrugged, and Victoria pretended she had nothing to do with it. After that, I stopped bringing animals home.
No wonder things were tense between us.
Now, here she was, asking for a place to stay.
James, where else can she go? Emily sighed. Let her stay until she finds a flat. We cant throw her and Henry out on the street. And its nearly New Years. Maybe you two will finally make peace.
Alright, I relented. If youre fine with it, she can stay a while.
But deep down, I knew nothing good would come of it.
I was right.
The very next day, Victoria started complaining about Arthur. He kept her awake, she said, dashing about at night. He lay on her sofa. He looked at her funny.
Then Henry caught a cold.
Its definitely your cathes never been ill before, Victoria insisted. He was perfectly healthy until now.
Not necessarily. He couldve just caught a chill, I replied. You take him out in this weather. And even if it is an allergy, what do you expect us to do? Arthurs part of our family.
Oh, dont be ridiculous, Victoria scoffed. Part of the familyhonestly, James, I thought youd grown out of dragging strays home. How does Emily put up with you?
Emily loves animals as much as I do.
Looking back, I realise how quickly trust can be broken, and how important it is to protect those you care forwhether they walk on two legs or four.
