Emily, wheres Marmalade? The moment I stepped through the door, I felt a pang of worry. Usually, my ginger fluffball would bolt straight for the hallway, loudly reminding me that his bowl was empty. This time, the house greeted me with a troubling silence.
David sat at the kitchen table, staring fixedly at his mug, doing everything to avoid my gaze. His mother, Mrs. Patricia Long, whod been staying with us for over a week, calmly sipped her tea as if everything was perfectly normal.
Wheres the cat? I repeated, a chill creeping into my fingers.
Oh do stop fussing, Patricia waved her hand dismissively. That cat of yours is gone. Hes run off.
What do you mean, run off? Hes a housecat! Hes terrified of the outside! Who even opened the door?
I took him, she replied, not the slightest bit ashamed. Out to the woods near the bypass. Theres fresh air, trees, mice to chase. Hell live properly for once instead of causing squalor in this flatfur everywhere and that litter tray stinking up the place. David and I are thinking about children, you know, and no child can be raised in such a mess!
I stood rooted to the spot, stunned. Into the woods? In January? A housecat?
You agreed to this? I turned to my husband, my voice shaking.
Em, Mum said shes got that allergy he muttered, not daring to look up.
Her only allergy is to compassion! I snapped. Where exactly did you leave him?
How should I know? Patricia huffed. Somewhere near the bypass, maybe twelve miles out. Youll never find him. And do stop blubbing! I did you a favour, really.
Wordlessly, I grabbed the car keys.
If I dont find him I ground out Youd better pray.
For three days I hunted for Marmalade. Waded through snowdrifts, shouted his name, plastered lampposts with missing posters. I took leave from work, barely ate or slept, refusing to give up hope.
On the third evening, my phone rang.
Hello, are you looking for a ginger tom? Hes here near the petrol station. Sat on the kerb, yowling his heart out.
I raced there, the journey a blur. It was him. Thin to the bone, filthy, shivering, with a frostbitten ear. The moment he saw me, he bounded straight into my arms, purring hoarsely despite being utterly spent.
I rushed him to the vet. Drips, injections, an overnight stay. The vet said hed pull through.
I returned home at dawn: furious, drained, utterly empty.
Patricia was dozing in the living room, sprawled across my sofa. Her suitcase stood in the cornershe wasnt due to leave for another couple of days.
Wordlessly, I hauled her suitcase outside, grabbed her coat, boots, and hat from the closet, and bundled them into the car.
Then I woke David.
Up. Were going.
Where? he mumbled groggily.
Driving your mother to the station.
We woke Patricia.
Mrs. Long, get up. Quick, were off to the train station.
What do you mean? My train isnt for two more days! she spluttered.
Change of plan.
Silently, we got in the car. I drove. David started to protest, but the look I gave him shut him up.
I left the city, passing the turning for the station.
Emily, where are you going? Patricia was getting nervous. The stations the other way!
I know.
I stopped at the very same petrol station where Id found Marmalade. Twelve miles from town; woods, snow, biting wind.
I got out, dumped her suitcase on the side of the road.
Out you get, Mrs. Long.
What on earth for? she stared at me, startled.
Why not? Its nature, fresh air. Some time in the wild does the world of good, so you say.
Youre mad! she screeched. Its freezing! Ill catch my death out here!
Marmalade was cold too. But you called it ‘doing a good deed.
David! Tell her!
David paled. He looked at his mum, then at me, then at the shadowy woods.
Mum call a cab, he said quietly. Emilys right.
I got behind the wheel.
Youve got your phone. A taxi will come in about forty minutes. Marmalade never had that option.
We drove away. In the rear-view mirror, I saw her standing beside her suitcase, waving and yelling.
Of course she didnt freezeshe got in a taxi. But she never set foot in my house again. And David? He kept apologising for weeks. I told him only this: if he ever fails again to stand up for those weve made part of our lives, hell find himself out there in the woods too.
Was it a cruel revenge or simply justice? And can one ever truly forgive cruelty to those who depend on us for kindness? There are some lessons in life that must never be forgotten: we must never abandon the ones we choose to care for.
