Perfect Summer by Bethany Lopez
Mitch
Imoved through the cabin, making sure everything was in its place and the rooms looked clean. There was a good chance Faith, and her daughter, wouldn’t even come inside, but I didn’t want to get caught with dishes in the sink or my dirty socks on the floor.
I don’t know why it mattered to me what Faith thought of my home, or of me, but it did. And I’d be a liar if I said otherwise.
I’d been surprised to answer my phone and hear Faith’s voice on the other end. I guess it wasn’t all that surprising she’d gotten my number, she could literally ask anyone on the street, and they’d have it. I’d simply been shocked she called at all.
I’d felt a little let down upon realizing she was calling about the kittens I’d posted about, and not because she wanted to talk to me, but I was willing to take anything at this point. And, yes, I realized how that made me sound.
I finished sweetening the sun tea I’d made with sugar and placed it in the refrigerator to chill when I heard a knock on my door.
With one last glance around the space, I walked to the door using wide strides, then paused and took a deep breath in order to brace myself for what waited on the other side. Or should I say, who.
I opened the door, and my gaze automatically went down.
A smiling face looked back up at me, with eyes exactly like Faith’s, and the same golden hair pulled up in pigtails. She wore a pink jumpsuit over a white shirt and had on two different sandals.
My breath caught in my throat as a million different thoughts crashed through my mind.
“My mommy said you have kittens,” Faith’s doppelganger said in the sweetest voice I’d ever heard.
I finally tore my eyes away from her and brought my gaze up to Faith. “She looks just like you,” I managed.
Faith smiled proudly and placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Hope, say hi to Mitch before you start in on him about the kittens,” she said with a laugh.
“Hi, Mr. Mitch.”
I crouched down so we could be on eye level, held out my hand, and said, “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Hope.”
She giggled and shook my hand.
“Can I see the kittens now?” she asked, tilting her head back to look at her mom.
“We sure can,” I answered, shutting the door behind me, and starting down the steps. “Follow me.”
I heard Hope’s tiny steps chasing after me as I rounded the corner and stopped next to the large box on the side of the house I’d set up with an old blanket when I’d found the kittens.
We could hear the kittens mewing as we neared, and I heard Hope gasp in anticipation.
“Here they are,” I said, pointing to the box.
We looked down to see the mom laid out across the blanket with three of the five kittens laying near her, while the other two played.
“Oh, Hope, aren’t they adorable,” Faith cooed as they both got closer.
Hope’s eyes were wide, and she looked completely mesmerized by what she was seeing.
Faith looked up at me with a grin. “I think she’s speechless. That doesn’t happen often.”
Hope stood there frozen for so long I was about to ask if she was okay, when I heard her whisper, “Can I hold one?”
“Yeah, of course,” I replied, moving to the box. “Which one would you like to hold?”
I noticed her tiny fingernails were painted a soft pink as she pointed at the gray kitten who was attacking his mother’s tail.
“Great choice,” I told her as I reached in to pick him up and placed him in her outstretched hands.
“Ohhhh,” she squealed softly as she cradled him close. “She’s so soft.”
“Actually, that one’s a boy,” I told her.
Hope looked between me and her mom and said, “I was going to name it Princess Alice. Do you think he’d mind if I call him Prince Alice?”
My heart melted a bit as I watched her snuggle him.
“I think he’ll be happy with whatever you name him, as long as you love him and keep him safe,” Faith said gently.
“I will. Promise!”
“I think it’s a love match,” I told Faith.
She laughed and nodded in response.
“You can say that again. I’m so happy you found them and put up that flyer. You’ve made Hope’s day.” And when she reached out to pet Prince Alice’s head with her lips turned up, I knew she was just as enamored with the kitten as her daughter was.
“Would you like to come inside? I have some sweet sun tea.” I asked.
“Really? It’s been forever since I had sun tea. I haven’t even thought about it in ages. I’d love some. What do you think, Hope?”
“I also have milk and orange juice, if you don’t like tea,” I told her.
“Can Prince Alice come inside, too?” she asked, unwilling to give him up for a second.
“Of course,” I assured her.
“Then I’d like some orange juice, please.”
“You got it,” I replied, then led them back around the house and up to the door.
“I heard Wilder rented cabins up here, but I’d never seen one … I love it. Have you lived here long?” Faith asked as we went inside.
“A couple years,” I replied as I moved to the kitchen to get the drinks.
Hope sat on my chair and laid the kitten in her lap, who immediately found a comfy position and started to doze off.
“It’s not forever, but I needed to give my mom her own space and have mine. I started out in an apartment, but hated it, so when Wilder built the cabins and said he was going to rent them out, I asked if I could move in. I’m much happier being surrounded with peace and quiet than I was in that cramped one-bedroom. Eventually I’ll build something…”
“That sounds nice. Do you have an idea of where you want to build?” she asked, then said, “Thanks,” when I handed her a glass of tea.
I put Hope’s juice on the table next to her and then sat on the sofa next to Faith, giving her a few inches of space.
“Yeah, actually, there’s a piece of land down Tucker Lane past the church, about five acres. I’ve put an offer on it, I’m just waiting to hear back.”
“That’s awesome.”
I shrugged and said, “Yeah, it’ll take a while to build a house, but I’m excited over the prospect of owning something of my own.”
“Well, I hope they accept your offer,” Faith replied, taking a sip of tea. “Oh my gosh, I forgot how good this is. I don’t know why I haven’t started making this myself. Looks like when we stop at the store to get supplies for Prince Alice, I’m going to have to get a sun tea jar as well.”
“I can’t believe you don’t still drink it. It was always your favorite.”
“I guess once I got to Chicago, it was so cold for so long that once summer finally rolled around, I just didn’t think of it.”
A million questions were on the tip of my tongue at her mention of Chicago, but I knew it wasn’t the time to get into it, not with Hope there.
After they finished their drinks, Faith said they should get going so they could stop at the store on their way home, so I walked them out to Faith’s car and waited as she secured Hope in her car seat.
“Thanks again for letting us come by to see the kittens.”
“I’m just glad Hope and the Prince found each other,” I joked, then said more seriously, “But you are both welcome anytime.”
“Bye, Mr. Mitch,” Hope called from the back seat.
I leaned into the window and said, “Bye, Ms. Hope. I hope you and Prince Alice are very happy together.”
“We will be,” she said, stroking his fur lovingly. “You can come visit him if you want.”
“I’d like that,” I said, then straightened and glanced at Faith. “If it’s all right with you, of course.”
Faith lifted one shoulder and said, “Call me.”
I stood there and watched her car drive down the lane, really hoping she’d meant it.