Sisters by Choice (Blackberry Island #4)(55)

“A while. You really think it makes sense?”

“It’s brilliant. You have reserves for cost overruns on your remodel. The cash flow is conservative. I’ve been running CK since I was in college and I don’t think I could have put together a business plan this complete. You’re ready. Do it. Really. You have to do this.”

Kristine smiled. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

More than a lot. She felt lighter and happier and empowered.

“What’s the next step?” Sophie asked. “Sign the lease? You want to get that place before someone else does.”

“I need to talk to Jaxsen.”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “This is why I’m never getting married again. I don’t want some man getting between me and what I want.”

“Somehow I doubt that would happen, even if you were married.”

“You’re probably right. Anyway, talk to Jaxsen. He’s a good guy—he’ll be on board with this. You’ve really thought it through, Kristine. People come to me all the time with crazy-ass ideas. Most of them are a disaster. But this one is terrific. You should be proud of yourself.”

“Thank you.” Kristine collected the folder. She was happy and scared and excited. And a little in shock.

“You look stunned,” Sophie told her. “Even I think my opinion matters, but you’re taking it a little too far.”

Kristine laughed. “It’s not that, although I really appreciate you telling me what you think. It’s just I’ve realized I’m out of excuses. Now I have to do this.”

“Have to or want to?”

Kristine thought for a second, then laughed. “Have to, want to, need to. All of them. It’s time. I’m going to make this happen.”

  Sophie knew the last thing she needed right now was more responsibility but the pleading in Jessica’s voice was difficult to ignore.

“I know what I’m asking,” the animal shelter volunteer told her. “But I’m willing to beg if that makes a difference.”

“You don’t have to beg.”

Sophie thought about the third bedroom in her rental. She hadn’t taken out any furniture and she wasn’t sure when she would have time to do that.

“I’ll bring her to you. I’ll bring the supplies. We are totally out of room and this is a genuine emergency.”

Sophie nodded before she spoke. “All right. You can bring her by. What’s her name?”

“Mrs. Bennet. From—”

“I know what it’s from. Hopefully, all the kittens will be girls. I really don’t want to have to call a kitten Mr. Darcy.”

They agreed that Sophie would meet Jessica at five.

Sophie got home a few minutes early. Since giving birth, Lily had free rein of the house, but while a new pregnant cat was moving in, Lily would need to be confined. Sophie greeted her mama cat and explained about their new roommate.

“The shelter is overwhelmed,” she said, wrestling the mattress off the bed and leaning it up against the wall. “They needed another foster parent so I said yes. I hope you don’t mind sharing.”

Lily rubbed against her leg, purring as she moved. Sophie assumed that was feline approval. “I told her this is my absolute limit. Two adult females and their kittens is about all I can handle and I don’t want to test my landlord’s patience.”

She left the box spring in place and covered it with several sheets, then opened the closet doors for the litter box and brought in a large box, similar to the one Lily had used for her crew.

Right on time, someone rang the doorbell.

Lily bolted for her bedroom. Sophie closed the door behind her before letting in Jessica. The volunteer had a large carrier in one hand and an empty litter box in the other.

“I can’t thank you enough,” she said as she hurried inside. “We had three more pregnant cats dropped off today and there’s nowhere to put them. Mrs. Bennet has been checked out by the vet. She’s fairly far along so should be giving birth in the next few days.”

Sophie was hoping for a little more time for them to get acquainted but it didn’t seem that was going to happen.

Together they carried in all the supplies. Once the litter box was filled and the food and water were in place, Jessica thanked Sophie again before hurrying out to her car. Sophie sat on the floor by the carrier and unlatched the door.

“Hello, Mrs. Bennet. I’m Sophie. There’s another cat staying with me. You’ll meet Lily later.”

Mrs. Bennet’s answer was a loud, unhappy yowl. She stayed where she was in the back of the carrier and hissed.

“It’s okay,” Sophie told her. “I’d be scared, too. I’ll just leave you to get settled.”

She used an old towel to anchor the crate door open so the cat wouldn’t get trapped inside, then went out, carefully closing the bedroom door behind her. She checked on Lily, who was watching, wide-eyed.

“Yes, that was another cat. She’s here and she’s not very happy.”

Another yowl cut through the house. Lily looked in the direction of the noise before hurrying to her kittens. She jumped into the box and did a nose count before lying down so they could snack.

Sophie fed Lily, then cooked a frozen dinner for herself. While it heated and over the meal, she reviewed expenses for the past six weeks, wincing at the cost of new shelving and desks and everything else they’d needed to get the business up and running. Yes, the insurance check covered it all, but she still hated the idea of spending money on fixtures and furniture.