**Help**
Its bad. Bad and bitter, bitter and painful, painful and unfair.
No tears left to cry.
Why? Why would he do this to me?
Seven years. Seven happy years.
Holding hands, never a harsh word, and then just like that, hes gone. No, not gonehe sneaked away like a coward.
The phone keeps ringing and ringingwho on earth could it be?
Mum.
*”Hello, love love, what are you up to?”*
*”Nothing, Mum.”* Keep the voice calm. Steady.
*”Good. Youre not crying over that idiot, are you? Not worth your tears.”*
*”An idiots an idiot, even in Africa.”* Mum chuckles at her own joke. *”Listen, love, I wanted to invite you to the cottage this Friday. Aunt Marge is coming, and shes bringing her nephewSimon, you dont know him, but I do. Lovely lad, just had a rough go of it.”*
*”Oh? What happened?”*
*”Well, his wifeabsolute waste of space. Thank goodness he got rid of her.”*
*”Strangled her, did he?”*
*”What? Who strangled who?”*
*”You said he got rid of her.”*
*”Oh, for heavens sake, what a thing to joke about! But thats good, love. Laugh. Helps, you know. When your dad left me for that flautistoh, what was her name?I cried so much I skipped school, walked along the Thames, even thought about jumping in”*
*”Mum Im not really in the mood right now.”*
*”Right, right. So, Friday then? Well see you there?”*
*”I dont know, Mum.”*
*”Thats not an answer, Lily. Promise me.”*
*”Fine, Mum. Ill come. For a bit.”*
*”Good. And remember, love, your dad and I are here, always. Dad says hello toooh, hang on, hes wavingLily? Lily, you hear me? Dad loves you and so do I”*
Curled under a blanket, lying in the dark. No tears left. No strength to cry.
Just one question.
Why?
The phone rings again.
Sister.
Dont pick up, but if she doesnt answer, her sister will rally the whole family.
*”Hello.”*
*”Lil, whats wrong? You sound awful.”*
*”Nothing. Just got dumped by the man I was going to have kids with. No big deal.”*
*”Oh, stop moping over some prat! When Dave left me, I thought Id die. Remember Dave? Gorgeous bloke, six months together, absolutely mad for him. And look at me now, eh? Point is, were going campingcouples only, but since Toms wife just left him, we thought well, you two might hit it off. And honestly, your ex was always a bit of a tosser.”*
*”Ill think about it, Sarah.”*
*”Think hard, Lil.”*
Cold. Cold and aching. Eyes swollen, too sore to open.
Another call.
Grandma.
Good grief.
*”Hello”*
*”Lily, my darling. Come round, Ill make your favourite scones, hot chocolate, even a little sherry. Ill send Granddad to the shedjust us girls. I know how you feel. When my first beau left me, oh, I took up smoking! Briefly. Then I met your granddad, and he swept me off my feet”*
*”Thanks, Grandma. Ill think about it.”*
All day, the calls cameeveryone sharing their own heartbreak stories.
By evening, Lily finally drifted off, only to be woken by the doorbell.
Go away.
But it kept ringing.
Lily dragged herself up and opened the door.
No one there.
She turned to shut itthen heard a sharp little voice.
*”Oi! Move aside, let us through. Typical. Try to help and you get door-blocked.”*
Lily looked down.
Good Lord.
A row of tiny figures marched in.
*”Hicwho are you?”*
*”Cant you tell? Were cats.”*
*”Cawhat cats?”*
*”All sorts. Were here to help. Now close the door before you catch a chill.”*
*”Were family. The Catson family.”*
*”Mum, check her head. Son, check her pulse. Daughter, put the kettle on. Sit down, love.”*
Dazed, Lily obeyed as the cats scurried about with purpose.
*”Granny Catson, she needs a story.”*
*”Purr, my dear let the bad go, let the good come. Dad Catson, tuck her in. Fluff her pillow. And little one, put that downno playing with her phone!”*
Lily watched, half-dreaming, as a tiny Catson snapped a selfie.
*”Granddad, rub her hands. Uncle, her feet.”*
And so they did, until Lily fell asleep to the sound of soft paws padding away.
Morning came, and somehow, she felt lighter.
No sign of the Catsons. A dream, then.
Outside, the sun rosegolden autumn.
Laughable, taking leave just to cry.
Friday. Shed promised Mum.
At the door, she heard a tiny mew.
A lone kitten sat on the step.
*”Wheres your family, little one?”*
Silence. Just a pitiful squeak.
No one around. Lily tucked the kitten into her coat and headed to the cottage. Couldnt leave him.
Unseen, the Catson clan peeked from behind a hedge, high-fiving with their paws before trotting offduty called elsewhere.
At the station, a young man looked lost.
*”Need directions?”*
*”Yes! First time here. Heading to Brightwell.”*
*”Me too. Come on.”*
They talkedhis name was Jamesand by the time they reached Brightwell, they were friends.
Lily didnt want him to leave, but
*”Lily, do you know number thirty-seven? Far from here?”*
*”Thirty-seven? Wait youre Aunt Marges nephew?”*
*”And youre Aunt Lizs daughter?”*
Laughing, they stepped through the gate.
*”Whove you been cuddling all this way? Thought you might be expecting!”*
*”Oh, this? Meet my son.”*
*”Your son?”*
*”Yes. This is Catson Catson!”*
*”Catson, eh?”* James smirked.
*”Got a problem with that?”*
*”None at all. Allow meJames Alexander Catson.”*
When their families appeared, the two were wiping tears of laughter. The kitten blinked up at them, head tilting.
***
A large grey cat sat on the windowsill, grumbling.
*”Where are they? Two months old, and theyre dragging him about like a ragdoll. Disgraceful.”*
Once, hed been small too.
Lily still wondered how little Catson had taken that selfie. She and James had theories. She still thought it a dream.
Then *he* showed upex in tow, champagne in hand, begging forgiveness.
Catson answered the door.
*”What dyou want?”*
The ex froze.
Catson flexed a tiny paw.
*”Shoo. And stay away from our Lily.”*
Then, because he was still just a kitten, he couldnt resista little *accident* in the mans shoe.
Well. Hed earned it.
Good morning, lovelies!
Quick, hear the tale before the Catsons return.
Hugs and sunshine,
Always yours.
