I realized while writing this that I got the birth times wrong in New Kittens for Vahid and Javed. Vahid was born the night before and Javed was born the same time as Shiva.
Kin felt awkward leaning again the wall across the courtyard from the creche, like some crazy stalker or something. He should have stayed at the library and finished the project. Only a few more hours and it would be done.
“They’re in there.” Rayn pointed. “They’ll come out with three kittens a piece. Quite the handful.”
“Was this what you were doing yesterday instead of helping with the project?”
She swished her hair. “I have priorities.”
Not the right ones.
The door to the creche opened and out came the most beautiful woman Kin had ever seen. Her hair was long and so dark it sucked in all the light around it. Her skin was dusky pale and she was both lean and round. Her skirts swished as she walked into the courtyard. She carried a basket, like all smart parents. It wasn’t until kittens got older that keeping them in a basket was more work than carrying them separately.
Three small kittens and one bigger one followed her out. Then came Ved. He had to duck to get through the doorway. He had a black kitten sprawled on his shoulder. It wasn’t a Maine Coon, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t his.
“I wonder where the other one is?”
In the basket?
Ved looked their way and gestured to the woman. They all turned toward Kin. He moved closer to the corner but in less than a moment he was fenced in by kittens, included the one who had been on Ved’s shoulder. He gave Kin a sniff. “Who is this, Uncle Ved?”
Ved grinned. “Shiva, do you remember Kin?”
She passed the basket to Ved. “Who could forget everyone’s favorite ginger?”
She gave him a familiar hug, even though it had more curves.
“Shiva? You’ve grown.”
She laughed. “So have you.” She hugged him again. “I’ve missed you, but not as much a Ved has.”
“Sheev!”
Shiva laughed again. Then she introduced her nephews. The smaller kittens, including the four in the basket, were their older brothers’. The bigger one belonged to their litter-mates. “Vahid and Del were both pregnant at graduation. These two are Vahid’s. He and his husband had kittens at the same time. Del’s little one didn’t sleep well last night, so Del kept her home. But he’ll want to see you. Ved, bring him by sometime.”
Ved blushed. Shiva turned to Rayn. “And who is this?”
“You’re beautiful.”
“I know, sweetheart. Baba says I’m their only girl because why mess with perfection. But I’m pretty sure it’s because when I was this age,” she rubbed her black furred nephew under the chin, “I made a whole bunch of money appear. Hekte, daric, drachma, talent, stater: all really old coins. They never did figure out where it came from. It’s in the university museum.”
“Money? Why?”
Shiva turned to Ved. “Do you remember?”
They bickered lightly for a while. Rayn managed to stop drolling and stand up straight. “But who are you?”
Shiva grinned. “Shiva, darling. Just ask anyone. They all know me. This is my little brother.”
“By less than a minute.”
She blinked at him. He sighed.
“But you look nothing alike.”
Shiva blinked at her. Rayn pressed her lips together.
“Kin, grab a kitten. We’re the family daycare delivery service. All right, boys, off we go.”
The three smaller kittens claimed Kin. One perched on each shoulder and one on his head. Ved grinned and took his hand. Today wouldn’t be so bad after all.
