I awakened in a hospital bed; a nurse was by my side checking the saline bag.
"Oh good, you're awake, I'll go get the doctor," she said.
I pushed myself up to a sitting position and discovered that there was a gray and white ball of fluff sleeping on the chair next to me. As interesting as that was, it didn't hold a candle to what caught my attention in the next bed. My girls were fast asleep. I stared at their sleeping faces, and I couldn't help the tears that streamed down my face. Five years, five long years that I have longed to watch them sleep. Their peaceful sleeping faces, the tranquility and the joy that filled me each time I looked upon them. I rubbed my eyes, to make sure I wasn't dreaming. A smile of pure joy. I have missed them dearly, the fact they were here, they were safe, I needed nothing else in this world.
As I looked at them, I noticed that they were so much older. I internally cursed that SOB for taking them. Then it dawned on me, where was their father? I called to them, "Kids, kids! Wake up. Where is your father?"
"Don't shout. I am right here." I heard the voice and turned towards the door. But there was no one there.
"Silly girl, down here."
I dropped my eyes upon the fluff ball that was staring back at me with those marvelous blue eyes. That fluff ball was a cat, to be exact a Ragdoll, a breed of cats that were known for their blue eyes. I saw his mouth move and then I heard him say, "I am right here."
"Ahhhh! What the hell?" I screamed.
With that scream, I not only woke the kids, but the nurse came rushing in. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" she asked anxiously.
Nervously I said, "Yes, I am fine."
"Okay, as long as you are okay. But do try to keep it down. There are other patients in the hospital," she admonished. Then she glared at the cat sitting on the chair for a while before returning her gaze back to me, "The doctor will be right in," she said before leaving.
"Yes," I replied with a smile.
As she walked away, Skylar got up to close the door. She then turned to her father and said, "You really can't just start talking like that. Remember how scared we were when you first did that?"
"Fine, fine," replied the Ragdoll, before he turned and started cleaning his paw.
Suddenly, I remembered that the kids had also turned into furry animals. Now seeing Zack, I am sure I did not dream that. I turned to look at them and they just smiled back. I asked inquisitively, "What happened last night? What is happening now? I turned to Zack and asked, "Why are you a cat?"
While he was telling us that he used too much of his power last night creating the protective shield. Explaining that he wasn't able to change back into his human form for a while. He jumped on my lap. I wanted to push it away, but damn, he was heavy. I stared at him for a bit and before I knew what I was doing, I reached out to scratch his chin. I just could not resist that fluffiness.
He purred and leaned into my hand. A smile came across my face as I saw how much he enjoyed it. Then it dawned on me that even though he saved me last night, I should be very mad at him for taking the kids for so many years. Even now not offering an explanation or an apology.
"Hey, get off," I pushed him, but he just did not budge.
"Just hear me out first," he pleaded. "I know I don't deserve it but just give me a chance to explain it all to you."
I stopped pushing and said, "Fine, start talking."
"Oh, by the way, I was enjoying that chin scratch, could you continue?" he cooed.
"No!" I said harshly.
He adjusted his pose and tucked his legs under him and then raised his head and said, "Okay, okay let's start from the day before you got the court verdict. That day, I had picked them up from school and in a heated argument about the divorce, Skylar transformed for the first time. Not completely but the whiskers were certainly a tell. She and Avari freaked out when long white whiskers popped out from the side of Skylar's face. After calming them down, I told her everything. About how I can transform into a cat and how their grandparents and all their ancestors as far back as can be remembered all had the same ability.
From the stories my mother had told me when I was young, one of the Katz ancestors had saved a witch from drowning in a river and as repayment, she gave her and her future descendants the ability to transform, among other things. As the witch had predicted, soldiers would soon get wind that she had aided a witch and would be searching for her. The ability to transform will help her escape capture and eventually, our family came to America. From that day, no matter male or female they all had that ability, as long as they took the last name Katz and were introduced as such by the first full moon after their birth. If it was missed, then the ability would be lost, and their future kids would never have that ability."
I chimed in, "Oh! So that is why you did that strange thing of bringing our naked newborns out in the middle of the night. Saying that you are introducing them to the moon. For Skylar, I had just woken up from a nap at the maternity ward and found you were both gone. I was so mad when you returned, I freaking thought that you were crazy. At least when it was Avari, you told me about it before taking her outside. Thank goodness they were both born in the summer."
His voice got soft as he said, "Yes, I had thought long and hard while you were pregnant, whether to go forward with this ritual for our children. I did it because I did not want to deny them the opportunity to decide whether they want to keep it. At the age of 16, they will have a chance to decide for themselves whether to keep the ability to transform and everything else that comes with it or to live their lives as normal human beings."
"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you allow me the opportunity to share in the decision that affected our kids? Why did you hide it all from me? Why are you so selfish?" I stopped as tears streamed down my face again.
He stretched out one paw and placed it on my arm, "Alaina, I was wrong. I had planned many times to tell you and definitely, when we got pregnant, I wanted to tell you so badly. But your mom told me not to. Well in all fairness, she didn't know what the secret was, but she felt I was acting weird, and she said, "Alaina is pregnant now, and she is already under a lot of stress. I don't care what secrets or misdeeds you have done. Don't you dare tell her until after the baby is born." So, I didn't."
I waited until Skylar was born, but she was born the day when there was to be a full moon. I wanted to tell you before I did the ceremony, but you were so tired from the birth, that I did not have the heart to burden you more. After I did the ceremony, I was afraid of how you would react to such a life-altering decision I had made alone for our daughter. So, I continued to keep quiet, because I figured their transformation powers won't manifest until after their tenth birthday anyways and I would have other opportunities to tell you. But the longer I waited the harder it was to bring it up. Then we got pregnant with Avari and I waited again. When I finally convinced myself that I could no longer wait, you decided that we should get a divorce," he said with a sigh.
"So, you are blaming this all on me? What the hell? I wanted a divorce because you got weird. Always staying out for weeks saying it was for work and then coming home with all those scratches and bruises. I tried many times to get you to open up about what was going on, but you didn't say a thing. So I thought the worst, and I started feeling afraid. Whatever it was, I did not want our daughters to be anywhere near all that, I told you as much when I suggested divorce. But even then, you didn't tell me, "I blubbered out between sniffles.
"No. No, none of this is your fault, it was all me. I should have told you about this when we got engaged. I should have had faith in you and in us. I should have believed that you would accept me as I am. It was my own insecurities that caused all of this," he confessed. After a moment of silence, he continued, "Alaina, I am very sorry. I was the one that broke us up. I agreed to all your terms at the time you suggested divorce because I knew that I owed you. Also, I truly believed that you were no longer happy with me and that I should let you go so that you could have a happier future. I was planning on telling you about the girls if you were granted full custody but when Skylar had transformed ahead of schedule I made a snap decision. I thought it would be too risky for you to have to take on this burden, so I took them. Once I had them in Fresno, I knew I made a mistake, but it was too late to turn back. I am so sorry; I know I completely messed up. I caused you so much pain, I truly am sorry."
I placed my hand on his paw. This was all I could muster at this moment. I couldn't get the words of forgiveness out of my mouth. It had been too many years of hatred to suddenly forgive him.
Then there was a knock on the door. I wiped away my tears and he jumped back onto the chair.
After adjusting myself a bit, I said, "Come in."
It was the doctor and he wanted to do a check-up, so he asked the girls to take the cat outside for a moment.
He pulled the curtain to give me privacy and started his exam. "You had a bit of smoke inhalation, but it was very minor. We were just keeping you here because you had fainted, and we couldn't rouse you." He listened to my heart and my lungs then said, "But we ran a test, and everything sounds fine now. Just take it easy for the next few days and if you ever feel dizzy or nauseous, please let your personal physician know or come on back to the emergency room."
"Okay, when can I be released?"
"Oh, anytime. You can go," he said. "Oh, by the way, we usually don't allow animals in the hospital, but your kids had brought your cat with them, and we did not have the heart to turn those sweet girls away after the night that they had. But please, if you return again, leave the cat at home."
"Yes, sure, no problem," I said while nodding.
"Okay then, you are free to go. I'll let you change." The doctor left after saying so. The nurse unhooked the IV and slapped a small Band-Aid on my arm. "Okay, all done."
"Thank you," I said and got up to change.
Once I was done changing, I walked out the door and right into the smiling faces of my girls, and of course that darn cat too.
"Okay, I can go. But where should we go?" I asked, "How about going back to my hotel room? I think we can all fit."
"No, mom, let's go back to the house. It survived, and also grandma and the others are still waiting for us there. The fields and the barn burned but there's enough road in between that and the house that it never got near," Skylar said.
"Let's go home, mom," Avari said. She grabbed my arm and led the way.
I was a bit reluctant, but I didn't want to leave my kid either. I just allowed myself to be led down the hallway.
I call back to the cat, "By the way, we are in no way done with this conversation."
He whispered, "I know."