Chapter 96

Kiki woke in her apartment the next morning with Prissy rubbing against her shoulder, trying to wake her. It was their usual morning routine. Prissy heard the alarm, Kiki hit the snooze, and Prissy went to work. This morning, the cat didn't need the alarm. The rays of sunshine glaring through the windows was enough.

As she began to gain consciousness, memories of the day before rushed to her mind. The memory of spending a would-be Christmas with Taren and his family. The memory of Abby opening her gifts, of sled riding with her and Taren. Kiki's fear when Abby nearly froze, and the relief when she recovered.

Prissy meowed loudly in her ear as she nuzzled against Kiki's arm again, determined to wake her this time. She knew Prissy really must have missed her.

"Okay, I'm getting up." Kiki sat up on the edge of the bed and Prissy nuzzled against her, wanting to be petted. "You don't seem to know that I haven't gone back to work yet, do you?"

Prissy looked up at her as if Kiki had lost