Page 66 of Christmas Magic

The kitten mewled, a pathetic sound. “I’m scared.”

“Scared of a little water?” Galahad snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Says the cat who is terrified of baths,” Rose muttered.

“It will be a quick scrubbing, I promise,” Molly told the kitten.

“But…can’t you just put that twopical stuff on me?”

“Topical. I will, after your bath.”

“But I’m hurt! Remember? My paw?” Tim trembled and raised his injured leg higher, as though to remind her. The vet had checked the limb and diagnosed a sprain that should resolve on its own if Tim got lots of rest and TLC.

“I promise, Tim, I will be careful,” Molly soothed.

Daisy paced by her feet. “Please be very careful. Tim’s just a baby.”

“You didn’t give birth to him,” Rose meowed. “Stop being so bossy.”

“Ha! Says the bossiest one of us all.”

“Enough!” Molly snapped. “I can barely think with you cats making such a fuss.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, regret set in. The felines didn’t deserve the brunt of her frustration. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Molly,” Daisy said. “We know you’ve had a rough day.”

What an understatement. Her argument with Lucian still lingered in her thoughts, and soon, since he shared the house with her, he’d be walking in the door. She had no idea how her next conversation with him would go.

What if things got tense and she had to use her magic on Lucian tonight?

No. She mustn’t let such worries control her. Securing her hold on Tim, she lowered the kitten into the water.

Tim yowled and kicked his back legs.

“Please hold still.” Molly fumbled to keep hold of the baby cat and squirt shampoo out of the bottle.

“I’m gonna die,” the kitten wailed.

“Oh, the poor boy,” Daisy meowed.

“Tim, you’ll be just fine.”

Molly rubbed at the blob of shampoo. White foam spread over the kitten’s back.

Tim wailed again. “Dat stuff stinks!”

“Hold still.”

“I don’t wanna smeww bad.”

The kitten flicked his tail.

Water hit Molly’s face, and she spluttered. “Tim!”

With a worried-sounding brrrtt, Daisy landed beside Molly’s left arm.

“Daisy! You aren’t allowed on the counters,” Molly said.