Until We Figure This Out

The cats took over the living room like a tiny, fur-covered army. Laughter from the two Romano kids echoed across the rug, blending with the clatter of toys and the patter of small paws skidding over marble.

“Spaghetti wants to be a dinosaur!” Ash yelled.

“He can’t! He’s a cat!” Zoe argued.

“He can if he believes!”

Zane fought a laugh beside me.

I sipped my coffee, now lukewarm, and watched him lean back in his chair, relaxed. His fingers spun the mug, a small, steady motion. His tell whenever something was running through his head.

I looked at the cats again. Marble sat on the corner of the couch. Pepper sniffed Zoe’s hair. Mama Mozzarella was curled up in the middle of the rug, and Spaghetti was attempting to leap onto the table with a plastic dinosaur clutched in his mouth.

“Zane,” I said quietly.

He turned, one eyebrow lifting.

“I forgot to tell you something.”

“Hmm?”

I set my cup down and drew in a breath. “A few days ago, I got a package.”

Zane leaned forward slightly. “What kin