Chapter One
Kevin was, in a word... Quiet. At twenty-five years old, he had no friends, no real acquaintances, and half a dozen cats. Which kinda made sense, as he was the sole owner of Kevin's Kitty Rescue. It was a small non-for-profit organisation based out of his home. He'd been running it since he was nineteen... A few months after his life was turned upside down...
With a groan, Kevin dropped into the driver's seat of his dad's old car. Note: DADS old car. Which he, Kevin, was reminded of daily. It didn't matter that he'd rebuilt it from basically scrap over the last eighteen months. It didn't matter that Kevin paid the registration, insurance, fuel, and all associated costs. Doesn't even matter that he ran the idea past his father, to begin with. His dad was just a prick like that... Waited until Kevin had rebuilt it to factory, before staking his claim... At least he was 'kind enough' to let Kevin drive it too and from his university.
With a sigh, Kevin twisted the key, listening to the engine rumble into life. Hitting play on the cassette player (ask your parents), Kevin put the old girl into gear and made his slow commute home. Slow, being the operative word. He didn't have work today, so he wasn't in any rush to be home. Best case scenario, his father was already passed out drunk. Worst case, he was still drinking... Kevin's mother, Bianca, had no work-life skills. She was an amazing housewife, an amazing mother and Kevin loved her dearly. Hell, Gerald, Kevin's father, was once a decent man that loved her too. But after a spinal injury turned into a morphine addiction, which in turn turned to alcohol... There wasn't much of that good man any more... He wasn't paralyzed either. A beam fell on him from the story above and crushed a vertebra. It had taken a couple of years to recover, but other than a sore back when he lifted something heavy, he was fine. At least while he was sober... The settlement they received was more than enough for him to drink himself to oblivion for the next decade...
But, as all good things must end. Kevin got home. His mother was just about to lock the door when she saw him. Her wide smile was in stark contrast to the swelling over her eye. No amount of concealer can cover swelling... Getting out of the car, Kevin approached his mother and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek.
"Everything okay, ma?"
She sighed, "Yes dear. Your father went out for cigarettes and ended up in a pub. I'm off to collect him."
Kevin just nodded slowly, before giving his mother a firm hug. There wasn't much to say any more... Kevin's hope was that with the completion of his masters in business, he could start his own company. In time, he'd help his mother escape and put his father in rehab. If rehab failed, his father was on his own... Or at least, that was hopeful thinking for the time being. With a final goodbye, he smiled at the sound of the dairy cattle on the farm their home backed onto. The large animals were by the back fence grazing like they did this time of year. At least they knew what to expect from life.
It was a couple of hours later when Kevin heard a car pull up. Kevin had peeled vegetables in preparation for his parents' return. Anything to help his mother keep on his drunken father's good side. She didn't need any more bruises. So it was a little strange when someone knocked... With a sigh, Kevin headed to the door and ended his world as he knew it.
"Are you Kevin Croombe?" Asked a man in a blue uniform.
"Yes, is this about my father?" Kevin replied, when the boys in blue showed up, it was always about his father.
"We have some bad news, about your parents..."
Kevin listened in horror to the two police officers. It was surprisingly brief. When his mother arrived at the pub to collect her husband, he didn't want to leave. It was the bartender that had called, not him. When she tried to make him leave, he struck out, knocking her to the floor. That's when the police were called. By the time they arrived, Gerald had already forced his dazed wife into the boot of her own car and started driving. At the sight of the red and blue flashing lights, he ran. They stopped chasing straight away, but with his drunken stupor, Gerald kept driving faster and faster. Five minutes after the police lost Gerald, Gerald hit an embankment. Without a seatbelt, he was ejected from the car. Kevin's mother, Bianca, trapped inside the boot, was not. And like that, in a single act of drunken horror... Kevin was alone...
It took a week to make all the arrangements. The family lawyer, the same man that gave Gerald his injury payout, now gave what was left to Kevin. Along with a small life insurance policy from his mother. Kevin had enough to honour his mother in death, as he loved her in life. Kevin's father was cremated and dumped in a landfill. With the last of the guests gone, Kevin was finally alone with his memories.
The drive was done in silence. He pulled over in a nearby park. Kevin didn't want his car left out where it would inconvenience anyone. With a sniff and a wipe of his tears, Kevin started walking. At midnight, there was little traffic on this side of town. But just enough that he figured someone would spot him before the end. His body would join his mothers. He'd already bought the plot and headstone. And soon enough, he was in the middle of the bridge.
With a deep breath, Kevin leaned on the railing and looked below. As expected for the dry season, the river was split. There was a small rocky outcrop below the bridge, like a tiny deserted island. It made it look like there were two parallel rivers for a while. But as quickly as it split, it rejoined. It was also a beautiful and peaceful spot. With a final wipe of his tears, Kevin threw his leg over the railing.
*Mew*
Kevin paused.
*Mew*
Twisting his head around, he couldn't help but wonder... Pulling his leg back over, Kevin made his way to the roadside. Right there, on the edge of the road, was a little tabby kitten...
*Mew* It cried pathetically.
For whatever reason, Kevin chose that moment, to live. Ripping his shirt off his body, he gently wrapped it around the tabby kitten and scooped it up into his arms.
"Shhh, I got you, you're safe now."
Now Kevin could see it up close, he could see it was badly injured. It's left forelimb looked almost flat, and it pointed in an odd direction. Without a second to think, he pulled out his phone and googled the nearest animal hospital.
An hour later, he was signing paperwork for over ten thousand dollars in medical costs...
A week later, he brought home his three-legged kitten...
"You got a name, little girl?"
*Mew*
"Didn't think so. How about... Sable?"
*Mew!*
"Sable it is then. Now," Kevin carried his precious cargo into the master bedroom. The movers had been quick. All his parents' belongings had been moved to storage and his new bedroom decor had been delivered hours earlier. "You're gonna sleep in here with me for now. When you need something, let me know and I'll help you. There's plenty of food and water, and I've got a litter tray on the toilet. Gonna teach you good habits!"
*mew*
***
Six years later, Kevin had quite a reputation in the local veterinarian world. He was cool, quiet, barely spoke to people, which was a shame, as he was quite handsome. But what really made his rep, was his drive to rescue his 'kitties' as he called them. Whether it was a stray giving birth in a junkyard, an injury due to a vehicle strike or someone reporting an abused animal. Kevin was the go-to guy. He'd even gone as far as paying a family a thousand dollars for their cat after he caught wind, they were going to use it to bait dogs. Marla, as he named her, ruled their little roost. She enjoyed sitting up on the fridge and staring down at everyone and everything. But Kevin knew when he was alone, and Sable wasn't cuddled up... sometimes... only sometimes, Marla would settle herself in for a cuddle and some pats. Only to quickly run away when she was caught out. Inside she was just as sweet as all the others.
With Sable and Marla, there was also Gemma, Sue, Grace, and Harriet. These were HIS kitties. Each and every one of them came to him broken in some way. Gemma was mauled by dogs leaving her with a torn ear and various scars. Sue was burned in a house fire. Grace and Harriet were found tied up in a plastic bag beside a river. Their four siblings weren't so lucky. Each loved him in their own ways and Kevin loved them all without reserve. But Sable... Sable was special. Without fail, every evening, she would share his bed. She was also his alarm clock, licking his nose and purring until he woke up and fed them. If not for her unending love and affection, he'd have off-ed himself years ago. Now she kept him happy, reminding him he was very much loved and needed.
Which was a good thing, because today, Kevin desperately needed his kitties. It was the anniversary of his parent's death, which on its own, was not a good thing. He'd gotten a call about a malnourished cat in an abandoned home's backyard. When he'd arrived at the property, it was one of those houses with car bodies in the yard. From the smell of the place, it seemed that maybe it was less, abandoned, and more, owners were arrested for cooking meth. But... Kitties were kitties, and he wasn't about to let possible needle sticks and junkies keep him from a poor kitty.
It was a little over an hour before he spotted the kitty. Scrawny, black and grey with little socks. It was missing patches of fur. And was hissing madly at him from under a car body. There was metal stacked up on it from three sides, so the cat didn't have any escape routes.
"It's okay little kitty, I won't hurt you," Kevin said, pulling out his emergency kitty bag.
With all the high tech equipment in the world, the 'emergency kitty bag,' just held some steamed, shredded chicken.
"Come on, I'll put it over here," Kevin reached as far forward as he could, under the car and placed a small handful of chicken on the ground. "I'll be right here until you feel safe to come out. There's more chicken if you do."
Then, it was the waiting game... An hour later, he pretended not to notice the cat as it kept forward for its meal. Kevin waited for it to back off again, before placing a second, smaller amount, slightly closer. Soon enough, the cat was literally eating from his hand, right up until he grabbed it. Then it was like holding a blender, by the blades, on the highest setting. Which is why Kevin was wearing a gardening glove on his opposite hand. A moment later, he was holding the cat tightly, while it snarled and bit at the glove. Wrapping it like a baby in a blanket, he was able to gain control and made his way back to the car.
In the boot, he had a pet carrier already set up and waiting with a bowl of water. So after slightly loosening the blanket, he placed the snarling feline into the carrier.
"It's okay, kitty. I'm gonna look after you," Kevin said, placing the open packet of steamed chicken in the carrier.
With the cat secured, Kevin washed his wounds with antiseptic and climbed into the driver's seat.
"Car, call vet hospital."
"Calling.... Calling... Call-Hills veterinary, you're speaking with Mary."
