Ivy’s eyes widened in surprise. “Walt, are you saying it was asking you how its babies were doing?”

Jamison nodded. “That’s what I thought too. So I crouched down, pulled out my phone, and showed it a video of Blackie and Snowy playing together.”

As Ivy listened, she couldn’t explain why, but her eyes stung as if dust had gotten in them. She just wanted to cry.

Maybe there really was some truth to the saying that all creatures have souls.

Different species or not, a mother’s love could always move people to tears.

“So what happened then? How did the mama cat react?” Ivy asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“She meowed at me twice, then walked away.” Jamison’s voice grew softer, as if weighed by some memory. He let out a sigh.

Ivy pictured the scene and felt a pang in her chest. “Is the mama cat still around?”

If she was, Ivy wanted to find her, maybe give her some food, or even take her back to see Blackie and Snowy – maybe even adopt her.

But she’d heard that most stray cats, used to their freedom, didn’t like being brought back into people’s homes.

Jamison shook his head. “She’s gone. Just a few days after she came to see me, the groundskeeper found her body in the woods behind the house.”

Ivy’s heart clenched. “Oh… how could that happen?”

“She was so thin, she must’ve been sick. Maybe she realized her time was almost up, so she brought her kittens somewhere busy, hoping a human would take them in.”

Ivy didn’t answer. Just thinking about that scene made her heart ache.

From the mama cat’s point of view, lying alone in the cold wind waiting for death, how hard it must’ve been to let go of her babies.

At least, her kittens had found kind people and now lived safe and happy lives.

When Jamison noticed Ivy’s reddened eyes and silent tears, he fumbled for a tissue and handed it to her, half-amused, half-concerned. “You’re crying over a cat you never even met. Strays don’t live long, you know. Even if she hadn’t gotten sick, she wouldn’t have made it this far.”

Ivy wiped her tears and sniffed, falling quiet for a moment before saying suddenly “Let’s make a donation to the animal shelter every year from now on. Maybe we can help a few more strays.”

Jamison smiled, indulgent. “Sure, whatever you want.”

Truth be told, Jamison had always been generous when it came to charity.

A few years back, he’d even started several foundations to help patients with rare diseases, providing annual funding for those who couldn’t afford treatment.

But he’d never thought much about animal charities – he was just too busy.

Now that Ivy wanted to help, he was more than happy to support her.

“All right. Time to sleep, I’m tired too.” He reached over and gently patted her back, comforting her with warmth.

The lights dimmed. Ivy turned to lie beside him; even though their bodies kept a respectful distance, their hearts were already entwined.

That night, Ivy had a dream.

She dreamed she was pregnant and gave birth to twins – a boy and a girl. The two little ones had wings and flitted around her, calling out “Mommy, Mommy!” in sweet voices, rubbing their cheeks against hers and giggling, just like cuddly kittens.

But when she reached out to hold them, they suddenly vanished.

She searched and searched, wandering through her dream all night. Only when the sound of footsteps and voices entered her hospital room at dawn did she jolt awake.

Jamison was still there.

So were a few nurses and doctors.

When they saw Ivy open her eyes, they nodded to Jamison and quietly left, closing the door behind them.

Ivy’s back was healing well. She could already prop herself up in bed.

She had barely sat up halfway when Jamison rushed over to steady her. “Easy now.”