Animals lovers.
Carol called Tanya in the morning,
“Hi sister, are you coming to my birthday party today, right? - Carol sounded very happy and excited.
“Yes I will be there sweetie, - Tanya replied, “I might be a little bit late, because I am picking up Daisy from the vet, she is fine just weak after the procedure “
“Tanya, she is ten years old what did you expect from her poor thing, it’s eighty years old in cats years.”- Carol said, “ anyway, please be tonight, there is someone I want you to meet.
“No way, don’t even start “, - Tanya become nervous.
“He is as crazy as you are , animal lover, you will see”, Carol replied, “see you soon”.
Tanya just sighed. There was a reason, she thought why she didn’t want to date again, she just can’t trust anyone anymore . After work she went to the vet clinic to pick up her white female cat Daisy ,”how are you feeling sweetheart, mommy loves you”, Tanya talked to Daisy on the way home, while Daisy was crying in her crate.”
Tanya got home, she put cat food and water into the bowls for Daisy and changed into the little black dress for the party, put makeup and curled her medium brown hair. She looked at the mirror, “You look cute “, she smiled at herself, “ Alright, let’s do it, be brave, let’s meet that guy.” Tanya shook her head, chin up, and took her car keys,
“Daisy my sweet girl, I will be back home soon, here is your food.” Tanya left.
Party was loud , Tanya heard the music from the outside. She got inside the house hugged her sister, “ Happy Birthday Carol, my baby sister. I love you. “, Tanya said and handed her small bag with the gift.
“It’s my favorite perfume! Thank you sister!” Carol exclaimed, “Tanya come here, I want you to meet Andrew, he is my personal trainer at the gym.” Carol said.
They run to the living room quickly, where Andrew was standing with glass of vine talking to Carol’s friends.”isn’t he cute? Carol whispered in Tanya’s ear, “better than the cat”, Carol smiled.
“No one is better than the cat”, Tanya answered to her sister and come forward to Andrew,
“Hello Andrew, my name is Tanya, it’s very nice to meet you.” Tanya said, she tried to behave normal hiding her nervousness.
“Hello there”, Andrew smiled and shook her hand gently, “how are you doing today?”
“I am fine ,thank you and how about you?”, Tanya asked with shyness, she got chills, Carol was right he is handsome well fit and dressed up .
Andrew was thirty four years old, he had blue eyes, blond hair , dressed in the light blue buttoned shirt with long sleeves and grey trousers.
She noticed a shiny watches on his wrist, “ expensive for the gym worker, he probably has another job too”, Tanya thought, “ My sister said you are the crazy animals lover, like me”, Tanya asked him.
“Yes I love animals absolutely, they are better than some people”, he smiled.
“That’s my line!”- Tanya smiled back and sipped her vine from the glass, that Andrew picked up from the bar table for her.
“Andrew do you have a dog or a cat?” Tanya asked.
“My dog died recently few years ago, he had a good healthy life, I missed him so much” , Andrew answered with sadness in his voice.
“I am very sorry”, Tanya said and put her hand on his shoulder, stroking his bicep gently touching for support. She felt butterflies in her stomach.
“Dogs are true friends, he was the only one who loved me, he always knew if I am sad or happy, always wanted to be a part of that moment, cats are different.” - Andrew said.
“I disagree” Tanya said, “my Daisy always feels me completely “.
“I had a cat once,”- Andrew continued, “when I was a little boy, I rescued small black kitten , who was trapped in the water stoke. I took him home, washed him, cleaned his wounds, feed him every day, watch him to heal. But one day when we were playing in the garden he just runaway from me and never came back. I was calling and searching for him, crying for several days. My heart was broken and from that moment I learned don’t be attached to anyone anymore. It was too painful .” Andrew paused , took a long deep breath, “I have same experience with the women, they are like cats. They let you love them just for a time what they needed and then disappeared whenever they want. I was married once, I know.” He said with smile.
Tanya felt sorry for him, “Can I hug you?” She asked. Andrew gave her a hug in return. “Andrew, would you like to come over to my place for a coffee? I need to go home to check on my Daisy, I brought her home today from the vet today, I am worried about her.” asked Tanya, she cut two slices of the birthday cake and put into the plastic container to take it home.
Andrew went with Tanya to her car, “you will pick up your car tomorrow “ - she whispered in his ear, taking a break from his kisses. They barely made inside the car continuously kissing and making out on the back seat once they got in. “ Am I going crazy?” Tanya thought when she finally started driving, “I have never kissed strangers on the first date”.
“ Me neither “ , answered Andrew, he climbed to the front seat next to her, fixing his belt .
Daisy came out from the room to greet Tanya, “Hi sweet girl mama is home “, Tanya said , caressing soft fur of the cat.
“Hi Miss Daisy”, said Andrew , he band down bringing his hand close to Daisy, she came closer and put her head on his arm.
“Wow, she really likes you”, Tanya smiled, “she hasn’t trust anyone from the first sight before! “
“Animals love me”, Andrew replied and stroked Daisy’s head.
“It’s a good sign! I like you too “, said Tanya and pulled him gently to herself.
They kissed and rushed to the bedroom, shoes and clothes off on the floor. It was long after midnight when they stopped making love and had enough of each other.
They were laying on the bed both exhausted and happy.
“Are you hungry? “Tanya asked, “I guess it’s too late to order Chinese takeout.”
“I am ok, I don’t really eat takeout food, I am allergic to peanuts and sesame oil , and soy sauce.” Andrew answered .
“I will make tea and we will have pieces of Carol’s birthday cake “, Tanya smiled,” I can’t imagine what just happened!” She went to the kitchen singing and dancing happily. They were eating cake and laughing and talking all night long until they finally fall asleep in the morning.
Tanya woke up first and saw Daisy curled up on Andrew’s chest. “How sweet”, Tanya thought and touched Daisy’s head gently, but cat got scared and scratched her hand. “ Wow Daisy, why did you do that? It’s me your mama , come here sweet girl “
Tanya was trying to pick her up, but Daisy scratched her again.
“Very strange” Tanya thought, but then she relaxed, thinking about Andrew, “Daisy likes him , because I like him” Tanya smiled.
They were seeing each other almost every day for a month and by the Hanukkah time , Andrew moved in with her to her house. Daisy was sitting on Andrew’s lap while they were watching movies together, she would follow him everywhere, eating her cat food only if Andrew placed it for her.
Tanya felt very strange, “ Am I jealous of Andrew or my own cat?! That’s insane!” Tanya thought .
On the Christmas Eve they visited Andrew’s parents, who lived in the two-story house in Fairfield NJ , it took about two hours of driving from New York City, Tanya thought it would be a long drive and she left Daisy at home to avoid any stress for her.
Andrew’s parents met her happily, kisses, hugs, holidays wishes. It was warm atmosphere of kindness and love. His parents were animals lovers too, they had two grey cats, one black cat and two golden retrievers dogs. All of them greet Andrew with the joy , they were all over him. Tanya was watching with warm surprise how gently Andrew caressed cats an dogs, how he played and talked to each of them with love.
“They know that he is one of them , his mom said, “ Andrew was always like that, since he was a child “, she continued, “ Andrew honey, you are my little kitten too , right?” she came to Andrew, who was sitting on the floor surrounded the pets, and she kissed his head gently stroking his blond hair.
“Yes mother, I love you very much “, Andrew answered.
Tanya smiled at him and turned her eyes away in shame, she was feeling guilty for feeling jealousy . She wasn’t sure if she was jealous of Andrew to his own mother, or if she got envy of the animals, the way they loved Andrew.
They had Christmas dinner together and left home at midnight after his parents went to the church for the holidays ceremony.
Tanya’s home seemed too quiet after all. She tried to pick up Daisy for a hug, she missed her soft fur and sweet purring, but Daisy scratched her again and bit her finger this time.
“Aa, Daisy! Why did you do that!”- Tanya was screaming , feeling offensive in pain.
“She is probably angry at us that we left her home alone, right sweet girl, come here to papa”, he took her on his lap and curled up and started purring.
Tanya was upset and confused, she has Daisy since she was a little kitten just few weeks old, Daisy was always love cuddling in Tanya’s arms, she let Tanya to pet her and kiss her as much as she wanted. Tanya got upset more at herself than at Daisy because she loved her cat unconditionally.
She got busy at work before end of the year, Andrew instead got lots of days off and he was spending time at home with Daisy, watching tv or playing video games. He became more relaxed and lazy since he moved in with Tanya. She was a good household, cleaning and cooking them dinners. She was never nagging or complaining, never asked him to clean after himself or do anything chores at home. She used to live by herself for a long time and didn’t expect much from Andrew except emotional support and love. Everything seemed fine in their relationship. They were still having a good time together, making love almost every night and sometimes during the day when she come home for lunch. But something was off, she couldn’t understand what. Every time when Tanya comes home and saw Daisy on Andrew’s laps she felt a little sadness.
They decided to have a quiet New Year's Eve together, watching the ball dropping on the Time Square and the concert on tv , eat nice dinner that Tanya will make by herself, drink sparkling champagne and making out till dawn.
It was a New Year Eve, Tanya went shopping after work, she wanted to make her favorite salmon dish with her secret ingredients sauce for New Year celebration, it will be only two of them this evening. Tanya was going trough the isles in the supermarket and passed the section with soy sauce and sesame oil , she stopped by for a second thinking deeply, then she grabbed two small bottles one of each.
When she got home , Andrew was laying on the couch with Daisy on his chest watching tv.
“ How are you honey? “ he asked, “ Do you need my help? I am here for you just let me know ok sweetie”.
“ No worries dear, I am fine, please rest , I will call you when everything is ready , thank you for asking, love you ! “ Tanya replied.
She started preparing salmon, washed and sprinkled pinch of salt and pepper on the fish, separately mixed mayonnaise and mustard with a table spoon of the olive oil and lemon juice, she added sesame oil and soy sauce and mixed all together in the cup, then spread it out on salmon and put it in the oven to bake.
Tanya stopped for a minute , took a deep breath, she was looking at the bottles of soy and sesame oil, wrapped them around heavily with paper towels and throw them away into the garbage compartment.
Creamy mushed potatoes and salad was ready in fifteen minutes. Cake was already in the fridge. It was almost eleven at night. Tanya put plates and napkins on the table, Andrew brought vine and champagne glasses as well, he pure vine , while Tanya changed in her evening dress. She brought salmon to the table, Andrew helped with salad and mush-potatoes, and they sat down at the table to eat and say goodbye to this amazing year , which brought them together.
“Mmm, everything is so delicious, honey! You are amazing cook!” Andrew praised Tanya, “ I really like the spreading on the fish, what did you put in the sauce, it felt something sweet and salty taste really good?” asked Andrew savoring his food.
“ Just a pinch of curry powder “, lied Tanya.
They were drinking vine and after dinner, she put cake on the coffee table and Andrew transferred glasses with champagne as well. They sat on the couch watching tv as the Big Apple dropping, they kissed and wished each other Happy New Year and drank champagne.
Andrew relaxed and was laying on the couch , Daisy jumped on his lap. He started breathing heavy, his eyes become puffy and read, cheeks and neck swollen more and every minute. Sesame oil and soy sauce finally kicked in and gave him allergic reaction as he told her when they first met.
Tanya was calmly watching him and listening to his low breathing until the very last sound ended with a complete silence and no heartbeat. Then Tanya called the ambulance.
She took Daisy and hugged her gently and tight to herself, “It’s over sweetie, you are my little girl, right Daisy, no one will take you from me anymore, my sweet love”.