Braun parked the car and looked up towards the house. Coralie was standing in the window drinking a glass of water. She put down the glass, smiled through the window and waved at him. He smiled too and waved back. She walked away from the window and he looked down at the cat carrier placed on the seat next to him that he knew she hadn't been able to spot from the window.
"Ready to go surprise your new mom?" He asked.
A red paw came out through one of the holes. The 3 year old cat wanted to play. He poked the paw with his finger and chuckled as the cat tried to grab him.
"You're gonna fit in here just fine, little buddy. She's gonna be so surprised. She fell in love with you online, and she was so sad when you got adopted. Boy, is she in for the surprise of her life," he said.
He picked up the carrier, left the car and walked into the house. He put down the carrier and took off his shoes and jackets. He picked up the carrier again and walked towards the living room. He put the carrier down outside the room so she wouldn't see it right away. He walked into the living room and took in the sight of his girlfriend. Her blue-green eyes were warm and full of light as always. Her wavy, medium brown hair had half of it pulled back and secured with an elastic while the rest fell in beautiful waves down her back.
"Hi, gorgeous," he said.
He walked over and gave her a kiss.
"Happy birthday," he said.
"Where is it?" She smirked.
"Where is what?" He asked innocently.
"You went out to pick up my present but returned empty handed," she said. "You're hiding it somewhere. What am I getting? Come on, darling, you always get me the best presents. It's not fair that you keep the suspense going."
He grinned at her, held up both index fingers and backed out of the room.
"I outdid myself this time," he said.
"I'm not even gonna question that," she said.
"Close your eyes," he said.
She closed her eyes. He quickly picked up the carrier and walked back into the living room.
"Keep them closed," he said.
He put the carrier down on the couch, opened it and took out the cat. He went to stand in front of her with the red furball in his arms.
"Now you can open them," he said.
She opened her eyes and immediately looked down at the cat. Her facial expression was worth it all. Surprise, happiness and love. Those were the three things he got from her facial expression, and it warmed his heart. She lifted her hands and he handed her the cat.
"Is that...?" She looked up at him.
"Yes, it's him," he said. "Whoever adopted him first returned him a few days later. Apparently they were idiots thinking all a cat does is sleep and eat. They didn't think they had to entertain him with toys and affection. They didn't deserve him. I like to think it was fate. He was always supposed to be ours. I didn't tell you because I wanted to surprise you. I called them the second I saw he returned to the shelter on their website."
"Oh my god, Braun, I fucking love you!" She smiled brightly. "And I love him."
She placed a kiss on the cat's head who started purring in return.
"It sounds like he loves you too," he chuckled.
"We need things for him," she said.
"I already bought everything he needs. It's in the back of the car," he said.
"Well, go get it. I won't put him down until we have a litter box to show him first thing so he knows where to go. Food and water bowl need to be set up right away too," she said.
He chuckled again, stroked the cat's chin and started walking out of the living room.
"Think of a name for him meanwhile," he said.
"I already chose one the day I first saw his picture," she said. "Krampus. Like the Christmas demon. Because he's red."
"Cutest demon ever," he laughed.