Today my little angel turns three.
I have never had anyone, other than Dora, love me so much. I feel blessed that I have them both in my life. Ella is at wonderful age, she has me right where she wants me. All she has to do is give me that certain look and I know I am in trouble.

Dora and I Apparated to Wales today to pick up Ella’s special birthday present. I was a bit worried as to how the kitten would react to me. Would it pick up that I am not completely human? Dora has assured me that everything will be alright and I have no choice but to try and make the cat feel safe when around me.
When Dora and I arrived to pick up the cat, I knew immediately there was going to be trouble. There were two kittens left and I know my wife would not be able to rest unless we took both. Dora also has also only to look at me a certain way, and I can’t say no to anything she asks me, so we took both kittens and Apparated home to organise ourselves for Ella’s party.

---

When we arrived home, it was a nightmare. I did nothing but chase the kittens over the house. I could feel a headache coming on and wondered if Dora and I had lost our heads by taking on two pets.
Eventually I was able to corner the kittens and place them securely away. I can tell Dora has enjoyed watching me chase them, and I know if the kittens have made Dora happy, then Ella is going to be over the moon.
“Are you going to let Ella name them? One day she’ll be calling them Peaches and Cupcake and the next day they’ll be called Beelzebub and Betelgeuse,” I say as we begin to decorate the house.

“What about Cassie and Polly?” Dora asks.
“Cassie and Polly? Wherever did you get that, dear?”

“Castor and Pollux- the Gemini twins. We can’t hardly name two female kittens Castor and Pollux, besides El might have a difficult time with that. It’s better than Beelzebub and Betelgeuse, isn’t it? Besides, it’s family tradition.”

“OK, I admit, it’s not a bad idea. Which one’s Cassie and which is Polly?”

“Cassie is the spunky little striped one, Polly is that fluffy grey thing. Do you think Ella will be terribly upset that we’ve named them? I don’t want to cheat her out of her first experience with a pet.”

“No, darling, I think not. She’ll be too excited to consider it.”

---

After all our guests had gone home, and Ella was settled in bed, Dora and I decide it is time for some well earned rest. We check on Ella and find her curled up in bed with the kittens beside her. “Can you believe she’s three years old today?”

I sigh and gently close Ella’s door. “No, love, I can’t. I never dared to do more than dream of either of you. I couldn’t hope for it because I didn’t want to be let down when my life didn’t give me those opportunities.”

“Even if you didn’t know it would happen some day, Ella and I did,” she says, resting her head on my shoulder. I feel a shiver move up my spine as she buries her face into my neck. “And now we have two new ‘babies,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice.
I laugh, shaking my head. “Yes, I suppose we do. She’s happy, and that’s all that matters.”

“You’re right. So who’s getting up with the kittens in the morning when they’re mewing for food?” she asks, and I roll my eyes.