MY HUSBAND WAS PREVIOUSLY CONTENT with the lunches I prepared for him. But recently, he commenced requesting larger portions, stating he was not yet full. Therefore, some days after, I visited his workplace at lunchtime to give him an unexpected sweet treat. It transpired, the reason he requested more food was… 😰👇… he was sharing his lunch. Not with a colleague, as I initially, and perhaps cynically, suspected. Instead, tucked away in a quiet corner of the company courtyard, sat a small, rather forlorn-looking stray cat. My husband, bless his heart, was dividing his sandwiches and fruit, carefully placing morsels before the timid creature.
He looked up, startled, seeing me standing there with a box of pastries. A blush crept up his neck. “Oh, hi honey,” he mumbled, gesturing awkwardly towards the cat. “This little fella… he’s been hanging around. Looks hungry.”
Suddenly, his requests for larger portions made perfect sense. He wasn’t being greedy; he was being kind. My initial suspicion melted away, replaced by a wave of warmth. I knelt down beside him, offering a small piece of pastry to the cat, who cautiously approached and nibbled it delicately.
“He’s sweet,” I said softly, watching the cat. “We could bring some proper cat food tomorrow, instead of just your lunch.”
My husband smiled, a genuine, relieved smile. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
“Mind? I think it’s lovely,” I replied, squeezing his hand. “And maybe, if he’s still around, we could even take him to the vet and see if he needs anything. Perhaps… perhaps we could even give him a home.”
He looked at me, his eyes shining. “You mean it?”
I nodded, already picturing a small cat curled up on our sofa. “Yes. It seems our family lunch portions just got bigger, in more ways than one.” We both laughed, the tension of the unexpected lunchtime visit dissolving into shared affection, not just for each other, but now for a small, furry addition to our lives. The sweet treat I’d brought wasn’t just for him anymore; it was a celebration of his kind heart and a new chapter for us all.