But is it a Miracle?

Chapter 11- Choosing to Say No

Marigold POV

As I got ready for work on Monday, having enjoyed a whole weekend with my new buddy, Little Jin, my phone pinged. I knew his namesake was waiting on me, and he would not reach out until I did, most likely. Unless he couldn't help himself, which seemed highly unlikely. He was probably glad he'd gotten away. That meant whoever pinged me was likely not the man on my mind. Little Jin stretched and leapt up on my bathroom counter where my phone was, next to me when I opened the text.

You will come to dinner at our home tonight, Marigold.

It was from my mother, of course. No, hello, how are you? Or maybe... we missed you for Christmas, how are you holding up? Realistically, I knew not to expect it, but it didn't mean I hoped that maybe for once, they'd treat me like family and not the reject that somehow ended up in their home, much to their dismay. Then it hit me like never before. While my mother was blonde, and my father had hazel eyes, I didn't really look that much like any of them.

Was I really their daughter?

Thinking back, suddenly I was very, very doubtful.

I wanted to decline the... demand, really, but I had a plan. I wanted to snag a hair from both parents and get a DNA test, just to ease my mind. Maybe it was just wishful thinking. I'd rather be adopted than to think they just hated me that much. Little Jin put a paw on the message and turned his golden eyes to me, meowing. I immediately realized, crazy as it sounded, he was demanding to go. I giggled and stroked his head.

"You want to go?" I asked him, and he chirped. "Fine. It will piss my awful family off anyway. They're not cat people." He sort of chuffed, almost like a sneeze, which I took to mean he figured as much. What was I, a Cat Whisperer?

It was strangely difficult to say goodbye to Little Jin, but I somehow managed to pull myself away from his soft, purring presence. Mr. Dempsey was on a rampage. Apparently, his wife had served him with divorce papers for Christmas. I was not shocked, and apparently my lack of said emotion made him suspicious. As if I had been the one to out him, the one to blame. His eyes were narrowed on me all day, making my skin crawl. He loaded more work than usual, and I somehow managed to breeze through it with just half an hour of overtime.

My parents were expecting me at eight PM sharp. I'd never hear the end of it if I was late, which gave me roughly an hour to get ready and Uber over to their large home in the historical North Tacoma area. I'd always wondered how Dad had managed to afford something so nice, and that coupled with my new suspicion, had me wondering if I really knew the people that raised me. I could not let on that I was suspicious, though. I needed proof.

Little Jin was waiting, his eyes somewhat narrowed when I got home. When his eyes flicked to the clock on my stove, I somehow had the feeling he knew I had worked late. I mean, I had told him what time I was off, but that didn't explain how a cat was apparently capable of reading a digital clock. I bent down and rubbed his ears before stripping to my underwear and placing my suit and blouse in the closet. One wear did not make it dirty. I usually did one dry cleaning run a month, rotating my outfits so that I wore them twice, perhaps three times before getting them cleaned.

I pulled out a dark gray sweater-knit dress. It was quite chilly, and even though I knew they'd all comment on how fat I looked, I wanted to be warm. It was nearly as soft as cashmere (obviously, I can't afford that!) and a thick, ribbed and cabled vertical pattern with a cowled turtleneck and long sleeves that ended at my knuckles in a subtle bell. It was fitted and ended at my knees. Little Jin purred his delight.

Guess he approves. I giggled.

I then slid on thick, opaque black tights, and dark gray suede ankle booties with a three-inch heel. I took my hair down from the coiled bun I wore at the base of my neck for work, deciding to let it hang loose. Little Jin stood on the end of my bed, his eyes never leaving me as I got ready, spritzing Happy and making sure to add a slight smoky eye to my day makeup. When I stopped to pet him, he stretched up to place his paws on my chest and chirp.

You're beautiful, he seemed to say.

"Thank you, Little Jin, but my family will say many things to the opposite." I sighed. He dropped to all fours and nudged my belly. He did that an awful lot.

They are fools, was the message I got, loud and clear as his golden eyes stared into mine. I sighed. He actually reminded me so much of Jin-Yeon. I could imagine the ardent man saying much the same, if he were here.

It was seven-thirty PM, so I needed to get going. If I wasn't a little early I'd hear about how unmotivated I was, and how surely this was why I was still just a PA. Never mind that I was the PA to the CEO, a very important role, in their eyes, a PA was worthless. I ordered an Uber Pet ride, grabbing the carrier for Little Jin I'd picked up on Sunday. I hated to put him in it, but those were the rules. He gracefully stepped in as I opened the door, then chirped to let me know I could close it.

This cat!

I put on my black woolen coat, a double-breasted one that flared from the waist to just below my knees. I added a soft plum colored scarf, gloves, and beret before picking up my purse and Little Jin's carrier, making my way downstairs carefully to wait for my ride. At seven-forty-five we pulled up to my parents' home. It had been built in 1909, but was fully updated with modern appliances and refreshed paint regularly. Again, the factor of my dad's job, my mom not working, and the cost of what was in front of me just didn't add up.

Little Jin chirped, clearly thinking something similar.

I set down the carrier, deciding I would leave it outside, in case I had to make a hasty retreat. Little Jin leapt onto my shoulder, draping himself like a shawl, purring softly. I set the carrier at the edge of the porch for easy access. There was an extra car in the driveway, one I didn't recognize, and I suddenly felt very nervous. Little Jin nosed my cheek in encouragement.

That's right, I had a plan.

I knocked, and my mother answered, her face turning sour as she noticed the cat. I felt Little Jin tense up and a low growl came from him. I stepped in and set my purse on a hanger by the door. My feline companion hopped down to the bench/coat rack that I had just hung my purse on so that I could remove my coat. Both were easy to grab. As I turned, my mother's face became even more pinched. She gingerly accepted my hug, and thankfully I found a loose hair on her shoulder. I slipped it into the baggie I had waiting in the pocket of my dress.

My father soon entered the foyer, looking equally disgruntled at... everything about me, but hugged me awkwardly like he always does. Must be my lucky day, because there on his sweater was a loose hair. I can only imagine the uproar if I'd had to actually pull their hairs out. His much shorter hair joined hers in my pocket. Little Jin quickly resumed his spot across my shoulders, once again making my parents appear to have sucked lemons.

I almost giggled.

Until I heard it.

There was just no way, right? My parents, no matter how awful they were, eould not possibly have invited him to dinner while I was here? To what purpose? My siblings both appeared in the entrance to the living room, just to the right of the foyer, cradling their tiny, ancient dogs, who of course, barked at Little Jin.

To his credit, the long black feline simply flicked his tail as if he couldn't be bothered with canines.

My samples safely tucked into my pocket and ready for testing, I took a deep breath. Here it comes. I could hear footsteps approaching, and I recognized the cadence. Colton.

My mind was in a whirl of questions. I felt betrayed, but at the same time was practical enough to understand that this was just more of the same bullshit. How had I not seen how... close they all were before? Easy, I'd simply avoided family gatherings. Colton had always shown up without me or not for my parents. They had always praised him and favored him. Suddenly, I could not help but wonder if it was all... intentional. Like, they set me up with him, somehow.

How f****d up exactly, were these people? My siblings had merely stared, saying nothing. Figures.

Colton sauntered past them, his new little wife on his arm, their three-year-old in tow. Yup, three. As in, pregnant long before we divorced. She was round with baby again, probably hoping for a boy this time around. My face was a mask of indifference. I practiced it hard during the divorce. No longer were any of these people going to get the satisfaction of making me upset. He frowned when he realized I was wearing heels, and pretty much was looking down at him.

I wonder if he realizes that he's got a bald patch? I stifled a giggle.

"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in." His grating, smarmy tone made my skin crawl. As I thought briefly of Jin-Yeon, this man seemed like a slug by comparison, just about as attractive as one, too. His eyes roved over me, and I resisted the urge to shiver in disgust and a little bit of terror. He had come so close to hitting me so many times. I would bet that was intentional, now that I thought on it. Scared me without actually laying a hand on me.

While little Jin was still tense, he began to purr, with the intention of soothing me.

"God, what the hell is that thing on your shoulders?" Colton scoffed, making my entire family smirk. I stroked Little Jin's ears, making him flick his tail at Colton and chirp.

Eat your heart out, see what you lost, he seemed to say to Colton, his paw caressing my shoulder before jumping back onto the bench and placing his paw on my coat. Right. I got what I came for.

"This is Little Jin, not that it's any of your business, Colton." Turning to my mother, ignoring him, I continued as I slid my coat right back on and picked up my purse before my furry friend jumped back up. "I can't say thank you when I don't feel grateful. Don't ever invite me here if this man will be present." I pinned her with a glare none of them had ever gotten from me.

Right then, I decided.

DNA or not, they were not my family.

"In fact, don't bother to invite me ever again." As I turned to leave, Colton blocked the door.

"Not so fast, chickie. That's no way to behave to your parents." I saw his hand reach for me in slow motion, but so had Little Jin.

His claw flashed out.