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Nancy was meticulous when it came to planning anything. This was certainly no mystery, Robin mentioned it all the time to anyone who would listen. It wasn’t a bad thing. There were many occasions where it was actually a lifesaver. It was something she had long since accepted about her. So when Nancy became secretive once again, Robin didn’t push the matter. It would be like talking to a brick wall trying to figure out what she was planning. It was best to let it be. Robin was happy to be surprised by the love of her life. Having things to look forward to gave her a great joy.
The days turned to weeks, and Robin was starting to wonder if Nancy was alright. She even missed dinner one night due to being out so late. She decided it was high time she confronted her about what was going on. No surprise was worth this. No surprise was worth losing Nancy over. Whatever she was stressing herself about, Robin knew she had to help before it was too late.
“Nance?” Robin began hesitantly.
“Huh?” Nancy continued to unload the dishwasher, her focus never wavering. Robin wished she could be more like that.
“You’ve been acting real strange lately, and I’m kinda worried about you.” Robin paused, then managed to find the rest of the words before she could change her mind. “I know you’re planning something, but whatever it is seems to be driving you nuts. And no surprise is worth that to me. So maybe if you just tell me whatever it is, we can make a decision together.”
“You’re really that worried about me?” Nancy stopped what she was doing at last and looked at her.
“Well yeah,” Robin said. “I love you, I don’t like seeing you like this.”
“You’re sweet.” Nancy smiled and stepped closer to her. “Alright, alright. I think it’s time I finally do it.”
“Do what?”
But Robin was being dragged off before she could get an answer. She tried to get Nancy to give her some kind of hint, but she just wasn’t budging. It finally all came together when the car stopped at a local animal shelter. The way Nancy would come home tired, her eyes a bit red and puffy. It made her wonder if Nancy had an allergy she wasn’t aware of previously. Oh my god, was Nancy getting her a pet that she was allergic to? Robin couldn’t allow her to do that! She opened her mouth to protest, but Nancy was already shutting off the engine and getting out of the car. She’d have to follow her.
“Nancy, I don’t know about–”
“Just trust me,” Nancy interrupted.
Robin was forced to follow. When Nancy had an idea, there was just no changing her mind. She should’ve known by now that that was the reality of dating such a strong willed woman. She didn’t often bend to others’ opinions. After hearing about what she went through at The Hawkins Post, she supposed she couldn’t blame her.
“Aren’t you allergic to something in here?” Robin asked when she finally caught up to her girlfriend.
Nancy shook her head and grabbed Robin’s hand, leading her through the selection of cats. Each of the cats had a whiteboard tied to the front of their cage, stating how many days they had been waiting to be adopted, and same with the dogs. Nancy didn’t stop walking until she was in front of the cage that had a number Robin could hardly comprehend. 2,037 days. At first, though, she thought the cage was empty. Then she stepped closer and saw a pair of eyes peering out from the darkness.
“Hi,” Robin whispered, kneeling down so she would appear to be less of a threat to the frightened creature. After a moment, a black cat with bright yellow eyes approached. “Hi sweetheart, I’m not gonna hurt you.”
She knew right then and there she had fallen in love with the small animal. This had to have been Nancy’s plan all along. Let her see the cat, then she couldn’t refuse such an adorable gift being offered to her. Robin got to her feet and looked at Nancy, more than ready to announce they were now cat moms. But she had disappeared, and Robin was all by herself, a bunch of kids running from cage to cage ahead of exhausted or enthusiastic parents, depending on the family she was observing. She shifted from side to side, getting anxious the longer Nancy was gone. Just as she was about to go searching for her, Nancy came back with an employee, who had a collar for the cat.
“So this is real?” Robin asked. “This cat is mine?”
“You just have to name her,” Nancy said with a bright smile. “I’m sure that won’t be hard, you must have a million ideas.”
Truthfully, Robin was drawing a blank. She hadn’t been prepared for this, but they had to put a name down on the adoption papers before they could leave the building. So she had to think of something at least. Something that suited the cat, but something that was unique and yet easy to remember. No pressure, though. She picked up the cat the moment she had a collar on. She was purring heavily, content to be in Robin’s arms rather than the confinement of a carrier. That was a relief. She didn’t want to stop holding the cat.
“Well?” Nancy prompted. “You gotta think of something, Robs, or we’ll be here all day. She’s just a little black cat.”
“What about Ink?”
“Really?” Nancy’s eyes widened a bit. “Maybe Inky. Inkwell.”
“Yeah…Inkwell. Inky for short?” Robin wasn’t sure why it sounded right, but it did. As strange of a name as it was, she was sticking to it.
The name was scrawled in Nancy’s beautiful but sometimes frantic scrawl.
Inkwell.
“Perfect,” Nancy declared. “Let’s go home, huh?”
“Home…” Robin couldn’t stop staring at her little furry prize the whole time.
She had a cat now, and the cat was hers. All hers. Robin nuzzled Inkwell. She was so small. Robin would make sure she got really big, well fed, and even more well loved.
“Thank you,” Robin said happily. “Thank you for the surprise, Nancy. Best one ever.”
Nancy simply smiled as she continued driving towards the home they had built together. Just the two of them. Now three.