Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

What else could she do?

She really didn’t have anything to feel sad about.

Lauren and the others were trying their best to make her happy, even though she’d told them constantly that they didn’t have to.

She didn’t blame them for any of what happened, but they still held some guilt.

Cleo kept making her that sweet tea, Sohut went foraging to find nuts that tasted like almonds, Lauren spent her time in the kitchen trying to create human foods like cinnamon rolls and oatmeal cookies, and even Riv was trying not to scowl at her so much.

She appreciated it all, but contrary to what they believed, she wasn’t sad about what had happened.

She was sad because of what it felt like she’d lost.

Nia dropped the shovel and leaned against one of the trees, her eyes moving up to the sky.

The rain had fallen for three whole days and the soil was still soggy from it. Over those three days she’d focused on forgetting, albeit unsuccessfully.

“What did I do wrong?” Her words were a whisper carried away by the slight wind.

But what had she done wrong?

He hadn’t even called…

It was like…she didn’t exist.

Get it together, Nia. Are you really that lonely?

You have a family. You have the animals. You have more than most.

And this was true.

Her shoulders stiffened as she leaned off the tree and picked up the bucket and shovel.

As she headed back toward the main buildings, she repeated this to herself over and over again.

She had more than most.

She should be grateful.

There was a loud boom as she reached the main building and she saw Grot run from the main house a little animal that looked like a chihuahua mixed with a monkey running before him.

The little one was Cleo’s pet and he and Grot had an ongoing feud, though they didn’t actually ever hurt each other.

Cleo’s pet looked cute, but it was a vicious little thing. She’d seen it attack one of the robots in the fields once.

The robot did not survive.

As she heard Lauren shout from the house, Nia huffed a laugh through her nose.

“Grot! Leave Wawa alone!” Lauren appeared at the door, gripping her belly as she shouted. “So stubborn!”

Lauren was frowning and when her eyes fell on Nia, she blushed a little.

“Sorry, this must be crazy to you.”

Nia shook her head. “Not at all.”

She watched the animals run off into the fields before her gaze moved back to Lauren.