Marjory, rubbing noses with the cat, making baby talk, ignored us. Chrissy said to Emily, “This is Luna. She’s a mountain lion. Look at those milky blue eyes. Ain’t she just darling?”

The baby cougar opened its mouth, showing its tiny teeth, and made a chirping sound.

“She sounds just like a bird,” Emily said, delighted. “Can we pet her, Momma?”

This was most likely my neighbor with cougars. She now had a new cougar. By Tracy Summers’ account, that would bring her cougar total up to five.

“No, Em. I know she’s a cute baby, but she’s still a wild animal with sharp teeth and sharp claws.”

“Oh, no, she’s not even teething yet,” Chrissy said. “She drinks from a baby bottle. You can come right over and pet her.” Luna opened her small mouth and chirped again.

Without waiting for my approval, Emily pulled her hand away from mine. Walked up and pet her back leg.

The cougar was adorable. Chrissy was sweet. My heart was softening. I wanted to pet the baby too.

Which was the crux of the problem. Impulsiveness. Lack of foresight. This precious furry baby would quickly grow into a one-hundred-pound animal with sharp teeth, massive paws, and a hard-wired killer instinct.

Instead of hating this woman’s ignorance, I was feeling for her.

Maybe she’d been one of those girls who answered “mother” when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up, even after that answer went out of style. All she ever wanted was a baby, a small curious helpless thing to care for. But she never got pregnant. So, she had a bunch of dogs and cats. Like an addict plateauing on a stimulant, the vague emptiness solidified into an urge for more.

Or maybe she craved attention. Everyone had puppies. She wanted to stand out.

I glanced out the window at Sawyer. Still in the passenger seat and totally oblivious. Even though I didn’t approve of pet cougars, I also wanted him to be here, experiencing this. Sawyer, when will you ever see a cougar in a diaper? With your nose in your phone, you are missing the little things. You are missing spontaneity. You are missing everything. And, does it even cross your mind that I might need help?

Emily still held onto the cougar’s hind leg, baby-talking. “Aw, you are so sweet. Yes, you are. Yes, you are. Isn’t she sweet, Momma?”

A trio of girls came up and cooed at Luna. Marjory was holding the cougar over her shoulder, rubbing its back. It was pawing at her hair.

The strangest feeling took hold of me. A ghost glided through me, turning my insides icy cold. I wished I would have seen it for the warning it was.

“One of the satanic lessons they follow is: if someone wrongs you or your family, do not turn the other cheek. Take vengeance.”