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The things that came out of these animals’ mouths sometimes! I wouldn’t change either of them for the world. No, not even Octo-Cat and his incessant complaining. Changing that would be changing him, and I was a firm believer that we always wound up with the people and animals we needed to have in our lives.

Just like Octo-Cat and Grizabella had met and fallen in love on that one strange train trip that got neither of us to our intended destination. But they had found each other.

And now months later, the feline lovers would have their first romantic trip together. What a world.

During this whole exchange, Nan had doggedly pressed on toward our destination. And now the busy commercial district gave way to a quieter suburban street. The houses here were much more modern looking than the giant manors back home, but they had been well kept and boasted tidy lawns and colorful flowerbeds. It felt like the kind of place where you could raise a family and raise them well. Even though I would forever be a Maine girl, I instantly liked Colorado. And we hadn’t even gotten out of the car yet.

“You have arrived at your destination,” the GPS announced as we pulled up outside a brick split-level with red shutters and a white picket fence.

Christine came out to meet us while Grizabella waited in the bay window that overlooked the yard.“Welcome, welcome!” she called, saddling first Nan and then me with a gigantic warm hug.

“Grizz has been so excited all day,” she said, beaming at us as if we were all long lost friends reuniting for the first time in ages. “I couldn’t tear her away from that window, and I tried!”

“That’s sweet,” I said with a chuckle. “It’s almost like she knew we were coming, huh?”

Christine’s brown scrunched. “Well, of course she knew you were coming. You told Octavius and he told her.”

“I don’t get what you—”

“Oh, no need to play coy with me.” She waved her hand dismissively as if I were the one speaking out of turn. “Your nan told me all about how you’re the modern-day Doctor Dolittle. But don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.”

Nan did what? And here I’d naively assumed she’d told her friends in Michigan as a one-off thing. Looked like we’d be having our big conversation much sooner than I’d originally planned.

Chapter Eighteen

Octo-Cat ran straight to the front door, plopped his butt on the welcome mat, and waited for the humans to be done with their requisite greetings. His impatience provided a good excuse for me to get away from Christine and her desire to talk about my not-so-secret ability.

I charged ahead. She, Nan, and Paisley joined me on the porch, and then Christine pushed the door open.

Octo-Cat raced inside like a shot.

There, on the other side of the threshold, sat his lady love, a beautiful Himalayan wearing a Swarovski crystal encrusted collar and sporting a perfectly groomed coat. Her sparkling blue eyes matched Octo-Cat’s bowtie perfectly, and despite the difference in their pedigrees, it was easy to tell they belonged together.

She gracefully moved to her feet, glided forward, and rubbed her flat face all over Octo-Cat’s neck and chest. Both purred so loudly, no one would have been able to get a word in if we’d dared try.

“Oh, my darling Grizabella!” Octo-Cat cried, accepting an enthusiastic lick on the cheek, much as Paisley had predicted.

“Octavius, sweetest,” she chimed, lifting her fluffy tail straight into the air and giving it a happy quiver. “It has been far too long.”

Paisley trotted over, her tail wagging her entire body as she approached.“Hi, Grizzly-bella! I’m Octavius’s kid sister. Nice to meetcha!” She inserted herself right between the lovelorn cats, and I was certain Octo-Cat would hiss and swipe at her for the intrusion.

Instead he put a paw on her back and drew her in for a hug.“Darling, you’ve met Paisley on our video calls.”

“Nice to meet you in person at last, little sister,” Grizabella said with a small bow of her head. “Come. I’ll introduce you to my brothers and sisters.”

All three trod into the screened-in back porch where six other show quality Himalayan cats sat sunning themselves contentedly.

“This is Juliet, Viola, Ophelia, Oberon, Othello, and Hamlet,” she said by way of introduction. “They’re all still active on the circuit. I’m the only one with the distinction of being retired.” She laughed at this, and my pets joined in even though I’d be willing to bet that neither of them understood the joke—I didn’t either.

“C’mon,” Christine said, leading us back toward the entryway. “Let’s get you unpacked while these two lovebirds catch up.”

“Eck!” Octo-Cat screeched. “Being called a bird is even worse than being called a dog.”

“She means well, sweetest,” Grizabella purred at his side. “But we can’t all be blessed with the perfect human companion like you. Can we?”

I stopped in my tracks and jerked my head toward Octo-Cat in complete and utter shock.