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“You’d know better than me.”
Dr. Goldman grinned up at Sully. With his cloud of white hair and large, protruding ears, the smaller man reminded Sully of a kindly gnome. “I remember all my patients, don’t I, Kate?”
“Yes, doctor.”
“I found him or her,” Sully said. “Well, I actually almost hit the cat with my car. No collar, so I was hoping he or she was chipped.”
“Hmmm, let’s see what we have.” Dr. Goldman stroked the cat again. “A littlecat-atonic, I’d say.” He laughed and winked at Sully. “Kate loves my jokes.”
“I’m laughing on the inside,” Kate stated. Even though her lips never budged, Sully saw warmth in her eyes. She clearly adored her boss.
Dr. Goldman pulled up the cat’s tail, then stroked the animal's head. “She’s a real beauty. Yes, she is. Gorgeous coloring.”
“She?” Sully asked.
“Em-hmm.” The vet poked a device in the cat’s ear, then pressed his stethoscope against the cat’s rib cage. The feline was silent through the exam, even when Dr. Goldman pulled back her lips to review her teeth and shined a light in her eyes.
“I’d say six or seven years old,” he said. “Seems to be in good health, though I’d need to do a blood panel and stool test to be sure. Weight looks good. Fur and skin are healthy. She’s got some plaque buildup on her teeth, which is normal for her age, but I’d recommend a cleaning. Overall, though, a very fine feline.” Dr. Goldman patted her on the head. “Now, let’s see if this pretty lady has a chip. Kate?”
The woman seemed to have anticipated the question. She handed her boss a small handheld device.
Dr. Goldman turned on the device and slowly moved it across the cat’s shoulder blades. “Ah-ha!” His dark eyes seemed to twinkle. “Your lady does indeed have a chip.”
Sully felt hope bloom in his chest. Despite the night of lost sleep, the shattered soap bottle, and the endless yowling, he felt a growing sympathy for the dazed cat lying on the exam table. In her anger and destruction, he’d sensed fear. She was lost and scared, after all. Maybe she desperately wanted to return home and into the loving arms of her owner.
“What’s her name? Where does she live?” he asked.
“It doesn’t work that way,” Kate said. “The scanner only gives us a registration number and the name of the company that made the chip. We have to contact them, and they contact the owner.”
“Oh.” Sully felt his hope deflate.
“Not to worry. Kate will get on it right away, won’t you, Kate?” Dr. Goldman asked.
“Yep.”
The door to the room opened, and a younger woman popped her head in. “Dr. Goldman, Matilda is ready for you in Exam Room 1.”
“Ah!” Dr. Goldman clapped his hands together. “Matilda is a rather grouchy kakapo parrot,” he explained to Sully. “Twenty-two years old and still going strong. Can you believe it? She hates going to the vet. You could say it ruffles her feathers.” He guffawed.
“Do you mind if I wait around?” Sully asked. “I’d like to make sure you’re able to get a hold of the owner.”
“We have a true good Samaritan here, Kate,” Dr. Goldman said. “Doesn’t that renew your hope in humanity?”
“Absolutely,” Kate deadpanned.
“Kate is a bit of a cynic,” Dr. Goldman admitted in a conspiratorial voice. “I’ve been working on turning her into an optimist for… how long, Kate?”
“Sixteen years, doctor.”
“Sixteen years.” The old man grinned at Sully. “I think I’m almost there. Anyway, you just wait here, my young friend. Kate will get everything sorted out. It was a true pleasure.” He shook Sully’s hand, then patted the cat one more time. “We’ll get you home, my darling,” he said before shuffling from the room.
“Wait here,” Kate said, then disappeared through a back door in the room.
Sully found himself, quite suddenly, alone with the cat. Gently, he began to stroke her fur. Dr. Goldman was right. The cat was beautiful now that he got a proper look at her. Rich hues of autumn orange splashed across her body and thick, fluffy tail.
“What’s your story?” he asked the cat. “Why are you so angry? So defensive?”
The cat stared at him with her deep blue eyes. He knew another pretty lady with blue eyes who was quick to anger. But Alanna’s anger was only a mask for her pain. Was this cat the same?
