“It’s Cat. Short for Alley Cat.”
If Shirl thought this was odd, she didn’t show it as she had Jane fill out a form and then took her and Cat to a patient room.
“Oh, look at you,” Shirl said softly to Cat, who’d stalked out of the crate when Jane opened it, looking royally pissed off. “What do we know about this beauty?”
“Not much. He’s a stray, but I don’t think anyone lets him inside their house or has gotten him checked out.”
“Aw.” Shirl bravely scooped Cat up from the floor and set him on the examination table. “Don’t you have a sweet cat mommy?”
“I’m not,” Jane said. “He just lives in the alley behind the house I’m staying in, and I wanted to make sure he’s taken care of.”
“So a good cat mommy with a big heart.” Shirl continued to love up on Cat, who’d lost his defensive stance and seemed to be enjoying the attention.
“This precious boy needs a real name,” Shirl said. “That’s the first step in making him yours.”
“But he’s not mine.” Just saying it gave Jane’s heart a squeeze. “I’m a nurse. I work twelve-hours shifts that always turn into more, so I’d be a terrible cat mom. Plus, I’m here only until the end of ski season, and then I’ll be gone.”
This seemed to startle Shirl. “Where to?”
“I think it’s Haiti next.”
Shirl paused. “Putting yourself on the front lines to take care of other people. I don’t know if there’s a more respectable job than that. Your mom must be so proud.”
Jane’s mom was something all right, but proud probably wasn’t it. But then again, if she’d had a mom like Shirl, Jane probably wouldn’t be running all over the world. Instead, she’d want a relationship with her family. She’d want to put down roots and live close.
You’re living close to your grandpa . . .
At the thought of him, she was hit by the usual colliding mix of emotions. Some she knew—regret, resentment. More regret . . . The other emotions she couldn’t name. She reminded herself that she didn’t have a relationship with him because his health had been frail and she hadn’t wanted to cause any more problems. How many times had her aunt Viv told her that? Too many to count. Jane wouldn’t be the one to bring him any more stress, like reminding him of happier times, when his wife had still been alive.
And what about the fact that he hadn’t fought to keep her? He’d let other relatives take her, pass her around like last week’s leftovers, only a day from going bad.
Oh, wait. Seemed she could name the other emotions after all. Shame. Embarrassment. Fear of further rejection . . . “I’m not close to my family.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Shirl clearly felt bad for asking in the first place, which didn’t stop her from asking another question. “Well then, certainly the man in your life is proud.”
“Um—”
“Oh, dear,” Shirl said suddenly while still checking out Cat. “Interesting.”
Jane’s heart leapt into her throat. “What’s wrong with him?”
“Well, that’s just it. He’s not a he, he’s a she.” Shirl beamed. “Isn’t that something?”
Jane nearly collapsed in relief and put a hand to her heart. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Shirl took in the look on Jane’s face and her own creased in regret as she reached for the hand Jane had clasped to her chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just that it’s clear she’s already had a litter. You might want to get her spayed before she has another.”