“Juliet is queen,” Viv says.
“You bet she is,” I agree.
They stand to go, so I hug them and say goodbye. Joe nods at the women, looking troubled again.
“Is everything okay?” I ask him.
His face instantly smooths. “Yes, of course.”
I study him for a moment, but he looks back at me with all the affection and attention that he displayed last night.
“Lunch?” I say.
“Love to.”
He takes my hand, but as we chat about where to eat, he seems distracted. But by what?
The cheating? Jess and Viv? James? (Who would blame him?)
Or something else?
Chapter Twelve
“Then plainly know my heart’s dear love is set
On the fair daughter of rich Capulet.”
- Romeo and Juliet (Act 2, Scene 3)
Joe
After lunch, Kathleen wants to go to a panel, so I go for a walk to think.
This is bad. I need to tell her the truth about Romeo and me, but . . . when exactly? If I tell her now, I’m convinced she’ll never speak to me again. It’s too late to tell her earlier, like I probably should have. Is tomorrow better, before we leave? Or sometime in the future? Or will that make the truth hurt even more?
I wish I could go back in time and do everything differently. I wouldn’t have pushed so hard for a partnership with Kathleen on Instagram, I would have told her straight up this morning who I was and apologized for my behavior. I would have told her last night . . . if only I’d known who she was.
The fact is that this CelebriCat stuff doesn’t really matter to me now. Not the award or the Purina sponsorship. She’s the only important thing. What can I do?
As I pace around downtown Denver, baking in the afternoon sun while dodging light rail cars, cyclists, and Uber drivers intent on taking out pedestrians, nothing comes to mind.
I’d done my best to dazzle Kathleen last night, and while I think it worked, I’m on a precipice here that could unravel our new bond. If I put myself in her gorgeous shoes, what would persuade me to give me a second chance once she knows the truth?
I wrack my brain, thinking back over all of our conversations. What would show Kathleen my undying love? What would make her most happy?
I think I know the answer to the second question: winning the award tonight and being offered the Purina sponsorship. I wanted the same things.
I can’t do much about the award. Contrary to what Viv and Jess said, I’d never told my fans to cheat like that. I wouldn’t even have thought of it. Boyd must have been shooting his mouth off in the lounge last night.
Maybe I could go to the convention organizers and withdraw Romeo from consideration, but what possible reason would I give? The ceremony is in a few hours.
I rub my jaw. I’m in an impossible position. I don’t want to win anything at Kathleen’s expense, but it feels like that part is out of my hands. As for honesty . . . I just need more time.
I detour into a coffee shop, buy an iced coffee, and sit at a table to check Romeo’s account. Kathleen and I had both posted pics of our cats from the meet and greet today. We’d both mentioned the award ceremony. Meowtagues wished Romeo good luck. Catulet fans did the same for Juliet.
Using an account I set up a while back with a fake picture and profile, I leave this comment on Juliet and Romeo’s posts:
beachboy268: Hey, what if Romeo AND Juliet win tonight? They’d make a pretty terrific couple.
I take a drink and wait for a response. It doesn’t take long. A Meowtague responds first.
catlover4ever: @beachboy268 No way! Meowtagues rule! Romeo should win.
felixthefeline: @beachboy268 I kind of agree. It would be sweet if they could both win. #don’trewriteshakespeare
catlover4ever: @felixthefeline Traitor. #romeorules
Then this is posted on Romeo’s account:
clownfacegirl: @beachboy268 Juliet will win the award. #nocontest #catulets #julietforbestnewbie
catlover4ever: @clownfacegirl Get lost. This is Meowtague territory. You’re trespassing.
clownfacegirl: @catlover4ever Instagram isn’t private property jerkwad.
sunshineandwineandme: @catlover4ever Don’t worry. @Clownfacegirl and @beachboy268 are probably dirty Catulets. #goaway
And so on. This is what usually happens when Romeo and Juliet’s fans post on the other cat’s page. It’s like a whacko online version of fourteenth century fair Verona.
A few others post in support of my idea, but in general, everyone is pretty territorial—on both accounts. I need another idea.
I check my watch and bite my lip. I don’t have a lot of time to decide what to do.
I think about Shakespeare. Romeo seduced Juliet with words, and some good, old-fashioned teenaged family rebellion. But seriously? I’m 35 years old, living in modern-day Florida. Shouldn’t I be able to tell Kathleen over a nice dinner—and with an expensive ring—to put all this Shakespearean nonsense aside and marry me?
I don’t think that will work now.
What else did Romeo do? He killed Juliet’s family member. Um, no. Bad idea. He also enlisted the help of Friar Lawrence and Juliet’s nurse. I have no idea who Friar Lawrence is in this scenario, but the nurse . . .
I scroll back through Juliet’s Instagram posts. Yes! Kathleen must have paid James to dress up as Juliet’s nurse a few times, because here he is in a long, shapeless black dress, a white apron, and a white headpiece that covers his hair. I wouldn’t have known it was him if I hadn’t sat with him at breakfast this morning. The scowl is now familiar.
Hope sings through my veins as I jump up and return my coffee glass. James is the key. He obviously bothers Kathleen, but she must love him a lot to keep him around.
What Romeo says to the nurse about Juliet comes to mind: Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. I protest unto thee—
Time to don my breeches and doublet, find James, and protest, commend, and do whatever else I have to do to keep Kathleen by my side.
Chapter Thirteen
“Marry, that ‘marry’ is the very theme I came to talk of.”
- Romeo and Juliet (Act 1, Scene 3)
Kathleen
After lunch with Joe, who’d remained worryingly quiet, I go back to my room to check on Juliet.
James plays one of her favorite games with her. I’d realized early on that she loved stalking and pouncing on my feather duster while I cleaned the house. I’d put my headphones on, turn on music, and clean, only to be scared out of my sneakers by Juliet streaking out of nowhere to tackle the duster.
So, I used a cloth to dust, and we made the feather duster Juliet’s toy. James lounges on the bed in his underwear, moving the duster around the bed for Juliet to jump on. As lazy and uncooperative as he is, he has a few good qualities. His affection for Juliet is one of them.
I snuggle my girl for a few minutes and then take the elevator down to conference room C where a panel of veterinarians are scheduled to talk about cat health and nutrition. I scan the panel and find Juliet’s vet, Doctor Travis Brewer, there in the middle, chatting with the woman next to him.
Travis is the owner and operator of the Love & Pets Mobile Animal Clinic, and he’s a wonderful guy. He’s based in Denver, but he comes down to Colorado Springs once or twice a month to visit patients. Other times, I take Juliet to him. Together with his assistant and fiancé, Amelia, he’s provided amazing, loving care whenever Juliet needed an exam, medication, or the one or two times she’d been ill.