The moderator stands and calls the panel to order. As she introduces each expert, I creep along a side aisle to the front. I find Amelia sitting at the end of the front row and slide in beside her to whisper hello. Amelia hugs me and whispers back.
“Kathleen! It’s so good to see you. How’s Juliet? Has she had her meet and greet yet?”
“Yes, this morning. It went great. She had tons of fans come to see her.”
“And when’s the award ceremony?”
“Tonight.” The familiar tickle of nerves in my belly reminds me how much is at stake tonight. My life could change . . . or I could go home and go back to life as usual.
The panel’s starting, so Amelia and I sit back to listen. Each vet was invited to field questions about a particular aspect of feline veterinary health, from preventative medicine to dental health to common diseases and illnesses. Travis talks about the advantages and limitations of mobile services, a growing area of veterinary services.
He’s a good speaker, confident and charming, and I’ve always thought he was very handsome with his longish wavy black hair and espresso colored eyes. Instead of his usual scrubs, he wears a casual buttoned shirt and jeans. I notice Amelia can’t take her eyes off him, which is as it should be, I suppose. I think about Joe; his coloring is very different from Travis’s, but to me he’s every bit as handsome.
When the panel moves on to feline maternal care, my mind wanders. What could be wrong with Joe? Ever since the meet and greet, he’s been acting a little strange. No less happy to see me . . . but preoccupied.
After the panel ends, Amelia and I chat as other attendees speak to Travis and get his card. He gives each person his full attention before turning to the next. When he sees me, his smile grows even brighter.
“Kathleen!” He must have dozens or even hundreds of patients and owners, but he never forgets Juliet or me.
“Great job up there,” I say. “You were so inspiring. If Juliet wasn’t already your patient, I’d get your card.”
He laughs. “How’s the convention going for Juliet?”
I fill him in on the meet and greet success, like I did with Amelia.
“I’m not surprised she’s so popular. She’s a beautiful girl. Where is she now?”
“With James in our room.” Travis and Amelia had met James once or twice. I’d paid him to take her to appointments with them when I had to work.
Travis tucks a stray strand of his wavy dark hair behind his ear. “Good to hear he’s helping you out.”
I do my best to avoid rolling my eyes. Travis and Amelia don’t need to know the truth about my mercenary brother.
“Can we chat on our way out?” Travis asks. “The RV’s on a meter.”
I blink. “You brought the Love & Pets mobile downtown? And found somewhere to park it?”
He chuckles. “No, I was kidding. We drove our car. But we do have an appointment this afternoon that we have to get to. So, what else do you and Juliet have planned for the weekend?” Travis asks as we walk together to the back of the conference room and out to the third-floor lobby.
I remind him of the award ceremony tonight. They’ve heard about Juliet’s Instagram success. “But I learned from a few fans today that the owner of our strongest competition, Romeo Meowtague, might be cheating.”
Travis’s dark brown eyes narrow. “Really? Why? Is something riding on winning the award other than bragging rights?”
“Yes. A sponsorship from Purina. I’m going to tell the conference organizers. They could at least scrutinize the results carefully.”
“That seems like a good plan,” Amelia says.
“I don’t want to get anyone in trouble,” I say. With the possible exception of Boyd. “But I think Juliet deserves a fair shot.”
“You don’t have to tell the organizers who said what,” Travis says. “Just ask them to be on the lookout for any tampering with the results tonight.”
“That’s what I thought, too.” We step outside of the convention center and into the sunlight, and a flash of red hair catches my eye. “Joe!”
I wave him over, but not before I catch that worried look on his face again. He seemed to be heading to the hotel, but he turns and walks our way with a smile. I introduce him to Travis and Amelia.
“Who brings you here?” Travis asks.
“To CatFest?” Joe asks. “My cat, Ro . . . Rollo. I’m an ailurophile.” He winks and adds, “A lover of cats.” When he puts an arm around me, Amelia’s eyes go wide.
Travis flicks his eyes to my face as if to judge my reaction. When I smile, he claps Joe’s shoulder and says, “Then I know you’re a good man. Amelia, we really should get going.”
As my vet shakes Joe’s hand again, Amelia hugs me a second time and lowers her voice. “Good luck with everything, Kathleen.” She glances at Joe with a grin, then speaks normally. “Let us know what happens with the award and sponsorship. I hope that cheater doesn’t get away with anything.” Her tone is joking, but Joe stiffens and turns pale as they walk off.
“Are you feeling okay?” I ask him.
“Yes, I’m fine.” He smiles grimly and kisses me on the head . . . which is kind of disappointing.
I check my watch. “I’m going back in to see if I can find a conference organizer to talk to.” I hesitate, and then touch his chest. “So . . . do you have plans tonight? I can ask if there’s an extra ticket to the awards ceremony. I’d be so happy for you to come with James and me. And your cousin is welcome, too.”
His smile wobbles. “I’d love to go . . . but I’ll buy my own ticket. I’m pretty sure they’re still for sale. And Bo . . . Bobby probably isn’t up to it. He really went all out last night.”
I make a face. “He must have had some night. I hope he feels better.”
“Pick you up at your room at six?” He kisses me, on the lips this time, and my toes actually curl under my maxi dress.
“Six,” I say dreamily.
As he walks away, I float inside the convention center—or at least it feels that way. I have an amazing dress, a new updo I’ve been dying to create, and now a date—someone other than my brother.
If I can keep the Meowtagues from cheating, then Juliet will be crowned Best Newcomer, get the sponsorship, and leave a queen.
In other words, all my dreams will come true.
Chapter Fourteen
“Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. I
protest unto thee—”
- Romeo and Juliet (Act 3, Scene 4)
Joe
The second Kathleen leaves, I hurry back to the hotel and stop in at the reception desk to use the hotel phone. This is almost the exact spot where I’d first seen her. I’d been struck by her beauty and poise then, but I hadn’t dared to dream she could be mine.
I dial her room number, and a sleepy male voice answers. Excellent.
“James?” I say. “It’s Joe.”
“Um, okay.”
That’s literally all he says, so I go on. “Hey, if you have a few minutes, I’d like to buy you a drink up in the lounge.”