My Whisker Wisdom Caterview series concludes with Blanco, the endearing three-legged, pure-white, long-haired feline you met in Convincing Emily. He’s been a fixture at the Baga Shores Veterinary Clinic for as long as anyone can remember. Still, as nosy as he is about everyone else’s business, he keeps his personal life story quiet.
Except for Alika, whose age is anyone’s guess, Blanco is the oldest cat in the Baga Shores Romance series. He might also be the oldest in town. But how would anyone know?
We agreed to meet in the pavilion behind the clinic. I see he’s already waiting on a bench. Let’s see what he has to tell us.
***
Me: It’s been a while, Blanco. Thank you for meeting me and agreeing to speak in human English. I know you’re selective about who you talk to. I hope you’ve been well.
Blanco: My life is “purrrfect.”
Me: Clever.
Blanco gives a little throaty chirp: How’s that for standard cat humor? I’m having a great life. It’s a mutual relationship. Dr. Davis and now Dr. Carter, let me help calm down animals who don’t understand what’s happening. I get top-notch meals and go anywhere I want around the clinic. I come outside occasionally, but nowadays, I’m mostly inside.
Me: If the memories aren’t too painful, take us back to when you arrived here. How long ago was that, anyway?
B: In cat years or human?
Me: Let’s stick with human.
B: About twelve or thirteen human years.
Me: Seriously? That’s a long time for a cat to l—. Oh, geez. That didn’t come out the way I intended.
B rolls his beautiful teal blue eyes and continues: Not to worry. You’re right. It’s a fact. There’s a chart inside. Dr. Davis thought I was about a year old when I was brought here. That means I’m pushing 68.
Me: My gosh, Blanco. You look wonderful.
B gives a head nod: Thank you. You asked about my arrival. I don’t remember a whole lot about that day. I know now it started on the road to the beach.
Me: The Causeway, right?
B: I believe that’s what you call it. Anyway, I remember being in something I’m told was a box. It was dark inside it. I bounced around a lot. Then, the bouncing stopped. There was shuffling. I was dumped out. It was raining. I was wet. Then there was pain. And I don’t remember much until I woke up here.
Me: I know a little more. May I share it?
B: Go ahead.
Me: A human saw the whole thing. Somebody dumped you out on the road, and within a minute, you were hit by a car. The human wrapped you up in a towel and brought you here. Dr. Heather Davis immediately took you into surgery, but the damage was bad, and she had to amputate your back leg to save your life.
B: She was a miracle worker. You know she’s a fox shifter.
Me: Uh, Blanco, I wrote that story, remember?
B: Ah, of course. Anyway, she has a magical way of understanding animals. I guess because she is one. After I got better, she decided to keep me around. I’m glad she did. I bonded with her adopted son, Liam, as much as anybody. Poor kid was having a rough time. He doesn’t make friends easily. He could talk to me better than to humans.
Me: Did you actually speak to him?
B: Not in words like us right now. I mostly listened—a lot. Shifters have the worst adjustment. They sometimes don’t know what world they belong in. He was a coyote pup when he shifted to human. When I met him, he was a teenager. Shifter and teenage human? And adopted? It was a rough time around here. Dr. Davis was a fantastic mom to him, and with her patience, he came around. You should see him!
Me: Blanco, I wrote—
B: You wrote his story. I keep forgetting.
Me: The new vet’s been here about three years now. How’s she working out?
B: It took a while. Emily Carter’s a stubborn Ordinary. At first, I didn’t know if she’d fit in here. I thought she was too logical and too skeptical to live in a town that’s half full of magicals. But she did. And she and Liam are a perfect couple.
Me: I agree. But I’ve always wondered about how you’ve done so well here. Besides selective conversations with humans, you’re not magical but still fit in.
B: I’m not magical? Are you kidding? I am a cat! We’re all magical. So I’m not like Alika—and do I have stories about him, even some you don’t know! And I’m not like any other cats around here, either. But who saw the fae enter the room before she materialized in front of Emily?
Me: You did. That reminds me that the fae in human form is Mila, the vet tech. Is she still here?
B: Absolutely. She’s amazing. You know how old she is, don’t you?
Me: Actually, I don’t.
B: If you think I’m getting up there in years, you should interview her. She’s had some crazy stuff happen in her life. Thank goodness for her. She became Emily’s confidante and mentor in everything magical here.
Me: Ummm. Maybe I should catch up with her. She might have a story to tell.
B: I’ve met almost every Magical in the county. None take their pets anywhere else. Most times, it pays to be quiet and listen. You learn a lot more that way. Everybody has a story.
Blanco shifted his hips around and gave a big yawn.
B: It’s about my nap time. I could go on forever, but I’m tired.
Me: I understand entirely. If you don’t mind, I’d like to schedule another time to visit. This was great.
B: That’s a deal. But promise me you won’t tell anyone we talked out here.
Me: I understand. I wouldn’t want to blow your cover! You have my promise.
***
Blanco is right! Everybody has a story. I need to line up more interviews. Perhaps the Caterviews are done, but others around town would be great candidates. I’m certainly intrigued by his hints about Mila.
While chatting with Blanco, I realized you might have joined my newsletter by downloading the sample chapter from BEWITCHING ANDIE or the short story GLIMMER (prequel to CONVINCING EMILY). In any case, maybe you haven’t downloaded CONVINCING EMILY yet.
Or you downloaded Emily’s story and haven’t had time to read it.
Time to remedy this!
Jump into your eReader and take a look at CONVINCING EMILY today! It’s a short read and won’t take long, but the story will stay with you forever! You’ll be hooked and ready to read the whole series!
Once you’ve started them them, please hop over to my CANDACE COLT READER’S SALON on Facebook and share!
PS: Please promise you won’t tell anyone that Blanco talks, ok?