This Whisker Wisdom Caterview features Blanco, the adorable, three-legged, longhaired white cat you’ll meet in Convincing Emily.
People can’t remember a time when he wasn’t a regular at the Baga Shores Veterinary Clinic. Even though he’s interested (or downright nosy) about the human lives, he keeps his own feline life private.
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. The day I was hit by a car, I thought that was it for me. But Dr. Davis saved my life. She retired to follow a lifelong dream. Now Dr. Emily Carter, continues the tradition. My job is to help calm down animals who don’t understand what’s happening. In return, I get top-notch meals and wander around anywhere I want around the clinic. I go outside occasionally, but nowadays, I prefer staying 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 or human years?
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. When I was brought in here, Dr. Davis thought I was about a year old. 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, the first thing I remember was being in something I was 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: The human who brought you in saw the whole thing. Somebody dumped you out of that box onto the road, and within a minute after that, a car hit you. The human wrapped you up in a towel and brought you here. Dr. Heather Davis 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. Not really easy for shifters to make human friends, you know.
Me: Did you actually speak to Liam?
B: Not in words like we are right now. I mostly listened—a lot. Shifters have a horrible adjustment. They often 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 being adopted? Add all that up and you’ll get why 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 is a stubborn Ordinary human. At first, I had doubts if she’d fit in around here. I thought she was too logical and too skeptical to live in a town that’s half full of magicals. But eventually she did. And she and Liam are a perfect couple.
Me: I agree. A veterinarian and a bookseller. Sounds reasonable. Until you factor in the shifter bit. But I’ve always wondered about how you’ve done so well here. Besides selective conversations with humans, you’re not magical. But you still fit in.
B: I’m not magical? Are you kidding? I am a cat! All cats are magical. So, I’m not like Alika—and do I ever 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? Cats see things you know.
Me: Oh, I do know. That reminds me. That 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: You definitely should. I’ve met almost every Magical in the county. None of them will take their pets anywhere else. Most times, I’ve found 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 actually talked.
Me: I understand. I wouldn’t want to blow your cover! You have my promise.
Blanco is right! Everybody has a story.
While chatting with Blanco, I realized you might not have downloaded CONVINCING EMILY. Or you did download Emily’s story and haven’t had time to read it.
Time to remedy this!
Jump into your eReader and look at CONVINCING EMILY today! It’s a quick read, but the story will stay with you forever! You’ll be hooked and ready to read the entire Baga Shores sweet romance series!
Everyone is invited to hop over to my CANDACE COLT READER’S SALON on Facebook and continue our conversation…human conversation, that is!
PS: Please promise you won’t tell anyone that Blanco talks, ok?