So, step one: calm Jennifer down. Which, as an ESA for the day, was basically my job anyway. Hopefully, everyone would think she was just freaking out about the flight – that definitely wasn’t a stretch of anybody’s imagination.
I started with my best, most reassuring purr. The sort of deep vibration that settles human nerves on the basest of levels. It always worked for Mum when she was upset, anyway. It stopped Jennifer shouting, at least. Instead, she started panicking in a whisper, which was much better. Caitlin looked relieved about it, too.
Next, I nuzzled closer, right up under her chin, my soft fur swooshing over her skin like a really good stroke from someone who loves you. As I settled down against her stomach, still purring, I lapped at her hand with my tongue, just enough to show her I cared. Then I butted my head up against her fingers until she started to pet me. It’s hard for any human to be upset when they’re stroking a cat as magnificent as me. Right?
Finally, Jennifer’s breathing slowed back to its normal level, and I could no longer feel her heart thumping against her chest. Mission accomplished, I was the best ESA ever!
‘So?’ Caitlin asked, impatient. ‘What exactly do you mean when you say Cleo isn’t your cat? Is she acting funny or something?’
‘I mean,’ Jennifer said, in hushed tones, ‘this isn’t Cleo. This is a totally different cat. Look!’ She tugged at my collar again. ‘Cleo’s collar is gold! Not whatever this is.’
Caitlin’s eyes widened. ‘But we already established that’s not possible.’
Jennifer shook her head. ‘Well, it’s happened. I don’t know how. It was definitely Cleo when I put her in the carrier, and now it isn’t.’
To my feline mind, it was pretty obvious what had to have happened. But whether in her panicked state Jennifer had forgotten all about the other Ragdoll cat they’d met on the ferry, or – more likely, given what Cleo had told me about her – her instinct was simply to go for the more imaginative possibilities, she jumped to completely the wrong conclusion.
As I watched, her expression cleared, then brightened, and she made up her own explanation.
‘You know, I think that maybe this was meant to happen,’ she said.
Caitlin looked sceptical. ‘Really? You were meant to lose your cat and accidentally end up with another one?’
‘Oh, yes! I’m a firm believer in fate and destiny. Everything happens for a reason, you know,’ Jennifer said, more confident in her theory with every word. ‘So, this cat must have been sent to me for one, too.’
‘You think the cat was sent to you? Why?’ Caitlin’s voice was heavy with disbelief.
‘Well, that’s the challenge, isn’t it? To figure out the meaning behind the message. It’s just like the time my purse was stolen in Barcelona, but on the way to the police station to report it, I found this glorious little piazza that I would never have seen otherwise.’
‘Um, how is it like that?’ Caitlin asked.
‘Some things are just meant to be,’ Jennifer explained. ‘Even if we can’t see the reason behind them when they happen. If you wait long enough, all will become clear.’
‘Right. Just to make sure I’ve got this right,’ Caitlin said. ‘You honestly believe that the universe or whatever has sent you a replacement cat for some mystical reason that will become clear in time?’
Jennifer nodded excitedly. ‘Exactly! Ooh, maybe she’s here to guide me to the right place to scatter my Jeremy’s ashes! After all, it’s not like I’ve been having a lot of luck on my own.’ Jennifer bounced a little in excitement at the idea. Caitlin just looked bemused.
I was with Caitlin on this one.
‘Ashes?’ she asked, faintly.
‘Oh yes,’ Jennifer replied, with an enthusiastic nod. ‘That’s why I’m taking this trip, you see. Well, that and to see my daughter, I suppose, although I’m not sure how keen she is on seeing me.’
‘I see,’ Caitlin said, in a tone that made it clear that she didn’t see, not at all. Her hand was already inching towards the headphones the flight attendant had given her. I decided she had to be a fairly optimistic person if she thought Jennifer was going to stop talking and let her watch a film any time soon.
Jennifer, I already knew, was a talker. She talked to anyone who would listen – including cats, if there were no humans around. I didn’t mind a good conversation, but it did tend to be fairly one-sided between humans and animals. Still, I listened, because maybe she’d cast some light on the next stage of our adventure together.
‘Before Jeremy went into hospital for the last time, I promised him I’d find him the perfect place to spend eternity. He didn’t want to just sit on the mantelpiece – he was an adventurer, see. A traveller. I always put this down to his time in the Navy – you know, join the Navy and see the world and all that.’
‘He was a sailor,’ Caitlin said, obviously trying to find some thread in the conversation to hang onto.
‘For years, until we settled down. But even then, we still travelled when we could. Used to be, flying was no bother at all to me, as long as I had Jeremy’s hand to hold. But without him, I’m lost. That’s why I need Cleo.’ She squinted down at me. ‘Or whoever this is. Anyway, what was I saying?’
‘Ashes?’ Caitlin said, faintly, clutching the headphones tightly.
‘That’s right! I promised Jeremy I’d find the perfect place to scatter his ashes. And I’ve been trying, ever since the funeral. But I’m still looking! I’ve tried Venice, where we went on our honeymoon; Rome, where we spent our fifth anniversary; Paris, where our daughter was conceived; Budapest, where we met some of our dearest friends on a river cruise; even Krakow, because I know he liked the salt mines there! But nothing ever felt quite right. Not the right vibe, you know? I’m a big believer in vibes, and instincts, and going with what feels right, so I meditated on it, and decided it was time to go further afield and spend some time with our family at the same time.’
‘Just you and somebody else’s cat,’ Caitlin said faintly.
‘Yes. Well, not intentionally, but that does seem to be the case.’ Jennifer felt for my collar again. ‘No tag, that’s strange.’
I bristled. It wasn’t strange, it was a personal choice – I never liked those metal things, and Dad had said that since I didn’t leave the house, it didn’t matter much anyway. Mum had sighed and put the tag away in the drawer, muttering about it being a good job I was microchipped.
Anyway, my choice. I wasn’t judging her for her trust in crystals and vibes, was I?
(Actually, I was. But she didn’t know that.)
‘I really think that must be it. This beauty has been sent to help guide me to the right place to scatter Jeremy’s ashes! It all makes sense.’
‘Perfect sense,’ Caitlin said, with heavy sarcasm.
But Jennifer didn’t seem to notice. ‘I guess that means it’s up to me to name her,’ she declared, delightedly.
‘Are you sure it’s even a her?’ Caitlin asked, and I glared at her. Of course I’m female, couldn’t she tell from my poise and grace?
‘I’m definitely getting a female vibe,’ Jennifer agreed, which might have been the first sensible thing she’d said since I met her.
She lifted me up to look into my eyes, and I stared back, willing her to somehow intuit that my name was Lara. Even if it meant she suddenly realized where I must have come from, and took steps to send me back to Mum and Dad. I could always escape again to continue my adventure.
My name was my name, I didn’t want to be anyone except Lara.