Together they went inside. Cheryl kept pace with them.
“I don’t suppose you kept any cat food from when you had Lucy,” she said.
“No. Ryleigh took it all.”
“Not a problem. I’ll send Marie to the store for a couple of cans of something to tide him over while we figure out what to do.”
Ramon flapped his wings. “Breakfast now!”
Jax laughed. “Okay, I get it.” She glanced at Cheryl. “Can you watch the cat while I take Ramon upstairs and get him breakfast?”
“Of course.” Cheryl knelt by the cat and lightly petted it. The cat sniffed her hand before moving a little closer for more attention. “He or she seems to be friendly enough, so not feral. That’s something.”
“It might still belong to someone. We’re going to have to figure that out. But in the meantime...” She held out her hand. “Come on, you. Breakfast awaits.”
Ramon flew to her and together they went upstairs. Once in his room, she quickly put together his custom mixture along with a little fresh fruit. She would weigh him later, but if she had to guess, she would say he’d lost at least a few ounces—a lot when he only weighed a pound.
She put out the food but instead of leaving, she stayed to watch him eat while making a quick call to let Gentry and Xander know he was all right. They insisted on pictures which she quickly sent. Ramon dug in as if he were starving, which he probably was. When she was done with her call she sank onto the floor, her back against the wall, and watched him.
He was home. She felt relief, and the bands of worry and fear around her heart eased some, but under that was the residual of all the pain she’d felt knowing she could have lost him. She told herself she was fine, that there were people she had to notify. Marcus, her computer expert, and they should put out an announcement onPort Palmas Talksso the town could stop worrying.
But instead of doing any of that, she pulled her knees to her chest and gave in to the tears that unexpectedly overwhelmed her. They quickly turned into sobs that she couldn’t control. Her breath came in gasps as she let go of all the horrible emotions she’d been forced to deal with.
Ramon flew over and landed next to her, then flapped his wings, as if trying to get her attention.
“I’m okay,” she managed, unable to stop crying. “It’s j-just everything.”
He flapped his wings again, then hopped on her knee. “My love is true.”
“I know.”
Marcus walked in and immediately crossed to her. He sank next to her and pulled her close.
“It’s okay,” he murmured. “He’s home. Ramon is home.”
She pressed her face into his shoulder and continued to cry. Tears poured out of her, making her body shake for what felt like hours but was probably only a couple of minutes. Finally they slowed and she was able to catch her breath. She sniffed a couple of times and raised her head.
“Cheryl texted you?”
He nodded. “You okay?”
“I will be. I don’t know what that was.”
“You’ve been dealing with a bunch of—” He glanced at Ramon. “A bunch of really bad things for a few days. You’re emotionally drained. Him being home is happy and that means you can finally stop trying to hold it all together.”
He got up. “I’ll be right back.”
He returned a few seconds later with a box of tissues. After he handed it to her, he looked at the parrot.
“You have some explaining to do, young man.”
Ramon flew to him, then pressed his beak against him cheek. “Mr. Darcy.”
“Everyone was worried. Your mom went on the news to tell everyone you were gone. Don’t do that again.”
Ramon hung his head. “Sorry.”
Marcus frowned. “Does he know what I’m saying?”
