“Some of it. I don’t know how much.”
Marcus walked Ramon back to his feeding perch. The parrot climbed on and began to eat again, occasionally glancing at Jax as if to make sure she was all right.
“There’s a cat?” Marcus asked.
“He showed up with one. It’s thin and looks a little banged up. I don’t know if it’s a stray or if it’s someone’s cat and Ramon took him.”
“He didn’t take him. The cat would have to agree to go with him.” He flashed her a grin. “How exactly do they communicate?”
“I have no idea.”
“But he got the cat to follow him here.” He glanced at the parrot. “He’s quite the guy.”
“He is. Now if only he would tell me where he’s been all this time.”
She had trouble believing he’d just been flying around Port Palmas without anyone seeing him. Yes, he was gray and not colorful like a Macaw but surely someone would have noticed a parrot sitting in a tree.
“What happens next?” he asked. “Are you keeping the cat?”
“I don’t know. I guess, if it’s a stray. I’m not sure how we find out if someone’s looking for him.” There were probably ways but her brain felt fuzzy.
“I’ll take him to the vet.” He paused. “Or her. Let’s see if it has a chip or not and get it examined.”
Jax shook her head. “Thank you, but you’re busy with a business to run.”
He offered her a gentle smile. “It’s Saturday. I have a former client who’s a vet on the other side of town. I’ll make a call and see if I can get in today to get the cat checked out. In the meantime I’ll tell Cheryl to post something onPort Palmas Talksand have our computer friend check for any missing cat posts online.”
He was making all the sense in the world, she thought, grateful for him spelling out what had to be done. “All that sounds good,” she said, thinking she should get up but suddenly overwhelmed by exhaustion.
Marcus frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just tired. I haven’t slept since he’s been gone.”
“That was nearly a week ago.”
“Was it? The days kind of blurred for me.”
He walked over and held out his hands. “Come on.”
“What?” she asked even as she took his hands and he pulled her to her feet.
“You’re going to bed.”
“I can’t. The bookstore needs me.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Ramon needs me. I have to keep an eye on him. What if he flies away again?”
“He has what he went looking for,” Marcus said, leading her out of the room. “I’ll have them shut the front door and put out a sign telling people to be careful about going in and out. Just until you get a little rest.”
“But Ramon,” she began.
“Is fine. You can leave your apartment door open so he can fly in and see you. After I call my vet friend, I’ll help Cheryl get the word out about his return and his new cat friend. We’ll handle it.”
He stopped in front of the stairs. “Can you make it up there by yourself or do you need me to help?”
“You want to put me to bed?” she asked, feeling confused but also realizing she did have to get some sleep.
