She followed.
Hugo sat beside the apartment entrance.
Waiting.
Tessa’s heart hurt.
“No.”
She sat on the floor near him.
“Nobody’s leaving.”
Hugo looked at the door.
Tessa understood without being certain she understood.
Maybe nights were when the Tillmans had come home.
Maybe engines outside made him expect them.
Maybe doors had become dangerous because people passed through them and did not return.
Tessa leaned against the wall.
“I’m right here.”
Hugo remained beside the door.
So did she.
Twenty minutes later, he walked over.
Climbed into her lap.
Curled into a black circle.
Tessa stayed on the floor until both of them fell asleep.
The veterinarian saw Hugo at 9:30 the next morning.
Dr. Priya Shah was a small woman with calm hands and an ability to make animals tolerate things they would not allow from anybody else.
She examined Hugo.
“Male.”
“About five or six years old.”
“Mild dehydration.”
“Underweight.”
“Fleas.”
“Nothing alarming.”
Tessa exhaled.
“Microchip?”
“We’ll scan.”
The scanner passed over Hugo’s shoulders.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
“No chip.”
Tessa handed Dr. Shah the tag.
“This address was his old house.”
She explained everything.
Dr. Shah stopped writing.
“They left him?”
“Yes.”
Her face tightened.
“Unfortunately, it happens.”
“How?”
“People convince themselves animals will manage.”
Dr. Shah looked at Hugo.
“Some do.”
“That doesn’t mean they should have to.”
They treated the fleas.
Updated vaccinations.
Tested for common diseases.
Everything came back reassuring.
Then Dr. Shah looked at Tessa.
“What are you planning?”
Tessa glanced at Hugo.
“I don’t know.”
Hugo was sitting inside the carrier now, staring at her.
Dr. Shah smiled.
“He might.”
“I drive a taxi.”
“That doesn’t prevent cat ownership.”
“My hours are terrible.”
“Cats sleep eighteen hours a day.”
“Really?”
“Some appear to make it a professional commitment.”
Tessa smiled.
“But legally?”
Dr. Shah nodded toward the tag.
“You should document attempts to locate the prior owner and report him as found.”
“Shelter can advise on the stray hold requirement.”
“After that, if nobody claims him, you can adopt.”
Tessa did exactly that.
She contacted the county shelter.
Filed a found-animal report.
Sent photographs.
Called the number she eventually found associated with the Tillmans through county property records.
Disconnected.
She found an email address for the former owner.
She sent one message.
I found the black cat formerly associated with 18 Fairview Lane. He is safe and receiving veterinary care. Please contact me or the county shelter regarding ownership.
Three days passed.
No response.
Then five.
Then seven.
Finally, the shelter called.
“We reached Mrs. Tillman.”
Tessa gripped the phone.
“And?”
“She confirmed the cat belonged to them.”
Tessa felt anger immediately.
“Are they coming back?”