“No.”
The worker hesitated.
“They surrendered any ownership claim.”
Tessa went very quiet.
“She said they couldn’t take him to Virginia.”
“Why?”
“New rental didn’t allow pets.”
“They could’ve taken him to a shelter.”
“I know.”
Tessa closed her eyes.
The shelter employee continued gently.
“The legal hold is complete.”
“If you want to adopt him, you can.”
Tessa looked across the apartment.
Hugo was sleeping on the windowsill.
A patch of afternoon sun covered half his body.
His paws twitched slightly in a dream.
Tessa said:
“Yes.”
The adoption cost forty dollars.
She paid sixty and told the shelter to keep the difference.
The official form asked for the animal’s name.
Tessa wrote:
Hugo Wexler.
Then laughed at herself.
Hugo did not laugh.
He was busy chewing the corner of the paperwork.
The taxi question remained.
Ray had been right.
Tessa could not simply place an animal into an ordinary public vehicle indefinitely.
Allergies mattered.
Sanitation mattered.
Passenger choice mattered.
So she proposed something different.
“A designated pet-friendly cab.”
Ray stared at her across his desk.
“No.”
“Listen first.”
“No.”
“I’ll buy washable seat covers.”
“No.”
“I’ll vacuum between rides.”
“No.”
“Passengers get notified before pickup.”
Ray paused.
Tessa noticed.
“If they’re allergic or don’t want an animal, dispatch sends somebody else.”
Ray rubbed both hands over his face.
“Tessa.”
“What?”
“We run taxis.”
“Yes.”
“Not therapy animals.”
“He isn’t a therapy animal.”
“Then stop describing him like one.”
Tessa smiled.
“Run it as a trial.”
“Why would I?”
She slid a printout across the desk.
Ray frowned.
“What is this?”
“My fares from Tuesday.”
He read.
Average tip percentage had nearly doubled.
Several customers had left positive app reviews mentioning the cat.
One specifically asked whether “the driver with the black cat” could be requested again.
Ray looked at Tessa.
“You collected data.”
“I drive people for money.”
“I’m not completely reckless.”
He studied the page.
“One week.”
Tessa smiled.
“If there is one formal complaint directly related to being surprised by the cat, trial ends.”
“Nobody gets surprised.”
“Vehicle has to be cleaned.”
“It will.”
“Animal stays restrained while vehicle is moving.”
That required adjustment.
Hugo would need a secured pet seat or harness rather than roaming freely.
Tessa nodded.
“Fine.”
“Vet clearance.”
“Done.”
Ray looked toward the ceiling.
“I cannot believe I’m writing a cat policy.”
The trial began Monday.
Tessa purchased a secure elevated pet seat for the front passenger side with a harness attachment.
Hugo hated the harness for twelve minutes.
Then discovered the seat gave him a better view through the windshield.
He forgave everyone.
Dispatch added a note to Tessa’s vehicle.
PET-FRIENDLY CAR. RESIDENT CAT PRESENT. PASSENGER CONFIRMATION REQUIRED.