Chapter 20
The first thing Noah noticed was Bella’s look of delight at Monty’s shenanigans.
The second was how happy and healthy Monty looked.
In Noah’s head, and despite the reports from Mollie that were sent as brief email updates every month since he’d been paying Monty’s boarding bill, he’d expected a shrivelled, miserable, skinny cat who only communicated by growling or spitting.
He didn’t expect a cat that looked happy and healthy, and full of life.
‘He’s perked up this morning,’ Bella said, without looking behind her to see who the visitor was.
‘On his good days, he loves the catnip fishing rod, but he’s not paid much attention to it lately.
’ She smiled down at the cat as he again caught the felted fish with his front paws, and, after letting him nibble and scent it for a few moments, she gently disentangled it from his clutches.
‘It’s good to see him scratching something other than my arms, for a change! ’
‘He looks happy,’ Noah said, his voice tight. He watched as Bella’s back stiffened at the sound of his voice before she turned around and their eyes locked.
‘He is,’ Bella said evenly. ‘It’s a good day for him.’
Noah was torn between replying that he was glad Monty’s last day was a good one and ignoring her comment as she rose to her feet.
‘Well,’ Mollie said quickly, obviously sensing something was awry between the two other people in the room. ‘Bella and I will leave you to it, if you want to say your goodbyes. I’ll be in my office when you’re ready.’
Noah nodded. ‘Thank you.’ As Bella left the enclosure, she continued to hold his gaze, as if willing him to comment. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction, though. He needed to say goodbye to Monty as a form of closure; he couldn’t have Bella muddying those waters.
‘Hey, old chap,’ he said gently as he sat down where Bella had been. Monty, whose good mood seemed to have vanished the moment Bella left, let out a low growl. ‘It’s great to see you, too.’
Monty said nothing, just turned tail and stalked off to the tiered platform of his enclosure, springing with surprising agility onto the lowermost step, before jumping up to the higher level.
‘Look,’ Noah said. ‘I really am sorry about this, but you’re not helping yourself with the growling. I saw how you were with Bella – you’re not fooling anyone.’
Monty regarded him with narrow green eyes, but the growling ceased.
Noah wondered how long a cat’s memory was, and if he recognised the sound of his voice.
Gingerly, he approached the platform where Monty had settled down.
‘It’s good to see you, Monty.’ He reached out a hand and then withdrew it again hastily as Monty lashed out with a lightning off forepaw.
‘All right, all right, keep your fur on.’ Noah gave a thin smile. ‘The world won’t miss your temper.’
In answer, Monty gave a long yowl, but his eyes fixed on Noah.
Noah felt as though Monty was berating him for abandoning him in the cattery for so long.
Although, he had to admit, Monty’s accommodation was clean and pleasant and had plenty of things to stimulate him.
He picked up the felt fish on the end of the rod and string that Bella had been entertaining Monty with, and, more in hope than expectation, waggled it in front of the cat’s dark brown nose.
Monty just looked at him.
‘Oh, all right, all right.’ Noah put the mouse back down again. Slowly, he reached out a hand and put it in front of Monty’s snout. The cat gave a sniff, blinked and, much to Noah’s surprise, began to bump his knuckles.
‘That’s an improvement,’ Noah murmured. He assumed Monty recognised his scent, too.
As Monty nudged his hand, looking for strokes, Noah felt the beginnings of a smile.
He remembered the evenings that Monty had climbed through the window of the spare bedroom of Jack’s house and settled on the end of the bed after a successful night on the prowl.
He’d be a stripy, furry weight on Noah’s feet until he got restless, when he’d yowl until Noah opened the bedroom door and allowed him out to settle until the dawn on his grandfather’s bed.
Jack had always been the main focus of Monty’s affection, but whenever Noah had come to stay, the cat had made reluctant room for him.
Monty’s love always had to be earned. After tomorrow, he’d have lost that right altogether.
He mustn’t think about that. Joel would lose his shit if he reneged on the decision now, and Marc wouldn’t be any happier.
He had to think of the future. ‘I’ll miss you, Monty,’ he said, risking a longer stroke down Monty’s back.
The cat’s long tail curled upwards in appreciation, and Noah’s heart started to ache.
They’d spent a fair bit of time together over the years, and this felt like a bigger wrench than he’d imagined.
‘You understand, don’t you?’ Noah’s voice grew ragged, and he shook his head, trying to brush away the emotions. The last thing he wanted was to break down in front of Mollie or Bella. He had to keep it together.
‘Goodbye, old chap.’
Turning away from Monty, who looked affronted to be left on his own, Noah walked back towards the door of the living space. As he reached for the handle to let himself out, Monty let out another yowl. It felt as though the cat was saying goodbye, too.