ôIt will all die down soon enough,ö I said. ôWhen the next big thing hits this town Valina Fawn and her site will be all but forgotten, and so will TexÆs so-called infidelity.ö
ôEven Odelia is having trouble. You should hear the kinds of things people are saying about her. Pregnant and with a cheat for a husband. ItÆs not pretty, Max. Not pretty at all.ö
ôBut he wasnÆt even on the list. Someone simply used his name and likeness.ö
ôTell that to the gossipers. TheyÆre a hardy bunch. And they donÆt care about a silly little thing like the truth.ö
We both studied Harriet for a moment, then I said,ôSo maybe IÆll have that chat now.ö
ôYou think thatÆs a good idea?ö
ôItÆs not going to get any better, is it?ö
ôItÆs only going to get worse,ö he said resignedly.
ôYou better leave us, Brutus.ö
He gave me a grateful smile.ôThanks, Max. YouÆre a true friend. In fact,ö he added after a moment, ôyou and Dooley are probably the only friends we haveùthe rest are all backstabbers.ö And after expressing this harsh view, he slipped out through the pet flap and was gone.
So I took a deep breath and strode up to Harriet. After a silent whisper into DooleyÆs ear had dispatched him as well, it was just me and Harriet.
ôItÆs a hard life, isnÆt it, Max?ö she asked. ôTough, if you see what I mean.ö
ôIÆm sure it will all settle down soon enough,ö I said. ôCats are like people, Harriet. They like to latch onto the latest drama, but they also forget easily. Tomorrow there will be something new to gossip about, and your little predicament will be yesterdayÆs news.ö
ôI donÆt care. They said some nasty things behind my back, Max, and IÆve seen them for what they really are: a bunch of nasty gossips. You, Brutus and Dooley are the only true friends I have, and frankly I donÆt need anyone else. So from now on I wonÆt stray past this house and the backyard, and thatÆs fine by me. IÆll be little miss homebody from now on. Queen of my own domain.ö She gave me a brave smile. ôIÆm sure IÆll be perfectly happy.ö
ôYou wonÆt be happy,ö I said. ôYou canÆt be happy unless you can shine. And in order to shine you need an audience. You know that, Harriet. YouÆre a star, not a homebody.ö
ôI am a star, arenÆt I?ö she murmured. ôA star without an audience. Because my audience has turned against me.ö
ôThey havenÆt turned against you. On the contrary. They think you handled that whole business with Jack with grace and poise and thatje-ne-sais-quoi only a true star possesses.ö
She drew a tiny wrinkle across her brow.ôYou really think so?ö
ôOf course! Look, what is gossip other than admiration tinged with a touch of jealousy? These cats all admire you, Harriet. I mean, who else but you has ever been serenaded by a bird, of all species! Who else inspires such unbridled devotion?ö
ôKeep going,ö she murmured, having closed her eyes as she took in these words.
ôPeople donÆt just gossip about anyone, you know. They only gossip about the people they secretly or not-so-secretly envy. Deep down every cat in Hampton Cove looks up to you. They either aspire to be like you, or to be near you. ItÆs the fate of every diva. Look at Meryl Streep, or Oprah Winfrey. Or even Beyonc? or Taylor Swift. The things people say about themùall because these people are the brightest stars on our firmament.ö
ôAre you saying IÆm such a star, Max?ö she asked, her eyes brimming with tears now.
ôThatÆs exactly what IÆm saying. YouÆre Hampton CoveÆs biggest star, Harriet. And stars like you catch a lot of flak and attract ridicule. But they are also loved and admired by all.ö
ôOh, Max,ö she said, her chest heaving and falling rapidly. ôCould you be right?ö
ôYou know IÆm right. Now go out there and shine, bright star. Light up that stage.ö
ôThank you, Max,ö she said fervently. ôI guess I lost faith there for a moment. Faith in my own abilities. ItÆs something that happens sometimes to us special ones, you know.ö
ôI know, Harriet,ö I said with an encouraging smile. ôOf course I know.ö
And I watched her glide to the floor with one graceful, fluid movement, then prance in the direction of the pet flap, her head held high, like a true feline princess, which she was. And she had just reached the pet flap when the flap flapped and a bird strutted through.
ôOh, Harriet!ö he cried. ôIÆve got another little poem prepared especially for you!ö
And then Jack the sparrow, for of course it was he, settled down and started reciting his special little poem.
ôHarriet, I love you.
Harriet my heart is true,
But my heart is also blue,
If you donÆt love me, too!ö
But instead of getting upset, or breaking down into a flood of tears, this time Harriet simply inclined her head in a royal gesture, quietly murmured her gratitude for the birdÆs poem, and was on her way.
Your true star doesnÆt brush aside an earnest fan. They bask in the glow of their admiration, and use it as a stepping stone to ever greater heights of success and glory.
Jack, reeling after HarrietÆs response, now tottered back through the pet flap, and moments later could be heard singing a jubilant song from the top of the highest tree.
And since I was alone in the house, I decided to take another look at Pettr. And as I scrolled through the chats Harriet had engaged in, I saw that all of the pets that had written her were all fans, extending their admiration for her great talent. I smiled. So Harriet hadnÆt been cheating on Brutus after all. Instead sheÆd turned Pettr from a dating site into an admiration site. Her own personal fandom.
ôWay to go, Harriet,ö I murmured as I put down the tablet.
Brutus had snuck back in, and I now informed him of my deductions. The smile that lit up his face was something to behold. He actually had tears in his eyesùtears of gratitude this time.
ôI always knew being HarrietÆs partner wasnÆt going to be easy, Max,ö he said with a husky voice. ôItÆs probably like being MerylÆs husband, or OprahÆs boyfriend. Her sheer star power is of such a magnitude that sometimes itÆs hard not to be overpowered.ö
ôAlways remember, Brutus,ö I said, ôthat a strong woman needs a strong man. And I can tell you right now that youÆre exactly the kind of cat Harriet needs. In fact I canÆt think of a better partner for her than you, my good friend.ö I placed a solemn paw on his shoulder, and looked deepinto his eyes. ôYou, my dear Brutus, complete her.ö
ôOh, Max,ö he said brokenly. And more tears were freely shed.
ôNow go after her,ö I said. ôCause even though sheÆll never admit it, Harriet needs you, Brutus. In fact she needs you now more than ever.ö
He nodded wordlessly, then disappeared back through the pet flap.
IÆd hopped onto the couch and was busy selecting the best spot when Dooley walked in. ôWhatÆs going on, Max?ö he asked. ôFirst Harriet appeared, in tears, then Jack, in tears, and finally Brutus, also in tears. Why are you making everyone cry today?ö
ôThose were all tears of happiness, buddy,ö I said. ôTears of joy, not sorrow. And now if youÆll excuse me, I think IÆve earned the right to take a longùvery long nap.ö
And so I circled my spot three times, then languorously stretched myself out, and promptly dozed off.
Chapter 25
It had been a tough day, and Alec Lip was glad that it was finally over and he got to go home. Usually his home life sustained him, and provided the energy he needed to tackle another day at the office. But the last couple of days had thrown a wrench in the machinery, with Charlene suspecting him of tomfoolery with the Valina Fawn business. And even though she now seemed to believe that he had indeed created that profile for professional purposes and not personal ones, there was still a certain coolness between them, which grated on his sensitive soul.
He might look all tough and imposing, and as a cop didnÆt mind busting heads and cracking skulls, the fact of the matter was that he possessed a tender heart, and this recent frostiness in his one true loveÆs manner was like a dark cloud that hung over him.