Scarlett’s Compagnon, Doobie, the Cat

…. Scarlett lifts the animal carrier from the revolving carousel—Doobie, the cat inside, precious and patient—one of the few remnants of her failed marriage. They had named the cat after Frank Sinatra’s legendary doobie doobie doo, crooned at the end of Strangers in the Night. [Chapter 1 — Thursday, March 1, 1984]
…. Scarlett sits at the small round table by the window. Doobie hops onto the opposite chair and fixes his gaze at her, alert and expectant. Somewhere along the way, Scarlett had begun talking to him—not in the sentimental way people joke about, but in a deliberate, one-sided dialogue in which she plays both parts. The back-and-forth helps her weigh decisions, sort through doubts, and consider risks. Doobie, silent and attentive, serves as the perfect counterpart. [Chapter 4 — Saturday, March 2, 1984]