“My brain has been going a mile a minute.” He glanced at the boys across from him. They chattered animatedly to Simon about riding lessons. Drew lowered his voice and leaned toward Paradise and Blake. “My father was the first target. I’d like to have seen that box of letters Pamela found, but I texted my grandmother after we left, and she said it was destroyed. Was everyone else wiped out to make sure no one had any idea of the killer’s identity? Maybe Pamela figured out who killed Ben and had to be silenced too.”
It was very confusing, and Blake didn’t want to think about it right now with Paradise sitting beside him. All he wantedto do was stare at her and think about the future. He knew Paradise was concerned about the relationship though, so he asked what she’d hesitate to verbalize. “And you have new family.”
Drew reached for his iced tea. “I’m glad my grandparents weren’t angry, but Taylor wasn’t what you’d call warm. I’ll never be welcomed into their family.” He reached for his sister’s hand. “This sister is the one who has filled a void for me, and I don’t know how you did it, Paradise. Even after all you’ve been through, you somehow dredge up love in your heart for other people.”
Paradise’s fingers curled around Drew’s. “You’re not ‘other’ people. You’re my brother. If you knew how I’ve longed for a sibling, especially a brother, you’d get it.”
“Aren’t we your brothers?” Isaac asked.
“Of course you are, buddy,” she said. “Now I have three brothers. I have a big brother and two little brothers. I couldn’t feel happier or more blessed about that.”
Blake put his arm around her. “Am I chopped liver? I think a new husband counts up there pretty high.”
She leaned against him. “At the pinnacle.”
He inhaled her sweet aroma. What a wonderful day. When they were alone tonight, he wanted to talk more about timing. He’d press for a quick wedding.
The morning sun slanting through the clinic window ignited the stones in Paradise’s engagement ring, and she smiled before focusing on the work at hand. She activated her clicker to get King Julien’s attention, and he came running for a treat of nuts. Shefed him one at a time, praising him for listening. His bright eyes stayed focused on her, and he was a different animal than the one they’d rescued.
She fed him another nut through the wire enclosure. “King Julien looks really good,” she told Warren. “You’ve done a great job training him.”
His pale skin flushed at her praise. “I was hoping you’d say it was time. He’s lived a lonely life, and I can’t wait to see how he feels about seeing others of his kind.”
The original conspiracy contained enough members that they’d decided to split them up. The plan was to introduce him to a female who’d lost her mate a few months ago. She had two juveniles with her on one side of the connected mesh enclosures. If it went well, they’d form a new conspiracy. “How have they behaved when catching sight of each other?”
“They’re definitely interested. I haven’t seen any signs of distress yet. The last two days they both stayed close to the connecting mesh.”
She glanced at her watch. Where was Blake? He was supposed to join her for the momentous occasion of starting a new family group. She started to text him when the door opened and she spotted his broad smile. “There you are.”
“Sorry, Levi had a meltdown, and I helped calm him. Isaac tore his new book, so we had to have a talk about accidents and forgiveness.”
Blake was such a good role model for his brothers. “You made it in time.” She gave Warren a thumbs-up. “Let’s try removing the howdy door and see what happens.”
Warren removed the separation between the lemurs. “It’s going to go great. Lemurs are like people—they aren’t meant to live without others. King Julien is about to experience a fulllife he didn’t even know enough about to dream it might exist. We humans should be lucky enough to find our people and wash away the past.”
They watched the vet tech open the door separating the lemurs. Julien was quick to rush through to meet Pixie, who immediately began to groom him, a good sign of acceptance. He returned the favor a few moments later.
“He’s getting it,” she said.
Since Julien hadn’t grown up in a troop, he’d only been able to display instinctual behaviors and would have to learn what was usual in his new mate’s conspiracy. The juveniles approached to be introduced, and he groomed them as well, an action they tolerated.
Paradise reached out to take Blake’s hand as they watched the new little family. Warren left to get more food for the lemurs. Pixie’s children began to groom Julien too, and the family unit appeared to be as tight as if they’d always been together. Julien was smart, and he quickly picked up the behaviors he’d been ignorant of when he came here.
Paradise blinked at the sting of tears in her eyes as she realized something she should have noticed already. She palmed Blake’s face, relishing the scrape of what was left of his whiskers after his shave. “You’re like Pixie,” she whispered. “You welcomed me into your family and shared your mom and brothers with me without restriction. I was alone and lonely, without a real home. You taught me the meaning of family just like Pixie is showing Julien. He’s a different lemur today. He’s alert, happy, and at peace. That’s how I feel now too. I’ve found my conspiracy, my home. And it’s all due to you.”
He brushed his lips across hers in a quick kiss. “I feel the same way about you. I always have. I thought I was doing okay withoutyou, but when you walked in the door, all I’d missed about you hit me in the face. I’d deceived myself. A life without you wasn’t complete.” His hands went to her hair, but he didn’t pull it from its holder.
She yanked her hair out of its ponytail. “You can groom me anytime you like, Blake. You can open doors, walk on the outside of the sidewalk nearest the danger. You can keep a keen eye out for anyone who might hurt me. I’ll do the same for you. We’re a team. I need you like air, like water. I realize that now.” She stared up into his face and saw indescribable joy dawning in his blue eyes.
He plunged his hands into her hair and grinned. “Be careful what you say, babe.”
“Do your worst and I’ll do mine.” She raked her fingers through his thick dark brown hair, and it stood even more on end.
She’d once been as unhappy and prickly as King Julien here, biting and snapping at anyone who might want to help her. Her battle cry had been “I can do it myself.” And yes, she could do a lot herself, butshouldshe go it alone?
She’d realized the answer was no. Just like lemurs, people needed community.Sheneeded community, a purpose greater than shoving everyone away and living life as she thought best. Her life had been one of isolation and fear of what might happen next. She was always gearing up for the next battle. She’d always waited for the next shoe to drop, expecting life would get worse.
But that attitude was over. Even if Blake were taken from her someday by death, she’d never be the same. He had changed her forever. Family and love were what she’d needed, and they were hers, right here in front of her.
