Page 50 of That’s My Orc, Tusk Off

Another pause. The pen felt heavier.

We’ll handle the adoption meeting together on Saturday.

I flipped back through the previous entries. So many small things that added up to more than I could handle.

Fred grumbled, softer now. Amanda shifted in her sleep.

“What am I going to do about this, buddy?” I asked Fred.

He grumbled again, which I decided to interpret as, you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to do already.

I chose to believe him.

CHAPTER TEN

TRAIG

Aweek had passed since she'd kissed me in the entryway, a week of meetings almost every day now, her cookies never lasting until the next one and my restraint thinning right along with them. It was Thursday again, and I stood at the window, watching Willa wave from her Jeep before she turned onto the road, when my tablet pinged with an incoming message.

We'd held regular meetings all week, making progress through my to-do list. Eating cookies she made while I tried not to stare at her all the time.

I sat down at my desk, opened my tablet, and read the email.

Subject: Adoption Inquiry - Bloomback (Rue)

My finger hovered over the notification. This was routine. I processed adoption inquiries every week. This one was no different.

I opened it.

The application was thorough. A family, living in southern Maine, was interested in Rue. They had experience with kingdom creatures, having adopted a snugglethorn the year before. They had a large property with plenty of grazing space, and they’d included references from two other rescue organizations. They’d done their research, knew what Bloombacks required, and had specifically requested Rue based on her description.

Rue was independent. She’d make a great addition to their farm. She got along well with snugglethorns.

This family wanted to meet Rue on Saturday afternoon.

I pulled up Rue’s file and compared it to the adoption criteria we’d created. She met every standard.

Then why were my hands shaking?

I set the tablet down and rubbed my palms together.

Fern’s file sat one folder over in the directory. I opened it, noting again her decreased appetite for two days after separation from Rue. Her blooms had dimmed to pale yellow. She’d returned to her usual brightness on day three. So it was temporary and what we’d normally expect when she was separated from a friend she’d been with for months.

They’re bonded whether the data says so or not. I could hear Willa telling me this as if she was standing beside me.

I closed Fern’s file and returned to the application.

We rescued creatures so they could find forever homes. Keeping them here indefinitely wasn’t the goal.

The application required my approval before moving to the next stage.

I read through it again. The family seemed perfect for Rue. Everything pointed to approval.

We already had a family coming on Saturday to see the puddlewumps. We could handle two visits. Or I would if Willa had to leave after the first.

I typed a response: Thank you for your application. Saturday would be fine. How about one in the afternoon?

It wasn’t a decision to let them take Rue. I might not feel they were a good fit for her.