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Meanwhile, my other Navy buddy, Leaf, helps me secure a moving truck off the books to get all the rabbit cages moved to the shed out back. He even helped me load and unload lumber to build better ones.
“It’s about time someone cute brought some chaos into your life instead of a bunch of shabby squids, Cap,” he says as he helps me cut wood and hammer nails all evening.
“Dunno what you’re talking about,” I say, biting back the weird feeling at another man commenting on Sara’s looks, no matter how innocent.
“You’re in deep with this woman,” Leaf says.
“I’m not sure what we’re going to do with all of these rabbits, that’s for sure.”
“Not talking about the rabbits,” he says. “You’re either in love, or she’s got something on you.”
I snort.
“Pretty sure she did not have a plan with the rabbits. She needs help, and I’m within spitting distance,” I tell Leaf.
“Sure, Cap. Sure.”
Something about what Leaf says sticks with me after he’s gone.
Sweaty and dirty, I head to the garage to check on Doc and Sara.
She doesn’t see me watching her through the side door, asking questions, and listening intently to Doc’s instructions.
I smile. Sara’s tender heart makes me feel emotions that I thought were long dormant. I watch her discuss the health of the pregnant rabbits—two more are pregnant besides Chutney—like a mother with a newborn child. She’s devoted, that’s for sure. She doesn’t give up on caring for the animals that she steals. And let’s be honest—she was rescuing them from a miserable, short life.
That’s part of why I got out of Expert Chemical as soon as possible.
I thought a private firm with access to politicians would be less messy. Looking at how the rabbits have taken over my shed and my garage? Boy, that turned out to be a lie I told myself.
But then I look back at Sara, and my heart hammers against my ribs.
She must sense me staring because she looks back at me with the widest, most appreciative smile anyone has ever given me.
“Thank you, Gunther.”
The sight of the sparkle in her eyes causes a surge of emotion through me. If I didn’t have my wits about me, I might charge over there and kiss her right in front of Doc.
Instead, I go to her side and nod when she looks up at me. “I think we’ve got everything situated. I’ll have feed and whatever else we need delivered in the morning.”
Sara presses her lips together like she’s fighting an urge to say something.
I turn to Doc. “How do they look?”
He gives me the rundown on the pregnant ones, saying they all seem to be progressing normally. “They all look healthy otherwise. But, uh, you might want to think about keeping the boys and girls separate in the future.”
I nod. “Yeah, no shit. And if you know anyone who wants rabbits as a pet, let me know.”
Sara lets out a yelp of protest. “What?”
“I just meant….”
She clutches Chutney to her chest and marches out of the shed. “Hold it right there, Sara. I mean it; you don’t go up to the house without me.”
She gives a harrumph and leaves anyway.
“Guess I shouldn’t have brought up animal adoption,” I say to Doc, who shrugs.
“That’s exactly why the wife and I had to move to a hobby farm. Either that or get divorced over a bunch of animals,” he says.
