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Chase shakes his head.
Looking up at me, Mel asks in a softer voice, “Ready to give us the grand tour, mister?”
“Absolutely,” I say, reaching for the door handle.“I think you’re going to love it.”
And I do.But will she love the other things I’ll have to get around to telling her at some point?I hope so, but I’m honestly not sure.
All I know is that I’m looking forward to a night at home watching a cartoon more than I ever imagined possible, and it’s all because of these two incredible people.People I’m already so devoted to that I place the call to the animal shelter while Mel starts dinner and Chase plays with his toys in the living room.I even find a cardboard box in the house’s closet and head outside to help Starling collect Nutty when she pulls up on her way home from work.
I’m hoping Nutty will make a run for it, but the little bastard jumps right into the container with a happy squeak, like he’s been waiting his entire life to hang out in a cardboard box.
“Definitely someone’s pet,” Starling says, stroking his head.
“Could still have rabies,” I say.“Don’t drop your guard.”
Starling laughs.“I’ve already had the shots, so I’m covered either way.I had to get them after an injured possum scratched me.But squirrels rarely have rabies.Especially ground squirrels.”
“Ah,” I say.“That’s why he doesn’t have the fluffy tail.”
“Yep.And good thing, too.You can’t keep tree squirrels as pets in Minnesota.But ground squirrels are fine.”
I scowl.“Like that makes any sense.”
“That’s the government for you.Sometimes, I think they try to keep things from making sense.”Starling grins as she gently closes the lid of the box.“I’ll get this little guy checked out and let Mel know as soon as he has a clean bill of health.Tell her I have an extra enclosure someone donated at the shelter, too.If she decides to adopt Nutty, she can have it free of charge.”
“I’ll tell her,” I say, glumly.
“You sound excited,” Starling says, laughing again.“Not an animal fan?”
“Not a Nutty fan.He seems to like humping my face.A lot.”
She looks up, her brows lifting.“Really?That means he thinks you’re his playmate.That’s playful squirrel behavior.They hump for a lot of reasons, most of them having nothing to do with actual mating.”
I bare my teeth.“Great.”
She laughs again.“Okay.Say hi to Mel and Chase for me.I’d come in, but I have to jet if I’m going to get Nutty checked in at the shelter before I have to be home.Christian and I have date night tonight, and I need to get dressed in my costume.”
“Sounds good, thanks, Starling,” I say, turning back toward the door only to turn back a beat later.“Did you say costume?”
She waves.“Bye!Have a great night.”
“You, too,” I say before slipping back inside.
Mel’s setting the table to my right and looks up.“Did you get him in the box?Already?”
“Yep, he hopped right in and is on his way to the shelter as we speak.Starling said humping is a form of squirrel play.”
“Kinky,” she whispers, laughing when I roll my eyes.“Food’ll be ready in about an hour.I don’t suppose you’d want to run Chase a bath, would you?”
“I sure would,” I say, hollering over my shoulder.“Chase.Let’s get a bath party started.I bought bath chalk at the hospital gift store today, and I need to draw chickens on the walls.”
Chase leaps up and runs past me toward the ground floor bathroom.“I’m going to draw chickens, too!I love this place!”
Mel and I both laugh, but when our gazes connect, the laughter fades.
After a beat, she reaches out, giving my hand a squeeze.“I’m not going to push, but whenever you want to talk, just know I’m here, okay?Like you were there for me.”
“Thanks,” I say, knowing she means it.
