What would Evan do if he came home to a rabbit in his living room, especially when he told Leo he couldn’t get a pet yet?
“Um, it’s not really my decision…” I trail off when Leo’s face falls, and after a minute of watching him snuggle with the white ball of fluff in his lap, my insides melt. I might get fired for this, but if it’ll put a smile on the kid’s face, then so be it. “You know what? Sure. It’s just a few days. She can stay in the cabin. It’s for the greater good, so I’m sure your dad will totally understand.”
“Yes!” Leo cheers, bringing the bunny closer to him and whispering something into its perked ear, which I don’t hear, but I’m sure it has something to do with promising to show her his stash of pickle candy when they get home, so I’m going to need to make sure we get rid of that. Or at least hide them away if he wants to keep the diabolical tasting gummies.
Mae’s shaking her head at me with a grin and mutters a low, “Good luck,” before flicking her eyes back to a giggling Leo.
I roll my own.
Evan can’t say no once he sees how happy Leo is, can he?
“No.” Evan deadpans me, eyes slicing over to the rabbit again, who’s hopping around in the living room as Leo claps and giggles.
“But just look at how cute she is!” I say as I grab her and hold her up, baring her fluffy stomach to Evan. “We went to the store on the way home and got all kinds of chew toys and food, so you won’t have to pay a dime. She can stay inthe cabin, and the second Sheila calls to say the rescue is ready for her, she’s out of here.”
Evan’s bottom lip wobbles with a slight tremor of humour once the rabbit cocks her head at him like it’s out of a cartoon, but he quickly sweeps his usual scowl back over it.
“Please, Daddy.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose at Leo’s pleading and releasing a heavy sigh, Evan clicks his tongue. “I don’t really have a choice here, do I?”
“Nope. Leo, tell your Daddy what you decided to name her.”
“Cheese!” he says with excitement, causing his father to chuckle.
“And why cheese, bud?”
“Because she loves cheese. Duh.”
It’s true, Leo’s T-shirt is free of nacho sauce, and has been replaced with bunny drool instead, but I’d quickly ordered him to change it when we got home after I saw Cheese nibbling on it so much that a hole was starting to form. I’ll sew it up later, back at my cabin without Evan’s knowledge.
“This will be a great opportunity for you to show your dad how responsible you are, Leo. Prove to him you can handle a pet.”
At my words, the kid suddenly straightens his back and stands, holding himself in a manner that seems wisebeyond his three and a half years. He looks like he’s some kind of sergeant. “I’ll look after her. I’m her Daddy.”
Evan and I exchange a look of amusement at the innocence of this kid, especially when he puffs his chest out in an attempt to look far tougher and more macho than he is as a toddler.
“Keep the doors shut or the coyotes will get her,” Evan calls to his son after he places Cheese in the brand new cardboard box Sheila gave us and waddles away with it, mumbling to the bunny about how much fun they’re going to have.
I feel a sense of relief that I managed to locate Leo’s small stash of pickle gum drops that he was apparently saving for a rainy day, and convinced him to throw the expired candy away with the promise of replacing it with something better. Whichever witch-like nanny gave him that was probably trying to put him off candy for good because one sniff of the gum drops and I was dry heaving.
I look up at Evan sheepishly, feeling relieved that there’s still that twinkle of amusement in his eyes. It’s fogged over and barely there, but I can see it—enough for me. “I’m sorry if that crossed a line. The animal shelter was stuck, and Leo looked so happy, and Cheese can stay in my cabin, so she doesn’t make a mess. But if it’s too much, I can call Sheila and tell her that we can’t—”
“Flo, it’s fine. It’s not permanent. I can handle a few nights with a rabbit. Gracie’s a vegetarian, so I’m practically related to one, anyway.”
Arching a brow, I snort. “Did you just make a joke?”
He blinks, looking a little uncomfortable. “Uh, yeah.” Then we both hear Leo giggle and squeal from the other room, and Evan can’t help but smile a little again. “Thank you for taking him to the shelter. He’s always loved animals.” He sighs. “I would love to get him one, but we wouldn’t have enough time for it right now, and I want to make sure we can give it a good home.”
“I can see him being a cat dad.”
“What is a cat dad?”
My cheeks pinch as I smile. “Have you been living under a rug?”
“I think the saying is living under a rock, not a rug.” But then Evan’s vision is drawn to something on the floor in the middle of the living room, and he clears his throat huskily. “Flo, speaking of rugs…”
“Yeah?” I follow his line of sight.
