“He’s not wrong. I don't think he’s slept much in the last forty-eight hours. He hasn't wanted anything to be unsupervised,” Ethan chimes in, smiling affectionately at his twin.
“He suggested we put in two den areas.” Parker takes over, pointing to the wall separating the two spaces. “We put in a solid wall there because he suggested it would be better in case you were housing different species. Both den areas connect to the exercise/outdoor area through gates which are controlled there.” He indicates a lever system on the wall that separates the dens. “There are levers for these food doors too.” He points to two small hatches in the wire mesh walls that allow me to see into each habitat.
“That’s fantastic. I can put the cubs out here when they get a little bigger. I’m not sure how long construction is going to take on the zoo renovations, and they’re going to grow heaps.”
Dad smiles, and there’s a little bit of mischief in it. “We were hoping, if you were happy with the work they’ve done, to contract the guys and their crew to do the renovations.”
I don't miss the hopeful look on Ethan and Parker’s faces. Miles and Wyatt have better poker faces than their brothers, but their stiff body language gives away that they’re waiting for rejection.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a done deal. This is fantastic, and we haven't even gotten outside yet.” I can see them all relax, and Parker doesn’t hide his relieved sigh. Nana might have downplayed the roughness of their financial situation. “Show me the rest.”
Miles opens the door to one of the dens, and we all step in. “Both are set up the same, with drains in the floor for hosing down waste, as well as automatic water troughs, and the food bins are removable for easy cleaning.”
“I talked to Doug, the zoologist your dad contracted to advise on the reconstruction across the road, and he suggested that the animals need stimulation, so I hung this tire and sourced those big logs there.” Ethan points out each item as he speaks. “In the storage room next to the sink, we’ve put a couple of big chest freezers for food and an area for straw bales if you want them for animal bedding. One of the chest freezers is large enough that a big bucket can be placed in it. I thought you could make them big ice blocks with treats in them during the summer.”
My eyes widen in surprise. “Wow, Ethan, you really did your research, thank you.” His smile is bright and shiny, and with his upbeat energy and that blond hair, he looks like the quintessential California surfer boy.
“Come on, let’s show you the outside.” Parker opens the human access door, and when we step out, it’s even more amazing than I had hoped.
The terrain has been transformed. The space is still grassy, but there’s now multi-level landscaping, including a rock cave built under one of the slopes. In another corner, they’ve planted bamboo, leaving space between the shoots for hiding. Smack bang in the middle of the enclosure is what looks like an oversized scratching post/climbing tree. It has platforms at different levels, and the bottom of it is covered by carpet for clawing. I feel a little sad that Nyx won’t be able to make full use of that, but the cubs will love it.
“Do you like it?” Parker asks hopefully before hurrying on. “My cat has one he loves, and he spends most of his days there. When I asked Doug, he said it was a great idea for the big cats too. We couldn't put trees in, but he said jaguars like to climb, so this was the next best idea.”
I grab him by the hand and squeeze it tight. “Parker, it’s fantastic. Nyx is going to love it. Everything is amazing. I can’t thank you all enough.”
“Doug also says that jaguars like water. We didn’t have time to build a pool, but we rigged misting sprinklers through the whole structure.” Wyatt points up to the roof of the enclosure. “You can put them on a timer or manually turn them on and off in the back area.” Even when talking about his work, his voice is gruff and no nonsense. At this point, I don’t think it’s just me; he’s probably like that with everyone except his brothers.
“That is brilliant. I can’t wait to see what you guys do with the place across the road.”
“Well, now that it’s decided, shall we set up a meeting in a day or two to go over the contracts, Miles?” Dad asks.
“Yeah, that would be good.” He sounds enthused, which he should be. Working with Dad is a great opportunity for them, and I know that he’ll take care of the guys and their company.
“Are you guys from LA?” I ask as we make our way back out of the enclosure.
“No, we’re from a small coastal town a little south of San Francisco,” Parker tells me. “We drove up when your dad offered us the gig.”
“So, where are you staying at the moment? Have you got families you need to return to? I’m sure Dad would be happy to come to you, or we could talk over video chat.”
“Nope, it’s fine. None of us are married. Wyatt has a son, but he lives with his mother at the moment. Our adopted parents still live in town, but none of us have lived at home for a few years. We’re staying at a B and B not far from here, but we haven't really used it because we wanted to get the job finished for you.” Ethan shrugs, and I look to Dad in horror. He stares back at me, a confused crinkle in his nose, until I raise my eyebrows and give him the most subtle nod that I can. Well, everyone did say that Dad’s brilliant at business but not so great at people-ing.
“You guys must be exhausted! Look, we have plenty of room over at the house. The four of you are welcome to make it your home base for as long as you need to.”
“Oh no, Mr. Summers, we couldn’t possibly impose.” Miles shakes his head, running a hand through his short hair.
“You’re not imposing. I’d feel better if we could help make this a more comfortable experience for you guys since you’re doing such hard work for us. Though I guess I should warn you, Harlow has had a few… safety issues lately—just some hiccups with a stalker. Thomas, one of my sons, will probably need to do background checks on you all just to be safe. Is this going to be a problem?”
The four of them exchange glances. “No, there’s nothing I haven't already talked to you about,” Miles says, looking Dad in the eye.
“Well then, it should be fine. All of that is in the past. It’s not like every one of my children hasn’t been arrested before…” He gives me a look filled with barely veiled humor, and I feel my cheeks pink up before I redirect my gaze to the ground.
“Ah, babe, we've all been there.” Ethan throws an arm around my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Builds character.”
He walks me out of the building, his arm still on my shoulder, but I don't think he’s being sleazy. I think he could see I was uncomfortable and is trying to distract me, which is awfully considerate of him. There’s something about him that exudes comfort, and I can appreciate a friendly guy who’s just that—friendly. Parker pulls the door closed behind him after everyone exits, and thankfully, a truck pulls up right as we step outside.
“She’s here. Perfect timing.”
ChapterFourteen
