I tried to insist on accompanying them today, but they both flatly refused. Kai was afraid that Veronica would see me and react negatively, which I guess is valid, but I can’t stop the wave of jealousy that rolls over me. Then I feel guilty because I know neither of them want to be there either.
Once we get home, I change out of my funeral clothes, pulling on a pair of yoga pants and one of the guy’s shirts. I think it’s Kai’s since there’s some sports logo on it, but it’s soft and comfortable, and that’s all that matters.
I’m in desperate need of a distraction, or I’m going to stare at the clock nonstop until they get home. I head over to the big cat enclosure, excited to see how the cubs and Nyx are doing. I haven't had a chance to get in and see them for a few days.
Programming in the code on the keypad beside the door, it clicks open, allowing me entry. The cubs have grown heaps in the last six weeks. They're roughly two months now, and they're starting to explore a lot more. They haven't been allowed out into the enclosure up until now,
but Clem and Doug are talking about allowing Nyx and them out together sometime this week. I think that will benefit all of them, and I’m excited to see it happen.
Nyx chuffs at me when she sees me, putting her paw up against the cage, which is how she’s started greeting visitors. I rest my hand against hers on the other side of the wire.
“Hey, pretty girl. Everything okay?” I coo to her before grabbing a hunk of meat out of the fridge and tossing it into the cage through the feeding shoot. She drags it into a corner and starts gnawing on it while I open the door for the cub cage.
The cubs all pop their heads up at the sound of the door opening. They’re still having bottled milk, but they’ve started on chopped meat too. There are a couple of bowls of it in the fridge, but I want them to get to room temperature first before I feed it to them. I don’t want them to get upset tummies, so it has to warm up before they can try it.
One of them gets up and ambles over to me, so I take a seat on the ground. Daphne, the little cuddler, is happy to sit in my lap and let me stroke her. They all have collars on for now, identifying them, but they’ll come off eventually.
Eventually, all the other cubs make their way over to me except Shaggy. That one really lives up to his name and will only come with food incentives. I’ve been there for about half an hour when I hear the outside door open again, then Declan appears.
“There you are. We were looking for you and were a little worried when we couldn’t find you.” There’s a shadow in his eyes, and another wave of guilt flows through me.
“Fuck, Dec, I’m so sorry. I wasn't thinking. What with the funerals and worrying about Thomas and Kai and everything, I didn't think to tell you guys where I was going. That was insensitive of me.”
He leans against the other side of the cage, and of course the cubs scramble away to run over to him. He crouches down at their level and sticks a finger through to rub their little heads, smiling widely.
He’s been a little sad this week. His kittens all went to their new homes, and he decided to have Princess spayed too. At least she’s been extra snuggly because she’s been miserable after the operation so that has made up for him missing the kittens. It also means that he’s been able to handle the cubs too. Princess has finally got used to the smell of them on him, so he’s in full cat daddy mode, enjoying his time with all his favorite felines.
“It’s understandable. You’ve been through so much in such a short amount of time,” he says kindly. “And the Veronica situation is not an easy one to live with.”
I stand up, brushing fur off myself before going over to join him at the wall of the cage. “No, it’s not, but I don’t want to make things more difficult for Kai and Thomas, so I’ll keep my insecurities to myself,” I tell him, then point to the bowls on the bench. “Can you pass me those? I’ll feed the guys, then we could go for a walk. If I’m not distracted, I’m just going to worry about them.”
Together, we take care of the cubs until everyone is happily munching.
“Come on. I have something I want to show you.” Declan grabs me by the hand and drags me away from the animals. Closing the door behind us, he activates the lock and drags me in the direction of the stables.
“Where are we going? I don’t think Prada and Coco will appreciate us smelling like the big cats,” I point out as he drags me around the house and across the helicopter landing pad to the stables.
“You’ll see. Don’t worry about the horses,” he says mysteriously.
Inside, instead of leading me to the horses, he breezes straight past them to the big door that opens into the arena. But then he takes a left and opens another door I hadn't seen before. It leads to a set of stairs that brings us up to the hayloft at the top.
Laid out in a corner is a makeshift bed, with a wrapped gift sitting on top of it as well as a cupcake with an electric candle flickering in it. “What is this?” I ask my smug boyfriend.
“I know we’re celebrating your birthday with everyone tonight, but I wanted to steal you away for a moment so I could give you the gift I got you.” He pulls me across the bales of hay and drags me down into his little nest.
“Happy birthday, gorgeous.” He holds out the present, as excited as a kid at Christmas.
“Thank you.” I take it from him, unable to deny my own excitement. I’ve started to unwrap it when he starts talking again.
“I guess this is partly for you and partly for our future kids.” It’s all I can do to stop myself from running my hand across my belly with that comment. “Although this is happening much earlier than we thought it would, and she’s not going to need it for a few years yet, I decided we needed another business for them to learn from like all of us did. I know you mentioned cleaning cages will be character building, but your love of abandoned buildings inspired me, and when my real estate agent sent me this, I knew it was fate.”
When I open the package, I find a bundle of photos and a gorgeous metal bookmark that has a carousel at the top with zoo animals running along its length.
“This is gorgeous, Dec! I can’t wait to use it in my book.” I put the bookmark to the side and flick through the photos, my heart starting to beat a little faster at what I’m seeing. “What exactly am I looking at?” I ask, wanting him to confirm my thoughts.
“We bought an amusement park. I went out and had a look at it last week. Some of it is run down and needs work, but things like that carousel there...” He points to the picture I’m currently stuck on. It’s this gorgeous, pristine carousel with beautiful brightly painted wooden animals for riding on. “Are almost brand new. I thought we could start Neighpalm Amusements for our children.”
If I wasn’t completely in love with this man already, then this would have been the final nail in the coffin. I throw the picture to the side and launch myself at him, narrowly missing the cupcake. My lips slam against his in a clash of teeth and tongues, showing him just how much I like my birthday present.
