She takes the crying baby with her, and I wonder what the hell I’ve just done.
But I’ve sort of met everyone before, including the animals. And now that Lola’s been tamed, even a shaking Monarch pops up out of a corner, along with Fiona.
I run after Raffy. “How about we feed Pepper?”
“I love Pepper!” Raffy says as we start a strange procession to the kitchen downstairs. There’s a little ramp on the side of the steps that the wheeled dog takes. And Raffy giggles at Lola’s growl, not letting him go. “Go, Petal, go!”
The little dog runs faster.
Oh, Lord.
Where have I landed? I thought I was weird sharing space with a cranky street cat, a talking bird, and two dogs, but this might have me beat. In the pristine kitchen, a woman puts apie in the refrigerator. She lifts an eyebrow at Raffy. “No pie until everyone else is home, young man.”
Then she turns to me. “My name is Maeve. I handle the housekeeping work three times a week.”
The woman bustles out with a full laundry basket. I stare after her. Three times? That’s all it takes to maintain this small village?
Mrs. Bell comes five times a week for Mom.
I ball my hands into tight fists. I don’t want to think about my mother right now. I don’t want to think about Daddy, either. But I’m starting to go a little stir crazy. When I got my phone back from Declan, I saw a message from one of my few friends from my college days. She asked me to hit a new club with her on Friday night.
I could really use a change of scenery.
I sigh and pull open the refrigerator door, a move that catches every animal’s attention. Searching through the shelves, I find a container labeled Pepper. When I pull off the lid, they all lose interest.
“Look, Raffy.” I bend down and show him and Lola the contents since he still hasn’t let Lola go. He sags against Raffy, like he’s given up the fight. If it was anyone besides Raffy, they’d be in shreds. But I guess Lola draws the line at children.
“Fruit.” He gives me an uncertain look, then asks, “Chocklit?”
“No chocolate. This is Pepper’s dinner.” I get a plate and make a selection of berries, kale, apple slices, and some mango.
Then I put the container back in the refrigerator and we walk to the room where Pepper stays.
I open the door and the pets all settle into various spots around the room. Raffy follows me, dragging Lola with him. I close the door once we are all inside. Then I open Pepper’s cage door. Pepper swoops over our heads andlands on the desk overlooking the courtyard. I ask Raffy if he wants to help me feed Pepper. Only then does he release Lola.
“Thanks, matey,” Pepper says as I walk over with the plate. Then he nods at the mango. “You didn’t see nothing!”
He eats quickly, so I grab a chunk of the mango and show Raffy how to hold it out to Pepper.
For all his saltiness, Pepper’s a softy. He takes it. Nibbles it. “More, more, more!”
Raffy feeds him some more.
“Fucking grand!” Pepper says.
“Fucking grand,” Raffy agrees.
A shiver ripples through me. I turn and he’s standing at the door, watching us, Clawzilla in his arms.
My gaze connects with Declan’s as he smiles slow, showing me his dimple and making my breath catch. “I didn’t notice you.”
“Any other man might take offense at that, but I’ll let it go since I’ve clearly got some stiff competition in the form of the menagerie and Raff.”
The little boy hands Pepper the last bit of mango.
“Take ’em all down, sister,” Pepper says as he leans in to eat his fruit.
“Uncle Dec!” Raff runs over to Declan, wrapping his arms around his legs. “I fucking feeded Pepper!”
