Chris glanced at Erykah, asking the question with his gaze. She nodded.
“Sure. Do you want to come too, Erykah?” Chris asked.
Her mouth parted, and he smiled, trying to show that he wasn’t totally closed off. But he was going to need clearer direction from her. Did she want the ease and friendliness that was normally between them, or did she want space and less of him?
He swallowed against the indigestion that question raised in his insides.
“Yes, that sounds like fun.”
Chris motioned for them to follow him. Cheye slid her hand into his and started chatting animatedly as they headed toward the back. Apparently she’d been researching ferrets, rereading the book Erykah had checked out of the library for her.
“Do you think she’ll like Kimble?”
“I hope so.”
“Are you going to name her?” Cheye asked.
“Probably not. We have to find a new home for her.”
“No!” Cheyenne squeezed his hand. “Keep her. Don’t send her away.”
He drew in a breath. Chris stopped walking to kneel before her. “I want the best for every animal I meet. You know that, right?”
She nodded, but her lip remained poked out.
“So it may not be best to keep her here. There might be a better place for her. Plus, if she has a chip saying she belongs somewhere else, I’ll have to give her back.”
“Would you ever give me back?” Cheye whispered.
Chris froze. He wanted to look toward Erykah, but he had no idea if she could hear their conversation since Ash had started babbling when Cheye first started talking.Lord God, please give me wisdom.
He looked her in the eyes. “Cheyenne, we’re friends, right?”
Shenodded vigorously.
“Since we’re friends, that means I will always be here for you, even if we don’t live together.” The words had his stomach in knots, but he had no idea why.
Sure you do. Erykah and the girls will move. They’ll no longer be in your life on a daily basis.
But until he was hauling boxes, he’d forget that bit. He was needed now, and that had to be his primary concern. Besides, the Lord wouldn’t want him to turn into a ball of worry thinking about the future.
“Okay,” she murmured.
He stood.
“Everything okay?” Erykah asked, coming to stand next to him.
“Tell you later,” he mumbled.
“Got it.”
They continued to the back room. He pointed to a spot they could watch, then went to retrieve Kimble. The little guy was playing around in his enclosure. Probably came out to eat the dinner that was left for him before the last person clocked out. Kimble happily climbed up Chris’s arm and onto his shoulder.
“Want to meet a lady friend?” Chris asked.
Kimble chucked at him. Chris prayed the animals would be okay. He was hoping they’d play together and enjoy seeing one of their kind, especially considering the species was endangered.
Cheyenne cheered when he walked in with Kimble, while Erykah’s mouth dropped in surprise. He stopped near her, and Ash’s eyes widened.
