Page 14 of Baby Me

A pair of rabbits were munching on lettuce, and three raccoons were rummaging in their enclosed homes a foot away from the squirrels. To the left, birds chirped as they picked at the dozen or sofeeders.

“I heard a wolfhowl.”

“That’s Denis. He’s further in the back and he’s the only wolf we have. He’d never survive out in the wild on his own as he’sblind.”

“This can’t be a zoo,” I said in awe. “These animals… did they come here from theforest?”

“They did. They were all injured in some way. Most of them will be rehabilitated and released. Not all of them can go back, though, and some choose to remain permanent residents, like Merrill and hislady.”

The duck quacked as if it recognized its name. Max, the german shepherd pup that greeted us earlier burshed by my leg, taking thelead.

“This is an animal sanctuary. What you’re doing… I… I just can’t believe it. There’s a special place in heaven for people likeyou.”

“Oh, honey, I’m just doing this because I lovethem.”

Exactly.

She had no idea how much doing her part told me about this woman’s character. Anyone who loved animals this much had to be a good person at heart. My gaze was drawn further up the hill, where two lynxes werehumping.

“That’s Goldie and Fox. You can tell them apart by the gray shadow across Fox’s golden coat. We found them near the road one hot summer. Poor things were dehydrated to the bone. They’ll be released next spring if they don’t have offspring by then.” She pointed to the jerking couple. “Gary says they’re trying for a baby, but I think they just like havingsex.”

I felt my cheeks heat as I watched Fox mount Goldie and push into her from the back like a speedy littlejackhammer.

“Don’t mind them.” Silvia waved her hand, and I caught Cameron watching me. Was he thinking what I was thinking? Did he have thoughts of us tangled up in the sheets, with him pushing into me from behind? I had an urge to go back to the cabin, and I would have if it weren’t for the cutest crying noise I’d heard in mylife.

I whipped my body around at the sound. The moment I saw them, I knew I was in love. Two tiny fawns were hopping around the yard chasing each other. Silvia reached for a tub on top of a cupboard and retrieved two bottles full ofmilk.

“Ts, ts, ts, ts, ts,” she called out, and the fawns changed direction and rushed toward her. They had the cutest little black noses and looked liked they were enjoying our last hint of warm fall weather. Silvia passed me one of the milk bottles, and a fawn wiggled its lips toward me, bumping my hand with its head, searching for its food. He finally found the tip and sucked the silicone nipple into his mouth. I watched him suckle, and when those tiny little noises of appreciation from his throat reached my ears, my heart swelled. It felt absolutelyamazing.

"Will they be going back into the wild?" Iasked.

"I hope so. They seem healthy enough, but they’ll stay here until at least the spring. Gary just finished their new night enclosure, but they’ve been enjoying the yard so much I haven’t had a chance to get their hay in the shed just yet. Besides, there’s a storm coming, and I don’t want it all blowingaround.”

I lowered my gaze to the fawn’s half-hooded eyes as he neared the end of his bottle, and for the first time in a long while, I feltwhole.

“There’s nothing that will fill your heart with more hope than these little guys. It never ceases to amaze me how much these animals trustus.”

“What happened to their mother?” Iasked.

“She was killed crossing the road. Gary found these two in a ditch when he saw hercarcass.”

That was so sad. These little things needed love. Lots of love. When the fawn finished and I looked up, I saw Cameron staring at me and I smiled, saying, "Babies are my favorite kind ofthings."

He laughed. “Things?"

"Yeah. I mean, look at these two. They're so cute and so adorable. I've just met them and I love themalready."

"Because you have a goodheart."

“How can you not love this?” I askedrhetorically.

“I really don’t knowhow.”

The fawn was searching for the empty bottle I’d set aside, and when he found my thumb, he suckled it as if it were a nipple. I felt my heart melt for the second time that day. It was absolutely beautiful. My throat constricted, and I could barely get a word past the tightness. “They're amazing. Thank you for this, Cameron. Thank you so much. I really needed this. You’ve pulled off all the right tricks today,sir.”

“I’m just glad you enjoyed yourself. You've been cooped up in the cabin longenough.”

He was right, but I’d also needed the time to put myself back together. I’d needed the time to heal and find new hope. It seemed like Cameron had the same goals. Somewhere in the distance, thunder rolled across thesky.

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