Page 63 of After 5

Darryl entered from the backyard. A raccoon rode shotgun on his shoulder. “Sorry, I heard the screaming and I figured Baracko got loose.”

“Baracko?” I asked.

“Baracko Llama,” Gertie stopped, coffee in hand. “Really?”

“What can I say? I’m a hard-core Democrat.” Darryl moved toward the llama. “Baracko won’t hurt a fly. He’s just curious about his new neighbors. Daphne, on the other hand, she’s got a bit of sass to her. Best not make her mad.”

“Is Daphne the hawk?” I frowned at Darryl. When he nodded, I explained, “Your hawk brought her breakfast to enjoy on the foot of my bed.”

A few worry lines burrowed into Darryl’s forehead. “She’s a social eater. Pretty hot outside. You might want to keep your door shut in the mornin’s. She likes to eat in the AC.”

When my frown didn’t change, Darryl handed me the piece of tea towel he’d retrieved from Baracko’s mouth.

Marco entered the kitchen dressed in the jeans and white t-shirt from the prior night. “Whoa, a llama.”

He carried the dead snake over the blade of the sword.

Darryl’s voice caught. “What happened to Ivy?”

Everyone looked at the snake. Darryl choked back a sob. “Daphne likes to take Ivy out for a morning ride—to get some fresh air.”

Now that the snake wasn’t wiggling around, I saw it wore a little harness. I swallowed hard.

“Sorry man, I didn’t know it was your snake.” Marco apologized as Darryl removed the carcass from the blade.

“I understand. Ivy’s been known to bite a time or two. Do you have her head? I’d like to get her stuffed and mounted.”

The four of us stood mouth agape staring at Darryl.

“Um. There’s a shop next to my brother’s office. I’ll be happy to take Ivy there and have them do it for you,” I said. It was the least I could do. The guy was almost in tears.

“Sure, thanks,” he sniffed.

I held out a plastic grocery sack and Darryl placed the snake inside.

Marco took the bag from me and went upstairs to find the head.

Darryl led Baracko outside. “I’ll just take him home. You won’t mention my pets to your Ma will ya?”

I shook my head. The raccoon reached over and plucked the glittery headband out of my hair.

“Sorry, Tonto likes shiny things.” Darryl retrieved the headband and handed it back to me.

Darryl stroked the llama’s neck. “Baracko’s not much trouble.”

Baracko began to chew on the honeysuckle trailing up the lattice work on the patio cover.

Darryl smiled sheepishly and they left with pieces of the flower petals stuck to Baracko’s nose. The raccoon waved at me over Darryl’s shoulder.

I secured the gate behind them and wondered how much a padlock would cost. When I returned to the kitchen, Marco and Brodie sat at the table. Both men stared down into their coffee cups.

Brodie’s lack of witty dialog indicated he wasn’t sure how he felt about me sharing a bed with Marco. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that either.

Gertie stirred cream in her coffee and acknowledged the strained silence. She goaded Brodie to go upstairs and drink their coffee on the balcony.

After they left, I made a cup of coffee and sat down across from Marco. “Where did you put the snake?”

“In the freezer, next to the Popsicles.” He paused. “I wasn’t sure how to package it before the embalming. I used a Ziplock.”

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