Page 69 of Talk Birdie to Me

“Pretty good,” Cody said. “Should be ready for their reunion next week.”

“And the others?”

“Doing even better.”

“That’s great,” Lauren said. “Too bad Gary wasn’t keen on retraining.”

Cody shook his head. “That one was much more stubborn. I’d already spent weeks with him before calling in help.”

“Speaking of that help. How’s Geena?”

“She and Gary are doing fine. She’s discovered some new stuff he knows. Geena’s a natural with him, even if she did protest at first.”

She was so good with Gary, in fact, that Cody was a little worried about when they finally found an adopter for Gary. The two of them had become close, and he wasn’t sure how hard Geena would take the separation.

The potential foster-to-adopt placement the shelter had been hoping for fell through when the woman was transferred out of state. That meant Geena was still the only viable option for now. That also meant more time for her and the bird to grow even closer.

“That’s all good, too,” Lauren said. “But I didn’t mean how are Gary and Geena. I mean how are you and Geena?”

Cody sighed. “Have you been talking to my mom? Because I already got this speech from her last weekend.”

“It wasn’t a speech. I was just asking a question.”

“That was bait,” Cody said.

“Whatever. Answer the question.”

“Geena is fine. We’re… friendly.”

“You’re more than friendly, admit it.”

“No, we’re friendly. That’s all.”

“But you do have other feelings for her. Don’t deny it. Everyone can see. Even your mom, apparently, and she’s never met Geena.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Cody said firmly. “I’m still leaving once the next opportunity presents itself. And she doesn’t want anything that isn’t a serious commitment. She’s already had one jerk in her life who bailed on her. I’m not going to be the second. I care enough about her to draw the line before anyone gets hurt.”

“Why does someone have to get hurt?” Lauren waited while he locked the bird’s cage, and she had his full attention again. “What if things work out so well she decides to go with you to the next place?”

Cody shook his head. “Her family is here. She’s not leaving them for anything. I know that much.”

“Well, then. What if things work out so well you decide you don’t want to leave?”

“That’s not fair.”

“What’s not fair? That I’m making you even consider the possibility?”

The parrot squawked in his cage. “Nice shirt!”

“That’s a good one,” Lauren said. “That you?”

“Yeah.” Cody felt a little surge of pride. “Been working on that with all of them the past few weeks. This guy caught on the quickest. Figured it would go over well with guests.”

“It’s perfect. But you didn’t answer my question,” Lauren said. “Why won’t you even consider the possibility that you might want to stick around?”

“I’m not worried I might like it,” he said. “I’m worried I will like it and still want to leave. I told you. I don’t want to hurt anyone. Especially not Geena.”

He’d grown to care for her more than he’d expected. They were different, but their conversations moved smoothly, and he enjoyed their time together. He was pretty sure she felt the same way.

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