Page 98 of Talk Birdie to Me

Geena resigned herself to the fact that she wasn’t getting out of this. She didn’t believe running was a cure-all like her sister did, but she figured she could at least use some exercise and fresh air now that the storms were finished for a while. Even if it was miserably hot.

“Speaking of a shower.” Sierra fanned her tank top, then smelled her armpit. “I could definitely use one of those.”

They all needed showers by that point, but Geena had other plans before she’d get around to that.

“Not yet for me,” she said. “I’m headed downtown. I want to take some photographs along Main Street.”

It had been so long since she’d taken photographs just for the sheer pleasure of it. She missed enjoying the process as much as the product. She loved taking photos of the animals and the satisfaction she got from that, but she missed taking photos for no one but herself.

With Ricky gone and the whole birdnapping saga behind her, Geena had space in her life to fill. And she knew exactly where she wanted to begin.

Well, two places.

No, three.

“Sounds fun,” Liz said, rejoining them. “That was the last for today, by the way. We’re good with the ones here for this week, and hopefully we get good pics from the fosters.”

“Great.” Geena began gathering the supplies she needed to take with her, leaving the lights, backgrounds, and props in her little makeshift studio. “I can leave all of this here until next week?”

“Sure,” Sierra said. “We don’t need this corner except for supplies.”

Shelves filled with canned food and blankets lined the wall opposite the photography table. They weren’t in Geena’s way, and once she moved her lights into the corner, her studio stuff allowed easy access to the supplies.

Once she packed her camera and put it and her purse on one shoulder, she said her goodbyes and headed for the door.

“Don’t forget about tomorrow morning!” Taylor shouted at her back.

“I won’t.”

Geena had a suspicion her sister wouldn’t let her forget about their running date, anyway.

Lauren stepped through the crowd leaving the lion exhibit. Cody had finished the afternoon keeper chat with the visitors, and he had a break before the next visitor experience with the snakes.

A smug grin grew on Lauren’s face as she approached him at the end of the raised wooden walkway.

“What’s that look for?”

“Nothing,” she said. “You just seem… lighter.”

“Not having to track down a bird thief will take a weight off.”

It had been two days since the whole ordeal with Geena and her coworker and Gary. Two days that felt like a lifetime. But also, two days wasn’t nearly enough time to fully accept that the people he’d been watching over for so long were actually safe now.

“Eh, it’s not that so much.” Her smile stretched wider. “Admit it. You’re happy.”

“Fine. I’m happy,” he said. “Happy?”

“Thrilled. Did you finally get a chance to look over the plans for the new herp area?”

“Yeah, this morning after my rounds.”

“And?”

The new exhibit looked great. It would be a fully enclosed walkthrough for guests to enter and view the reptiles and amphibians. The space would allow them to keep a lot more animals and give an opportunity to do more experiences for the guests, so they could interact with more species.

It would also allow Cody to do some new stuff, which was what he’d been looking for. Plus, he and the curator were talking about more improvements and more opportunities for Cody, without him having to give up time with the animals. In fact, he was going to do more hands-on training and behavioral stuff and less caretaking duties.

Exactly what he wanted all along.

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