Page 68 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop

“Then he’s got a little swimming pool. He has dunes, grasses, and I brought more rocks in to create burrowing opportunities for him.” Alexander nodded to the various piles of rocks strewn around the sloping grass.

“And this?” I pointed to the box under the lean-to.

“It’s also an option for a burrow. It’s his choice what he decides, but once he picks his spot, that will be his spot.”

“Do they do that in the wild too?”

“Yes.” Alexander turned and looked out to the horizon. “Once they pick their burrow, they return to it year after year. It’s their spot.”

“You saythey, though.”

“Yes, a breeding pair will pick a burrow together. Even if they travel apart, since scientists can’t really determine what they do when they go out to sea for so long, they’ll return to the same spot and be together. Isn’t that nice?” There was a wistful note to Alexander’s voice.

He’d built his burrow here. Alexander just needed his mate.His ex had been a fool to let this man go. He was born a nurturer.

“Look!” I grasped Alexander’s arm, excitement racing through me as Tattie hopped out from behind his rock to investigate the tray I’d left for him. Tilting his head leftand right, he gnashed his orange beak, making an odd little chattering noise as he peered at the baking tray. “Oh, I hope he’ll take it.”

He pecked at the tray. Bounced back a few steps. Tilted his head a few different times, waiting to see if it was a trap, I guessed. When nothing happened, he bounced forward again, this time dipping his head deeper in and rattling about. When he came up with a fish in his mouth, I gasped.

“He did it. Oh, Alexander. He did it.”

“That’s my boy. I’m so proud.” Alexander mimed wiping a fake tear away, and I grinned, even though I was actually very near tears myself.

“Shall we go inside? It’s cold and the light’s going.”

“But will you just leave him out here?” I didn’t want him to be lonely.

“He’ll find a spot. Trust me, I’ve researched this. He easily has fifteen different sheltered spots for a nest, plus plenty of nesting type materials. But I can’t pick it for him. He needs to decide where he wants to nest.”

“That’s fair.” We ducked outside the enclosure, and Alexander secured the door. “I’m so proud of you, Alexander. He really looks so happy.”

“And he likes his toy.” Alexander nodded to where Tattie was growing more confident with digging around in my makeshift puzzle tray. “It’s a good idea. They’re used to diving for their meals, so it gives him something to do.”

Tattie popped his head up and leaned back, giving us that low call that sounded like an old manhaving a laugh.

“Oh my God, he’s happy. You have a happy bird.”

“No wankers here,” Alexander agreed, nudging me toward the house. “Speaking of, how are your birds?”

“Delightful. And loud.”

Alexander laughed as he held the door open for me. “A little too happy for you?”

“A little too happy early in the morning is all,” I grumbled.

“Ah yes, they must not have gotten the memo about sleeping in.”

“Did you know that I read somewhere that birds sing before dawn to wake the plants up?” I asked, stopping to take my boots off just inside the house. Alexander joined me on the bench, doing the same, and looked over at me.

“Is that right, hen?”

“Supposedly. Some guy on a farm discovered it, then analyzed the pulses of music, figured out classical music hit the same notes, started playing it for his crops and they increased their yield tenfold.”

“Truly?” Alexander’s eyes widened.

“Maybe. It could be internet legend too. I didn’t fact-check in the slightest.”

“Naturally.”

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