Page 18 of Everlasting Love

“JJ.” She unbuckles Jas’s seatbelt and pulls her into her embrace, snuggling her close. “I’ve missed you.”

I chuckle as I climb out of my car. “Don’t worry about me.”

She pokes her tongue out at me. “I see you more than I see this one.”

“I guess so.” Our paths sometimes cross when Quinn has to release a wayward snake in the state park where I work. I grab Jas’s bag and we head inside.

Jas wriggles in Quinn’s arms so she places her on her feet, giving her the freedom to take off toward Quinn’s guests. “Barney’s so big now!” Jas shouts from the front room. Barney is a Western fence lizard. Yep, that’s right, a lizard. And he’s Jas’s favorite with his blue underbelly.

Barney only has two front legs, and Quinn didn’t think he’d survive on his own after she witnessed him being pecked by birds so she brought him home. Her front room often acts as a type of halfway house for reptiles of all species, shapes, and sizes that may be injured or misplaced. Some can be released back into the wild, while others, like Barney, stay with Quinn forever.

Quinn chuckles. “He sure is. Did you notice he has new lady friends?” She points to a spot toward the back of the aquarium where two smaller lizards are basking in the sunlight streaming in through the window.

I do a double-take. “Are they albino Western fence lizards? They don’t have any color.”

Quinn nods. “Yep. A couple found them in their yard and called me. I’m not sure what to do with them. I don’t think they’ll make it on their own.”

“Yeah, they’d be easy prey for predators.” Thank goodness for Quinn and her kind heart.

Jas presses up on her toes and almost squishes her nose against the glass to get a better look. Her eyes widen when she spots the two females. “Oh, I’m gwad he’s got some fwiends. I was wowwied he was wonewy.” She watches them closely.

Knowing that Jas will be captivated for the next fifteen minutes or so, Quinn makes herself a coffee and me a tea. “How was the parade today?”

“Crowded.”

“It always is. I’m impressed that you make the effort every year.”

I shrug. “It’s my small way to show my appreciation for everything the service men and women have given up for us.” I feel it’s the least I can do. If it weren’t for those men and women, we wouldn’t have the freedom we do.

She nods and smiles at me. “You have a good heart, Vi. I made wraps for lunch. Hope that’s okay.”

“Of course. I’m starving so I’ll eat anything.”

She places our food and drinks, a cup of milk for Jas, and Jas’s favorite home-baked cookies on the dining table. We both take a seat, and she fills me in on her latest escapades capturing snakes from backyards and homes across the city. She loves her job but what she loves more is the surprise on her client’s faces when a woman turns up to wrangle the local snakes. They generally expect a man to turn up and deal with the unwanted reptiles.

Her phone rings as she takes her seat. “Quinn’s Capture and Release. How can I help you?” She listens for a bit. “Where did you say you are?” She listens again and then rolls her eyesat me. “It’s probably a Northern Pacific rattlesnake. Theyaredangerous if they feel threatened, so give it a wide berth and you’ll be fine.” She listens some more. “No, I’m sorry, I can’t collect the snake from a state park. That’s where they live.” The person says something else. “I’m sorry. No, I can’t make an exception. I’d lose my license if I removed a snake from a state park for no good reason.” She pauses. “As I said, just give it plenty of space. It doesn’t want to hurt you.” The person on the phone must say something else. “No problem. Have a great hike. Goodbye.” She ends the call and chuckles. “I swear, Vi, some of the calls I get.”

“So they wanted you to collect a rattlesnake from a hiking trail?” I’m not surprised. People like to get out in nature, so long as it’s nottoo natural.

She nods. “Yup. I’m not sure what they expect when they’re in a state park.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh, trust me. We get all sorts of requests when people are hiking through our park. They even want us to keep the bushes trimmed away from the trails so they don’t have to touch the foliage. It’s ridiculous.”

Jas races into the room and climbs onto the chair in front of her cup of milk. “You made my favowite cookies. Fank you, Aunty Quinn.”

Quinn chuckles and bops her on the nose. “Of course. I know how much you love them. But you have to eat your wrap first, okay? How was the parade?”

Jas nods as she kicks her feet back and forth. “It was gweat. We sawed Sane, didn’t we Mommy?”

She’s so obsessed with the man, and I have to admit he hasn’t been too far from my thoughts since we first met. Quinn raises a blonde brow at me. “Who’s Sane?”

“His name isShane, and he’s Toby Summer’s best friend and bodyguard.”

Quinn’s eyes widen and she holds up her hand. “Woah, back up, sister. Toby Summer?” Her eyes grow even wider, and I’m worried her eyeballs are going to pop right out of their sockets. “Explain.” She makes the come here motion with her hand.

While Jas munches on her wrap, I fill in Quinn about Poppy’s guitar lessons with none other than Toby Summer and how we had no idea he was her guitar teacher until we went to the Labor Day concert atMusic for my Heart.

“No way!”

---