Page 96 of Enthrall Secrets
I turned to see a chain-link fence and behind it was a swampy pond. I saw the tail first.
A ten-foot alligator.
“Jesus Christ—” I leaped toward Ethan.
He howled and tried to fight off my fists as I struck him playfully.
I braved another look at the alligator. It was merely soaking up the last rays of the sun, lying eerily still and camouflaged amongst all the foliage.
“I’ll make it up to you.” Ethan pulled me along eagerly.
Ethan used his ID again to gain us entry into a large building. After pushing through a few doors we ended up in a long corridor.
We peered through the wide glass window of what looked like a nursery. Several incubators were lined up side by side.
I laughed with utter joy. “This is her?”
“This is her.” He gave a wave to a small white monkey with a pink face. She was on the lap of an employee who was sitting in a rocking chair, bottle feeding her.
Ethan really did look like a proud father.
“How did you happen to adopt a monkey?” I said, my face aching from a ridiculous smile.
“Adoptions help fund the animals’ care. The zoo and botanical gardens are owned by the City, and even with thousands of visitors it’s an expensive place to run.” He pointed at the baby monkey. “Poppy was abandoned so we’re bottle feeding her. We’ll try and integrate her back with her mom as soon as possible.”
“So, no taking her home then?” I nudged his arm.
“I wish. She’s a colobus monkey. From Kenya.”
“You really are full of surprises, Ethan.”
He shrugged. “I enjoy hanging out here. All the staff are laidback and happy. And of course I know the argument about how it’s cruel to keep animals locked up, but they’re safe here and well looked after. No predators.”
I couldn’t keep my eyes off Poppy, the way she happily nursed her bottle, the way her gaze stayed on the employee who was feeding her.
“Let’s get you into a sterile gown,” he said.
“I can feed her?”
“That’s why we’re here.”
Oh, my god.
Within several minutes I’d washed my hands, pulled on non-latex gloves, and was wearing a white disposable gown.
Once I was settled in the rocking chair, Ethan placed Poppy on my lap and showed me how to hold her. With his expert guidance, I held the bottle of milk to Poppy’s lips and she latched on to the teat, taking it all the way into her mouth, her small hands gripping mine.
I’d never been this close to anything this cute before. Her soft fur tickled my hands, and her large brown eyes stared trustingly into mine.
“Ethan, you have a magical side.” I looked up at him.
He gave me a gentle smile.
“I can add your name to the adoption papers, if you like.” He kissed the top of my head. “Happiness suits you.”
