Page 84 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“Cool!” Ally raced out of the room.

A loud quack was followed by a duck waddling in. It walked under the dogs’ legs to JD, then stood on his foot, seemingly oblivious to the canines who could bite or trample it. It then quacked again, so he picked it up and straightened.

Zoe noted the neck of his shirt was ripped. His beard wasn’t oiled or neat, and his hair was not brushed. The duck seemed happy settled under his arm.

“I’ve never seen you looking scruffy. You look like Sawyer,” Zoe said far too quickly because she was off-balance.

“The animals don’t mind what I look like, and I’m nothing like your brother. I actually care about my appearance most of the time, and my clothes were bought from a shop, not a thrift store.” His tone was cool.

“What’s your duck’s name?” Zoe asked instead of the other twenty questions she had.

“Velma.”

“Nice.”

“Vi named her. Why are you here, Zoe?”

“Mom said someone dropped this stuff to her at the library for you. She asked me to bring it here,” Zoe said, the words coming out fast. “So here.” She thrust the box at him.

“Thanks. Can you put it on the table?” He nodded to his left. “Not sure why the locals insist on helping me out, but it’s nice and appreciated.”

“Just because you’re wealthy doesn’t mean they won’t help you. Lyntacks are just people who like to give.”

“You say the word wealthy like it’s a flaw, and yet your family has lots of money.” He was watching her while one hand stroked Ted’s head and the other held the duck.

“How are things with Henry?” Zoe asked.

“He’s gone home.”

“I know, but is it all sorted… I mean, what he came for?”

“I doubt things with my family will ever be sorted, but we talked, and he spent the day here, and we brokered a truce, which I think will last. My brother and I will now keep in touch.”

“Well, that’s good then.” There was so much tension in the room, it was nearly choking her. “Will you… do you think you’ll see if you are a kidney match for your father?”

“I don’t know yet. Is your body healed now after assface Keller hurt you?” His frown was as fierce as Sawyer’s now.

“All better, thanks. Mom made me slather myself in balm every day.” Neither of them mentioned the fact that her body had worked just fine that night in his hammock.

“I like your mom.”

“Me too.” It was the oddest conversation, jumping from topic to topic.

“She gave me some of that balm once.”

“That’s because she considers you one of hers now,” Zoe said.

“Yeah, she told me that.”

“I didn’t know about this thing you have with animals. I mean, I knew you had some but not how many.”

He raised a brow, and she felt heat filling her cheeks.

“It’s kind of you,” she added quickly. “Taking in the ones that need rehoming… or just homes.”

“I like animals.”

The silence stretched uncomfortably between them, and then Velma quacked. He put her gently on the floor, and then he pulled something from his pocket and handed it to her. She took it, then waddled away after the dogs, who had run outside.

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