Page 131 of Hunted
“Are you okay if I remove the old one so we can replace it?” Weston asks as he moves behind the original grave marker. I nod my head. The old one was already wearing out and was becoming hard to read. This new one would last a very, very long time.
The guys take their time, refusing my help, saying that I did this once and don’t have to do it again. I don’t argue because I feel a little emotionally overwhelmed, so I sit back against a tree in the shade and watch.
When they’re finally done, I say goodbye then the guys lead me back towards the beach.
“Eep!” I jump in surprise when I hear the noise, my head shooting up to scan the trees. But I don’t see him anywhere.
“It might not have been him,” Kingsley says, trying to not let me get my hopes up.
I slowly nod, but I know that trill. I could always pick it out amongst the other lemurs, even now, two years later.
“Eep!” It calls again and I take a few steps towards the noise as my eyes try to locate him in the trees.
“Mo-Mo? Is that you, buddy?”
Suddenly he drops out of the tree, landing on my chest and my arms rush up to catch him.
“Mo-Mo! It’s really you!”
He starts making a bunch of noise as his arms flail around, then he hugs me and nuzzles my neck. He quickly pulls back and runs around my neck several times, making me laugh before he jumps back into the tree.
“Hey! Where are you going?!” I ask in disappointment. Sure, he was happy to see me, but that whole thing lasted less than a minute. I expected a little more from him after two years apart.
I stare into the trees in the direction he went, my hope dwindling with each second that passes. Reece places his hands on my shoulders from behind. “It’s a good thing. It means he’s doing well here.”
I don’t answer as I wait. That’s not like the Mo-Mo I remember. He wouldn’t run away so quickly. But maybe he’s mad at me? For leaving him?
Just as I’m about to turn away, I hear movement in the trees again. “Mo-Mo?”
I wait with bated breath until I see him jumping from branch to branch towards me. Only, he’s not alone this time. My eyes widen when I realize he’s brought his family.
Sam drops down on the branch in front of us first. He trills then jumps onto Bower’s shoulder, surprising all of us, then holds his little fist out towards him. I laugh as Bower gives him a gentle fist bump.
“You remember me?” Bower asks in awe.
Dean and Coco drop down onto a branch next, jumping up and down in excitement.
“Hey guys! I missed you! I’m glad to see you’re all doing okay,” I tell them excitedly as I fist bump them both slowly. “Where did Mo-Mo go?” I ask, my eyes scanning the tree.
I catch him sitting one branch up, holding something. “What’cha got there, little buddy?” I ask, and he slowly climbs down to sit between Coco and Dean holding something to his chest.
I tilt my head as I try to get a good look and slowly he lowers his arm, revealing a tiny baby lemur. “Ohmygod!” I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth, so I don’t scream in excitement and scare them.
“Mo-Mo! You have a baby! And he’s soooo cute!” I don’t want to upset them, so I decide not to pet him. I’m not sure how territorial and protective lemurs might be about their young.
But Mo-Mo seems to make the decision for me as he hugs his baby to his chest with one arm and leaps onto my shoulder. “Eep!”
“Well… if you insist.” Slowly, I reach up and run the back of my finger down the baby's side. “He’s so cute!” I whisper, not wanting to frighten him. Of course, I’m just assuming he’s a boy, I can’t actually tell.
I hear the click of a camera and glance at Bower who’s holding his phone up towards us, clearing taking photos. I smile as he takes a few more shots, then he tells me, “You have to name him.”
“I do?”
“Of course, you named the rest of the family. You can’t stop now.”
“Hmm,” I say, my eyes looking back down at the little guy. “How about Donald? Donny for short.”
“It’s perfect,” Reece says with a smile. “You named Mo-Mo after me, it makes sense you name his son after your dad.”
