Page 22 of In the Middle of No(ah)where
What's the baby's name?
How much longer?
Within another couple minutes, Barrett and Marcus step over to stand right in front of us. As Barrett and Caleb converse, I can't take my eyes off Marcus.
He's here.
From this closeness, I can see the subtle fine lines around his eyes. And when he smiles, my world is filled with the warmth that I remember from years before.
He's really here.
11
Marcus
"We've got a full house out there," I tell Barrett as I barge into his office unannounced. It's not my fault he decided to have an open-door policy.
"That doesn't surprise me," he says, handing me the iPad he was just scrolling through. On the screen, The Times in London has reported on our little zoo and mentioned Kavi. "Holy hell. Is this for real?"
He nods. "Seems so."
I perch on the side of his desk while scrolling down and skimming the article.
"That's pretty cool." I hand the tablet back and stand.
Barrett stands and places his hand on my shoulder. "Are you ready to meet our calf?"
Our smiles are huge when we cautiously step out into the habitat so as not to spook Kavi. The atmosphere is electrifying. Stepping in front of Kavi so she can see us and not get startled, she lets out a long snort-honking sound that elephants make to communicate with one another and wraps her trunk around Barrett's torso as if giving him a hug. The crowd is 'oohing' and 'ahhing,' although they can only see Kavi's head, as we have blocked the rest of her from the public's view. I feel a pang of jealousy because I take care of her more than he does, but for some reason, they have a tight bond.
Behind the wall, only a few key personnel, including Barrett and me, remain in the habitat. The other three Asian Elephantsremain as well since elephants are pack animals, and we try to keep the environment as natural as possible.
Kavi lets out a series of sounds, and the elephants gather around her. We both notice her sack has started to drop. "Here we go," Barrett whispers. And right on cue, within a few more minutes, the calf falls to the ground, followed by a bunch of afterbirth splattering around Kavi's hind legs. The herd of elephants circles the baby, using their feet and trunks to throw dirt on the little one. It looks harsh as if they might hurt the newborn, but it's natural for them—again, another reason for the privacy fence.
Once the delivery is successful, Barrett and I take another walk around the habitat to ensure there aren't any dangers that could be inflicted on the new baby girl. We leave so the large animal vet and her team can assess the mamma and her baby. It's hard to pull away from them. Seeing the love and bond already forming makes the longing I have for a boy of my own even that much stronger.
While walking closer to the crowd, my eyes scan the younger guys standing near the fence, and my heart skips.
It's Noah.
What are the odds? I've been searching for him everywhere, and here he is.
"Oh, he's precious," the whisper barely leaves my lips. I don't even realize I said it out loud until Barrett responds.
"You meanshe."
"Nope. Not talking about the elephant." My gaze locked on Noah with a slight pull on the corner of my lips. The crowd is growing with the news announcement that today is the day of Kavi's birth. Everyone wants to get a glimpse of Lali.
My heart rate picks up.I finally found him. But when he puts his arm around the boy's shoulder next to him, my heartsinks.Does he have a boyfriend?It's been almost two years; of course, he wouldn't be out there looking for me.
The other boy is cute, too. A lot shorter than Noah. With his Dumbo backpack on and the way he bounces in excitement, he seems much younger too.
I glance over to share my excitement with Barrett but then realize I've never mentioned Noah before. Barrett is also staring at the two boys.
"That's Caleb," Barrett says when I clear my throat to gain his attention, "from Steamed."
"Now I understand why you were so late yesterday and came in with that stupid smile on your face." I tease, nudging his shoulder. I've been friends with Barrett for a few years and have never seen him so smitten with anyone.
"I'm not ashamed to admit he put me in a good mood yesterday." He pushes my shoulder back, and I stumble before righting myself with a laugh. I know he's been stressed lately with all the hype surrounding the elephants, so it's good to see him acting a bit more jovial.
