Page 298 of Mountain Grump
Everything inside me that worried my feelings were one sided… starts to crumble.
Chapter 174
Ethan
Droppingonto one of the newly installed benches, I take my container of cold noodles with peanut sauce out of my cooler bag.
It’s all coming together.
Almost done.
I open the lid, lift my phone, and snap a photo of the noodles, careful not to get too much background. Then I text it to Tilda.
It’s been almost two weeks since she was on my plane.
And every day since I dropped off that duck food, I’ve either left something for her—socks, DVDs, mealworms for Quackers. Or I’ve texted her—photos of food, flowers, things that make me think of her.
She hasn’t replied to any of it. But it still feels different.
Ever since the airplane hangar.
Ever since she kept the sunglasses on.
It’s felt different.
And I’m hopeful.
“Pretty impressive.” A voice interrupts my thoughts.
I look up from my lunch and spot Shelia. “Thanks.” I take in the activity around us. “Appreciate your input on the habitats.”
She hums and puts her hands on her hips, looking at the pond. “It’s nice to be involved in something fun.”
“Rescuing mountain lion cubs getting old?”
“Hardly.” She laughs, but it morphs into a sigh. “But… ya know.”
“Yeah.” I do know.
Wildlife management isn’t always fun, cute babies. It involves a lot more death and sadness than anyone wants to think about.
Which is why education is so important.
I think about Matilda picking up that mountain lion like it was a fucking house cat. “How’s the cub doin’?”
“Real good.” Shelia smiles. “You can tell Tilda we were able to put it in a rehab with an injured adult who we suspected lost her own cubs recently. They’re bonding well.”
“She’ll like that.”
I want to text Tilda the update right now.
But we’ll talk soon enough.
Shelia blows out a breath. “Well, I gotta get back to the clinic.”
“See you at the opening?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Tell Tilda hi.”
