“You, too. I’ve been meaning to come out to the sanctuary and see the new critters you got, but life has been crazy.”
“You’re welcome anytime, but there’s no rush. We’re getting two alpacas tomorrow.”
“Really?”
Everly had created the most amazing home for abused and neglected animals, or those who simply needed a place to live because their owners could no longer care for them.
“I’m going to ask Birdie and Sage to help me name them,” she said.
“They’ll love that.”
“And they’re good at it, too. I can’t imagine Petunia the pig having any other name.”
My mom bustled around the corner. “Oh, good, you’re finally here.”
I stiffened. “I was told six.”
She checked her watch. “It’s ten after.”
Hayes wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “I held her up on the porch for a little catch-up.”
Mom made a humming sound in the back of her throat and then headed for the kitchen where Addie was chopping vegetables.
“I don’t know why she even wants me here,” I muttered.
Hayes pulled me in closer. “She loves you.”
I didn’t doubt that. But while she might love me, she didn’t like me very much. The knowledge burned, but I shoved the hurt aside.
I moved into the living area where most of our group had gathered. Shiloh was perched on the hearth, giving Hayes’ dog, Koda, a rubdown. Sage was curled up in an armchair, engrossed in a book. And Calder and Dad were talking about one of Dad’s new horses.
I bent and whispered in Sage’s ear. “Hey, Goose.”
She tipped her head back so she could look up at me. “Hey.”
“Whatcha reading?”
Sage turned the book around so I could see as I sat on the ottoman in front of her chair. “It’s about wildflowers. Addie’s helping me make a book of pressed ones, but I need to know the right names to write down for each one.”
“Wow. That’s pretty cool. How many do you have so far?” I pushed down the flicker of jealousy and focused on the little girl in front of me, who clearly loved the activity.
“Almost ten.”
I widened my eyes. “Really? Where are you finding them?”
“In the field behind the park, mostly. Addie said there are more in the mountains, but she doesn’t have a car, so we can’t go up there.”
Sage’s words punched me right in the gut, guilt sliding through me at my earlier jealousy. Addie didn’t have a car, and she likely didn’t even have a driver’s license. I doubted her controlling father would’ve allowed it.
“I’ll talk with Addie. Maybe we can plan a time for me to take you guys up to the mountains and we can all go on a hike.”
Sage straightened in her chair. “Really?”
“Really.”
She shot up, leaving her book on the chair and pulling me towards the kitchen. “Addie! Hadley said she’ll take us to the mountains to look for wildflowers.”
Addie wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and met my gaze. “I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”