More Than Ever (More Book 3)

by Sloan Parker

  He and one other staff member were currently the only full-time employees at the center. There were also four part-time support workers, but the rest of the people who helped out were volunteers, including Alex’s wife and son. Alex had asked me to come in for an interview on a Sunday because he had more volunteer help on the weekends and could take the time to talk with me.

  I returned to wait near his desk in the corner of the room. Four cages were situated beside the desk, each housing an injured squirrel. Stacked on the surface of his desk were research texts, medical supplies still in their boxes, various equipment used for capturing wildlife, and an open map of the park marked with hand-drawn gridlines. A nameplate sat on top of the books. It read: Alejandro Vega, DVM, Wildlife Veterinarian.

  Beside the books were several framed pictures of what appeared to be his family. On the wall behind the desk hung photos of various animals at the clinic, as well as outdoor shots of wildlife in the park.

  One of the pictures featured a white-tailed deer. A substantial buck drinking from the edge of a river. The setting sun was ablaze behind the deer, casting swaths of golden light across the wide expanse of hemlock trees along the river. The sunlight turned the ripples of the water a brilliant shade of orange. Several yards from the deer sat a dock lined with wooden posts. It looked like the exact spot where I had stood years earlier.

  I’d been thirteen the last time I was at Majestic Falls State Park, and I hadn’t been back since. Until today.

  I stepped closer to get a better view of the photo. It was the same dock. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but I did.

  I squeezed my eyes shut, blocking out the picture before me—and the memories it brought back. I didn’t want to think about that day. Or the horribleness that followed.

  “My dad took those,” came a young voice from behind me.

  I turned toward the kid. He was about twelve. He carried a gray-and-white pet rabbit in his arms.

  I gestured toward the picture. “He’s a great photographer.”

  The boy nodded. “He loves taking pictures of the park and all the wildlife. Are you the new intern?”

  “Not sure yet. I’m here for an interview today.”

  The kid gave another nod.

  “Is Alex your dad?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Your name’s Tomas, right?”

  The kid took a step forward. “Dad talked about me?”

  “Sure. He said you’re a big help around here, and this year when you head back to school in the fall, he’s really going to need someone to fill in for you.”

  Tomas’s face brightened for a moment. Then he focused on the rabbit in his arms. “We live next door. Usually my mom comes to help too, but she’s gonna have a baby in a few weeks. She’s gotta rest.” He petted the bunny along its side.

  “Is that your rabbit?”

  “Uh-huh. Dad promised to help trim her toenails today. They grow super fast.”

  “What’s her name?”

  “Maggie.”

  I moved in closer and raised my hand. “Can I?”

  “Sure. She’s a real sweetheart.”

  I stroked the rabbit’s fur. “Wow. That’s the softest animal I’ve ever petted.”

  “I know, right?” He regarded me with curiosity. “You’ve never pet a rabbit before?”

  “Nah. I volunteer at a humane society, but they mostly take in dogs and cats. How long have you had her?”

  “Three years. My dad found her in the park. He says people from the city are always coming to Majestic Falls and dropping off animals they don’t want anymore. They leave them along the river, thinking they’ll be okay because there’s fresh water there and lots of plants and other animals. But Dad said a pet rabbit would never survive long out there on its own. They’re different than wild rabbits.”

  “So he gave her to you?”

  “He asked me if I’d take care of her. He says that when you take in a sick or homeless animal, you’re responsible for them for the rest of their lives and you have to take that responsibility as seriously as you would your own life.”

  “He’s pretty smart.”

  Tomas’s face lit up again. “He is.”

  The front door of the center opened, and a very pregnant woman entered. She had long dark hair pulled back in a high ponytail. She stood an inch or two shorter than her son and was petite in every way, except for the large, round belly. She stepped up to Tomas. “You forgot her toenail clippers.” She gave them to him.

  “Thanks.” He showed me the clippers. “These work best on her nails.”

  His mom smiled at me. “Are you here about the intern position?”

  “Yeah, I’m Matthew Stewart.”

  “Natalie Vega.”

  Tomas pointed at her. “This is my mom.”

  We shook hands. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You too.” She rested a hand on top of her belly and slid her other arm around her son’s shoulders. “I hope Tomas isn’t keeping you from something. When he gets to talking about his animals, he tends to go on and on.” She shot a look his way. “And on and on. Just like his father.”

  “Not at all,” I said. “He was nice enough to introduce me to Maggie.”

  She gave the rabbit a scratch between her flattened ears. “One of his many critters.”

  “You have more?” I asked.

  “Yeah. I’ve got a dog, a turtle, a hamster, a guinea pig, and a goat. Oh, and a potbellied pig.”

  “Wow. That must be a lot of work.”

  He shrugged. “It’s not bad. It’s totally worth it.”

  “It is,” his mom said as she ran her fingers through Tomas’s hair above his ear. “Listen, hon, I’ve got to get back before your dad catches me walking around and gives me another lecture about staying off my feet.”

  “Yeah. Sorry I forgot the clippers.”

  “It’s okay. Despite what your dad says, I do need the exercise.” She looked to me. “It was nice to meet you, Matthew. I hope it works out if you want the job.”

  “Thank you.”

  She left, and Tomas laughed as soon as the door was shut behind her. “Why does she always do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Put stuff like that off on my dad. Like he’s the only one who’s worried.”

  Before I could think of anything to say, the door to the back rooms opened and Alex entered the office area. “All done.” He stopped beside his son. “Sorry, Tomas. We’re not quite finished with our interview. Why don’t you take Maggie back to one of the exam rooms to wait? I’ll wrap up here and then we can work on her nails after that.”

  “Okay.” Tomas headed for the hall door.

  I called after him, “It was nice to meet you. And Maggie.”

  He smiled back at me. “Yeah, you too.”

  After he left, Alex stared off at the closed door separating the office area from the rest of the rehab center.

  “He’s a great kid,” I said.

  “He is.” Alex turned to me. “You have kids?”

  “No.” But that reminded me of what I hadn’t told him yet, what I’d made myself say to every person who’d already interviewed me for the other internships where I’d applied.

  Alex considered me as if he knew I had something important to tell him. Maybe he got that I needed a minute to bring it up. He gestured to the chair opposite his desk. “Why don’t we pick up where we left off before the ranger got here?”

  “All right.” I had a seat, and he did the same across from me.

  He asked me a few more standard interview-style questions. Then he sat back in his chair. “Thanks again for the help with the fox kits and the physical therapy. We’re pretty busy here. You can see why we need to hire someone.”

  “It doesn’t seem like it’ll be boring, that’s for sure.”

  “I’m glad you see it that way. I deal with a new challenge practically every day. As I mentioned before, the intern position will include some paperwork, answering phone calls,
but I guarantee you’ll get to work with all kinds of animals, and you’ll get to assist me with surgeries, so it should be some great experience. Definitely more diverse than what you’d get at a regular animal clinic in the city.” He drummed a closed fist on the desk as if nervous to ask me the next question. “So what do you think?”

  “I really like the work you’re doing here. I’d love to be a part of it.”

  “Good.” He smiled, that genuine delight lighting up his face again. Then he grew quiet, examining me as if he was thinking something over. “You’re done with school for this semester?”

  “Yeah. Classes finished a week ago.”

  “You could start anytime?”

  “Whenever you’d need me.”

  “All right.” He leaned forward, elbows propped on the desk. “Not making any promises here, but the center is on the short list for a grant that will allow us to add another full-time staff member. If you did get the internship, and you liked working here, it could turn into a regular position after your schooling ends. Would that be something that might interest you?”

  “Based on what I’ve seen so far, yeah, I really think so.”

  “Good deal.” He looked over my résumé once more. “So you had that one class on wildlife care. Anything else?”

  “Not yet. I’d liked to take the more advanced one next year. Neither class is a requirement for my program, but I thought they sounded fascinating.”

  “That’s a good sign. If you were to work here after you graduate, would you be willing to go to some additional training specifically on wildlife rehab? The cost would be covered by the grant.”

  “Definitely. I’d love that.”

  “Okay. Are there any other questions you have for me? Or is there anything else you’d like me to know about you?”

  I drew in a deep breath. “Yeah, actually.” I had said the same thing at each of the other interviews I’d gone on, but somehow it wasn’t getting any easier to tell someone. Not with a job this amazing on the line.

  “It’s something very personal, but I’d like you to know before you consider me for the job. In case there’s any reason it would be an issue for you or your staff. I want to work in an environment where I can feel comfortable being myself, where I don’t have to monitor my words when I talk about my life.”

  Alex sat back and folded his hands over his stomach. He smiled and tipped his head my way. “Okay. I like what you’re saying so far. Go on.”

  He was the only one who’d reacted that way. Every other person had stiffened and gaped at me with trepidation like they were watching me come unhinged. Alex just kept the grin going.

  I chewed on my lower lip and then made myself stop the nervous habit. “I’m in a relationship with two people. Two men. We all live together. They’re both my partners, and they are the same with each other. All three of us are in the relationship together.” I stopped and kept my focus on him. I had nothing to be ashamed of. I was proud of the three of us, and I didn’t want to work for a boss who wouldn’t, at the very least, respect that my private life was my own business, and definitely not for someone who’d think less of me for it and then treat me that way.

  He pointed at one of the cages beside us that held a single squirrel. “See him? A hiker found him in the middle of the road five days ago. He had a broken leg, a severe cut along his back. The park is loaded with eastern gray squirrels like him. Some people would say that it wasn’t worth the time or money to help him, that he’s vermin and I should’ve put him out of his misery and been done with it.” He watched me for a moment. “What do you think about that?”

  From inside the cage, the squirrel stared back at me, eyes wide as he gnawed on a walnut shell that he held between his two front feet. “I think if he could communicate with us, he’d say he just wants a chance to survive. It’s what any living creature would want. No matter how many of his kind there are.”

  Alex smiled again. “That’s the kind of answer I care about. Seems to me a person who can love two people the way you described, without jealousy or resentment, might have exactly the right kind of compassion to do this job well.”

  I swallowed down the flood of emotion, trying to keep it from seeping into my voice as I said, “Thank you.”

  He nodded. “Besides, what you do in your personal life is no one’s business but your own. If you end up working for me, and any of the staff or volunteers here at the center don’t get that, or they don’t treat you with the respect and courtesy you deserve, then they won’t be working here much longer.” He looked to one of the framed pictures on his desk. I couldn’t see who was featured in the photo. “And just so you know, I’m a big supporter of gay rights, and not only because I’m fairly sure my son is gay.” His eyes lit up again as he kept his focus on the picture. Then he looked my way. “But because I strongly believe in equality. For everyone.”

  I smiled back at him.

  He stood. “Now that we have that settled, we have a release scheduled for today. If you don’t mind hanging around while I help Tomas with his rabbit, you could come along and give me a hand with the release afterward.”

  “I’d love that.” I got up as well. He towered over me, but I didn’t feel small next to him.

  Three hours later, I couldn’t contain my excitement as I drove Richard’s car along one of the main roads through Majestic Falls State Park, captivated by the beauty that surrounded me. The lush, green, forest-covered hills, golden rock formations, cliffs, gorges, and waterfalls. The rushing water of Windtree River and all its tributaries. It was one of the most amazing places I’d ever been, and I wanted to work at Windtree Rehab Center more than any of the other facilities where I’d applied.

  Alex had said there were a few more applicants he had to interview before a final decision was made, but I had a really good feeling about this one.

  As I drove toward the northern exit of the park, I spotted Windtree River again where it ran along the road. A flock of mallard ducks dotted the surface, the iconic brilliant green heads of the males glowing in the sunlight. The classic piercing quacks of the females echoed in the air. I was transfixed by the sights and sounds.

  Then the memories I’d been trying to keep at bay all day slammed into me without warning. I gripped the steering wheel tighter and did my best to stay focused on the road ahead.

  It would be weird to work there, at least at first. I knew that from the moment I’d seen the position listed on my school’s website as a possible internship.

  But I wasn’t about to let anything ruin this experience for me. Especially not him.

  He’d already done enough damage.

  He still was in some ways.

  He was part of the reason Luke and Richard and I were struggling.

  He was part of the reason I was afraid to show them something I’d hidden from them in our house.

  Because what I hadn’t wanted to see before now was that deep down, in a place I tried to ignore most of the time, I was afraid of losing them. Terrified.

  Which meant… I had to find a way to let this go. Or else I’d spend the rest of my life living with that fear.

  Chapter Four

  The house sat still and quiet as I stepped inside. Before I got the door shut, Trixie was barreling down the hall toward me. She skidded to a stop in front of me.

  “Hey, baby girl. Did you have a good day?”

  As usual, her tail wagged with such vigor I thought she might topple over at any second. I crouched down and gave her some love behind her ears. In response, she flopped onto her back so I could rub her belly.

  “You here all by yourself? Where’s Luke?”

  She immediately scrambled to her feet and thumped up the stairs, her long limbs flailing as she made her way. She was the sweetest and smartest dog I’d ever met, but she was also the most uncoordinated. I laughed as I trailed up after her.

  The hall was as dark and silent as the downstairs had been. Sometimes when I headed up alone like that, with the ho
use quiet all around me, I was right back to the night Richard had given us a tour of the place when we’d first moved in with him. Following him up those stairs, I’d been both excited and scared.

  It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him or Luke—although I probably shouldn’t have since I barely knew either of them, and what I did know from previous experience was how hurt I could get trusting the wrong man—but with Richard and Luke, the anxiety hadn’t come from being afraid of them or what they might do to me. It was about being scared I’d say or do something that would put an end to whatever was building between us.

  I’d known from that first night at the Haven that they were different, that we were different together. They’d always been the only people in my life I’d ever felt completely comfortable being myself around. I relied on that now even more.

  I found Trixie waiting in the open doorway of Luke’s office. Luke sat at his desk, working, his complete concentration on the computer screen before him. He hadn’t shaved, and the dark stubble, ripped jeans, and tight black T-shirt he wore gave him a rugged bad-boy look. Like he belonged on a Harley instead of in front of a laptop. Incredibly enticing. And sexy as hell.

  He’d been assigned a new high-profile programming project at the IT consulting firm where he worked, and it had been kicking his ass lately, as he described it. There were a number of new twentysomething employees in his department, and I got the impression that, at thirty-five, he was starting to feel old and outdated. He’d even signed up for some online training to get up to speed on a new programming language.

  I hated that he felt inadequate in any way.

  He was so focused on his laptop, he didn’t hear me approach. I laid both hands on his shoulders and began working my fingers and thumbs over his muscles. He groaned in pleasure and tilted his head back, his eyes closing. “God, that feels good.” He opened his eyes and beamed up at me. “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  He held my stare for several beats, his expression full of hunger and longing. There’d always been an intensity to the way he looked at Richard and me, the way those blue eyes took in the sight of us as if we were the only two people in the world and that single moment between us was all that mattered to him.