A Daughter's Legacy

by Virginia Smith

  Kelli bit back an embarrassed groan at Nana’s obvious ploy to throw them together. She made a lame attempt to protest with a gesture toward her laptop. “I’ve got work to do.”

  “Oh, come on. Take a break from all those boring numbers.” Jason’s words teased her even as he linked a hand through her arm and propelled her with gentle pressure toward the back door. “They’ll be here when you get back.”

  “Well—” Kelli allowed herself to be guided, relishing the light pressure of his touch. “Maybe a short walk.”

  The sun hadn’t set yet, but it hung low on the horizon, hidden from view behind the houses in Lillian’s neighborhood. Jason led her through the back gate, across the access road and through the zoo’s rear entrance. He didn’t release her arm until he needed both hands to unlock the padlock, and after that, Kelli stepped out of reach. She needed to keep a clear head and her thoughts were muddled when she couldn’t think of anything except the way her bare skin tingled beneath his touch.

  He’s a zookeeper. A zookeeper. She repeated the mantra as they set off down the path past the kangaroo yard. A zookeeper and my boss.

  “I’m awfully glad you came back,” Jason told her as they strolled past a small herd of curly-horned sheep.

  Kelli glanced sideways at him. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”

  He cocked his head, but kept his gaze fixed on the trail ahead of them. “I thought you might get back around all those accountants in Denver and change your mind.”

  “You think I’m going to walk away from $700,000?”

  He glanced her way. “You’re not doing this for the money.”

  A thrill of pleasure shot through Kelli. His tone was so confident, so positive, like he’d spent a significant amount of time considering her reasons. At least he didn’t think she was money-hungry. She couldn’t bear it if Jason thought she was motivated only by money.

  Even though I thought that of him. She almost winced at the thought.

  “So, why am I doing it?” she asked.

  His expression became distant as he considered his answer. “For Lil, a little. No matter what happened between you two, I think you want to honor her desire for you to understand why she loved this place so much.” They walked a few more steps. “But mostly, I think you’re doing it for yourself.”

  “What do you mean?” She tried not to bristle. Was he calling her self-centered? That was practically the same thing as money-hungry.

  He stopped on the path and turned to face her. “You don’t like disorder, not in your home or your office or, I’m guessing, anywhere in your life. I’ve watched you work. You’re neat and thorough and you don’t like to leave things unresolved.”

  Kelli might have been tempted to feel flattered, but she knew where this was leading and she wasn’t sure she liked the direction. But Jason was right—she couldn’t leave something unfinished any more than she could leave an account unbalanced.

  “Go on,” she told him, though with hesitation.

  “Whatever it is that’s unresolved between your mother and you, it’s eating at you. It’s not in your nature to turn your back on it and walk away. You want to face it head-on. Get past it. And you can’t do that back in Denver.” He spread his arms to indicate the zoo all around them. “You have to be here.”

  Kelli looked in the direction his hands swept. The tall, flowering hedge that lined the path cast sweet whiffs of scent on the gentle breeze that stirred the leaves. Ahead, a row of dome-shaped birdcages nestled in shaded alcoves. Beyond them, the three-sided enclosure that housed a pair of bears looked cave-like in the deep shadows of twilight.

  “You’re right,” she finally admitted. “I do want to understand why my mother loved this place enough to choose it over her own daughter.”

  Jason’s voice was soft. “I think there’s more to it than that.”

  She gave him a sharp glance and turned forward to continue their walk. He was referring to her fear of lions, which she did not intend to discuss. “Maybe there is.” Her tone didn’t leave room for him to press her further.

  They walked in silence for a few steps. “Someday I hope you’ll trust me enough to tell me about it.”

  Kelli’s step slowed. She’d never discussed the trauma that had destroyed her childhood with anyone except her counselor and Nana. Mostly, she preferred to stuff the memory into the recesses of her mind and pretend the incident had never happened. But the feelings hovered closer to the surface here at Cougar Bay, like an old, rusty car that had rested safely at the bottom of a lake for years and suddenly decided to float to the top and expose the secrets that had sent it there.

  I need someone I can trust to be nearby when it surfaces.

  Was Jason that someone? She thought of his arms around her, strong arms that sought to shelter her from the terrors of the past.

  “Maybe someday I will,” she whispered.

  A waist-high wall around the bears’ enclosure served as the first barrier between the animals and zoo guests. Kelli leaned against it and Jason stood beside her, close enough that she felt his breath like a caress on her cheek. The space between them vibrated with energy. The vivid memory of his embrace a week ago made it hard to listen to the warnings that sounded in her brain. But she ignored them as Jason peered deeply into her eyes. Her breath caught in her lungs as his lips drew hers closer, like the sandy shore draws an ocean wave.

  In the moment before their lips touched, a sound split the air. The roar of a lion. A sickening jolt of fear shot through Kelli’s stomach. She jerked backward and sucked in a breath.

  “That was close. Where is he?”

  The question quivered with fear. Had the lion gotten out of his enclosure? She glanced down the path behind Jason, but didn’t glimpse tawny fur, thank goodness.

  Jason drew back, eyes dark with regret. “His exhibit is just over there, beyond the cougars.”

  Kelli cast an anxious glance in that direction. She’d managed to avoid this part of the zoo so far, and hadn’t realized they were this close.

  “I think it’s time to head home. It’s getting dark.” She made a show of looking up at the darkening sky, well aware that she wasn’t fooling Jason at all. But at the moment, she didn’t care. The sooner she put some distance between her and that lion, the better.

  “Nighttime is my favorite time at the zoo,” Jason told her, but he took her arm and led her back down the path, in the direction from which they’d come.

  Kelli couldn’t even force herself to enjoy the touch of his hand. It felt warm, but not warm enough to dispel the chill that had frozen her core at the sound of the lion’s roar.

  Jason walked Kelli through the backyard and toward her porch. Flickering light shone around the edges of the curtain covering the window in the backdoor; Mrs. Jackson must still be watching television inside. Well, they hadn’t been gone very long. Not nearly long enough.

  Samson, you and I are going to have a talk about your terrible timing.

  When they stepped beneath the porch awning, Kelli beelined for the door as though she couldn’t wait to get inside. He cast about for a reason to delay his departure. Should he say he was thirsty and ask for a drink of water? Maybe she’d invite him in.

  She turned at the door. “Thank you for the walk, and for the furniture, and—” she gave him a quick smile “—everything. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Well, that was a dismissal if he’d ever heard one. The moment they’d shared in front of the bear enclosure was gone, a distant memory, and apparently she wasn’t interested in repeating it. His spirits low at the thought, Jason nodded and turned to go.

  “Wait.” He whirled back toward her. “I have something for you.” He dug in his pocket and pulled out the key ring he’d intended to give her.

  Her eyebrows drew together as she stared at it. “What’s this?”

  He grasped one key between his finger and thumb. “This is the key to your house, the one you gave me.” He dropped that one and selected the second.
“And this is a key to the padlock on the zoo’s rear gate. I thought it might be easier for you to just walk across the backyard.” He grinned and lowered his voice. “Unless you think leaving the car here would be too big a temptation for your grandmother.”

  Kelli’s lips parted as she stared at the keys. The look in the eyes she lifted to his made his heart do funny things, like he’d just given her the most precious gift in the world. Cool fingers grazed his palm as she took the keys. Then she leaned forward and, with a feather-light touch of soft lips, brushed a kiss on his cheek.

  Then she disappeared into the house before he had recovered enough to stop her. He turned, trance-like, and headed back across the yard toward the zoo.

  “Well, that wasn’t as good as the one Samson preempted,” he told the smattering of stars that had appeared in the swiftly darkening sky, “but it was a start.” He touched his cheek with his fingertips and grinned. “A good start.”

  The bed linens smelled faintly of bleach and fabric softener. Kelli snuggled beneath the crisp white sheets and relished the feel of the pillow that fluffed around her head. This mattress was even more comfortable than hers at home. She made a mental note to pick up a thank-you card before she saw Barb at church Sunday. She and Nana could both sign it. That would be the nice thing to do.

  And much safer than her thank-you kiss on Jason’s cheek.

  She nestled deeper in the pillow and pulled the comforter up around her chin. All evening long, she’d been unable to concentrate on anything because of that silly kiss. Her computer beckoned, but even though she tried to get some work done, she would come to herself with a start and realize she’d been staring at the screen, her mind a million miles away and her fingers absently rubbing her lips.

  A thought struck her with the force of a slap, and she sat straight up in bed.

  I’m falling for him.

  All those protests to Nana over the past week that he was just a nice guy had been an attempt to convince herself as much as her grandmother. The truth was that Jason Andover was more than just a nice guy. He was dangerously handsome. Treacherously kind and understanding. Perilously considerate.

  A soft moan escaped her clenched lips. She lifted her eyes to the ceiling and whispered in a voice so urgent it came out like a hiss. “Lord, how could this have happened? He’s a zookeeper!”

  Not only that, but Jason was her mother’s handpicked replacement. A suspicion crept into her mind, and she cast a glare toward the doorway and Lillian’s office beyond. Had her mother done this on purpose? Had she arranged her trust conditions with the hope that Kelli would fall in love with a zookeeper, as she had?

  “Well, there’s a long road between attraction and love,” she informed the doorway. “And the only road trip I’m taking is back to Denver in five months and three weeks.”

  But the next few months would get awfully lonely with Nana as her only friend. For the past week she’d looked forward to sitting beside Jason and his mother in church, to blending her voice with his on the praise hymns the band played. To maybe going out to Sunday dinner with them after the service. She’d actually pictured herself talking to him about—well, about her past. After sixteen years of silence, she’d finally begun to hope she’d found someone who not only understood about zoos, but would also understand her side of the horrible incident. Maybe even help her sink that rusty car for good. Did she have to give up that hope?

  Why can’t we be friends? After all, I have to work with him every day. There’s no way to avoid him completely.

  She’d just have to be careful, that’s all. No more romantic walks at night. That was off-limits. An unwelcome thrill shot through her at the memory of their almost-kiss by the bear enclosure. The stupid lion had done her a favor, actually.

  As she settled herself back beneath the comforter and reached for the lamp, Leo stepped out from the closet.

  “Well, hello there.” Kelli kept her voice low. “Have you decided to forgive me for taking over your bedroom?”

  Jason had moved the cat’s toys, bed and climbing tree into the office, but apparently Leo was staging a revolt and refused to relocate. Kelli had found him curled up in the corner of the closet floor when she hung her clothes. He had not emerged all evening.

  She expected Leo to run back into hiding, as he always did when she spoke. To her surprise, he walked into the room and sat in the middle of the floor, his tail curved neatly around his body. He fixed an unblinking stare on her.

  “You’re not running away from me.” Maybe the cat missed her while she was gone. The thought brought an unbidden smile to Kelli’s lips. She had no experience at all with animals. But even though Leo was a feline, he wasn’t at all threatening. In fact, he was kind of cute, with those white patches on his cheeks and the tips of his paws.

  “You know, I’m only here temporarily. We could share this room, if you don’t mind having a roommate.”

  Apparently Leo liked the suggestion. With one impressive leap, he jumped onto the bed. Kelli held her breath, afraid he’d run away if she moved. He sauntered the length of the mattress, close enough to rub against her leg as he went. When he got to the far end, he lowered himself into a sphinx-like pose beside her covered feet, his paws in front of him and his golden eyes turned her way.

  “Well, I really meant I’d bring your bed back in here, but if you prefer the big one—” She turned off the lamp and settled deeply into the pillow. “I hope you don’t snore.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Kelli sat at the shady end of a picnic table and listened to the zookeepers’ banter as they ate their lunch. She’d spent the morning with Raul, who welcomed her back gruffly and then set her to work cleaning out the porcupine exhibit. No sign that he’d missed her during her absence, but he did allow her to feed Gasira and Baya big chunks of carrots by hand. The porcupines had been overjoyed, although Kelli suspected their enthusiasm had more to do with the carrots than with her.

  She’d found the picnic table in the employees-only courtyard behind the office and was just finishing the sandwich Nana had made for her lunch when the others arrived. They’d called a casual welcome as they gathered around and unwrapped their own lunches.

  Kelli ate the last bite and took her time wadding up the napkin and shoving it in the bag. Although she’d met most of the keepers the week of her mother’s funeral, this was the first time she’d had lunch with them as a fellow zoo employee. She listened to their easy banter, enjoying the casual camaraderie that they extended to her.

  The wooden privacy gate that led to the zoo’s public area edged open and a figure slipped through. Kelli caught sight of a familiar flash of sun-kissed brown hair and straightened on the bench.

  Erica, the short blonde who took care of the sheep, deer and peccaries, swiveled around to smirk in Jason’s direction. “Hey, look who’s decided to have lunch with the peons.”

  “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Director,” said Sherry, the keeper in charge of birds.

  Michael, the cat keeper, made a show of unfolding a napkin and laying it across the bench beside him. “Here’s your seat, boss. We’d hate for you to get dirt on your clothes in case you have to go to a meeting or something.”

  They all laughed, and Jason took the good-natured ribbing with a roll of his eyes. Kelli glanced around the table. That they all liked Jason was obvious by their easy smiles and teasing banter.

  “Come on, you guys. You know better than that.” He snatched up the napkin, wadded it in a ball and tossed it into Michael’s lap before straddling the bench to face them. “I do have something serious to tell you, though.”

  Cameron moaned. “Don’t tell me Westminster Academy Summer Camp is coming again. I’d rather deal with a hundred regular kids than five of those snobby rich brats any day.”

  Jason shook his head. “Worse, I’m afraid. We received a notice from AZA this morning. They’re conducting an interim inspection for next Friday.” He cast a quick glance in Kelli’s direction. “They’re specificall
y interested in seeing our shift procedures.”

  Several groans around the table met this news. Nobody else looked toward Kelli, but she wanted to sink beneath the table anyway. This inspection was her fault, and everyone knew it.

  “It won’t be that bad. We know what we’re doing. We’ll just show them how we do our jobs, that’s all.” Jason’s expression displayed no anxiety at all, which seemed to calm the others.

  “That’s right.” Michael faced Jason, but Kelli saw his eyes flicker briefly toward her. “Long as we all follow procedures, they’re not going to find anything.”

  Cameron straightened. “I can shift Cocoa in and out all day long. We’ll just need to make sure we have plenty of bananas on hand.”

  “You got ’em.” Jason slapped him on the arm as he rose. He looked across the table. “Kelli, you’re with me for the afternoon.”

  Blood roared in her ears. She thought she was supposed to train with Sherry or one of the other keepers she hadn’t worked with yet. Was this an attempt to keep her close by, so she wouldn’t do anything else to get the zoo in trouble?

  Or just an attempt to keep her close by?

  Heat flooded her face as she gathered the trash from her lunch. “What will we be doing?”

  The smile that curved Jason’s mouth had a false quality, as though he was assigning a particularly unpleasant task. “We’re making piñatas.”

  Erica placed a sympathetic hand on her arm. “You poor thing.”

  The others gave her varying looks of pity as they nodded agreement.

  Baffled, she looked from one to the other. “What’s so bad about making piñatas?”

  “You’ll see,” Michael told her as they all got to their feet.

  Kelli disposed of her trash as the others dispersed, until finally she and Jason were the last to leave the courtyard. He held the gate open for her, and then walked silently beside her to the commissary. She tried to think of something to say that would restore the ease of last night’s time together, but she found herself uncharacteristically tongue-tied.