and everyone, understands what we’re trying to do here with the penguins. I didn’t bring them here to be an exhibition. They are here as part of a breeding program and to keep them safe. I don’t want anyone thinking that they are just another attraction at the animal park. If I want to limit the number of people interacting with them, is she going to be okay with that?”
Even in the emails she had exchanged with Charlie it’d been clear that Charlie’s mission and passion was growing the previous petting zoo into a larger animal attraction.
Griffin’s frown deepened. “We haven’t talked about it specifically. I don’t know that she understands exactly what you’re doing with the penguins, but she will when you explain it.”
“So there is a chance that everyone is going to be confused and disappointed?” Jill asked, though it was more a statement than a question. “They all think they were adding penguins as another animal exhibit for the tourists.”
“I suppose they do,” Griffin said. “But I promise you that everyone will be on board with whatever you think is best.”
“So people shouldn’t be looking at the penguins?” Zeke asked.
“Not until we have some hatchlings,” Jill said. “At least until then. If we can have some baby penguins then we’ll know that keeping them here in this habitat in this climate with us as caretakers is going to work. But until then I feel like we need to control as many factors as we can. A lot of noise and traffic and human interaction could have a detrimental effect. And we just won’t know until the penguins are here for a while.”
Jill realized she sounded like a killjoy. People loved penguins. Penguins were incredibly cute and very interesting and not something most people ran into on a regular basis. They were a huge attraction at the Omaha zoo. She knew people would want to look at them. She was going to get to be the bad guy that brought cute, interesting penguins to town and then told everyone that they had to stay away. Great.
“If it’s not good for the penguins, then we keep people away,” Zeke said. “Right, Griffin?”
Jill watched the men. Griffin was a wildlife veterinarian. For as long as she’d known him, he had been a fierce protector of animals, and a huge advocate for their care.
Zeke, on the other hand, was a small town construction contractor. He said himself that he knew very little about penguins. So why did this feel like Zeke was the one being protective of the penguins and was warning Griffin about how he should respond to the situation?
“Of course. We will do whatever needs done to make the project successful, Jill,” Griffin finally said.
“I appreciate that. I know this might put you in a weird position between me and the Landry family.”
She was, of course, funding everything that was going into bringing the penguins to Louisiana. The Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild hadn’t needed to come up with any money to construct the penguin habitat or plan for the care and feeding of the birds. Nor would they going forward. It really was just that they had the land and she’d wanted to be around other animal enthusiasts like Griffin, Fiona, and Tori. What they had done so far with Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild was impressive and being around like-minded people as she undertook this huge project had been comforting. But she didn’t want to disappoint or upset anyone.
“The family will be fine.” It was Zeke who spoke. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“You will?” Jill was surprised.
“Of course. I’ll just explain that we’re working to knock up a few penguins and we need some peace and quiet for that. My family’s not great about peace and quiet, but they understand the general concept. Don’t worry; I’ll talk to them.”
She definitely noted his use of the word “we”. Again, there was that sense of protectiveness from him. She was finding that very endearing. And attractive. “I would…appreciate that.”
“Sure. Everyone loves Griffin, especially Charlie, but sometimes the Landrys need to be talked to a certain way. I’ve got it covered.”
Dammit, she was going to have to let him hang around.
Not only could he potentially be helpful, and with more than his hammer and nails, but she liked him. He’d gotten her shoes, fixed her grits, and hugged her. And if he could translate between her and his family, that would really be helpful.
“Thank you,” she told him.
“But