Page 86 of The Matchmaker Club

He laughed. “As much as I’d love to pull that one off, I don’t feel like going to jail. My father would have my head.”

A van pulled up behind Blush, and two people got out and walked toward us.

I stood up to meet them. “Are you with the rescue farm?”

“Yes, I’m Keisha and this is Manny.”

We shook hands, and I led them over to Lucas where the fawn was still curled up in his lap.

Manny examined the injured leg. “Broken.” He nodded to Keisha, and they went to lift the baby, but the fawn cried out, cuddling even closer to Lucas.

Manny stood up and scratched his head. “Looks like you’re an adopted mom.”

Lucas’s face went pale. “What?”

“You ever nursed an animal before?”

“No.”

“Alright then, would you mind helping us get her into the cage?”

Lucas wrapped his arm around the baby as if protecting it. “You’re going to put him in a cage?”

Manny chuckled. “Only for the ride. It’s for the fawn’s safety. We got a big stretch of land she can roam through while she’s healing.”

Lucas stood up with the animal in his arms. It didn’t cry out once.

Manny and Lucas tried to coerce the baby into the cage, but she fought and cried at first. After five minutes, the fawn settled down enough and let Lucas ease it inside.

Lucas tucked a blanket around the little deer. “Would it be alright if I come by tomorrow to check up on him?”

“Sure. I’ll even show ya how to feed her… it’s a she, by the way.”

“Oh. Okay. Thanks.”

They exchanged numbers, and we watched and waved as the van pulled out onto the road.

I elbowed his arm to snap him out of his brooding stare. “What’s the matter, disappointed that your baby is a girl?”

He elbowed me back. “Yup. Should’ve been a boy. A lot less trouble.”

“Funny.” I looped my arm through his. “Come on, Mommy, time to go home.”

* * *

Lucas was a lot more relaxed on the ride back. He turned the mixtape over to side B, and we rode along with the music up and the windows wide open. He spent most of the time staring out the window as if absorbing everything he set his eyes on. I made sure to drive just under the speed limit so he could enjoy the experience.

“I don’t think I’ve seen so many deer crossing signs in one town,” Lucas said.

I turned down the music. “Getting sentimental?”

“No. Just an observation.” He chuckled when we passed another sign. “Have you ever seen a deer cross the road like on the sign? Like it’s ready to take flight?”

I laughed. “Can’t say I have.”

“One of my brother’s friends got some of those big red circle stickers that his father used to mark inventory and planted them right on the tip of the deer’s nose on a few signs in his town.”

“Rudolph deer crossing?” I giggled. “Pretty clever actually.”