Page 68 of Dreams and Reptiles

“We didn’t know what we were going to do with the big ones, though.”

“Yeah,” he said. “He’s going to have to come up with a way to evacuate them.” He chuckled. “It’s not like loading up your cats and dogs.”

“Not unless they weigh three hundred pounds,” Alberto said, wiping his forehead with a bandanna. “Okay, I’ll get these guys back in their enclosures then. Thanks for letting us know.”

The fire captain nodded. “I’d offer to help…” He took a look at the iguanas and made a face.

“That’s okay,” I said. “I’ll help Alberto.”

“Kendall will be relieved you’re okay.”

I smiled at him. “I’ll be relieved when he’s home, and I know that he’s okay.”

He patted me on the shoulder this time. “He’ll likely be rolling home in about two hours, I’d guess. They’re just finishing up at the site. The other shift will be staying behind to make sure no hot spots flare up.”

“Thank you so much for letting us know.”

“Anytime. And my wife wants you and Kendall to come join us for dinner soon. I told him to check with you for your availability.”

My face heated as I thanked him. “I appreciate that. It’s nice to meet you, though I wish it was under better circumstances.”

We shook hands again, and Captain Ortiz trotted back to his truck.

“Man, Kendall’s going to be exhausted when he gets back. I feel bad that I have to leave in the morning. My girlfriend’s parents are taking us to Hawaii.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be here to help him. Can you maybe show me how to do that?”

Alberto laughed, and he proceeded to give me the breakdown of chores. How to feed who and what they ate and at what times. Everything I needed to know so I could take care of things in the morning for Kendall and he could sleep in.

I texted Mom, who said she and Auntie Judy were staying at my place and would handle breakfast, so I could stay and wait for Kendall. I was so grateful to have them, and they seemed to be having a great time cooking and mingling with the guests. I shouldn’t be surprised. This was just like their restaurant days growing up. They’d worked as servers as soon as they were old enough, probably even before they were old enough. I came from strong women, and I was damn proud of that.

It was after one by the time Alberto and I finished making the rounds, and I told him to go on to sleep, that I was going to wait up for Kendall. He let me inside the house, and I realized it was the first time I’d been inside. I hoped Kendall wasn’t weirded out that I’d invited myself in.

“Thank you. I gotta hit the road by five if I’m going to make it to Sacramento in time for our flight. It’s so great to meet you. I’m glad it was you who moved in next door.”

“Me, too. Can you imagine if it was some snotty rich person? That would be awful.”

Alberto snorted. “No offense, but I’m pretty sure Kendall thought that’s what you would be like when you moved in.”

I gasped in mock surprise. “That dirty dog. I’m kidding. I know he did. I’m still going to give him a hard time, though.”

“You can tell him that I snitched. To be fair, it was right after John Wayne came to visit you. Before you two… you know.”

I laughed. “I’ll bet. Well, good night. Have fun in Hawaii, if I don’t see you.”

He waved and headed down a hallway, leaving me in the foyer. Okay, weird.

Straight ahead, I could see a kitchen, so I walked through two archways and found myself in a time capsule from the eighties. The cabinets were dark wood and the linoleum on the floor had the same color brown mixed in with rust and avocado green. The appliances had been updated to stainless steel, and the entire place was spotless, if equally dated.

I washed my hands in the sink and looked around at the room. The walls were covered in beige wallpaper with gold stripes, and there were some prints of kids and farm equipment hanging around. An orange macrame plant hanger was suspended above the sink, holding a healthy-looking spider plant. A small table was pushed against the wall that could seat four in a pinch, and on the table were three thick pillar candles and two picture frames.

I gasped when I realized what I was looking at.

Baby-faced Kendall was posed in front of an American flag in his white Navy sailor uniform, probably the pictures they took at the end of basic training. He had a full head of blond hair, thick reddish-blond eyebrows, and that irresistible smile with fewer lines. His bright blue eyes were full of mischief even then.

The second picture was of two mini Kendalls, a boy and a girl. Oh, my heart. This must have been Shay and Tyson. They looked so much like him, with the same smiles and mischievous eyes. I couldn’t wait to meet Shay, and my heart broke that I’d never get to meet Tyson.

Strangely, I didn’t totally feel like I was invading his space, which Kendall had obviously left just as his grandmother had decorated it. After the night we’d shared previously, I didn’t think Kendall would mind me in his space. I almost wondered if he would prefer me seeing these pictures and slices of his prior life without him having to tell me all the stories until he was ready. We’d talked so much about my life, and while I’d experienced My Demise, I hadn’t suffered the kinds of losses he had. I wondered if he’d allowed himself to grieve his loved ones, or if he just tucked their memories away while he continued to take care of people.