Page 4 of Wrong Number, Right Grumpy Single Dad

“Yeah, you did. You’re so fast.”

We drove over to the bird rescue, and Amylee could barely contain herself. She wiggled in her seat and talked animatedly about Willow. “I can’t wait to see how she’s doing!”

“Me too. But I bet they’re taking great care of her.”

When I pulled into the parking lot, I took in the cabin type building, bird houses hanging off every available edge. A large sign out front read Apple Falls Bird Rescue Society.

“Look at all the birds in the feeder, daddy!” My daughter pointed to the standing bird feeder, several of the winged creatures crowded on the one perch.

“Wow, so many trying to get food.”

“I hope there’s enough for them.”

“I’m sure there is. Come on, let’s go inside and find Willow.”

Through the front door, there’s a lobby area with a front desk, tables and chairs, and several books and magazines on birds. I heard birds chirping throughout the space. In the far-left corner, a large cage surrounded by glass stood tall and wide, a full tree inside, several of them hopped and flew around.

My daughter’s big eyes looked around in wonder as we walked to the front desk. “Hi, I called earlier about Willow, the bird we brought in the other day.”

“Oh yes, hi,” The older woman with graying hair smiled at us both. “Let me get someone to bring you out back. Willow’s away from the other birds right now while she heals.” She picked up the phone and hit a few buttons. “Hi, can a volunteer come up front to bring back a gentleman and his daughter to see Willow? Thank you.” The woman hung up the phone and smiled once more. “Someone will be right out.”

A few minutes later, a woman emerged from a back door, long brown hair cascading down her back, and bright hazel eyes. She smiled warmly as she sauntered over and for some reason, my heart doubled in speed.

As she neared, my breath lodged in my throat, like I swallowed a golf ball and I couldn’t move.

Who is she?

And then she spoke.

“Hi! You’re here to see Willow, right?”

It was the voice from the other night.

The woman I misdialed.

It had to be.

I’d recognize her voice anywhere.

“Yes. Hey are you that woman I spoke to the other day by mistake?”

Her smile faltered and she looked away before looking back towards me. “Um, sorry, I’m not sure what you mean? Are you talking about when you called here?”

I shook my head, but she still looked at me funny.

Maybe I was wrong.

Yet why was my heart going wild?

CHAPTER THREE

Imogen

Okay, so I lied. But I didn’t want to tell him. Not after how rude he was in the text message.

I knew it was him. Knew it the moment Beatrice called from the front desk and said people were here to see Willow.

Who else would come to see her?