Page 85 of Once Upon a Fall

“Yeah,” he says. “I think the less you know, the better.”

“I think you’re right.”

This feels like a bad idea all around. But I’m out of options. I needed these animals out weeks ago.

Luke must sense my worry because he says, “I promise they will all get out of there alive. Just let me do my thing, and you’ll have a raccoon-free attic by tomorrow.”

“Okay,” I tell him. “How much is this going to cost?”

He gives me a questioning look. “Free of charge.”

“What? I need to pay you,” I tell him.

“This is an afternoon of entertainment for me. Don’t worry about it.”

This might be the strangest encounter I’ve ever had with another human.

“Well, okay. I appreciate it,” I tell him.

We stand up from our seats and shake hands.

“I guess you can just call me when the job’s done,” I say, the words sounding a bit like I just cut a deal with the mafia.

“Will do,” he says.

He leaves, looking excited about the plans, and I’m left wondering if this will be a huge mistake.

But the next morning, I get a picture of the raccoons all together in a field, followed by a text from Luke.

Luke: Evicted.

Me: How did you do it?

Luke: Best if you don’t know.

Me: And the house?

Luke: Nothing new from me. They’d already done some damage just from living up there, but getting them out was clean.

Just like that, the great raccoon infestation of Alden Farm has been resolved.

“So, it was the soffit?” Rosie asks, sitting at the island in the kitchen, talking to me while I make us dinner.

This time it’s just pan-grilled chicken and roasted broccoli. But it will be “the best” chicken and “the best” broccoli Rosie has ever had.

She says it every time.

I doubt anyone else will appreciate my cooking as much as Rosie has.

“That’s what the contractor said,” I answer.

Luke removed the raccoons on Monday, and the contractor came out the next day to find where they’d been getting in. It turned out to be a damaged soffit, which he finished repairing today.

“What is a soffit, anyway?” she asks.

“I have no idea.”

She laughs at that, and I find myself smiling with her.