New Birds

Growing Chemistry Part 24

"LOUIS." Tilly entered the kitchen.

Startled to hear his name in her displeased tone, he splashed a fair amount of the tea he was pouring for Hal over the table.

"There is a stork egg in my incubator," she said. Her face was a flame over her white poncho.

"Jesus, Tilly, is that all," Hal raised a shaking hand to readjust his nasal prongs. "I thought the shit storm we're expecting finally arrived."

Louis concentrated on wiping up the spilt tea, while pretending his wife wasn't staring a hole through him.

"Why didn't you tell me I lost the egg? Damn, the monitor was showing such a healthy heartbeat and movements. I thought I had my next survivor. Opening that door was more painful than if you would have just told me straight off." She sat down heavy onto a kitchen chair.

"I wanted to tell you. I was hoping to tell you this morning, but Keitin showed up twenty minutes late again to take over my watch down at the gate."

"You're going to blame this on Keitin?"

"No, just things have been so crazy around here. I just wanted an uninterrupted moment to explain it all to you when we weren't both so tired."

"I'm listening.'

"Now?"

She sighed. "Yes, now. What happened to it? You hadn't documented a thing. Did it hatch or die in its shell?"

Marshall and Sam raced in through the open door, both beaming. Tilly was still focused on Louis, waiting for an explanation. He could tell she was using sheer frustration to keep tears from her eyes.

"It hatched," Marshall was showing yet another stretch of dimple that he hadn't previously. The boy was a constantly changing canvas. This was most likely do with the much-needed weight he was slowly putting on.

Louis raised his eyebrows. "And all is well?"

Marshall nodded.

"Seriously? All is fine?" Louis asked again.

Marshall nodded again.

"There is nothing fine about the way you all like to barrel into this house," Hal said. "Stop scaring the bejesus out of me."

Louis pushed the half-empty cup of tea closer to Hal. "Here, Hal, drink what is left of your tea. I'll make a fresh pot once I return. We'll be back shortly." He stepped around the table and took Tilly's hand. "Come with us. We want to show you something."

"I'm not in the mood, Louis. Especially, if this has to do with your storks."

"Please, Tilly."

She at first resisted the gentle pull of his hand in hers, but reluctantly she stood up and followed him out the door. Marshall and Samantha fell in step behind them.

"Remember what you said about my aviary? How it might be good for your cranes too?" he asked.

"I remember."

"But what if it isn't about the aviary? Or not completely. What if my storks one day just decided it was time to get on with the business of reproducing and nurturing? And what if we entrusted a pair to convince, say, a crane that it's time to do likewise?"

She stopped, pulling her hand from his. "A switch? Don't you dare tell me you put my crane egg in with one of your painted stork pairs."

"It's with a marabou pair," Samantha said. "Heidi and Simon."

Tilly's eyes expanded to the size of her glass frames. "For Christ sakes, Louis." She ran up the path towards the aviary.

Louis grimaced at Samantha. "That probably could've waited."