Hot 'n' Cold

21

CLEO'S POV

Jack tossed us towels, and clean work shirts.

"Put them on right now!"

"I thought Adam was in charge?" I laughed. May laughed and explained how tours work, Adam stood proudly in the lobby, holding Athena. The kids waited anxiously for something to happen.

"Hello everyone! My name is Dr. Adam Miller but you can call me Adam. And this is my best friend Athena. At this time, would the teachers split the students into the three groups."

"Adam has teachers divide students before they get here, they make name tags with their group names."

"Alright, so Iguanas are with May!" She waved her group over to us.

"Dragons with Jack, And Snakes are with me." Once everyone was in their groups we started the tours, May and I started the kids with a virtual reality show. The kids sat inside a theater and got the experience the Amazon, the voice over had explained facts and engaged the kids. As the kids filed out from the room they each had to tell us one thing they learned as their pass to leave.

After that we had them learn about cleaning and general care, they got so happy to help clean a small enclosure. And lastly, they had time to play with some of our reptiles.

"Miss. Cleo, what's your favorite reptile?" I smiled at the little boy petting my Rocky.

"I haven't seen all of them yet, but so far I think the iguana."

When the students finally left, we had to clean up all the small messes they left behind. I was vacuuming the exhibit hall.

"That was exhausting!"

"I know, but try having multiple schools on one day." The two of us giggled, "oh don't think I missed those hickies. Makeup is good, but not that good." My face turned bright red.

"Oh no...erm."

"You girls should get home; the storm is getting worse."

Saved by Adam.

"When are we leaving?"

"I need to stay here; the reptiles need to be fed tonight."

"Well, I'm staying too then." Adam kissed my cheek and hugged me tightly.

---1 MONTH LATER ---

"I'M NOT READY!!!" I screamed pulling my hair out in frustration.

"Yes, you are." Responded Adam calmly.

"I'M NOT PACKED!"

"Your bag is in the office."

"I NEED MY SHOTS!"

"We got them last month babe."

"WHAT ABOUT ROCKY, HE NEEDS HIS SPECIAL SALADS!"

"We got a sitter."

"ATHENA!"

"Sitter."

"I CAN'T LEAVE FISH!!!!"

"Cleo, he is staying at your mom's place. Everything is taken care of. The sanctuary and our cottage will be fine." Adam hugged and tried to comfort me, but my heart was beating too fast. I decided to try one last thing.

"I'm pregnant?" Adam ran his hands over his face and laughed.

"The shot, impossible." I sighed and we walked out the door of our cottage. Well more like Adam physically dragged my small body out.

We barely got to park the car before we were yanked out and ushered into the van.

"Each bag has two life straws, just in case." The van drove us to a private airport and got us on a private plane.

Yesterday, we went to my mom's house to say some goodbyes and dropped of Fish. I took some time to write a note to my father.

Hi, daddy.

You're finally home! Congrats you survived another year, only 5 more to go. A lot has happened since you were last home. I graduated high school, I was valedictorian. Mom cried a lot. I wished you were there, but she did record it for you! I quit my job in the ocean, and instead I work with reptiles. Which means I have my own dinosaur and a noodle! Well, it's more like an Iguana and a Python! Her name is Athena and is 6ft long, and she technically belongs to my boyfriend Adam. Oh right! Almost two months ago, I met my soul mate. All because of the necklace, and get this his matched mine perfectly, what are the odds of that. We made it official not long ago, and now Fish and I live in his cottage.

I'm growing up dad, and I guess I should tell you where I am. On 6/13/18, at 12:45 pm Adam, I and our coworkers left for an Amazon expedition. I left you a copy of our map, we are cutting diagonally across. I would love to tell you that we'll be back in a few weeks, but we won't. I know that you were excited about my birthday in August. But I'll be gone for over 8 months, at a minimum. Daddy, I'm so sorry you had to find out this way but I'll see you next year. I've got to go, Adam is about to drag me out the door, and onto the jet! Last thing, can you keep a secret? Good, because I love him, but I haven't told him yet.

I can't wait to see you, I love you so much!

--Cleo 😊