Page 116 of Unleashed

Epilogue

Maren

“This place looks gorgeous.” Deidre beams as she scans the landscape around us. “You two have done such an amazing job with all the upgrades.”

“I can’t take credit for any of it.” I open the door to the brand new building situated where a dilapidated hut used to stand. “It’s all Trevor.”

He threw himself into renovating the petting zoo the same way he tackled the modifications made to our home—like a man obsessed.

Which is honestly pretty on brand for him.

“He has such wonderful taste.” Deidre steps into the completed welcome center for the first time, sucking in a breath as both hands clasp together against her chest. “Oh my goodness. It is just stunning.”

Trevor really ran with the safari theme he chose for the redo. The walls of the main area are painted in different animal prints. One has zebra stripes. Another cheetah spots. A third mimics the coat of a giraffe. And the final one is shimmering scales like a reptile. It’s definitely busy, but the black glittering epoxy on the floor ties it together and helps keep it from feeling overwhelming.

There’s also now a large station in the center, where visitors can purchase tickets or yearly passes. It’s made of pale wood with rounded edges and the petting zoo’s logo carved in the center.

Deidre steps up to it, running one hand along the smooth surface of the counter. “I bet Zara loves it here.”

I snort, because saying my sister loves this place is a gigantic understatement. She is obsessed.

Also very on brand.

“When she found out the zoo was going to be completed in time to have her birthday party here this year, she was so happy she cried a little.” I didn’t have the faintest idea how to handle that freaking situation. Even over a year into therapy, I still haven’t tackled many of my issues. I am getting better at navigating a lot of them, though.

Sometimes I even initiate hugs now. On purpose.

“Then let’s make sure this is the best birthday party any little girl has ever had.” Deidre claps her hands. “Where are we having the caterers set up?”

Never did I think anyone would ever ask me that question.

“There’s actually a party room back here. It can be rented out, so other kids can have their birthdays here too.” I lead Deidre into the enclosed area Trevor decided would be a good way to help bring in additional funds to support the cost of maintaining this place.

And holy hell is there a cost to maintaining this place.

Fortunately, based on the projection models, it should be self-sustaining in a few years, which Trevor has assured me is pretty impressive for a place like this. I’ll believe it when I see it. Especially since he keeps adding more freaking animals to feed.

Deidre goes to work, moving tables around and situating chairs. Brooke and Ruth arrive not long after the caterers show up, and while the catering team handles the food, the four of us spend the next hour hanging decorations and organizing all the craft supplies.

Instead of games, Zara wanted all her friends to make a craft they could take home. It’s just like her to basically give other people gifts on her birthday, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. My sister has turned into such a generous, kind, loving person, and I couldn’t be more proud.

Trevor tries to tell me I’m the reason she’s so awesome, but if I was responsible for who she became, my sister would be a smaller, meaner version of my pissy ass.

Not that I’m quite as pissy anymore. Regular fuckings and sleeping on the world’s most luxurious bed every night might have improved my disposition.

But only a little.

We’re just getting everything into place when Trevor walks in, Zara racing ahead of him. She’s got a new, motorized chair and loves being able to easily move around on her own. Unfortunately, she’s a terrible freaking driver. The bruise on my left big toe is a testament to that.

Everyone jumps out of her way as she barrels through, ooh-ing and aah-ing over the food and decorations.

Deidre handled the catering choices, and she really went all out. The spread is filled with easy to eat tea sandwiches, lots of fruit and veggies, and a number of sweet treats, including the cutest cake topped with fondant sculptures of some of the animals here at the petting zoo.

Including a capybara.

Kids start showing up early, eager to party and pet critters. Since petting the animals can be a dirty experience, we party first, spending an hour getting everyone fed, the cake cut, and crafts made.

Then it’s time to take a tour.