Ruffled Feathers

by Zoe Chant

He didn’t have to ask, because she kissed him again, pressing him against the tree. He ran his hands underneath her open coat, searching for the hem of her shirt, needing to touch her and feel her skin against his.

  There was a pointed cough a few feet away.

  “Doctor Adams?” A tentative male voice called out. “Um, we put up that net you wanted?”

  He watched Madison pull away, her eyes wide with mortification. She stepped back, tugging her shirt back in place. “Thank you, Paul. Well done. I was just…”

  “It’s fine!” The blonde woman next to Paul told them, pointedly looking at the ground. “We’re heading back to the camp now. If you want to stay and um, check on that net or something, we get it! Bye! C’mon, Paul!”

  Simon watched the two of them go. After meeting Daniela and Chloe, the American accents were a bit of a surprise. “They seem nice?”

  Madison ran her hands down her face. “They are. They’re also gonna tell everyone in the department when we get back that they found me making out with some guy like a horny freshman.”

  He struggled to keep from laughing. “Gossip spreads fast, huh?”

  She sighed, then smiled as well. “Small towns and college campuses really aren’t that different.”

  He took her hand. “So, do you want to check on that net they put up?”

  “We should head back,” she said, sounding reluctant. “Before they make up any wild stories.”

  She had a point. “True. But you still owe me a tour of all the places you’ve put up nets.”

  “Oh yes! But that might be a long tour. Some of them will be in very secluded spots.” She headed back to the path, but he caught her suggestive glance.

  “Then I’ll have to bring plenty of food. Long walks like that take a lot of energy.”

  And maybe he could lick some crumbs off of her after all.

  8. Madison

  That Friday, Madison’s stomach fluttered with nerves. After another long day of fieldwork, getting dressed up for dinner with Simon’s family wasn’t high on her list of Fun Ways To Start The Weekend.

  She knew he’d understand if she told him she was tired, or that it was too soon, or that she’d need to supervise the students.

  But she loved him.

  She’d felt ridiculous telling him on Sunday. Who did that two days after meeting someone?

  Fated mates, apparently.

  The more time she spent around him—and without him—the more she felt it. Happiness bubbling up the evening he’d swung by for a quick visit and more home-baked goods. Hot desire during the two evenings she’d visited him. She’d hated leaving that second night. He’d been the one to tell her she had to go back to her students rather than the other way around.

  The students had been supportive in their own ways, as well as making a few jokes at her expense. Daniela had insisted on giving Madison a fishtail braid, while Paul and Chloe wondered if they could make requests for different pastries. Natalie had kept an eye on the time, assuring Madison they’d be fine without her for one night.

  She’d done a lot of thinking in between teaching the students how to safely and quickly band a bird, and how to write down what they’d found in such a way that it would still make sense in a few months.

  Simon worked in Pinevale as well and if he moved in with her, it’d save him an hour of commuting every day. No more rushed breakfasts on her own. No empty apartment to greet her after another long day of teaching and research. Someone who’d remind her that the weekends were for rest and relaxation, not for work.

  But whenever she’d tried to imagine Simon in her apartment, it felt wrong. He belonged in Kirkwood.

  As she walked up to his front door, ready to walk over to his parents, she wondered if maybe she belonged here.

  He was already at the door, wearing a button-down shirt over his jeans. He kissed her, then locked the door behind him. “Ready to go?” His eyes ran down her dress, the same blue one she’d worn for their dinner date. “I’m sure my parents would understand if you had second thoughts…”

  She was sure he was having second thoughts for reasons nothing to do with nerves. “Let’s go. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can head back home, right?” Her heart skipped a beat, watching his eyes widen a fraction at her choice of words. “Also, I’m pretty sure Paul wants to place orders for cupcakes next week. You’re single-handedly boosting their morale.”

  Now was not the time to discuss how soon she could move in with him, and she knew it’d be a matter of when, not a discussion of whether Simon was okay with it.

  “Good to know I’m doing my bit for science.” He took her hand as they strolled down the sidewalk. “Do they deserve cupcakes yet?”

  “No. Maybe next week.” She was glad he’d taken her lead in changing the subject, and she told him of what they’d gotten up to over the past week as they walked over to his parents’ house. It took her mind a little off the evening ahead, but her stomach still squirmed when they arrived at a detached house with a well-maintained front yard.

  She knew that the shifters in Kirkwood were still suspicious of her, but the mayor visiting her two more times was helping. She’d also taken her students to lunch a couple times in town, and Simon told her some bold shifters had gone out earlier that week. They’d stayed in their own area and away from Madison’s research site. So far, so good.

  Random shifters being wary around her she could live with. Tonight was different.

  “Won’t they be scared?” Madison tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Because of who I am?”

  Simon squeezed her hand. “Who you are, is wonderful. You’re my fated mate. That’s the most important thing.”

  “I’d like them to like me for me.”

  “They will.” He nodded at the front door. “Besides, they’re as nervous about meeting you as you are about meeting them. I’m just saying, you may want to prepare for some mutual awkwardness.”

  She sighed, squaring her shoulders as she went with him.

  Simon knocked on the door and kept holding her hand when a young woman with wavy brown hair opened the door. Her eyes were a lighter brown than Simon’s, but her grin was equally infectious. “You must be Madison! Come in!” She stepped back, turning around. “Mom! Dad! They’re here!”

  Madison shared a smile with Simon. “Your sister doesn’t seem nervous.”

  “Cassie was the most excited to meet you,” he admitted, leading the way inside. “She’s been asking about you.”

  She realized she hadn’t been asking about Simon’s family as much as she should’ve. She didn’t know if there were sensitive topics she should avoid. “And your parents?”

  “Have also been asking about you.” He closed the door behind her. “And I already told you, they’re as scared of you as you are of them.”

  “That’s spiders.”

  “Close enough.”

  She laughed. “It’s nowhere near close, it’s—” She fell silent when they entered the kitchen, where Simon’s mother had just opened the oven. “Oh, that smells amazing.”

  Simon’s mother, wearing oven mitts, looked relieved. “Oh, good. Simon didn’t tell us anything about what you liked for dinner, so I made a casserole. You like tuna?” She looked to be in her fifties, a few silver strands in her dark hair, and shorter than Simon and Cassie.

  “Tuna’s great.” Especially after multiple evenings of eating outside and spending a lot of time settling arguments over who had to cook and who had to wash up. “I’m Madison.” She offered her hand.

  “Barbara, and it’s wonderful to…” She trailed off, having realized she was still wearing the oven mitts. “To meet you.”

  “Probably should’ve waited to introduce myself…” Madison felt equally embarrassed. She’d been the one to offer her hand, too eager to make a good impression.

  “Oh, never mind.” Barbara gestured towards the living room. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”

  “Can we do anything? Set
the—oh, that’s already set.”

  Simon put a hand around her shoulder. “Let’s introduce you to Dad.”

  That introduction went a lot smoother, and when Cassie mentioned she attended Pinevale University as a Business major, talking came easier. Madison worked in a completely different building, but the campus gave them something to talk about that wasn’t her being an ornithologist.

  When they sat down for dinner and Simon had put plenty of salad on her plate, the topic switched to how nice the food was. But there were only so many things Madison could say about the salad and the tuna casserole, and she wondered if she should broach the topic when Cassie did it for her.

  “Discovered anything interesting yet?”

  “Cassie,” her mother muttered, shooting Madison an apologetic look.

  “What, she’s here for research.” Cassie gestured with her empty fork. “They’ve been coming here for years and they’ve never told us anything. I want to know!”

  “That doesn’t mean you can just ask her like that,” Simon’s father said. “I’m sure if they’d found anything important, they would’ve mentioned it.”

  “Professor Brown really wouldn’t.” Madison wasn’t surprised he’d never bothered reporting back to the town. They weren’t scientists, so what was the point? “I’ve only been here for a week, so it’s far too soon to say if we’ve found anything interesting. We’ll have to look at the data we’ll gather over the next few weeks, then go back to the university to compare it to information from previous years. I’m sure we could present our findings to the town, if anyone’s interested.”

  “I’m interested,” Cassie immediately said.

  Simon’s parents looked less sure. “I’m sure you have other important things to do,” his father told her.

  “But this is important,” Madison insisted. “My colleagues have been coming here for years and they’ve never even told you why, have they?”

  Simon’s mother shook her head. “Well, no, but to be honest, I’m not sure we would’ve given them much of a chance…”

  Their secret. The reluctance went both ways. “Then maybe it’s time to change that, too. If people want to,” she added. “But I think it’s important. It’s your forest. You deserve to know what we’re doing here and what we’ve found so far. Maybe not everyone in town wants to know about bird migration, but we can still share our findings.”

  “Is that what you guys have been studying all those years?” Cassie sounded both surprised and disappointed. “Migration?”

  If Madison ever ran into Professor Brown again, she’d yell at him for not even telling the people of Kirkwood that. “Yes. That’s why we’ve been coming to the same spot every spring. We want to keep track of changes over time. Why? What did you think we were doing?”

  Cassie shrugged. “I don’t know. Those other scientists never talked to anyone, so I figured it was something cool and top secret.”

  “Bird migration is cool!” Madison protested, feeling extremely uncool as soon as the words left her mouth. But going by the way Simon’s father smiled and his mother’s shoulders relaxed, it had been the right thing to say. “There are plenty of birds who only travel a couple of miles, but also birds who fly hundreds or thousands of miles. We still don’t know exactly how they navigate during such a long journey. But by tracking migration patterns across the years, we can see if there are changes. Do some species start migrating earlier? Or later? There’s plenty to discover about birds and how they migrate.”

  Madison looked around, wondering if that had been too much. She didn’t want them to think she was about to demand they answer all her questions.

  “If you discover how birds navigate, let us know.” Simon ate a piece of casserole. “Cassie gets lost five miles from home.”

  Cassie let out a huff. “I don’t get lost. I take the scenic route.”

  “Flying hundreds of miles sounds exhausting,” Simon’s mother agreed. “I doubt I’d be able to keep up with those birds.”

  Simon shared a smile with Madison while his parents tried to remember what the farthest was they’d ever flown in a day. “I think they like you,” he whispered.

  Madison watched as Simon’s mother insisted she’d definitely flown further than her husband had, with Cassie suggesting they have a competition. “They’re arguing.”

  “Friendly bickering.” Simon took a sip of water. “Happens all the time.”

  Now that Simon mentioned it, there was a sparkle in his mother’s eyes when her husband insisted he’d win. They were still trying to impress each other after all these years.

  The conversation flowed more smoothly after that and Madison’s nerves settled. It was good to see Simon’s parents more relaxed too. Hopefully, they’d join Cassie for a flight over the next few weeks.

  Once they finished the casserole, Simon’s mother brought out home-made apple pie for dessert.

  “This is amazing.” The crust was perfect, not too thick and not too dry. Madison cut off another piece. “The mayor mentioned you won baking contests. I can taste why.”

  Simon’s mother looked pleased. “I’m glad you enjoy it. Simon mentioned he’s been bringing you and your team treats.”

  “And they are very much appreciated.” She smiled at him. “Not sure how we manage the days without a visit.”

  Simon took her hand. “Not sure how I get through those days either.”

  The look in his eyes warmed her to her core. This amazing, wonderful, generous man was hers. Forever.

  Cassie coughed pointedly. “Just remember to save some baked goods for me.”

  Madison went back to her pie, her cheeks red, while Simon laughed and assured his sister that of course she’d get treats as well.

  ✽✽✽

  After dinner and a round of coffee, Simon and Madison made their goodbyes and walked back to his place. The spring night was still warm, but she was glad to have his arm around her.

  They talked about the food, whether birds had to meet the parents as well, and which evenings Simon could drop by to boost morale.

  “Don’t feel like you have to,” she said, when he opened the back door. “I know baking takes a lot of time.”

  “But seeing you boosts my morale,” he told her, drawing her in for a kiss.

  She didn’t point out he didn’t need to bake to visit. “That’s not all it boosts.”

  His hand ran down her back. “You said your students were fine on their own for tonight, right?”

  She checked her phone. “They’re making hot dogs.” She showed him a blurry picture of two hot dogs burned to a crisp. “Or trying to, anyway.”

  “So you can stay the night?”

  She put her phone on his kitchen counter. “Yeah.”

  He kissed her again and desire pulsed inside her. “Good, because I can’t stop thinking about how good that dress looks on my bedroom floor.”

  “So does your shirt.” She tugged it out of his waistband, then paused. Maybe they should discuss their future now, before she got side-tracked by how amazing Simon’s chest and abs were. “I’ve also been thinking about other things.”

  He pulled back, a slight frown on his face. “Like what?”

  She leaned against the counter behind her. “About what’ll happen when I’m no longer here for fieldwork.”

  “Ah.” The smile back was on his face. “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that too. But I didn’t want to push you or move too fast. Because we don’t have to.”

  “I know. But I’d like to move.” Her heart hammered against her chest. “Here. With you.” He was silent for so long she wasn’t sure how to take it, but then he wrapped her in a tight hug, laughing against her hair.

  “You want to move here.”

  Her arms found their way around his neck and she pressed herself closer. “Yeah.”

  He leaned back to kiss her. “I thought—you’ll live further from work. We both will.”

  “It’s about forty minutes by car from here to the ca
mpus,” she replied. “That’s doable. Besides, your house is way better than my apartment. I’ll actually want to come back home here.”

  “Lots of late evenings?” He rubbed her back. “Your work sounds very busy.”

  She nodded against his chest. “Too busy. And I need to fix that. Going over data for the tenth time to see if I’ve missed anything isn’t helping. There are things I do that my PhD students can do just as well. I don’t want to miss out on anything because I’m so focused on my research. It’s important, but so are you. So is watching a movie.” And with Simon around, it’d be a lot easier to put work aside.

  “I think I can help with that.” He pressed a kiss against her temple.

  “So you think it’s a good idea? Me moving in?” She wanted to be sure.

  “Madison, I was fine with you moving in the moment we met. I will help you pack your bags, whatever you need.”

  She laughed, feeling lighter already. “How are hawks at carrying suitcases?”

  He smiled. “You want to do some research on how strong I am, Dr. Adams?”

  Before she could reply, he’d picked her up. She threw her arms around his neck, laughing. “Impressive!”

  “We can do some double-checking, if you like.” His tone turned suggestive. “In our bedroom?”

  Her body lit up with joy at the ‘our’. This was real. She was moving in with him. “Good idea. I definitely require more evidence.” She ran her fingertips down his neck. “Solid, hard evidence.”

  A note from Zoe Chant

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