Damiano’s Rescue (The Famiglia #1)

1. Paige

“I know it’s hard,” Gina tells me. “But it’s time to ditch the rat.”

I shift my cell phone from one ear to the other as I step over a giant clump of snow. “He’s not a rat.”

“He is literally a rat.”

I huff, looking down at the little guy zippered into my puffy coat. “He’s actually an opossum.” An adorable baby opossum who’s finally recovered from a broken tail, thanks to me.

The little guy is swaddled in my ex’s vintage Van Halen tee to keep him cozy and warm. Tom loved this shirt and thought I should give it back when we broke up. I thought he wouldn’t stick his dick in other girls while we were dating. We both thought wrong.

“Rats and possums are, like, cousins.”

I know Gina won’t care, but I correct her anyway. “ O possums are marsupials. Rats are rodents. They aren’t related.” I step over a pile of melting snow, the wet ground squishing under my Uggs.

“Whatever, Paige. He’s a beady-eyed sack of fur, oozing rabies and reeking of black death.”

“Don’t listen to her, Oscar,” I tell my little fur baby.

“Dump the rat, disinfect your apartment, then I’ll come over. I’ll even pick up takeout from Qing Xiang.” She singsongs the last part, knowing I’ll never pass up their Kurobuta and cabbage dumplings. Gina knows exactly how to cheer me up.

“Yes, please!” I step off the cleared path toward the opening in the woods I use for most of my releases. Ooh, no one’s walked on this patch of snow before, so I get to make fresh footprints. The perfect crisp crunch of old snow.

“I’m going to get two orders of those because I love you to death but not enough to give you half of my dumplings.”

“That’s fair.” They really are that good.

“Listen, Paige. If the little rat is all better now, you have to get rid of it. Don’t change your mind about releasing this one.”

Gina doesn’t mind the turtle and rabbit I’ve been rehabbing for the past two months, but she completely freaked out when Oscar hissed at her. She’s refused to come over ever since. “That was one time, G. One time. And I did release Charlie on my second attempt.”

Technically, my third attempt. But it’s not my fault that baby chipmunks are irresistible.

I walk over to the perfect tree. It has a broad evergreen canopy that touches other trees, so Oscar can pick one for his new home without climbing down to the ground. There’s an access road maybe thirty feet away, but there’s a babbling brook separating the trees from the road, so I don’t think he’ll try to cross over.

Home sweet new home for my little Oscar. I pet his supersoft, super-silky head and get a whiff of the strawberry-scented baby shampoo I used to give him a bath.

“How long until you’re on your way home?”

“I just got to the release spot. I’ll text you when I know for sure.” I’m not going to set him free until dusk so he’ll be safe. Plus, that gives me a little more time to say goodbye. “I should get home by 6:00. Maybe 6:30?”

“Okay. I don’t want you out there alone after dark.”

“I’ll be on the road before it’s dark, but I’d be fine either way. Tons of people come to Horner park.”

“Are there people near you now?”

Two joggers ran past me near where I parked, and there was a guy with his dog, but I was happy to see them going in the opposite direction so the dog wouldn’t freak Oscar out. As I look around now, I don’t see anyone. “I mean, there were a bunch of people here a few minutes ago.”

Gina sighs so heavily, I can hear her eyes rolling. “I wish you waited until I got off work so I could go with you.”

“Really? You hate this little guy. Anyway, I’m fine. Relax. I’m almost done here. I’ll leave in twenty minutes.” Or so.

“Fine. But promise me you won’t pick up any other rats while you’re out there.”

“I make no promises.”

“Seriously, Paige.” Gina hangs up, which is good because my phone is almost dead, as usual.