Chapter Thirteen
(Sabrina)
Sabrina wrinkled her nose as a baby seal approved milkshake splattered across the side of her face.
The smell of baby formula, cod oil, and pureed herring wafted from the splatter, and Sabrina grimaced as she tightened the towel around Freckles and squatted over the seal once more.
Careful to keep her body weight off him, she worked the feeding tube back into his mouth whilst holding him in the safe restraint.
He made a hissing sound followed by a guttural snuffle.
“I know.” She soothed, smoothing a finger up and down its nose. “I’m a strange person in a weird mask, and everything is new and scary, isn’t it?”
Freckles’ jaw relaxed just long enough that Sabrina was able to press the feeding tube down his esophagus. This would allow her to tube feed the specialized ‘milkshake’ directly into the seal pup’s stomach.
With her left hand, Sabrina held the towel in place that kept Freckles in a safe position.
With her right hand, Sabrina reached for the feeding funnel on the shelf just above her.
She gave a soft cry of frustration mixed with exhaustion when she realized the pup had moved them just barely out of reach from the funnel and formula.
She was trying to do a two-person job by herself and had been doing so around the clock since the night prior.
Exhaustion colored faint circles beneath her eyes and pulled at her eyelids like lead weights.
She hung her head, taking in a deep, calming breath, and released it.
This was a hard moment; a hard night. Soon it would be over.
Right now, she just had to push through and find a solution.
She looked around the dry pen for anything that would help her reach what she needed, but was distracted by the sound of someone knocking from upfront. A moment later, the door opened, and to her surprise, Cesare’s face popped over the wall of the stall.
“Need a hand?” He grinned.
“Cesare!” She exclaimed with a relieved smile. “I’m so glad you’re here. I can’t reach the funnel with the formula. Can you pass them to me, please?” She asked.
“No offense, but this looks like a two-person sort of thing.” Cesare answered, eyeing the feeding tube and all of its components. He started to open the door to the pen, and Sabrina’s eyes widened in panic.
“No outside shoes inside the pens!” Sabrina rushed.
She sighed, feeling too tired to be polite, but he was the last person in the world she wanted to be rude to.
“I’m sorry, nobody handles the seals or goes near them without a mask and a pair of waders that get rinsed down every time you enter or exit a pen. ” She instructed.
“No problem. Is that what the soapy water bucket out here is for?” Cesare asked. His voice was as calm and reassuring as ever.
Sabrina gave a tired nod, suddenly realizing how much of a mess she must look. She looked down, frowning to herself as she fixed her gaze on Freckles.
“Eyes, Sabrina.” Cesare’s deep voice rumbled.
She looked up, her eyes red and shiny from exhaustion and nerves. He looked like a freaking Adonis. What was he doing here? What was he doing with her?
“I’ll get suited up and then I’ll come into the pen and help you feed Freckles.” His voice was soothing and grounding, and her nervous system palpably calmed. “Would this be acceptable?” He asked.
“That would be very appreciated, thank you.” She answered quietly.
“Good.” He nodded. “I’ll be right back.”
“Do you want help finding the gloves and things?”
“Closet by the door?” Cesare replied as he made his way to the personal protective equipment.
“Yes.” Sabrina affirmed. “Masks and gloves are on the top left.”
“Sounds good.” He spoke from the closet. “How was your night?”
“Well, I went on a date with some guy.” Sabrina smiled, soothing the pup in her hands.
“Some guy?” Cesare asked as he put on a mask. “Who is this guy?”
“Mmm.” Sabrina hummed, her voice husky from lack of sleep. “He’s somewhat of a mystery, but he’s growing on me.”
“A mystery?” He asked. Sabrina listened to the sound of leather shoes stepping into rubber waders.
“Mhmm.” Sabrina answered. Freckles snuffled from beneath the towel.
“What’s the mystery?” He asked, amused as he opened the pen gate, looking far too handsome for someone in waders and a mask.
His muscles flexed as he closed the pen behind him, and picked up the funnel and feeding tube lying on the shelf.
He connected them easily enough, and handed the contraption to Sabrina.
Sabrina hadn’t fully thought this through. It may have been her sleep-addled mind, but at the moment, all she could think about was the odd mix of feelings beginning to run through her as she looked up at Cesare from where she now effectively knelt at his feet.
Cesare’s eyes darkened and flared as he took in the sight of Sabrina on her knees before him. “You look so beautiful.” He uttered in the room's silence.
“I look like I’ve been up all night, and I’m in waders.” Sabrina answered hoarsely.
Cesare’s expression was pure hunger.
“We need to feed Freckles.” The red head whispered, her heart pounding as she grasped onto the first diversion available. She looked back down at the seal pup with pink cheeks.
Cesare’s gaze raked over her once more before turning back to the feeding solution and pouring it down the tube. “Am I putting it in all at once or bit by bit?” He asked.
Sabrina froze. Could he hear himself? Her cheeks flushed even more and her mind was fuzzy. “You can put it all in at once.” She answered faintly.
“What’s in this stuff?” He asked.
Sabrina furrowed her brows. Why was she so dizzy? “Uh, formula, cod oil, and pureed fish.” She watched the last of the milkshake go down Freckles’ feeding tube and into his esophagus.
“Good job, Freckles.” She soothed. “You took all of that just fine.” Sabrina adjusted her grip on the towel, turning to look back at Cesare. “I’m going to pull the tube out and back out of the pen.”
Cesare moved out of the pen to give her room to maneuver, and Sabrina released the seal. Freckles wriggled about with his reclaimed freedom as Sabrina stood, and immediately swayed.
Everything went silent except for the high-pitched whine of an old-fashioned radio dial that got louder and louder until everything went black.
Something clattered to the ground outside the pen, and the next thing she knew, she was up in the air and it smelled amazing. Cesare. Darkness, silence, and Cesare. Sabrina tried to open her eyes, she really did, but her lids were so heavy and he smelled so good. She could stay here forever.
“Sabrina, can you hear me?” His voice rumbled.
“Yes.” She spoke, but all she could hear was a moan. Was that her?
“Sabrina, I need you to open your eyes, tesoro.” His voice urged.
Sabrina wrinkled her nose in distaste at the idea, her mind still somewhere further away than it usually was. She let out a sigh before her eyelids finally fluttered open.
Visible relief crossed Cesare’s face, before he returned to looking concerned once more. “You need to lie down.” He frowned.
Why was he frowning? Cesare was so handsome. Didn’t he know he was so handsome? “I bed in back.” She mumbled nonsensically.
“Wrap your arms around me.” He replied, and Sabrina followed his instructions like a very good girl. She closed her eyes and nuzzled into his chest happily.
Cesare carried her bridal style through the rescue and into the back offices.
Sabrina nuzzled her nose into the crook of his neck and let out a deep sigh, breathing in his musky scent; feeling it wrap around her like a warm hug.
She was fully aware that she was delirious. But Sabrina was suddenly just as aware, delirious or not, that somehow Cesare Lombardi had already become home.