Such Great Heights by Sydney Logan

Author:Sydney Logan [Logan, Sydney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mountain Media
Published: 2020-06-18T18:30:00+00:00

“It’s a beautiful day,” Jackson says.

I slide on my sunglasses and hold Ryder’s hand as we walk through the gates of the Nashville Zoo. After a week of rain, Saturday morning arrived with an abundance of sunshine and clear, blue skies. The zoo is crowded with other folks taking advantage of the pretty weather, but we don’t mind. Jackson and I are determined to make today a perfect day, because on Monday I’m meeting Natasha Healey for the first time.

And if I don’t kill her, Ryder will come face-to-face with his mom on Wednesday.

While Jackson and Marcus both agreed that the judge’s ruling couldn’t have been sweeter for us, I couldn’t help but disagree. Why should this child be forced to spend time with a woman who had no interest in his well-being? Ryder is just now beginning to make progress. I’m afraid this visit from his mom will do nothing but confuse him.

I mean, seriously, where has she been?

I know I’m being irrational. Legally, Natasha has a right to see her child. And of course, Ryder needs his mother. Nothing would make me happier than for the two of them to spend time together . . . as long as she becomes the mother he deserves.

I just don’t trust her to do that.

“Where to first?” Jackson asks.

I glance at the map. “There’s a new tiger exhibit.”

“Let’s do that!” Ryder shouts happily.

Ryder leads us to the tigers, where a mother and her cub are playing in the grass.

“Let’s sit and watch,” Jackson says, pointing to a sitting area just outside the exhibit.

Ryder kneels on top of the wooden table to get a better look, and the three of us sit there, laughing as the tiny cub plays with his mother.

“Are you having fun?” Jackson asks, whispering against my ear.

“I am. And so is he.”

Jackson pulls me back against his chest.

“That’s all that matters to me.”

We watch as the cub jumps onto his mother’s back, to the delight of the laughing kids who have gathered around the exhibit. Suddenly, the baby tiger scampers to the ground and nestles itself in his mother’s arms. The mother gently licks her cub.

“Why is she doing that?” Ryder asks, wide-eyed.

“She’s giving him a bath,” Jackson explains.

“Ohhh.”

Ryder gazes at the tigers for a long time, his eyes watching intently as the mother cares for her young.

“She’s a good mommy,” he says quietly.

“How do you know that?” Jackson asks.

“Because she stays right there. She doesn’t leave him.”

Tears fill my eyes as Ryder climbs into my lap. The little boy rests his head against my chest, and I hug him close. Jackson wraps his arms around both of us, and we sit in silence as we watch the mama tiger bathe her cub. The surrounding kids grow bored and move on to the next exhibit, but not us. We’re content to sit there, wrapped in each other’s arms, watching the tigers nap in the grass.

Finally, Jackson’s voice interrupts the solace.

“Ryder, I need to tell you something.”

I stiffen. We talked about this, but I don’t know if I’m ready.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.