“You in there?” A voice broke into his thoughts.
“No.” What did a man have to do to get some peace?
“Flynn?” It was Megan.
“I don’t have time for another lecture on how I’m screwing up everyone’s lives. Come back another day.” He was busy. He’d planned on spending the afternoon staring out at the garden, where the goat was currently eating his shirt, all the while brooding about having to keep his hands off Abby.
“That wasn’t me,” Megan said. “It was the rest of the family, remember? I’m on your side. I’m happy to support your screwed-up life.”
“Thanks.” Flynn swallowed the pills.
“Can you come out here? I need to talk to you.”
“No.”
“Flynn, stop being a grumpy old man. You really need to be out here for this.”
Damn, he didn’t like the sound of that. He limped towards the door, wondering why he’d fired his physio. He’d done it in anger straight after he’d gotten the word the club was letting him go. He hadn’t seen the point of physiotherapy when he’d never play again. Now he kind of thought it might be nice to have help to just bloody walk without being in agony.
“What is it?” He threw the door open and gawked.
Megan was grinning up at him and she was flanked by two ugly-as-sin donkeys. They looked to be about a hundred years old. Their ribs were showing and they were obviously depressed. Suddenly Eeyore made perfect sense. Megan held the reins out towards him.
“Claire said you’re taking in animals. So here you are. This is Derek and this is Boris. They’ve been mistreated and need a good home. They’re all yours.”
Flynn stared at her then at the donkeys. He looked back at his younger cousin. She was grinning, but it was nervous.
“Do I look like a bloody animal shelter?” Flynn barked.
Megan scowled. “You look like an inconsiderate deadbeat who should be nice to his relatives. I brought you a gift. A nice guy would say thanks.”
“You want me to thank you for two donkeys who are so old and knackered they should be turned into glue?”
She gasped before petting the animals. “Don’t listen to the mean man. I’m pretty sure they don’t turn donkeys into glue. He’s just being nasty.”
“Take them away.” Flynn was don
e with this conversation.
He turned to go, but Megan stopped him with a pout. After a lifetime dealing with the twins, he should have been immune to the pout. But he wasn’t. It was their superpower. One pout and men crumbled.
“Flynn, they need someone to look after them, and you have lots of space. You’re already taking care of a duck and a goat. I hear you’re doing a great job. You’re the best person to take care of the donkeys. They won’t be any trouble.”
“That’s what Claire said about the goat.” He pointed at the animal, who had part of an Arsenal shirt hanging out of its mouth.
“Yeah, well, donkeys only eat grass.” Megan worked at looking innocent. “Can you at least take them until I find another home? Please?”
“What are you doing with donkeys anyway?”
“A parent at Claire’s kindy asked her to find a home for them. She was too scared to bring them herself after offloading the goat on you.”
“Why is Claire suddenly the go-to person for homeless animals?”
Megan shrugged. “Word gets around. And Claire’s a soft touch.”
Flynn looked at the depressed animals and his shoulders slumped. Apparently Claire wasn’t the only soft touch in the family. “Okay, I’ll take them. But just until you and Claire find another home. And you better look for one.”
“I will. Promise.” She thrust the ropes at him and made a run for it, heading straight for the lime-green Mini Cooper she shared with her sister. The tiny car had a large horse trailer attached to it, which made Flynn shake his head. The trailer was three times bigger than the car. Matt would have a fit if he saw it.