Free The Promise of Rain by Rula Sinara

that. The nerve.
    “I bet. Seems everyone here would defend you. You’ve created quite the kingdom for yourself.”
    “It’s not my kingdom. It’s my cause. Don’t mock it,” she said, snapping back to reality. He wasn’t flirting. No. He was still too bitter about her keeping Pippa from him. And calling this her kingdom showed just how little he respected what she was doing. She jumped down and marched past him, but he grabbed her arm, letting go abruptly when some sort of fruit smacked him in the back.
    “Hey, stop that!” Jack yelled toward the tree. Anna tugged her arm free. “Not you, Anna. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I—I intended the opposite. Just call off your mutant Doberman.”
    He let go of her arm but didn’t break eye contact. Anna wrapped her arms around her waist, staring him down for a few seconds, studying him, before relenting.
    “Ambosi, stop. Go play somewhere else,” she said. The monkey made a show of his teeth before obeying. “What did you come here for, Jack?”
    “To tell you how impressed I am with how you saved what was—”
    “Jomo,” Anna said. The name the kids had picked out for their newest orphan.
    “Jomo. You were amazing, working on his trunk wound and—”
    “I had to. Trunks are important,” Anna said, interrupting him. But she’d felt the heat creep up her face at “amazing,” and had to stop him. She couldn’t go there, back to when he’d made her feel as if she mattered. Back to when she’d actually believed he’d felt something for her. Back to when he’d wrapped his warm arms around her and told her everything would be okay. Nothing was okay. Not anymore. And going back was a waste of time. “Without his trunk, he’d never survive reintroduction to a herd when he’s old enough. It’s their most sensitive body part. They use it for communicating, smelling, eating, manipulating and for sucking up water to drink or mud to bathe in. That’s just skimming it. I only hope he doesn’t develop bad scar tissue from the wound.”
    “There you go, avoiding a compliment. Hiding behind facts.”
    “I wasn’t. I thought you’d be interested in the facts.”
    “I’m interested in a lot of facts, Anna, but right now I simply wanted to tell you I’m impressed with your work, and that I’m sorry for what Jomo has been through.”
    Anna stared at him, not sure what to say. Taken off-balance by his sincerity, and proximity.
    “Thank you.”
    “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Jack said.
    She glared at him. “Don’t patronize me. I don’t care how much power Dr. Miller gave you, don’t think you can waltz in here and do that. I know you’re up to something.”
    He ran his fingers back through his hair before setting his palms on her shoulders. Their warmth felt familiar and safe. But he wasn’t. She had to keep reminding herself, before her heart cracked open any more. This was a game to get what he wanted. Pippa. Not happening.
    “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to patronize anyone. I’m just—look, Anna. Can we just backtrack? Yesterday was a shock to both of us, but we have to figure this out. We have to be able to work together and get along for Pippa’s sake.”
    He was right, of course. Priorities. This was about Pippa. Anna had gotten herself into this whole mess because she wanted what was best for Pippa in the long run. She would give her life for her daughter.
    She’d never meant for so much time to pass before telling him, but time and distance had a way of tricking the mind into a false sense of peace. Losing Jack’s friendship, his trust, was the price she had to pay, but it was a small one if it meant that Pippa would always know he made room for her in his life because he wanted to. Not because he had to. For that, Anna would make nice, but only as long as he didn’t fight her for primary custody.
    “Fine,” she said. She took a step back, forcing his hands to slip off her shoulders, when what she really