Raven’s Instinct (A Day Care for Shifters #6)

Epilogue Kendra

“ We got a postcard from Bernard,” Kendra called as she came in and dropped her keys on the table beside the front door. “He says that apparently, Alaska is far enough away that he can’t tell when we’re doing it anymore.”

Alan appeared at the door to the bathroom with Amy in his arms. He was nearly as wet as she was. “Well, that’s a relief. Wait, did he write that on the outside of a postcard?”

“It’s in agency code,” Kendra assured him. “We didn’t scandalize the postman.”

“Oh good,” Alan said, bouncing Amy. “I love this neighborhood, and I don’t want to get drummed out for indecent correspondence before I’ve even completely unpacked.”

“When are you going to get around to that?”

“Just because all of your earthly possessions fit in your van…”

It was still hard to believe that it was her house. After all her dreaming and saving and believing it was just out of reach, it was hers .

Ours , she corrected herself, just as her owl contentedly cooed, Nest!

All of the happiness in the world was hers, in a house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a big back yard, and a porch off the master bedroom upstairs where she and Alan could go flying from…and Amy would be joining them in the air soon enough.

The only thing they’d done was build a carport for Rita, to protect her from the worst of the Montana winter snow, and replaced the carpet in the living room with something less likely to show stains. Amy had her own room, her own bed, and Kendra loved sleeping without being kicked.

The loan on the house was co-signed by both of them, and they were planning a spring wedding. Amy would not be the ring-bearer. “She’d eat the rings,” they both agreed. For an owl, she had a raven-like fascination for shiny things.

“What are you going to tell her about her dad, when she asks?” Alan had wanted to know, as they set out the details.

“You’ll be her dad,” Kendra had been able to answer with complete confidence. “A dad is not a donor, it’s the guy who's there for her, teaching her to fly and ride a bike.”

Alan had kissed her gratefully, and it was the same lingering, lovely kiss that he offered her now. “You smell like horse,” he observed.

“STINKY!” Amy chimed in less diplomatically.

“How was the mission?”

“Easier than I’d feared, harder than I’d hoped,” Kendra said honestly. “The sting was set up really well, but one of the guys decided to fly for it. Literally.”

“And you got him?”

“Dropped him out of the sky like a lead weight,” Kendra said in proud delight. “The agency is putting me down for the arrest.”

“Your first arrest! I’m so proud!”

“Don’t you patronize me, Mister Peed Off,” Kendra said in mock offense. “I know I’ve got a few to go to catch up to you, but I will. Thank you for babysitting.”

“I have no doubts,” Alan said. “And it doesn’t count as babysitting if it's your own baby. It’s just parenting. Right, Amy?”

“STINKY!” Amy repeated.

“I’m going to take a shower and then a bath, to soak all the stink out of me,” Kendra said, rubbing noses with Amy.

“Maybe I can get her down to sleep and come join you,” Alan suggested.

“It’s a one-person bathtub,” Kendra reminded him.

“One person or two birds?” Alan countered.

Kendra laughed and went past him up the stairs.

This was her life now. A house, a partner, and everything exactly as it should be, with two bathtubs and the sky, limitless, above them.

Thank you for reading my book!