Chapter 68
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Mal
Momma mia!
I need a few minutes alone after our strange interaction with Alizée, so I excuse myself, head to the master bathroom, and lock the door.
Not that I think Iris will follow me, but, as exuberant as she is, it wouldn’t shock me.
I’ve never met a witch before, and frankly, I’m…reeling from Alizée’s premonitions. The quiet words she spoke in my ear.
That we’re having a little girl, according to her. Which simultaneously fills me with joy and terror.
And no matter what nightmares I might have to not take them to heart because she will be born healthy.
But what I struggle with beyond all that news is her statement that my mom will not only be here for our wedding, but for the birth of our little girl.
Dare I hope it’ll all come true? Seems like any time I allow hope to gain hold in my system my world gets upended. Without fail.
I have taken her admonition to heart about not going off half-cocked, not that I would’ve disobeyed Todd anyway, much less Jax.
With Iris excitedly bouncing around the house I can’t really pull two brain cells together to fully process what transpired with Alizée. I don’t know what she said to Todd, but I felt how it impacted him, like an emotional tsunami slammed into him.
In a good way, but still, it walloped him.
I have a feeling Iris and I will quickly grow close if for no other reason than this is her first grandchild and she’s already adopted me. Todd wasn’t kidding about her not caring who or what I am—she’s literally already planning the baby shower.
I haven’t mentioned Alizée’s prediction about the baby’s gender. I think I’ll hold that back for a while from everyone but Todd, unless he already knows because that’s one of the things the sweet witch told him.
I can’t stop obsessing over her declaration that our baby will be born healthy, and I’ll also have no problems with the delivery.
I think one of my first private conversations with Dr. Williams will be a basic anatomy lesson about how all this is supposed to work.
I know what I’ve heard, and some of the stuff I’ve read online—and obviously I was able to get pregnant—but again, this is one of those damned basic biological facts I hate my father for keeping from me just because his ego couldn’t handle his youngest son is an omega.
What if I’d been lucky enough to have a father like Caleb?
He’s the polar opposite of Iris in terms of staying calm and not getting excited, but I can sense his love for Todd and his growing fondness for me, even if he’s not ricocheting off the walls like she is.
Hell, compared to my father, Caleb is a snuggly kitten.
Seriously, Iris is like one of those glittery super-bouncy balls you get in a grocery store vending machine, and when you bounce it off the pavement, it practically sails into orbit.
But in human form. She’s 83, which shocked the hell out of me since she’s a human, but apparently, being mated first to Todd’s father, an Alpha shifter, and now to Caleb, she enjoys increased longevity.
She looks like she’s in her 60s, maybe, and well-preserved.
Caleb is 132, but the lynx shifter looks younger.
I splash water on my face and take a few deep breaths to try to calm myself before returning to the kitchen. Iris is still happily bubbling all her ideas for not only the baby shower, but for our wedding, too.
Todd arches an eyebrow at me and I mentally manage to say, “Later. I’m okay.”
He briefly frowns, like maybe he doesn’t believe me, but I blow him a kiss, which earns me a smile.
Oh. My. Goddess. We’ll be dealing with Iris all day.
I went from a mother who was terrified of my father to an adopted one who wants to smother me.
This will take some getting used to.
“So how are the plans for the refugees going?” Iris asks Todd.
“I mean, we’re doing everything we can to make sure the rec center building is secure and light-proof. Some of the children and younglings will be vulnerable to sunlight. We want them to be comfortable. They’ve been traumatized. Jax said some of them lost both parents.”
She gasps. “I didn’t realize that!” She looks at Caleb, and he arches an eyebrow at her.
“We cannot adopt one or more of those children, sweetheart,” he says before she can say something else.
“For starters, we’re strangers to them. They know the people they’re coming with.
Secondly, they are better off with people of their kind.
They’re not shifter kids, or even human children, and there are special considerations we are not even close to qualified to handle. ”
Iris looks like she’s about to pout, but then turns to Todd again. “You said teachers are going to work with them, right?”
“Yes.”
“Can I volunteer to help?”
Todd shrugs. “I mean, I guess. Send Jax an email.”
Before Todd can even finish the sentence, she whips out her cellphone and furiously taps out a message.
Todd and Caleb share what I’m certain is a familiar expression of them tolerating her exuberance.
“They’re not puppies,” Caleb reminds her. “You cannot bring one home.”
She sticks her tongue out at him. “No, you’re right. But I can volunteer however they need me.”
Although I suspect this is a conversation she’ll revisit with Caleb the longer she works with the kids. From what Todd told me, she always welcomed kids when he was growing up, his friends, sometimes fostering orphaned kids who showed up, basically everyone’s mom if they needed a mom.
I wonder if my father had been a different person if my mother would be like this? I’m he browbeat her into submission with his vicious control.
Goddess, I hope Alizée is right and she’ll be here.
If I’m lucky, maybe it’ll be because my father’s dead.
I end up lying down for a nap after lunch.
When I awaken, Iris is still there, helping Todd fix dinner for his brothers.
After everyone leaves—including Iris—and we can finally go to bed, I curl up in Todd’s arms and wonder how I ever existed before him.
The way our bodies fit together is perfect, as if we were made for each other.
I used to think that was just romance-book bullshit, but I guess those writers really know what they’re talking about.
The other thing is I feel comfortable with him, like we’ve been together for years and not less than a couple of days. Like my soul knows him, has always known him.
“You did good today,” Todd says. “Told you Mom would love you.”
“Holy cow, you were not exaggerating.”
“She’s always been like that. I mean, it could have been—” His jaw snaps shut.
I look up at him. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“No, say it. It could’ve been what?”
He sighs. “My hoof in my mouth, is what. I was going to say it could have been worse, because they accepted me being gay instead of being assholes.”
I lay my hand on his chest. “Hey, you didn’t make my father act like an asshole,” I assure him. “Once I get used to wearing Iris like a trench coat when she’s here, it’ll be fine.”
He bursts out laughing. “She was really bouncing you around. I’m sure she’ll calm down, but you have to remember she just hit the daily double—a new son-in-law and a grandbaby. Actually, I’m surprised she wasn’t worse.”
“Worse? I’m shocked I still have eardrums.”
He snickers.
“What’d Alizée say to you this morning?” I ask. “The private stuff, I mean.”
He sighs. “She told me to go with the flow. Said our baby will be born healthy. Little girl.” He nuzzles my nose. “Hope that part terrifies you as much as it does me, although it’ll probably make Mom scream even louder than today over having a baby girl to spoil rotten.”
“Let’s not tell anyone else, okay? About her being a girl. Not yet. I want to be sure.”
“Okay. I guess Alizée told you, too?”
“Yeah. And she said Mom—my mom—will be here for the birth and our wedding. That things will work out.”
“Yeah. Me, too. I don’t know how that’s supposed to happen,” he admits. “She also told me you have to be part of the plan and to let you participate no matter my emotions, because you are the key to success, and you will be fine.”
His words fill me with vague fear. “Really?”
“Yeah.” He nuzzles my nose again. I really love it when he does that. “She said I’ll probably feel terrified, but to allow the risk, because it’ll all work out and it’s part of a larger success. But not to stress because the plan will form when the time is right without me seeking it.”
“Ooookay. Not vague at alllll.”
“You need to understand I will be overprotective,” he continues. “I can’t help it. Considering these fuckers have attacked vampire nests and inflicted massive casualties, you can’t expect me to remain indifferent to the risk. So please don’t get irritated with me if I put my foot down about stuff.”
“Well, you need to keep me informed as to the whys. If I understand why you’re taking a stance on something, it’s easier for me to accept it instead of pushing back.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Deal. Don’t forget, nothing but water after midnight.”
“Ugh. That means no morning coffee, doesn’t it?”
“I’ll take you out for breakfast when we’re finished at Dr. Williams’ office. How about that?”
I snuggle in and close my eyes. “I guess,” I say all melodramatically. “Might starve to death before then, or die from caffeine deprivation, but sure.”
He snorts. “I love you so damned much.” He kisses me. “I love how much you make me laugh.”
“Love you, too.” I yawn. “Sleepy time.”
And with my handsome elk wrapped around me, I crash into sleep almost immediately.