20. Adrien
The past few days had been nothing short of a dream. It was filled with our fair share of learning curves, yes, but that was the special part.
Claire and Riley hadn’t been kidding when they said they had a lot of stuff. Somehow I didn’t mind the explosion of pillows and blankets and clothes and keepsakes everywhere. It made me smile to see their stuff giving life to the house.
Each of us was finding our groove with one another.
Claire and I were the early risers, and the first thing she did each day was make coffee. I’d never been a fan of the Americanized version but the freshly roasted beans she ground, coupled with her French Press, converted even me.
Riley seemed to alternate, one morning he went for an early run with me, and the next he said he was sleeping in because it was off-season. The one thing we had been able to discern was that he wasn’t lying when he said he wasn’t at home in the kitchen. It was something he freely admitted before we tried to provide a bit of instruction, but ultimately it just ended with him coming home with food from his mom the next night.
But the best parts of it all were the small intimate moments we’d spent together in bed or all gathered together at the end of each day. Every day I looked forward to coming home, and every day I looked forward to waking up. And that fear that I wouldn’t be able to give Vance what he deserved in a partner was slowly disappearing.
He deserved to have a house bustling with life and love, to have a family around him that supported him. I’d done my best to be that for him, but no matter how much he’d assured me that he was perfectly happy, there was something more there now, for both of us. It was as if I was falling in love with my husband all over again too.
Claire and Riley had us opening up in new ways, and I couldn’t wait to see what our future together would bring.
The Confectionery had been busy this afternoon, this season being an especially busy month. The door chimed again, and in walked none other than Claire’s mom, Blaire.
“Adrien!” She said, giving me a full smile. “How are you my darling boy?”
I shook my head at her familiar enthusiasm. It was easy to see where Claire had gotten it.
“I’m well, Mrs. Dawkings,” I said with a smile.
“Oh, none of that, you’re family now, it’s just a matter of time,” she said, waving her hand at me. “You either call me Mom or Blaire, but none of this Mrs. Dawkings crap.”
“That will take some time to get used to, Blaire,” I said sincerely. “But thank you, that means a lot to me.”
“Nonsense, not only did you help pull our babies” heads out of their asses and get them to confess their love for each other but you’ve made them happier than they’ve been in a long time. Claire would never admit it as business driven as she’s been for almost a decade, but she was missing something she always wanted. Clearly, that was you and that cute to boot partner of yours. Vance is such a charmer.”
We hadn’t explicitly said to anyone that Vance and I were together, but it had probably been plain enough to see. I know I looked at him like he hung the moon.
“I’m lucky to have them all,” I said, knowing I made the right decision to trust my mates and this town. “Now, what can I get you today? I’ve been working on something special for Claire, would you mind being my taste tester?”
“I’d love to,” she said with a clap of her hands. “Maybe you can put together a box of truffles for Charlie too? He’s got a sweet tooth to rival Claire’s, and I wanted to get him some.”
“I can definitely help you with that,” I said, grabbing her one of the bon bons I made and putting it on a plate. “Why don’t you go enjoy this over there, and I’ll grab the tester from the back and put something special together for Charlie.”
She accepted the plate happily, and I went to work pulling down a large onyx box from one of the shelves behind me.
Keeping in mind what I knew about Claire’s omega dad, I built a custom assortment of truffles and chocolates that I thought he’d love, taking care to wrap the box with the iridescent gold ribbon I’d chosen for just these occasions. When all was said and done I set it on the counter and went to the back to retrieve the masterpiece I was working on.
It was a br?léed peach and diplomat cream enrobed in a milk chocolate shell that had a drizzle of white chocolate, peach dust, and a flake of edible gold. It was my Claire in one bite.
I’d practiced countless times until I’d gotten an acceptable product. While nothing could do her taste justice, this was my ode to her.
Turning the corner to head back out to the main area, I stopped dead in my tracks at the couple standing at the counter. The plate in my hand almost slipped, and I hastily set it down.
“Adrien!Comment ?a va?” My mother asked, acting like she was just dropping in for un café.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, refusing to answer her asinine question.
If she really cared how I was doing then she wouldn’t have turned me away once I’d told her about Vance.
“That’s no way to talk to your mother,” my father chastised, his English flawless.
At least time seemed to correct that, most likely his business driving him. There was a time when he swore he wouldn’t speak anything other than French.
“I’m going to have to ask the two of you to leave,” I said firmly. “I have nothing more that I want to say to you.”
“Don’t be silly,” my mother huffed, pursing her lips. “You have responsibilities back home you must attend to. Your father needs to retire soon. Don’t worry, we found the cutest little omega who can serve as your beard for all we care.”
“My home is here in Holiday Hollow,” I said through clenched teeth.
“But we found you a—“
“Excuse me, ma’am, but he asked you to leave,” Blaire spoke up, having stood from her chair.
Her hand was popped on her hip, and she was glaring my mother down. It made me feel almost too much.
“Run along now, beta. The important people are talking,” my mother sneered.
I was up and over the counter in a second, a growl ripping from my chest as I placed myself in front of Blaire.
“Don’t talk to her that way.” I warned.
“I may be a beta, but at least I’m not a cold-hearted bitch,” Blaire called over my shoulder.
“Adrien, mon fils—”
“Leave. Now. You have nothing I want. If my father cared at all about anything other than that job, maybe he’d have a replacement for retirement. I’m not your scapegoat or retirement plan. I’m a person, one who wants nothing to do with you. Either of you.”
My mother huffed, looking at my father to do something. But I was no longer a timid teenager my alpha father could push around. I was my own alpha now and in no way willing to stand down.
“We’ll leave,” he said finally. “But this isn’t the last of this. You need to come home.”
I didn’t take another breath until they stepped out of the shop, a soft hand on my shoulder finally breaking me out of my glowering.
“Your parents are a piece of work,” Blaire said bluntly. “How do you feel about a hug?”
A laugh slipped from my lips as I opened my arms to her. “Your daughter does the same thing.”
“Well, where do you think she learned it from?” Blaire asked. “Don’t you dare say Charlie, he’s spoiled enough as it is and I’ll never hear the end of it.”
She wrapped her arms around me tight and I felt a pang in my heart. This was what a mother should be, someone who loved you unconditionally.
“Thank you, Blaire.”
“I can see why calling me Mom would be hard for you, Honey. But just know that I’m here for whatever you need. You don’t need to worry about them here, this town will have your back.”
“I-I appreciate that,” I said, swallowing thickly. “Let me grab that box I made for Charlie for you.”
“Show me what you made for Claire too!” she called as I stepped away.
I passed her the plate with the truffle on it and I watched as she took a bite, before gasping.
“She’s going to love it,” she said. “Now how much do I owe you?”
“Absolutely nothing, Blaire. Don’t even think about it.”
“Okay, okay,” she said, accepting the box of truffles. “I’ll spread the word and pay it back. It’s almost closing time, why don’t you get out of here and find that pack of yours. Keep them close, Adrien.”
Taking her advice, I closed up shop as quickly as I could and headed home.
The entire situation with my parents had left me with a determination to be unapologetically myself. There was nothing wrong with who I was or who I loved. If a whole small town could accept that, then surely adults who were supposed to protect and support me should have.
Never was I happier that I’d left France with Vance and embarked on our life together. He’d been there through everything for me and for too long I’d let us hide that love. No more.
When I arrived home he was the only one there. Curled on the couch with his laptop resting on the arm, he looked up when I entered, his head tilting to the side.
“Ady?”
“Come with me,” I said, holding out a hand to him.
He rose without another word, threading his fingers through mine as I led him up the stairs and to our bedroom. Without another word I went to the safe in our closet putting in the code and grabbing the satin box that had sat in the corner for way too long. Never again.
I tugged him out of the closet and pushed him until he sat down on the bed, dropping to my knees before him.
Opening the box to reveal the twin platinum bands. I grabbed the larger one, taking his hand in mine and looking up into his blue eyes I loved so much.
There were so many things I wanted to say to him at that moment, so many things I wanted to profess. They sat on the tip of my tongue, none of them worthy to convey the love and adoration I felt for my husband.
Yet Vance, as he always did, seemed to be able to see all of me without me saying a word.
“Yes, Ady,” he whispered, cupping my face with his other hand as he bent his head to rest on mine. “Always yes. Now and forever.”
I slipped the ring back on his finger where it had always belonged and promised myself it would never come off again. Not for anyone or anything.
He took the box from my hands, grabbing my ring out and sliding it down until it rested where it belonged. He bent to place a kiss over top of it.
We held each other then, and I felt the rest of the weight on my shoulders slip off of me.
“I’m so glad you walked into that patisserie all those years ago,” I said after a while.
“Best decision of my life,” Vance agreed, his grip tightening. “What’s on your mind?” Concern filled me for a moment, and I knew he could feel it down the bond. There were so many things I wanted to say to him.
“I realized that I was still carrying some things I should have left firmly behind in France. I shouldn’t have let them change us, or change how we lived our lives.”
“I had my fair share of things to work through when we first got together too. No regrets, Ady,” Vance said seriously, a hint of bark in his voice. “I wouldn’t trade a second of time that we’ve shared together.”
“At the shop today—”
“Honeys! We’re home!” Riley called out from downstairs. Claire’s laugh soon followed.
“Let’s join them, we can talk together,” I said, rising from the floor.
Coming down the stairs I saw Riley and Claire huddled together by the kitchen island, smiles on their faces as they uncorked a bottle of wine.
“Now isn’t that a sight,” Vance said, grabbing a handful of my ass and shooting me a wink over his shoulder as he went to join them.
Damn, he really was the perfect husband. Caring and attentive one moment, then stern and playful the next.
He dove into the middle of them, taking a kiss from each before they wrapped their arms around him. It made my heart so damn full.
I loved them, I loved them all so fiercely, and while I didn’t want to rush Claire or Riley, I knew it was only a matter of time before I bonded them both.
“Now, isn’t that something shiny and gorgeous,” Riley said, catching Vance’s hand in his. “Look at this, Claire.”
She looked at the ring, her eyes brightening before she rushed over to me and took my hand as well.
“I love these on you two,” she gushed, before leaning up to kiss me. “I missed you today, alpha.”
“Tu manques,” I told her. “You were missing from me for far too long today.”
I kissed my omega again, loving as her soft curves melted into me and her peaches and cream scent wrapped around me.
“Adrien was actually just about to share some news about the shop today before you both came home,” Vance said once we broke apart. “I’m too curious to wait any longer.”
He passed Claire her glass and poured one for me as we gathered around the kitchen island.
“Luc was right about my parents,” I began. “Blaire was in my shop today and they appeared out of nowhere.”
“How did they find us?”
“No idea, but after Blaire told them to leave and I all but demanded it, they left,” I said, taking a long drink of the pinot noir. “Your mother is…fierce.”
“She’s all laid back and easy going until someone messes with what’s hers,” Claire said. “Which you undoubtedly are now. Perks of courting me.”
“She said as much,” I said with a nod. Blaire had also said she wanted to learn more about making chocolate, but I would see if that came to fruition before I mentioned the potential new hobby.
“And it was probably only minutes after she left that she called my mom and mobilized the troops,” Riley said. “Don’t worry, alpha. Your parents won’t know what hit them. They’re about to experience the real value of Holiday Hollow hospitality.”
“Why do I get the feeling that we should be scared?” Vance asked.
“Oh you shouldn’t,” Claire clarified, “but they definitely should.”