Chapter 47 Fletcher
FLETCHER
“Um. Fletch?” Sky’s shoulders were tense as he walked up quickly, scratchpad and pen still gripped in his hands like he’d just finished taking an order. He looked unsteady, though, the whites of his eyes showing a little too much and his lips pulled a little too taut.
I straightened. “What’s wrong?”
“Gracie’s son is here. He’s asking for you.” He spoke curtly. “I already took their order. Gonna go see who needs help in section two.”
Without another word, he breezed past me, leaving me to wander down the aisle until I saw a familiar face. When they noticed me, they both waved.
Immediately, I smiled. “Hey, guys. Long time no see.”
Kace Howell and his mate, Nevin, sat at the booth together, and perched in one of our highchairs was baby Zechariah. My heart did a little swoop, seeing how much he’d grown up. God, had time really gone by that fast?
“Hey, Fletcher,” Kace said warmly. “Thought we’d stop in and treat ourselves to lunch.”
“Glad to have you,” I told him. “And you brought baby Zee. Gosh, he’s growing like a weed, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is,” Nevin agreed with a small laugh. “He’s getting heavier and heavier, it seems. That, or my arms are getting weaker. Or both.” He brushed white-blond hair out of his eyes and smiled at me, equal parts sweet and shy.
I remembered a nearly about-to-pop Nevin at his baby shower, teary-eyed as he accepted gifts and treats from the pack.
I’d known very little about the Omega, besides the fact that his old pack had abused him terribly, but that was enough for me to insist on going to the baby shower, to give Nevin the little onesie I’d once bought for the baby I’d wished to have.
It’d been something frivolous I’d spent my money on, only for my dream to be crushed when I found out I was born without a womb.
I’d decided it was better off being used by someone who truly needed it, than languishing in one of my drawers for the rest of its existence.
Nevin had thanked me with tears in his eyes, and I’d felt so sad, yet so happy for the young man, for getting a miracle and a home that welcomed and protected him.
Now, seeing him again, Nevin practically glowed. His smile was radiant, and his blue eyes shimmered with happiness. In fact, if I didn’t know any better…
I tilted my head, studying him. “I know it’s none of my business, but as a nosy Omega, I am curious…”
Nevin blushed and looked to Kace, who smiled. “Your assumptions are correct. We’re expecting baby number two. We just found out yesterday, but no one knows yet, not even Mom, so shh.” He held a finger to his lips. “Let’s keep this a secret for a little while.”
“Easier said than done,” Nevin said, beaming. “I’m so excited I can hardly sit still!”
“That’s amazing,” I said. “Congratulations to you both. Are you hoping for a girl or another boy?”
“Honestly, so long as it’s healthy, I don’t mind either way,” Nevin said.
“But raising a little girl would be fun, I think. Girls’ clothes are so much cuter than boy’s clothes, at least when they’re little ones.
Zee is already outgrowing his clothes the minute we buy them, it seems. He’s a little tank. ”
He giggled and reached over to gently ruffle the baby’s hair. Zechariah gurgled and gave a little squeal, slapping his hands down on the tray. He was so damn cute, it wasn’t even funny.
“Hungry, Zeeby?” Nevin turned and dug around in his diaper bag until he found a canister of yogurt drops and offered them to the toddler.
Immediately, Zechariah’s chubby hand reached for one and stuck it, and almost his entire hand, in his mouth with a cheerful noise that was purely baby.
Nevin smiled like the proud daddy he was.
“He’s gonna be a good big brother, no matter what you have,” I told him.
“I think so too.”
Sky came back to the table, two steaming plates of food balanced in his hands.
“Coming through,” he called out, and I stepped back enough to give him room to set Kace and Nevin’s lunches down in front of them.
“The ham and Swiss melt with tomato bisque for you, and here is your roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. Can I get you guys anything else?”
Sky spoke smoothly, without a hitch, but his posture was still stiff—nervous, I realized, around Gracie’s eldest son. Kace smiled kindly at him and shook his head. “This looks wonderful. Thank you, Sky.”
“You’re welcome,” Sky said quickly. “Enjoy.”
Before he could dart away, I reached out and looped my arm around his waist. He went still beneath my touch as I tugged him to my side, smiling at Kace and Nevin. “Sky is due in May,” I told them. “We’re all very excited.”
Kace’s face brightened. “Well then, congratulations to you as well! Are you having a boy or a girl? Do you know yet?”
“A girl,” I said, pride swelling in my chest.
Nevin tilted his head, studying us. “Is he…”
“He is my partner, as well as Adam’s. Our third,” I told him.
“Fletcher!” Sky ducked his head, his cheeks flushing pink, then shimmied out of my grasp. “I have tables to tend,” he mumbled. “People need their ketchup.” He hurried off. I watched him go, shaking my head.
When I turned back to the pair in the booth, Nevin’s smile was knowing. “He is your miracle, isn’t he, Fletcher?”
I drew a deep breath and placed my hand over my heart, feeling it beat steadily beneath my palm. “He truly is. He’s the piece of the puzzle that Adam and I didn’t even know was missing. We love him and can’t imagine our lives without him now. He’s part of us.”
“He’s come a long way,” Kace said softly.
“Yeah. He has. Lots of therapy, lots of TLC and patience.”
He nodded. “You know, Mom was wrong about them. She thought for sure they’d bring doom and disaster to our pack, but I know she was only afraid for us.
For her family. River is good for my brother.
I’ve never seen Xan happier in my life, and he’s in his element, being a dad.
And despite his temper? River’s a pretty good father too.
” He looked up at me. “I’m glad you guys gave Sky a chance. He needed one.”
“I know. Me too,” I said. “Enjoy your lunch, and stop in again sometime. You know I always love seeing your little munchkin.” I ran my fingers through Zechariah’s baby-fine hair.
“Always. We love this place. Best food in town,” Kace said with a grin.
Nevin giggled. “Bye, Fletcher. Zee, say bye-bye!” Zee babbled something that might’ve been “bye-bye,” so I waved at him, then turned and walked away, my heart light and floaty like a balloon on a string.
Soon. Soon that would be us, and I couldn’t wait.