Chapter 31 #2
“Mom.” Hale cringes, turning his head away. “Kady doesn’t want to see old photos.”
“Maybe later.” She winks at me. “Follow me through. I hope you’re both hungry. Food’s waiting.” She touches Hale’s arm, giving it a loving squeeze as she leads us to the dining room. “Your dad’s already at the table.”
I roll my lips in so I don’t gape at the long oak table piled high with a golden-crusted potpie, large bowls of whipped potatoes that look like clouds, and a tapestry of vibrant, mouth-watering vegetables.
“This is just for us?” I ask.
Hale chuckles. “Mom always cooks too much.”
Hale’s father sits at the end of the table in a wheelchair. From the photos in the hall, I noticed that Hale used to bear a striking similarity to his father. However, the man before me looks frail, a shadow of his former self. His face is gaunt and his thin arms shake as they grip a fork.
“Honey, this is Kady.” Winnie gestures to me. “Kady, this is Nick.”
“It’s about time the Valen Pack found an omega.” Nick’s voice is a little raspy. “They need one to keep them in check.”
“Oh, I’m not—”
With a squeal, Hale pulls out my chair, motioning for me to sit down.
“Don’t pressure them, honey.” Winnie removes Nick’s fork from his trembling hand, setting it down next to his plate. “You know what young people are like these days.”
She serves me up a generous portion. I practically drool at the savory-smelling gravy drizzled over the potato mountain she put on my plate.
“It all looks and smells delicious.” Eager to dive in, my compliment is genuine.
I’m not used to dinners being served like this.
At home, my father and I never eat together.
When I’m there, I eat out or our private chef prepares meals for me to eat alone.
Even on Thanksgiving and Christmas, we’re waited on by caterers at a table filled with Dad’s business acquaintances that I barely know.
“Oh, this?” She shrugs modestly. “Just something I quickly threw together. Do you cook?”
“Not really.” I wish I could say otherwise. “I’m more of a takeout kinda girl.”
“Well, that’s what you have alphas for.” Winnie winks. “They are there to take care of you.”
Is she joking? I wait to see whether there’s laughter to follow, but none comes.
My father and many of the packs he’s tried to set me up with are still of the archaic belief that an omega’s role is best suited to being a homemaker, so Winnie’s view is refreshing, helping me feel even more at ease.
Even though they’re basically strangers, I’m surprised by how comfortable I feel.
“We should catch up about work, son.” Nick’s tone is gruff. “There are matters we need to discuss—”
“Do we have to talk business at the table?” Winnie’s expression hardens. “We have a guest. You can at least wait until dessert.”
I’m a little confused as to why Nick seems so interested in Hale’s work.
“There’s an important annual audit coming up, Winnie.” Nick reaches for the carrots. His hand tremors, letting out an exasperated sigh when he drops the spoon. “Darn it!”
“It’s okay,” Hale steps in to help his father. “I can serve it to you.”
“Thanks.” Nick’s smile doesn’t meet his eyes, which are tinged with frustration as he shakes his head. “Stupid pills making things harder than they need to be.”
“So, Kady, tell us about you.” Winnie wipes her mouth with her napkin. “You’re the first girl our Hale’s brought home, so we know you must be special.”
“Don’t scare her off, Mom,” Hale mutters. “We’re just here for the weekend.”
“What are you studying?”
“Law,” I tell her.
“Law. Very useful.” Nick scratches his chin. “That may be helpful to you too, son.” He grins. “It could save the company on legal fees.”
“I’m sure Kady doesn’t want to hear about any of that.” Winnie frowns. “If Hale takes after you, I’m sure she’s tired of hearing about his work too.”
“Actually,” I say after swallowing. “Hale doesn’t talk about his job at all.”
Nick stops picking at the food on his plate. “He doesn’t?”
“She just means that we have other things to talk about.” Hale’s comment gives me the impression that there’s something he isn’t telling me. “Kady also works at The Valley Voice with Calder. She’s a reporter.”
It’s hard not to squirm. I’m not used to people paying me so much attention. My father doesn’t pay any interest to my studies or extracurriculars. He sees them as more of a hobby, not something to be taken too seriously.
“Brains as well as beauty.” Winnie lays her palm on her chest. “You have it all. It’s good that you have your own interests. It was different in my day. Few colleges accepted omegas. All my family wanted was for me to find an alpha.”
“It was their loss, Winnie.” Nick’s gaze softens. “You’ve always been the smartest person in the room.”
“All I’m saying is that I feel like I wasted some of my potential.” She stabs a spear of asparagus. “I’m grateful that I found Nick, obviously. A good man.” She leans over and squeezes his arm. “I raised Hale to respect women. I trust Hale’s treating you well?”
“He is,” I reply.
“Well, I’m glad he doesn’t seem to be working all the time.” Winnie looks over at her son. “All work and no play is not healthy for a man your age, Hale.”
“He loves his work, Winnie.” Hale’s dad sounds proud before he begins coughing. He manages to take a few sips of water, collecting himself before adding, “Running the family company just like I did.”
I almost choke on my mouthful as my head whips to face Hale. “Running the company?”
“I started Valen Enterprises when I was Hale’s age.” Nick looks wistful, like he’s remembering that time, a breathiness to his voice. “I built it from the ground up, turning it into the mega corporation it is today. It was the proudest moment of my life when my Hale took it over.”
Valen Enterprises?
Hale looks sheepish, shoveling a mouthful of food into his mouth. I shoot a pointed glance at him but keep my mouth shut. From his expression, he clearly doesn’t want me to ask any questions.
I’ve heard of Valen Enterprises. In fact, my own father uses them regularly. It must be a multi-million-dollar company, at least. If my dad were sick, there’s no way he’d entrust his business to me, so it says a lot about how much faith Nick has in his son.
More to the point, I’m shocked that I didn’t even have the sense to do a quick internet search of Hale’s name. That would usually be the first thing I’d do, but my investigative instincts have been thwarted by recent distractions.
“Kady doesn’t want us to bore our ears off.” Winnie laughs. “How are you getting on with the rest of the pack, Kady?”
“Good,” I reply, still reeling from Nick’s revelation. “Riven and I went stargazing last night.”
Winnie claps her hands together. “Ah, our Riven. Lovely boy. Always so sweet. He needs someone to bring him out of his shell.”
“He’s great,” I agree.
I listen as Hale and his parents talk. There’s a warm atmosphere around the table that makes me feel at home.
Soon, I’m asking questions about Hale’s childhood and laughing at their funny tales.
There are a few times when Nick struggles to eat, his jaw tensing in frustration when Hale or Winnie has to help him.
An alpha losing some of his younger strength must be hard to deal with, but I love seeing how supportive Hale is.
My heart pangs. I never wanted to have a pack and catch feelings, but getting to know the real Hale makes it pretty damn hard not to. Seeing him care for his father, for animals, and his packmates. How can I keep my heart frozen when I practically melt into a puddle whenever I see him?
After we finish up eating, I help Winnie clear the table while Nick starts a passionate discussion about boxes, parcels, and freight.
“It’s really good to see you and Hale together,” Winnie says, filling the basin.
I grab a towel to dry by hand. “When Nick got sick, Hale was always here. I thought he’d never leave.
He took it hard, obviously. But when Dean Rivers reached out to Nick—he’s an old friend—about a job at SVU for Ezra, Hale couldn’t be parted from his pack.
Even though we were the ones who told him about the role, Ezra still asked for my permission before accepting it.
I’m glad they all went.” She dabs her eyes.
“Sorry, listen to me blathering away. I’m sure you know all this. ”
“That’s okay.” I take a wet plate from her. “My friend Sabs says it’s always better to say what’s on your mind than hold it in. Something I’m still trying to learn.”
“Is he doing okay?” She tilts her head toward the dining room. “Hale?”
“I think so.” I nod, although I don’t think I’m really the best qualified to answer that. “He seems to be keeping busy.”
She shakes her head. “Always so busy with work.”
“There is one thing…” I consider telling Winnie about how Hale misses working with animals, but I’m not sure it’s my place to say. “Forget it.”
She turns off the water, giving me her full attention. “What is it, Kady? You can talk to me.”
I sigh, deciding that I have nothing to lose. “I think he misses his veterinary studies. That’s all.”
“Of course, he does.” Winnie’s eyes grow misty, turning the water back on and scrubbing a plate particularly hard.
“You know, I never thought that he’d actually take over Valen Enterprises.
Ever since Hale was a little boy, he was always bringing animals home.
Once, he spent weeks nursing a bird with a broken wing back to health.
He couldn’t have been more than eight or nine at the time. ”
“That sounds like Hale.” I nod. “He helped my cat Larry recently. He has a natural talent for it.”
“I’ve told Hale countless times that he doesn’t need to follow in his father’s footsteps.
But when Nick got sick, it didn’t just change my life but Hale’s too.
Him dropping out of veterinary school.” She clears her throat and clamps her eyes shut, clearly trying not to cry.
“Before that, he seemed so content. That’s why I’m so glad to see him here with you.
I haven’t seen him this happy for a long time.
He needs an omega. Someone like you. Someone to bring joy to his life again, so thank you. ”
“I’m sure it’s nothing I’ve done.” I don’t deserve her gratitude. “We haven’t known each other very long.”
“I knew that Nick was the one for me on our first date.” She eyes me knowingly.
“We bonded on our third. Can you believe it? My parents were shocked, naturally. Sometimes it’s not the time you spend with someone but how they make you feel and what kind of person you turn into when you’re with them that counts. ”
Hale peers around the doorway. “What are you two talking about?”
She bats some bubbles in his direction. “Never you mind!”
“We better be heading back, Mom.” Hale comes into the kitchen, hugging her. “Calder’s taking Kady to the fair, and you know he’s a stickler for being on time.”
“Thanks for dinner, Mrs. Va—Winnie.” I smile. “It was delicious.”
Hale kisses his mom on the forehead. “I’ll call you later.”
“Send Cal and the others my love, okay?” Winnie plants a kiss on his cheek then turns to me, cradling my face in her hands. “It was so good to meet you properly, Kady, and I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again soon. Don’t be a stranger.”
After bidding goodbye to Nick and being fussed over some more by Winnie, we set out back to the car.
“So…” I bump Hale with my hip. “I think you have some explaining to do. Your dad’s company?”
He runs his hand through his dark hair. “Oh, that.”
“Why didn’t you say anything? You made me believe you were a delivery boy.”
“Well, I kinda am.” He smirks. “I just don’t make the deliveries myself. That lion statue was a one-off.”
I stop in front of Janice, crossing my arms beneath my chest. “You should have said something.”
“Why? Would it have changed your opinion of me to know that I’ve taken over my dad’s company?” I get inside when he opens the car door for me, intending to continue this conversation.
Once seated, Hale’s hands tighten on the wheel. “When Dad got sick, someone had to do it. He’d always hoped I’d be the one to take over one day.” He shakes his head. “I just thought we’d all have more time.”
“Hale.” I put my hand over his, recalling how happy he’d looked when he was tending to Flossie and Larry. “Do you even want to run Valen Enterprises?”
“What I want doesn’t matter.” His tone is flat, devoid of emotion. “The company means a lot to my dad. You heard him tonight. He started it from the ground up. I have to do this for him.”
“Have you told him how you feel?” After my chat with Winnie, I’m sure they’d understand.
“There’s nothing to say.” Clearly, Hale is resigned to his fate. “I’m fulfilling my destiny.”
“What about being a vet?” I prompt him. “I thought that was your real dream.”
“It’s just a dream, Kady.” He turns the key in the ignition then pulls away.
“It doesn’t have to be.” I hate seeing him give up his passions. “My father runs all sorts of businesses. You could hire help. People to run it for you.”
“I couldn’t do that to Dad. You didn’t see him when he was first diagnosed with MS. He was okay to begin with, but then he got worse.
He had always been the kind of man who could do everything, but he began struggling to keep up at work.
” He shakes his head, pain etched across his features.
“When I took over the company, he felt like a part of him was still there. I’m carrying on his legacy. ”
He’s putting everyone’s needs above his own. I know better than most what it’s like to have the expectations of your father thrust upon you, but from what I’ve seen of Nick, he only wants the best for his son and to see him happy.
That gnawing pit in my stomach resurfaces again, feeling like a heavy weight and reminding me that the longer I spend with the Valen Pack, the deeper I’m getting…