Chapter Six
Jane summoned her phone and told Serin she was okay and out on one of the Blackridge Islands.
Andreux led her to a guest bedroom and said softly, “What does he need?”
She looked at the tall bed, reached out, and snapped her fingers. The mattress was on the floor in a second with a pile of pillows that would make sure Terro didn’t roll off the edge accidentally. Crawling over was fine.
She settled their son down on the mattress and took off his little shoes. She touched his cheek and checked on him. She gestured again, brought his favourite toy to him, and left him.
Jane nodded and exited the room, closing the door nearly completely.
Andreux was waiting and peeped through the door. “He’s strong.”
“He is. He’s also cute, stinky, and energetic.” Jane chuckled.
Andreux led her to the kitchen, got her a glass of water, and settled down to make her tea.
“So, your mother is French?”
“She is. My father was travelling after university and found her on her own trip. He re-directed her route and swept her away to the islands.”
“You showed up forty weeks later?”
“No, surprisingly, it was two years.” Andreux chuckled.
Jane paused and nodded. “Oh. That makes sense.”
Andreux asked, “What makes sense?”
“You are an only child?”
“Yes.”
“Could you have been a second attempt?”
He froze. “Son of a bitch. I hadn’t considered that.”
“It is common enough. The strange energy that is infesting the betas seems to increase our odds. The world is going to look different when our children are in charge of it. At this point, anywhere Terro is will be filled with candy and stuffed animals.” She grimaced.
Andreux laughed and poured the tea. “I saw the video, but were you really all right?”
“I was terrified. I even named him after it.”
He blinked. “Terro. For terror.”
“Yup. I don’t care who you are. Not knowing anything about your breeding partner is terrifying. Fortunately, I have friends who have had kids with alphas of astonishing size, and they kept me calm. Nora’s baby Aurora was huge.”
He winced. “How big was he?”
“Eight pounds.”
He frowned. “Is that good or bad?”
“It is normal. I think Aurora was ten.”
“Wow.” He smiled. “Well, if you do agree to my pursuit, at least the other babies will be of a known size.”
She snorted and sipped her water. “Not selling it so far.”
“You can continue your occupation?”
“I would do that anyway.” She smiled. “It’s fun, and I am very good with special effects. I had a friend who worked for a video game company, and she taught me a lot during my blue days during pregnancy. I did the bookkeeping for some small projects as we got ready for this big move and a few teaser trailers in the last week.”
“For what?”
“Moving a version of Alphas versus Betas here.”
“What?”
“Yeah, we are going to call it Island Learning Curve.” Jane smiled. “It has the potential to run for a decade or so and will showcase the islands at their best. We will bump up the population and get some more females in the mix because this place is sausage-heavy.” She smirked and finished her water, taking the tea he handed her.
“Interesting and not flattering. Wait, how are you here in the islands?”
“Work visa. It lasts a year.” She sipped at the tea. “Oh, this is nice.”
“Thank you. It is the family business.”
“Wait. What?”
“Tea. The soil is wonderful for growing, and harvesting is time-consuming but definitely worth it.”
She smiled. “Fun. That sounds like a challenge for the show. Same with the coffee plantation a few islands over. Making your own cup of tea or coffee is hilarious.”
He chuckled. “Farming for ideas?”
“Always. When Serin mentioned this idea, we knew it was going to be successful, and we started looking around to look for minimally invasive tasks to set the participants of the show. So far, we have swimming, diving, snorkelling, kayaking, catamaran piloting, and hiking. Oh, and traditional dance to be judged by the locals.”
He grinned. “Those all sound like fun.”
“That is the idea.”
“Care to join me on the couch?”
“Certainly.”
She picked up her teacup and followed him to the couch. He sat down and patted the seat next to him. He took the teacup, set it on the table beside him, then turned to her, stroked her cheek, and kissed her.
She sighed and leaned up toward him. He shifted quickly, and she was sitting across his thighs in the curve of his arm.
He shuddered and smiled. “I have been imagining this moment.”
“Since yesterday?”
“For over two years. I remembered your scent and searched for it endlessly.”
“I am guessing that you were looking in the wrong place.” She caressed his jaw and neck.
“But you are here now.”
Jane smiled. “I am here now. We have forty-five minutes to make out before Terro is awake again.”
Andreux didn’t waste a second. She tasted him, got his scent, and was pretty sure she could track him from five miles away by the time their son called for her.
Her lips were swollen, and she was breathing heavily against his shoulder. “I don’t think I have ever done that, even when I was a teen.”
He smiled. “I have a whole list of ridiculously drawn-out foreplay to share with you, but we should get Terro.”
“Yeah, I don’t think I can walk. We can just wait a few seconds.”
The calls for Mama became feverish, and she called out, “Out here, Terro.”
Andreux made to stand while she was still on him. “Shouldn’t we get him?”
“I think I want to show you his party trick.” She smiled. “Come on, Terro. I am waiting.”
There was a sudden silence, and then, Terro landed on Jane’s lap.
Andreux paled. “When did he start doing that?”
“Six months ago.” She cuddled her little man and soothed his cheeks.
When he headbutted her breast, she blushed. “No, Terro, you don’t need milk.”
Andreux blinked. “He isn’t weaned?”
“He’s weaned; he’s just greedy.” Jane blushed as her son started muttering as he tried to figure out her dress. “I shouldn’t have gotten him to transport. It makes him extra hungry. I am the fastest source of calories.”
“He has good taste. Would you like some privacy?”
Jane felt a rush of gratitude. “Please. Where can I take him?”
He stood with them both in his arms and walked to a room with light and pretty colours. It also had a huge rocking chair in one corner. He set her in the chair, propped her up with pillows, and then left.
She settled into the rocking chair and got Terro calmed down in twenty minutes.
She exhaled, got them both presentable, and walked out to the living room again. Andreux smiled. “I got your baby bag from your hotel room, including milk for the bottles. Also, your clothing and computers and things, but you can use my rig if you like.”
“So, you would like us to move in with you?” Jane raised her brows.
“I would like to have one of those ceremonies that Ligo, Iro, and Orla had.”
Jane blinked. “Oh. That would be nice, I think. Do you think you can deal with us around the clock?”
“I think that you work behind your screen, and my parents are loving the idea of having a grandson around to teach the family business.”
Jane smiled. “You are offering to be a house husband with your family as nannies?”
He shrugged. “To start. I stay at home most days anyway when not working on the tea harvest.”
“Well, then, I am going to need my own office, or I will drive you nuts. I hum, I whistle, and I blast music while I work.”
“I can get used to it.” He smiled. “If not, one of us can use the guesthouse as our office.”
“You are using a lot of ours.”
“Call me hopeful.” He grinned.
She changed Terro in the traditional way but disposed of the diaper in the same volcano that she had been sending them since he was born. Others assumed that they went to a landfill, but for her, it was a volcano all the way.
She washed her hands as Terro sprinted around, laughing.
Andreux murmured, “Does he need toys?”
“Do you have coconuts around?”
“Yeah.”
“Husk him a coconut army. He loves them.”
“A coconut... army?”
“More than four.”
“Oh. Right. Give me a few minutes.”
They heard “ooooooo,” from around the corner.
Jane bolted. “That’s his technology pitch.”
Andreux lunged into the room, and then, there was giggling before she made it around the corner. Terro was clutching a mouse being held high and clapping to click the buttons.
Jane plucked the mouse from his hands. He looked at her, his lip came out, and he wailed.
Andreux looked at her. “How long does this last?”
“Hours, days? Maybe five minutes?” She shrugged. “This is just for theatrics. You can tell by the lower lip, and he keeps checking your expression.”
“Whoa.”
“If you want him to stop faster, cry. Mimic him. He understands that.”
Andreux asked, “Can you demonstrate?”
Jane looked at Terro, made a sad face, and sobbed, sucking her lower lip in as she breathed. Terro calmed and gave her a shy smile before reaching out for her.
Andreux said, “Masterful. Now what?”
“Cuddle him. He won’t try to rip your top off.”
“I see my son and I have a lot in common.” He smiled and blinked as Terro turned to hold onto him.
“Funny. You said your hand slipped.”
Andreux started to rock softly with their child. “I lied.”
She chuckled. “Just like Terro. Faked me out.”
“Does he always nurse after transporting?”
“Yes. Fast food. I am a high-calorie snack bar. I thought I would have dried up by now, but one headbutt, and off I go.”
“Perhaps I can persuade him to leave you alone.”
“I am hoping that I can find a snack that will fill the gap. I am slowly working through cookies and pudding.”
“My mother can help with that. I was nearly as round as I was tall before I alpha’d out.” He chuckled and put a huge hand on Terro’s back.
“If he’s happy and can still move the way he wants to, I will roll him to school if necessary.” She smiled. “As long as he’s kind but knows his own worth.”
“You are a good mom.”
She chuckled. “You have no idea how much junk food I have introduced him to. I have my moments, and then I don’t.”
There was a soft knock, and Andreux smiled. “They are going to be over here every twenty minutes.”
“How messed up is my hair, Andreux?”
“Just the right amount, Jane.”
“Great.”
They walked to the door, and his parents were there, along with Serin and Deno.
“Uh-oh. Busted.” She waved at the older couple, and they came in with the spirits of the island chain.
Orla walked in behind them with Ligo and Iro.
Terro sniffed in the air and started yelling, “Anola!”
Andreux murmured, “What’s happening?”
“Put him down and watch.”
He set his son down, and the little bare feet beat a path through the adult legs to Orla.
He demandingly opened his arms at his sides, and Orla smiled and picked him up.
Jane grinned. “And that is his favourite adult person who isn’t me.”
Iro was making faces at Terro, and the toddler was laughing.
Andreux looked at the sudden gathering. “This is unexpected.”
Serin looked at Jane. “Do you have notes?”
“I do.”
Serin looked at Andreux. “I need to borrow her.”
“Uh, sure.”
Jane and Serin went to the computer room, and she got her laptop out. They went through the previous mockup of the ad for the islands, and then, Jane put the footage in that Aeryn had recorded. The images were clipped with photos from the islands, and then, the soundtrack led the viewer on a pulse-pounding trip through the islands.
“Oh, that’s good. I just need to run this past Kekoa.” She grinned. “This is just the type of thing we needed.”
“Single woman takes the islands?”
“Exactly. Now, show me Thera’s.”
Thera’s underwater adventures, including the photo shoot on the reef, were adorable and showed a woman enjoying the island alone, even though Thera’s pod was taking the images. The music was soft and dreamy, and the same tagline of What can you do in five days? floated past.
“Oh, that is lovely. A different vibe.”
“Definitely. Thera is more fun; Aeryn is lovely eye candy.”
“And no hint at her height in the video.” Jane smiled.
Serin chuckled.
“Mama!”
Jane sighed and caught the little guy as he launched into her arms. The computer was set to the side as Jane got climbed.
Serin smiled. “Orla has agreed to take him for a night. It will be a crash course for Ligo and Iro.”
“Why would Orla need to take him?”
Serin gave her a knowing look. “The same reason you didn’t come back to my house and had a hotel room arranged instead. Sometimes, the only privacy is privacy. Don’t worry. They are staying on this island in the guest quarters.”
“Why did you arrange that?”
“Because you and Andreux need time actually to meet each other, and date nights are key to that goal.”
“What’s in it for Orla’s group?”
“Practice with a sturdy subject.”
Jane laughed and looked at the subject in question. “He is that.”
“Well, you have done some great work considering the time constraint. How much more can we do?”
“We have enough island footage and mixed footage to do about seven more. We have licensed songs for twelve more.”
“When are you ready to start on the competition footage?”
Jane grinned. “It has already started. The first candidate has signed off and started trials. Ohno’s hotel is very convenient for recruiting.”
“You are the little go-getter.”
“Sometimes, not thinking about mom stuff is all the encouragement I need. Nothing inspires me to work faster.”
Serin laughed.
Andreux poked his head in. “Does he need a distraction?”
She looked down at the smiling face looking up at her. “I think that would be good. Terro, do you want to visit with Daddy? He will find you some coconuts.”
Terro squealed and ran to Andreux.
The alpha picked him up, and there were tears in his eyes. Jane knew why. He had been told to go to Daddy, and he went.
Through a thick voice, he said, “Let’s go find an army of coconuts.”
Jane watched them go with a soft smile. “Maybe a date night isn’t a bad idea.”
Serin laughed. “I just think I heard your panties drop.”
Jane snorted. “Like they aren’t already in his pocket.”
Serin laughed, and they went to join Orla and Monique. All of the boys had gone on a coconut hunt.
Monique was surprised. “Friends?”
“Friends and new citizens, though I believe Serin grew up on Wonder.”
“I did.”
Monique went behind the kitchen counter and smiled. “I am just making us a snack. They can eat coconuts.”
The ladies laughed and joined her to prepare some snacks that could take them through a sporting event.
They sat around and traded origin stories. Monique had been taking photos of the countryside when she smelled something and followed it to a hotel having some kind of convention, and then, she bumped into a broad chest that carried the heavy scent of greenery and sunlight.
Monique sighed. “His arms wrapped around me, and I looked up. He smiled, and I saw the markings around his eyes. We had tea, and then, he asked me to go for a walk. The next thing I knew, I was here in the islands, and he was making sure that I didn’t notice the difference between here and there.”
They laughed and shared gossip about the men, and then, the conversation turned to Terro.
Monique frowned with concern. “How did you make it without Andreux? I was exhausted for weeks after he was born.”
“Oh, I had friends, and they helped give me what I needed. Great doula and midwife, too.” She smiled. “Some of the energy was acquired from Elite, so let’s hope I metabolized it properly.”
Serin chuckled. “Has Andreux seen the video?”
“He has. He teared up when Terro was born.”
Monique blinked. “There is a video?”
Orla smiled. “It was one of Jane’s training projects.”
Monique swallowed. “May I see it?”
Jane smiled. “Of course. Andreux has seen it. I am debating calling him Dru or Andy. Maybe And.”
Orla smiled. “Or Roy.”
Monique blinked. “You would give him a nickname?”
“Sure. Andreux is awkward if you are in—” She realized what she was about to say, “—a hurry?”
Monique blinked and then laughed. “I see your point.”
Serin muttered, “Nice save.”
They all laughed again.
Monique paused. “Should we invite Avenar?”
Orla smiled. “If you think she would enjoy it.”
Monique sent a text, and they waited. She nodded. “She will pass today. She is busy with her therapist.”
Orla smiled. “That’s progress.”
Monique nodded. “I believe she really wants to make the potential grandmother thing work.”
Jane smiled. “How are you adapting to the idea?”
“I think it’s wonderful. I am sorry that you two weren’t together years ago, but now that you have found each other, it is lovely to see.” She smiled. “Terro is a very handsome boy.”
Jane grinned. “You don’t have to convince me. Also, I have been checked out and am pretty sure that with Andreux’s help, I can do it again. If we bond, it will be easier.”
Monique blinked. “You didn’t... oh.”
“Nope. No connection other than his tiny doppelg?nger came out of me.”
Orla smiled. “That is why me and the guys arrived, to give them some time to themselves.”
Jane smiled. “Yeah, thanks for that. At least you can buy us a few hours. When he wakes up, he’s going to be over here in a second.”
Monique frowned. “Can’t you lock the door?”
Jane looked at her. “You know that sort of swirly teleportation that the guys have? Terro started at eighteen months.”
Serin chuckled. “And it’s the reason Jane can’t completely stop breastfeeding. As soon as he transports, he smacks into her and demands a top-up.”
Monique shrugged. “Andreux was on me until he was nearly four. He was growing fast and needed it. It wasn’t unusual in my family.”
“Okay. Right. See, this is why I shouldn’t have teleported away until I knew his family history.”
Monique blinked. “You do it, too?”
“Yes. Less frequently, but I can manage it.” She smiled. “I prefer to use my energy to bring things to me. That being said, Monique, how do you get supplies around here?”
The talk turned to shopping in the islands and how to order online and the drone delivery.
“Blackridge has delivery via drone system, and we have a thorough set of options from the large island. You just have to copy your PIN and check the weather. They don’t fly during rain or storms.”
“Sunny days for milk only. Got it.”
Monique smiled. “We have a cow.”
“Oh. Wow. Terro would love that. Do you have chickens, too?”
“Yes. Does he like them, too?”
“Oh, yes.” Jane rolled her eyes. “It will entertain him for two hours. He just stares and watches as they peck at grain.”
Orla smiled. “Noted.”
There was a strange clacking coming from outside, and it got Jane’s attention. She excused herself from the ladies and went outside to see what was making the noise. Andreux was crouched and softly tossing coconuts to Terro, who caught them, giggled madly, and then dropped them with his hands out. There were six coconuts on the ground already.
A few feet away, Ligo, Iro, Deno, and Eonic were removing the green outer layer of the coconuts. It was an assembly line.
Terro saw her and came running. Andreux turned and stood. “You are right. He likes coconuts.”
She lifted Terro and cuddled him. “I am right about many things. Get used to it.”
He walked over to her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and kissed her.
“Ooooooooo.”
He leaned back, grinning. “You liked that, huh, Terro?”
Jane looked down at their son. “You are not to be doing this until you are over sixteen, young man.”
“We will have the talk when he’s of an appropriate age.” Andreux smiled.
“Yeah, the alpha thing is better coming from you. I will have my hands full with omegas.”
He blinked. “What?”
“Any other kids are going to be omegas. Your mother and I have already touched on the likelihood that I can have more than one.” She smiled brightly and said, “But if you try anything without being bonded, I am going to transport your teeth into the deep ocean.”
He blinked. “Oh, right.”
Orla smiled. “You can help me by finding a few things we need for dinner, Andreux. Come with me.”
Orla hauled him away and spoke to him quietly. Andreux suddenly perked up and nodded, turning to blow Jane a kiss before the vortex swirled up and around him.
The ladies were no longer in the house, and Jane was left standing there wondering what the hell was going on. The guys disappeared a few moments later.
When Belle and Xo showed up and the scent of roasted pig filled the air, Jane knew something was up.