Chapter 18
“I bet you’re excited about going to Bali,” Maisie said to Edeen in the kitchen while they cooked the vegetables for lunch.
“Aye. I had to buy some maternity swimsuits and flip-flops and other beachwear that I don’t often need. I have bathing suits, but for when I’m not pregnant.”
“Oh, sure. I figure you wanted to get married as soon as possible after learning you were pregnant.”
“Yeah, we should have done it sooner. I didn’t want to have to worry about making a wedding gown with a lot more fabric, but I can still take it in after the babies are born and I lose the extra weight.”
“It’s good that you’re such an extraordinary seamstress. Speaking of which, Anne and I each want to order a medieval gown for Christmas activities at the inn. We already picked them out on your site.”
“Oh, wonderful. We can look at them and you order after we eat.” Edeen dished up the beets, potatoes, and broccoli as soon as the guys came in with the chicken. “Do you know which gown Anne wants?”
“Yeah, the same one I want, but I went ahead and picked out something different that I loved just as much.”
Edeen laughed. “That must be a problem when you’re sisters. My brother and I have never had that problem.”
Robert said, “I should hope not.”
Everyone laughed, and they sat down to eat lunch.
“This is great,” Lachlan said. “I didn’t think we would have such excellent company for lunch.”
“They came by to show me our pet photos. They’re beautiful.”
“I’m so glad. I can’t wait to see them,” Lachlan said.
“I can show them to you,” Robert said, “while Maisie orders her and her sister’s Christmas gowns.”
“Sounds good.”
“This is great chicken,” Maisie said.
“All the veggies are too,” Lachlan said.
Once they finished eating lunch, Robert showed Lachlan their pet photos, and Maisie ordered the gowns from Edeen. Now they were all set.
Then Lachlan and Edeen had to get back to work while Robert and Maisie walked back to their home.
As soon as they entered the house, Maisie got a call from her mother. “Hey, Mom.”
“Can we meet Robert and visit a bit with you both at your house in a couple of hours before we go to the dinner at the pie shop?” her mom asked.
“Yes, absolutely. That would be great. We can’t wait for you to get here. See you soon.” Maisie put her phone on the kitchen table.
“Your parents are coming to see us?” Robert asked.
“Aye, in a couple of hours. So we might need to straighten up the house a bit. I’m sure they’ll want to see my new living accommodations.”
He laughed. “I hope they love it.”
“They will, but even if they didn’t, all that matters is that we both love it. I wouldn’t want to stay anywhere else.”
The house was really pretty neat. Both of them tended to like things organized, she’d discovered, though Edeen had asked about how he was doing in that regard. But maybe with his new house instead of a smaller apartment, he had more room to put everything away. Neither of them had to pick up after each other yet, so it worked out great. So far, they had helped each other prepare meals and clean up afterward. Now, they broke down the packing boxes, since all her clothes were put away.
Once Robert was working long hours at the clinic, things would probably change, but both of them were extremely flexible, and she was ready to prepare meals for him, no matter the hour, if he was busy working. She would have breakfast early with him, and then she would help Anne prepare breakfast for the guests. They would figure it all out.
For now, she just hoped that he got along with her parents and vice versa. It was really important to her that they accepted each other as family, but Robert was her mate, so she just hoped it all went well.
***
Robert was looking forward to seeing Maisie’s parents.
“Are you worried about meeting them?” Maisie gave Robert a hug.
“No. They have to be wonderful to have raised you and your sister so well.”
She laughed. “Thanks. They are pretty wonderful. I have to say thanks so much for talking to them about moving here too.”
“That’s what family does for family.”
They laid out string to mark off where she wanted her garden beds and paths. He figured tomorrow was the open house, so they would be too busy to start working on it. But the next day, they would begin to build it.
As soon as they had it all figured out, Maisie ordered a couple of birdbaths, two birdhouses, and six bird feeders. “I’m putting half of them at the inn and half here at home. I like the way Edeen’s and Colleen’s gardens have stone paths, like the inn too, and stone flower beds.”
“We have a lot of stones on the acreage that we can use as retaining walls anywhere you want them.”
She smiled. “I can’t wait to fill the planters with flowers.”
***
Late that afternoon, Anne and their parents dropped by Robert and Maisie’s house a couple of hours before the celebration dinner with the rest of the extended family so they could meet Robert and see the house and not have to wait until the open house. They would come back for the open house tomorrow, of course.
Robert gave the sisters’ mother a hug and then the father. Mittens greeted everyone. Anne ended up cuddling her.
“Does anyone want cocktails or a glass of wine before we go to the pie shop?” Maisie asked.
“A glass of wine, sure,” Frederick said.
Their mother also wanted one.
Robert poured everyone a glass of wine and then took them on a tour of the house. Her mother was impressed with the main bedroom’s closet. “Now I want one just like that,” Janet said to her mate. “And the tub with the jets? I really could use one of those.”
Her husband laughed. “Maybe in the new place we get, we can have renovations to include them.”
“I was telling Maisie that you could build a home on our acreage. We have fifty acres.” Robert walked them outside to show them the patio and the area where they planned to put the garden.
“Oh, if we can’t find a place to buy, we might take you up on it,” Janet said.
“Right. But for now, we’ve found some good possibilities,” Frederick said.
Anne was still carrying Mittens, rubbing her cheek against the cat’s.
“Your house is really lovely. Can we see the clinic also?” Janet asked.
“Aye, sure.” Robert led them over to the clinic, holding Maisie’s hand like they were newlyweds.
“Are you going to stay for a while and look for a place to buy?” Maisie asked.
“Yeah. We’re planning on staying at the inn for about a week and while we’re there, we’ll look for a place to live,” Frederick said.
“I’m so glad.” Maisie gave her mom and dad a hug.
“We were only just waiting to hear how you and Anne were doing financially with your business and if you were happy to be here. We really didn’t expect you to meet a wolf and mate him anytime soon.” Janet smiled.
“I was just photographing marine life when it happened,” Maisie said. “I certainly wasn’t looking for a wolf for a long-term commitment at the time. But you know how it happens when it’s supposed to—if you’re lucky, that is.”
“Aye, your mom and I met like that. We didn’t have any notion of finding each other either.” He turned to address Robert. “Janet and I were both stranded on an uninhabited island after the fishing boat we were on sank, but we hadn’t met each other before that. There were maybe thirty-five people on the boat, but she was the only other wolf. We had to wait several hours for a rescue boat. We were able to rescue some of the fishing equipment that was washed near the shore. I thought I was a damn good fisherman, but here comes this pretty she-wolf, and I swear she was catching fish left and right while I was still trying to catch my first one.”
“I’m sure it had all to do with the currents, dear,” Janet said.
Frederick chuckled. “She caught so many pollock and coalfish, she shared them with me and several other people who couldn’t catch any. We cleaned and cooked the fish to sustain us until help arrived. She and I got to talking. The connection was instantaneous. As soon as we were off the island, we made plans to see each other again. Two weeks later, we were mated,” Frederick said.
“Yeah, you know when it’s right and you can’t live without the wolf you’ve met,” Janet said. “That’s why we knew you had found the right wolf for you this time, Maisie.”
“Did you meet the other wolves Maisie dated?” Robert asked.
“Oh, we sure did. We knew right away they weren’t the ones for Maisie. But she had to do her own thing until she realized for sure they weren’t right for her,” Janet said.
“I so appreciate you for it,” Maisie said. “By knowing who truly wasn’t for me, I found who truly was. I’m so glad I met Robert.”
Then they took a tour of the clinic and all its rooms, and her parents loved it.
“This is a really nice layout,” Janet said.
“Thank you. It’s similar to the one I worked at in Edinburgh, with the exception of the delivery room,” Robert said.
Frederick looked at the pictures of the Highland cows on the walls. “This is great. You work with large as well as with small animals, I take it.”
“Yes. There are lots of cows, sheep, goats, and horses in the area. But I’m also caring for working dogs and pets,” Robert said. “And wolf shifters, of course.”
“I didn’t know Veronica had finished framing some of the photos,” Maisie said.
“Yeah, she dropped them by when you were doing a photo shoot, and I hung what she’d finished up,” Robert said.
“Your photos?” Frederick asked Maisie.
“Aye.”
“They’re really nicely done,” her father said.
“Thanks.”
“Well, this is a beautiful clinic to work out of, and it’s so nice that your home is right next door,” Janet said.
“My sister has the manor house back that way.” He pointed out of one of the clinic windows. “Up the hill is the MacQuarries’ castle.”
“Just down the road is the inn.” Anne cuddled Mittens still.
“We want to live nearby too,” Frederick said.
“Yeah, we’re going to do it.” Her mom sounded so confident.
Robert knew they would manage it. “We’re so glad for it.”
Then they all returned to the house and took seats in the living room.
Frederick asked right away, “Okay, what about the guest at the inn who was murdered?”
Robert had wondered when her parents would ask about it. “We believe it was a wolf who was after the same woman as the murdered man.”
Frederick shook his head. “Doesn’t the wolf who killed Gus realize he has just signed his death warrant?”
“He probably doesn’t believe he will get caught at it,” Maisie said.
“Anne showed us the security video,” Janet said. “I swore it looked like that one guy you ditched after you and Anne caught him kissing another woman.”
“You mean Jude Springer?” Maisie sounded as though she couldn’t believe her mother could identify him when neither she nor Anne had been able to. “He did lose his phone in our flower bed.”
“Aye, Jude. He had a rip in his pocket on his trousers in the back. The same exact place that the man in the video had. When I saw that, I immediately thought of him. What would be the odds?” Janet asked.
“How did you even notice that?” Anne was incredulous.
“She always notices things that need to be repaired,” their dad said. “If she sees someone wearing those expensive jeans that are ripped—”
“Distressed,” Anne said.
“Yeah, distressed alright,” her dad said. “When Janet sees someone wearing a pair of pants like that, she always wants to recycle them, sew them, patch them up, or toss them. When she saw Maisie’s boyfriend wearing pants that were torn, Janet bit her tongue and didn’t say anything until Maisie and he left on their date.”
“You would have made a great police detective,” Maisie said.
Janet laughed, but then her expression turned serious. “I can’t believe that guy you dated could have murdered your guest.”
“We learned his name is now Jack Wolfson and he was dating the same woman as Gus,” Maisie said.
Robert said, “Jack had no other reason to be at the inn that we know of. If he was there to talk to Gus and things got out of hand, he could have been motivated to get rid of what he saw as another wolf encroaching on his she-wolf.”
“Then we have to take him down,” Frederick said.
“Aye, but only after we’ve proven he murdered Gus,” Robert said. “Even if that was him in the video, it doesn’t mean he killed Gus. If he has an alibi that proves he wasn’t there at the time when Gus was killed based on the results of the autopsy and the video of Gus’s last sighting, then we’ll have to look elsewhere.”
Frederick changed topics then. “Do you think Anne’s chances of finding a mate will be affected by having a couple of bachelor males staying with her for security? While we’re staying at the inn, no, but when we’re not there, other wolves who might be interested in her could be put off.”
Anne laughed. “William and Edward and I are keeping each other company, enjoying the time since Maisie left to join Robert. We’re not dating. They’re just there for my security.”
Janet raised her brows. “Any bachelor wolf who has a chance to stay with a female wolf could have designs on her.”
“Okay, rest assured, we’ve talked about it.” Anne sighed. “You worry too much. They know while they have a job to do, I’m not dating them or anyone else. Anyway, don’t worry about it.”
Maisie glanced at the clock in the living room. “Oh, it’s time to go to the dinner.”
Anne looked relieved that she was off the hot seat as she put Mittens on her cat bed.
Everyone got up to go, and then Anne drove her parents to the dinner at Heather’s pie shop while Robert and Maisie followed behind in his car.
Maisie smiled at Robert. “I’m so glad I have you and my parents are no longer worried about who I’m dating.”
“You just needed me.”
“Aye! Just like you only needed me.”
“Very true. I’m glad they seemed to like me.”
“They adored you.”
Robert smiled.
When they arrived at the shop, all the wolf families were already there: Colleen and Grant, Heather and Enrick, Heather’s three brothers, Lachlan and Edeen, and now Robert and Maisie and her parents and sister.
Everyone cheered Maisie and Robert and welcomed her family as they showed them to their seats.
Little flags showcasing each of the clans represented—the Campbells, MacTavishes, MacQuarries—were on display on the walls. Each of the tables was adorned with a vase of roses.
Heather’s brothers took everyone’s orders, and then they were busy in the kitchen, preparing the meals. Everyone there was dressed nicely to celebrate Robert and Maisie’s mating but also to welcome Maisie’s parents and sister and Maisie herself to the pack.
Grant stood. “Our pack is growing by leaps and bounds with the addition of Maisie, Anne, and Janet and Frederick. We welcome the MacTavishes, and if you need anything, you only have but to call on any of us.”
“That’s for sure,” Maisie said. “We’ve had to count on the pack a number of times during our wild adventures. Robert and I met in the most unusual way, but it was a beautiful beginning to something that will be forever.”
“I feel the same way about being part of the pack and for certain about Maisie. I will never believe I’m not very good at fishing once I caught the greatest treasure of all. And I’ll never regret the path we took to get here.” He leaned over and kissed Maisie, and she kissed him just as enthusiastically back, just like they always did.
Everyone clapped and cheered them. Maisie’s parents and Anne cheered the loudest, and Robert was so glad he had become part of their family.
Frederick said, “Janet and I are thrilled to have our firstborn daughter mated finally and to a wolf who is perfect for her. We haven’t ever been a part of a large wolf pack, and we look forward to Robert’s open house, Edeen and Lachlan’s wedding, Maisie and Robert’s wedding, and other celebrations that you have coming up. We haven’t had so many wolf-run activities to go to ever. We love it.”
“That’s for sure,” Anne said. “We have never had this much wolf fun.”
“We want to also mention you can run as wolves on our land anytime,” Colleen said. “It’s truly a wolf’s paradise.”
“Our land too,” Edeen said. “It’s not as much acreage as Grant and Colleen have, but we are connected to theirs at the dike, and we still have plenty of land to run on.”
“That will be great,” Janet said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve heard wolves howling with each other and since we’ve taken a wolf run.”
“After dinner, we can run as wolves,” Robert offered.
“That would be great,” Anne said.
Janet and Frederick wanted to do it too. Grant frowned at Colleen. She smiled. “I can do a wolf walk.”
“Me too,” Heather said. “The more walking we do, the sooner the babies will come.”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what we’re worried about,” Enrick said.
Everyone laughed.
“But Robert will be with us,” Colleen said, as if that would make a difference if they suddenly had to deliver their babies far from the castle, on open land or in the woods.
Then everyone began having conversations at their tables.
Callum, Oran, and Ethan started serving up the meals, and then they took seats with Heather and Lachlan, and they all began eating.
“The food here is delectable,” Janet said.
“It is. I look forward to moving here and eating regularly at Heather’s pie shop,” Frederick said.
“We all feel that way,” Colleen said. “Her food is the greatest.”
Everyone agreed.
“We need to marry and go on our honeymoon the week before Robert opens his vet clinic,” Maisie said.
“And your gown?” Edeen asked, as if she was going to make it for her.
“Oh, gosh, you all are having your own wedding and then going on your honeymoon, so I don’t want you to worry about making anything for me.”
Edeen smiled. “I can do it. I have the fabric for it if you want it to be white. I have just the perfect design for it if you want a medieval gown. Robert already had me start on a Campbell tartan shawl for you. If you have a MacTavish shawl and shoes, we should be good.”
“We can make a crown of wildflowers for you from flowers from my garden and Edeen’s,” Colleen said.
“That sounds terrific.” Maisie had thought she was going to have to order a gown online that could take weeks and not even get there in time or drive two and a half hours to Glasgow. She wanted to support Edeen’s business, but she also adored the garments that Edeen made. She could wear them over and over in different ways to make them look really unique.
Edeen showed her the gown she had in mind on her phone.
“It’s perfect.”
Robert tried to see it, but Edeen pulled her phone away and frowned at her brother. “You’re not supposed to see it until the wedding.”
He laughed. “But we’re mated.”
“Chef will make whatever you want for the wedding feast,” Colleen said.
“It’s our treat,” Grant said.
“If you would like, you can use the ancient chapel we have and we can provide flowers from Edeen’s and my greenhouses and gardens.” Colleen glanced at Edeen to see if she was good with it.
“Absolutely,” Edeen said. “I never thought I would be growing flowers for weddings, but it makes them even more worthwhile.”
“Same here,” Colleen said.
“Thanks, everyone. It will be the perfect wedding,” Maisie said.
Edeen glanced at Robert. “What about you and your wardrobe for the wedding?”
“I’m good. I have just what I need for the wedding.”
“We all want to know where you’ll be going for your honeymoon,” Heather said.
“Not beachy kind of islands,” Maisie said. “Somewhere that wild wolves run in the forests.”
“How about going to the United States? To Glacier National Park in Montana?” Robert pulled out his phone and started searching for honeymoon vacations. “How about the Lodge at Whitefish Lake?” He showed her pictures of the lodge and the honeymoon suites.
“Oh, it’s beautiful.” Maisie smiled. “A Tiki Bar and Grill, Viking Falls Grill and Bar, a coffee bar, a beautiful swimming pool with a view of the lake, steam room, hot tub, hmm. We’re going to Glacier National Park for our honeymoon.”
Everyone cheered again.
They would have so much fun there, enjoying the comforts of the lodge while having fun foraging in the forest where they could fish without fishhooks and just enjoy dinner as wolves. It would be just perfect, and she couldn’t wait.
After that, she would be doing her photography and helping Anne with the inn, and Robert would be busy at the clinic, so they would be more tied down. She was glad they could take a whole week to enjoy being with each other before that.
Then everyone ordered their desserts, and Maisie said to Robert, “What about the guest list?”
“We’ll invite everyone in the wolf pack. Do you have anyone else in mind that you would like to invite?”
“Bruce and Mary Abercromby. They can stay at the inn.”
“Alright. No ulterior motive, right?”
She laughed. “Like getting one of Lady’s puppies? You should have said for sure that you wanted one.”
Anne chuckled. “I told you Maisie would want one.”
Maisie smiled. “The white Westie would be so cute with Mittens.”
“Then you could take pictures of them,” Anne said.
“Of course.”
After dinner, Maisie and Robert thanked Heather and her brothers for having the celebration at her shop, then some of them drove to the castle while Maisie and her family and Robert went to his house. All of them stripped, shifted, and ran as wolves to join the other wolves up at the castle.
A chorus of howls erupted from the growing pack. It was beautiful, Robert thought. He loved hearing Maisie’s howl, but her sister’s was similar and just as pretty. Her parents howled, the mother first and the father after that, so now everyone would know the new pack members’ howls.
Since Heather and Colleen were so pregnant, Robert needed to stay with them and walk, just like their mates were doing. He had to, but he didn’t want Maisie and her family to feel they had to take a leisurely walk with them.
Anne barked, and her parents took off with her, the three of them joining wolves who were more mobile—Colleen’s cousins, Iverson, Veronica, and others.
Edeen was more mobile than Colleen and Heather because her pregnancy wasn’t as far along, but she was carrying twins also, so she joined the expectant mothers on their journey, along with her mate.
Robert was glad to see his sister’s and sisters-in-law’s mates sticking by their sides when he figured they would enjoy a good long wolf run otherwise.
They were so glad to have the wolf pack to run with, everyone howling for joy.