Chapter Nineteen
Eryx
Oliver Creek had the best healer in the state, or so I was told.
Quinn, who Tanner had mentioned. When I called to get an appointment for Joaquin, they told me they were all booked up, but as soon as they found out I was local, their tune changed.
In fact, the healer left blocks of his schedule open for those who lived in town.
Lucky us.
“Are you ready?” I called out, pacing by the front door of Joaquin’s apartment. The block of time reserved for Oliver Creek residents was early in the morning, and so I’d spent the night and was ready early.
Joaquin was nervous. I could feel it through the bond and see it in his eyes.
“I’m here,” he said in a half voice.
I could’ve repeated the words I’d been saying to him for three nights. It’s going to be okay. Everything will be fine.
He didn’t look receptive, so I opted to hug him instead. He leaned into the embrace and groaned.
“Let’s go. Get it over with and then to the theater. We’ve got opening night coming up. All the exciting things.”
I was excited. My mate looked like he might lose the little breakfast he ate.
We were greeted when we walked in and almost immediately were brought to a nice room with soft blue paint and calming music. There was a small sofa and chair and instead of sitting on the noisy paper on the bed, we were instructed to sit on the sofa.
“Hello. I’m Quinn. I don’t think we’ve met but I understand you two are responsible for the new movie theater in town.” The man walked in wearing a huge smile, sincere and honest. My wolf was at ease with him in the room even though he was an alpha.
“It’s almost ready,” I said. “I’m Eryx, and this is my mate Joaquin.”
Quinn sat on the chair and looked at a tablet in his hand. “Sorry for looking at this thing. Paper is a thing of the past around here. Everything on a screen. So, the omega is a tiger and you are a wolf?”
We both nodded.
“Okay. So the timing is tricky. I’ll go ahead and examine you and listen to the heartbeat, but first, do you have any questions?”
I shook my head. No. I did have questions, but most of them could be answered by online sources.
Joaquin scooted forward. “How long can I shift? Can I still drink coffee? Why do I have heartburn all the time?” The nausea had moved to heartburn rather quickly.
The questions flooded out until Quinn waved his white flag, giving up with his hands in the air. “All valid questions. Let’s get through them one at a time.”
And we did. Quinn never rushed us or my mate. He discussed things with us and admitted that because I was a wolf and Joaquin was a tiger, that there were some unknowns. Not a bad thing, simply a mystery. For now.
I held my mate’s hand while he was examined. And then it was time to hear the heartbeat.
Quinn moved the wand around Joaquin’s belly. The longer it took, the tighter my mate squeezed. “There they are. Hiding. They do that sometimes.”
The room filled with a rapid whooshing sound. “It’s so fast,” I said in complete and utter awe. Joaquin and I hadn’t been together long, and we’d put together a theater and now created a life and a baby. Oliver Creek was truly a magical place. Everything I’d dreamed about was coming true.
“It’s normal at this stage,” Quinn answered. “Everything okay, Joaquin?”
My mate had gone pale. “Talk to me, mate,” I said, bending slightly to speak in his ear.
“This makes it all real. It’s one thing to take the test and know, but to hear their little heartbeat…”
We both let the tears flow. His more than mine but I was trying to be strong for him.
It didn’t work. Once the visit was finished, we stopped for a smoothie. Quinn had calmed Joaquin and, while he was still nervous about everything, he said he knew it would all turn out fine.
“We should have some deliveries today. Last-minute things we ordered,” he said as we unlocked the back door and walked in, turning on all the lights.
The theater was almost ready. It would be perfect on opening night and as I’d planned, we would have multiple showings that would cater to different audiences.
One theater, upon Joaquin’s request, was dedicated to the seasons.
Fall movies. Christmas specials. At least, those end-of-the-year seasons, his favorites.
“I’ve got an idea,” I said, not believing I hadn’t done this before today.
“What is it?” He was already behind the concessions counter, taking inventory for the thousandth time, making sure everything was perfect.
“A run-through. You and me and snacks and a movie. Omega’s choice, of course. Like date night but also work.”
He chuckled. “Okay, but put your order in like you’re a customer. It’s a practice round after all.”
We watched two movies that day, back-to-back. The deliveries came in. We checked everything over and over. We opened in a few weeks since we were waiting for more movies to come in, but we were ready for action.
“Let’s go home, mate,” I said, watching him get more tired by the second. This pregnancy, the first few months, was really taking it out of him. Quinn mentioned that would change once he got into the second trimester but again, the timing was tricky. We would have to go with the flow on this one.
And then for the second, we would know more about what to expect.
I couldn’t wait.