25. TWENTY FIVE
TWENTY FIVE
Bastien
I drive Vera back to the city, and it’s hard to let her go even though it will be close to midnight by the time I drive back to Mosswood. I’m really growing to hate the days from Monday to Friday when I don’t have her in my arms, in my bed.
She breaks away from my heated kiss with a sigh. “You have work in the morning.”
I haul her back again, growling my next words against my mark on her neck. “I’ll call in sick.”
“No you won’t.” She pushes against my shoulders. “I know you won’t do that. You love your work.”
“I don’t love that you’re not there with me.”
“Mmm, me neither.”
Eventually I let her slide down the hood of the truck and go to fetch her bag from the trunk.
She stretches up for one more kiss. “I’ll see you on Friday.”
“Soon as I can get here,” I tell her.
I sit in the truck and watch her building until I see the light come on in her room.
The last ten miles I have to wind down the window and let the cool air blow in my face just to keep my eyes open, and by the time I pull into my street I’m ready to collapse into bed.
I am not expecting there to be a vehicle parked in my drive. The huge black Ford Raptor takes up so much space I have to park my beat-up old Tacoma on the street.
As I stop the engine, the door of the Raptor opens, and a familiar figure steps out.
He’s looking balder and a little shorter than I remember, but my father still cuts a formidable figure.
A moment later my mother gets out of the passenger side, doubling my surprise.
“Bas! We were just about to give up on you and get a hotel for the night!”
“Mom? Dad?” I’m still pinching myself at seeing them together. After spending half my childhood wishing they’d get back together, it feels suspiciously like a dream. “What are you doing here?”
“Aww, hun, we’re getting re-married and we wanted you to be the first to know.” Mom opens her arms, and I step into the hug still in a daze. What is happening here?
Dad claps me on the back. “We thought we’d surprise you. Isn’t this great? Have you been out?”
“Ah, yeah. Um, do you want to come in?”
“Course we do. We thought we’d stay a few nights. See what you’ve done with the old place. That’s alright isn’t it, love?” Mom gives me another squeeze and I’m so stunned I can’t find any words to say.
I lead my parents in through the front door.
Thankfully I bought a bed for the spare room, mostly in case Riley ever wants to crash here. There’s not much to do to set them up for the night.
Mom walks around, looking the place over, commenting on everything that’s different, and I’m too tired to really take it in. Eventually I brush them off and stagger to the bathroom to brush my teeth and get into bed. This is not how I was expecting tonight to end.
I should be happy. I always wished they’d make more effort. I can’t help being suspicious, though, that this unprompted trip is not really about me at all, but maybe I’m being unfair.
They certainly seem to have changed, and if they’ve reconciled, maybe they’ve both been doing a little soul searching.
The last thing I do before I close my eyes is send Vera a message to say goodnight.
I don’t send anything through the mate bond since I can feel that she’s already asleep and don’t want to wake her.
It’s harder at this distance anyway. She’ll wake to my text in the morning, and hopefully it’ll put a smile on her face.
I wake to the sound of an argument from the kitchen, rubbing my eyes and taking a minute to process what on Earth is happening.
“I told you to set the price lower. You’ll never get an offer at that price.”
“It’s worth one point two at least. Why would I settle for less?”
“It’s like you’re not even serious about this.” Mom’s voice has that shrill tone she only gets when she’s been arguing with Dad for a while about the same thing. A moment later, the sound of hurried footsteps thud down the hall and the front door slams.
God, it’s like being ten years old again. How did I know this was too good to be true?
I roll over, stuffing the pillow over my ears to try to block them out, and then I remember to check the time—already seven. Shit.
I push the duvet aside and stomp to the bathroom, annoyed that my parents are still acting like teenagers and I have to witness it.
When I’ve showered and dressed, I make my way into the kitchen to find my father sitting alone at the counter reading the news on his phone. Evidently he found the coffee alright since he’s got a steaming mug next to him.
“Morning,” I grunt, going to the fridge to get out the things for my breakfast.
“Morning.” He doesn’t look up from his phone.
“What was that all about?” I scramble ten eggs and set them in the pan without asking if he wants any. He will.
Dad shrugs. “Your mother always has strong opinions about whatever I do.”
I’m spreading avocado on my toast, not expecting him to elaborate, when he surprises me.
“She thinks I should have offered a lower price for my apartment. She already sold hers. We’re moving back in together.”
Ah, so that’s why they really turned up on my doorstep unannounced. I say nothing and just serve the breakfast, watching the clock. I’ve got about ten minutes before I need to be out the door.
Dad starts eating before I’ve even sat down. “Mmm. This is good.”
“So, are you going to call her or go check on her?”
He takes a large bite of eggs and toast and chews and swallows before he answers. “She’ll get over it.”
I turn away so he won’t see me roll my eyes. I doubt he wants my advice any more now than he did when I was a kid.
I finish my breakfast and put the dishes into the dishwasher. “I’ve got work. There are spare keys in the top drawer here. Make yourselves at home.” I mean, they already have.
The sky is blue and clear, and the feeble sun does its best to warm the air, but there’s still a distinct spring chill hanging around. My chest unlocks, though, as I drive in through the park gates.
When I stop the truck I have a message from Vera, and soon I’m smiling at her goofy morning selfie, not thinking about my parents at all. By the time I’m done checking my email and heading out to do the rounds of the picnic areas, I’m whistling a little tune to myself.
Maybe I just need to change my mindset. After all, wasn’t I the one telling Riley the universe believes in second chances?
Resolved to do better, I message Dad to ask what their plans for dinner are: I was thinking of doing some baked salmon and some new potatoes. Let’s make some time to have a proper catch up. I actually have some news for you as well.
To my surprise. he answers after only twenty minutes.
Hunter: Sounds good, son
I guess maybe they just got caught up in their own troubles when I was younger and didn’t realize they kind of forgot about me. I’m sure if we all make a bit more effort now we can patch things up and build something that looks like a workable relationship.
I think of Jamie and Tilly’s delight at meeting their grandchild, even if the situation wasn’t ideal, and how they’ve always made a point of prioritizing family, despite the tough hand life has dealt them.
My parents would not have coped with either of those scenarios if they’d had to face them, but it’s not fair to compare.
We’re all on our own journey, and I’d sure like to build the sort of relationship with my parents that might mean they could be around for Vera and my cubs when we have them.
I may or may not spend the rest of the afternoon daydreaming about what our cubs would look like and whether they would take after me or Vera, whether they’d have her bright red hair or her cheeky grin. I hope they do. We’re not there yet, but I know one day she’ll make one hell of a mother.