27. TWENTY SEVEN
TWENTY SEVEN
Vera
I find Bas leaning with his forehead against the window and his arm braced on the frame above. He sighs as I close the door softly behind me. “Sorry. This was a bad idea.”
I go to him, and he turns and tucks me into a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “Don’t be silly. You wanted this. It was good to try. Your mom seems lovely.”
It’s a lame consolation when everything I don’t say about his dad speaks volumes.
Bas scoffs. “They’re both as bad as each other. Not like she took me with her when she left. She left me here to rot.”
“Maybe she wasn’t in a place to be able to?”
He’s silent for a long time. Eventually I release him and step back. “I’m going to go survey the situation and clean up.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Yeah, but I want to.”
“Just don’t let them talk to you like that again, yeah? I don’t give a fuck what he says to me, but damned if he gets to come into my home and talk shit about my mate.”
I don’t mention the bark. I can already feel his control on his beast thinning again through the bond, and I place my hand on his arm and make soothing strokes along his skin. “You’re assuming I give a shit what he thinks, but you’re wrong. It only matters what you think.”
He pulls me back against him in a hug that threatens to squish all the air out of me. “I love you, Vera. I want you. I’m so damn lucky to have you, sometimes I still can’t believe it.”
“Well I’m not going anywhere.” I blink to stop myself tearing up, conscious that this is the first time he’s said those words to me.
When I venture back into the kitchen, Hunter is nowhere to be seen. Linda is stacking things in the dishwasher, and I cautiously approach to help.
“I’m so sorry about all that, Vera. Hunter has been under so much pressure trying to sell his apartment. It’s not really you. He just wants the best for Sebastien.”
I press my lips together in a tight smile, but I hold back what I really want to say and keep the peace. “Me too.”
She gives me a grateful smile, and we clean the kitchen in silence.
She’s clearly trying, and I feel a little sorry for her.
I’m not sure what she sees in Bastien’s dad, but maybe she’s right that he hasn’t been himself.
An idea occurs to me, and I pray I’m not setting up another argument, but I have to try.
For Bas. “Hey, my family is heading up to the national park tomorrow for a picnic if the weather holds. Would you and Hunter like to come along? I’m sure my parents would enjoy the chance to catch up with you while you’re in town.
” I’m not sure of any such thing, but it’s the polite thing to say, and Mom and Dad will fake it for a few hours.
Sometimes having lots of people around is a good thing, and with Bella and her mom there, perhaps everyone will be focused on entertaining her rather than arguing.
Nothing like kids to lighten the mood. At least that’s how I hope it goes down.
Linda gives me a weak smile. “That sounds lovely. Thank you.”
Bas is still tense later when I come to bed. He doesn’t say any more about it, but he holds me all night, his big arm slung across my waist so I can’t escape—not that I’m trying. There’s no getting cold at night with a big bear shifter to snuggle up with.
The next day is one of Mom’s bad days. She insists on coming out with us to the picnic, but I can tell from the tightness in her shoulders and the way Dad hovers close that it’s costing her. I know she didn’t want to miss a chance to see Bella, and honestly, the little girl steals the show.
If things between Bas and his parents weren’t so tense, I’d be tempted to enjoy Riley’s obvious discomfort as he chases his daughter around, trying to get her to play with him when she seems to want nothing more than to ignore him.
I smile to see her clutching an old doll that looks familiar except for a rather dramatic haircut.
“Oh my god, Barbie, I love what you’ve done with your hair!”
Bella gives me a big grin. “Mama says it won’t grow back, but I told her you wouldn’t care.”
“No way. She’s living her best life with you now.”
Adley shoots me a grateful smile.
“I’m going to be a hairdresser when I grow up,” Bella declares. “And I’m going to have a circus too. I’ll be the ringmaster.”
Riley tries to get Bella to pass a ball with him, but she runs off to make the doll a house with a pile of sticks she’s gathered from the scrub at the edge of the picnic area.
Hunter sits stiffly at the table, and I’m hit with a fresh wave of admiration for my parents who engage him in stilted conversation.
“Been watching the Jacks this season?” Dad asks. “You know this is the closest they’ve come to a winning streak.”
Hunter snorts. “Yeah, two games in a row. Forgive me if I wait a little longer before re-painting my truck black and green and getting a tattoo.”
I try to catch Bastien’s eye to give him a commiserating smile, but he’s off with Riley and Bella and missed the comment. That’s for the best really.
I take a seat next to Adley, who is looking a little lost among the rest of the gathering. “Hey.”
“Hey. Thank you so much for the dolls. Bella loves them. She hasn’t stopped carrying that Barbie around with her since last time we saw you.”
“Awww, that’s adorable. I’m so glad they’ve found a new friend.
I held onto them because I couldn’t stand just throwing them in the trash.
It’s silly, but it seemed wrong somehow.
I’ve had to re-think that approach now that it’s time for me to move out of home for good, though.
I didn’t realize how much stuff I was hanging onto. ”
Adley laughs. “That’s never been a problem I’ve had. I’m pretty quick to throw stuff out. It’s come back to bite me more than once, though, when I regretted it.”
I’m about to reply when Bella runs back toward the picnic tables, squealing as Riley and Bas chase her. She makes straight for Mom, calling for her, and before anyone can stop her, she flings herself into Mom’s lap.
Mom lets out a grunt of surprise. She tries to catch Bella, but it’s obviously too much for her. The little girl tumbles to the grass with a shriek, and Adley jumps to her feet.
“Mommy! Mommy! There’s blood! Mommy!” Bella clutches her arm where a small scratch bleeds a few tiny red spots, but she’s screaming like someone cut off a limb.
Mom bends down trying to comfort her, but Bella pushes her away. “You let me fall. You let me fall!”
Mom snatches her hands back like she’s been burned, and I can tell from the look on her face she’s hurt. Adley rushes in to calm Bella and stop the screaming, and for a moment the rest of us look on, unsure what to do.
Once Adley picks Bella up, she stops screaming and Riley hovers, obviously wanting to check on her but uncertain if he’ll be welcome. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have chased her.”
“Kid needs to toughen up, if you ask me.” Hunter’s voice is loud and unnecessarily gruff.
Linda is the only one who responds. “Well no one did ask you, Hunter.”
The two of them glare at each other, and I wonder for a moment if Hunter will retaliate. Is he the sort to hit his mate? The thought chills me, but a moment later the intensity drops from his glare. “No, why would they?”
Mom tries to stand, but it’s obvious she can’t manage. I hurry to her to support her with an arm around her waist, flinching when she sucks in a breath. “It’s bad today, isn’t it?”
She won’t look at me as she answers. “No worse than yesterday.”
That’s not an answer and she knows it. “Should we take you home?”
“I’m fine. I just need to shift. I’ll be fine.”
“Come on, Tilly.” Dad comes around to Mom’s other side. “You don’t have to protect them anymore, you know. They’re not cubs.”
Mom sighs. I feel the fight drain out of her and she sinks against my arm. “I wish I could have. I would have liked to.”
“Come on, Mom. Why don’t I take you home? The others can stay a bit longer, and Bas will drive Dad home.”
“You know what? I’m not feeling well myself,” says Linda. “Mind if I join you?”
I can’t tell if she’s genuinely feeling unwell or if it’s a ploy to smooth things over, but either way, it seems to work on Mom. She relaxes a little with a sigh. “Yeah. You’re probably right. Last thing I need is to end up back in hospital with doctors poking at me for days.”
Bas sends me a little mental nudge, but I reassure him that we’re fine and Mom will not want a big fuss made. So Linda and I help her back to my parents’ car, and I climb in and start the engine.
Everyone is quiet while I drive down the gravel road and back to the highway. It’s Linda who breaks the silence.
“It must be so lovely to have your kids and grandkids close, Tilly.”
Mom perks up a little, lifting her head from where it was resting against the window frame. “They’re my greatest blessing. I’m sure Bas and Vera will love having you and Hunter around more now that they’re starting out on their mated life together.”
Linda is quiet after that, and we all sink back into silence. I wonder if she really was feeling sick.
I stop in our drive first so Linda can get out and let herself in, and then I park Mom and Dad’s car in their garage and help Mom into the house.
The chairlift Dad had installed means I don’t have to try to get her up the stairs on my own, so it doesn’t take long to get her tucked up in bed with a cup of tea. “Can I get you anything else?”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m sorry for spoiling today.”
I sit on the side of the bed. “Don’t be silly. You didn’t spoil anything.”
She puts her hand on my knee. “I’m so glad to see you and Bas so happy. So glad.”
“Thanks, Mom. I hope Riley finds his mate too. One day.”
She laughs. “Oh your brother just needs to pull his head out of his hiney and actually look.” I wonder if Mom knows something I don’t or if she’s just come to the same conclusion about Riley that I have.
I don’t have a chance to ask, though, because my phone starts buzzing in my pocket.
I pull it out expecting Bas or Dad checking on us, and I frown when the number is an unknown one.
“Hang on. I’m just going to find out who this is. ”
She nods, and I step out of the room, shutting the door behind me softly.
“Hello?”
“Good afternoon, is this Vera Ballard?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“This is Kione Gilmore from National Parks Florida. I’m calling about your application.”
I blink. I forgot I put in an application for Parks Florida. That must have been before Christmas, back when I was still trying to keep my distance from Bas. God, there couldn’t be more distance between Florida and Mosswood, but I haven’t exactly had a wealth of other offers.
“We’d like you to interview for a position if you’re still interested.”
Am I? “Ah, wow. You’ve caught me off guard.” Instinctively, I clamp down on the mate bond, cutting myself off from Bas for a moment while I process the request. “Just an interview?”
“We have five positions opening next month, so if you’re successful at interview there are plenty of opportunities.”
“That’s great.” I know my words are coming out all stiff and don’t want to seem reluctant or ungrateful.
I try again. “Yeah, that’s really great.
I’d love to.” After all, it’s just an interview.
I don’t have to take the position even if they offer it.
And it wouldn’t have to be forever, just until I get some experience and something opens up at Black Pines.
But can I do that to Bas when I know what he wants is for us to live together right away?
I chew my lip while Kione fills me in on the details of the interview. “We’ll send you all the information via email so you have it there. We’re looking forward to meeting you, Ms. Ballard. Thank you for your time.”
Feeling a little stunned, I slip my phone back into my pocket and go back to check on Mom.
I find her sleeping, shifted, with her long, pointed fox nose tucked around toward her tail.
I pull the blanket over her, forming it into a makeshift burrow, and let myself out, walking out of the drive and unlocking the front door to our house.
“Hey, Linda, it’s just me, Vera,” I call out, but there’s no answer.
I listen, tuning into my extra shifter senses, but there’s still nothing. Then I spot the note on the kitchen counter.
When I pick it up, neat handwriting covers a few sparse lines.
Sebastien, I’m sorry. It isn’t working between me and your father.
When you read this, I’m already on my way out of town.
Please don’t try to call. I just need some time.
I hope he doesn’t take this out on you, but I know you’re strong enough to handle him now.
I hope you know how proud I am of you. Thank you for sharing a little of your life with me. Love Mom.
My mouth falls open, and I read it over a second time.
She hopes Hunter doesn’t take it out on Bas?
Is that what happened last time they split?
My heart squeezes to think of a much smaller Bas having to deal with his father’s bad temper.
I think about the way I’ve seen Hunter react to her and Bas over the last few days, and yeah, I understand. Wow.
I can’t possibly break the news to Bas now about the interview in Florida.
He’s going to need time to process this. As much as he says he doesn’t care what his parents do now that he’s grown, I know underneath there’s a small, lonely cub who wanted nothing more than to feel like someone’s priority for once.
He should have been my priority. Not this job. I should have never agreed to this interview. In fact, I’m going to call and cancel right now.
I dial the number and lift the phone to my ear just as the door bursts open and a snarl sends a shiver up my spine. That snarl is pure angry bear. And it is not the familiar deep growl of my bear.
I mash the red End Call button and snatch Linda’s handwritten note off the counter, stuffing it into my pocket as an enormous Kodiak bear comes charging into the kitchen, teeth bared in a feral snarl and white flecks of spittle flying from his jaws.
I freeze in place, my heart beating wildly. Even if I could shift at will, my small fox would be no advantage against Hunter’s bear.
As I watch, he lifts onto his hind legs and grows even taller, his upper body morphing until his arms elongate and form into a humanoid shape, his paws changing into hands and face shifting so that his jaw and eyes hold a more human expression.
He steps forward, towering over me, aggression radiating from the spiked fur at his scruff and the low growl in his throat. “Where is she?”