Chapter 51
Grim
One year later…
Wren excuses herself from the group gathered in the main living area. “I will be right back,” she says as she walks toward the kitchen.
I watch her go, noting the slight flush in her cheeks. She’s so damned beautiful.
“Excuse me,” I tell the small cluster of people around me.
I follow her through the archway into the kitchen, my eyes fixed on her ass in those pants. Damn fine. My dragon rumbles his approval, and I have to suppress a grin.
Wren picks up one of the platters on the counter, her back to me.
I move quickly, silently, until I’m right behind her. Then I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her back against my chest.
She makes a noise of shock, giving a little squeak that makes me smile, then she immediately melts into me, still holding the platter.
“Don’t scare me like that,” she whispers. “You should learn to walk noisily.”
I lean down and kiss her neck, that spot just below her ear that always makes her shiver. She does, right on cue, and I feel it run through both of us.
Then I move one hand to her stomach, rubbing it gently. Just the thought of what’s growing there makes my chest tight with emotion.
She giggles and pulls away, spinning to face me. Her eyes are bright, her cheeks flushed pink.
“Stop. Someone might see you.” She glances toward the doorway. “We agreed we were going to wait a few weeks. It’s still early days.” She gets this look of worry, which quickly disappears; a glint of excitement returns.
I can’t help the huge grin that spreads across my face.
“I’m so fucking excited. I’m going to be a father. We’re going to be parents. I can hardly believe it.” I shake my head, reaching for her again. “I’m like a kid on the night before Christmas.”
“Shhhhhh.” Her eyes go comically wide. “Stop. Behave.” She steps back, putting space between us, then uses her chin to point at one of the platters. “We need to get back in there. Make yourself useful and take that platter.”
I pick it up, but I can’t stop looking at her. At the woman who changed everything. Who took my broken, fucked-up self and somehow made me whole again.
“I’m proud of you,” I tell her quietly.
Her expression softens. “I’m proud of us,” she says firmly. “We put that money to good use.”
“I agree…we did.”
“It was a team effort. Now let’s go back in there and celebrate.” She smiles.
We carry the platters back into the main space, and I take a moment to really look at what we’ve built. The room is large and airy, with huge stackable doors that open onto the deck. Beyond that, I can see the rolling lawns and pretty flower beds.
It’s perfect. Everything is fucking perfect.
“There you are.” Sally appears at Wren’s side, pressing a glass of champagne into her hand. “You need to relax. Enjoy it.” She winks at me. Then she goes back to stand next to her husband, who puts an arm around her waist.
Drake materializes beside me, putting a glass in my hand. His other arm is wrapped around Harlow, who beams up at him, one hand on her very swollen belly. She’s due any day now, and Drake looks both terrified and thrilled about it.
“To new beginnings,” Drake says quietly, lifting his glass.
I nod, clinking my glass against his.
Wren pings her glass with a fork, and the room quiets. All eyes turn to her.
“If I could have your attention for a moment,” she says, her voice carrying easily through the space. “Someone very dear to us would like to say a few words.” She looks over at Falkor.
The old male stands, Eldra at his side. He holds up his flute, and my throat gets tight. This male has become like a father to me over the past year. Seeing him happy, seeing him with Eldra, fills me with more emotion than I can properly express.
“To Shady Palms Nursing Home,” Falkor says, his voice strong and clear. “Once a dream, now very much a reality. And to finding love when you least expect it.” He leans down and kisses Eldra on the top of her head. The elderly female smiles up at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
It still surprises me sometimes how they ended up together. They were friends for months before it evolved into more. But watching them together, seeing how they look at each other, I realize it makes perfect sense. They deserve each other. They deserve this happiness.
There are cheers from around the room.
“To Shady Palms!” Becca yells, holding up her glass.
Vulcan nods. “To dreams coming true.” He’s looking at Becca as he says it. Those two have been inseparable since the night they met in his tech cave.
“To Shady Palms,” the room echoes.
Wren takes the tiniest of sips. Then she sets the glass down, reaching for water instead. Her smile is huge, lighting up her entire face.
I love seeing her happy. More than anything in the world, I love knowing I’m part of that happiness.
“Thanks for coming,” Wren tells everyone, looking around the room.
“Opening a nursing home has been a dream of mine for so many years, and now it’s finally a reality.
One I share with my wonderful mate.” She takes my hand, lacing her fingers through mine.
“I want to thank the first two people who signed up to come and live here. To Falkor and Eldra.”
“We’re thrilled to be here, dear,” Eldra says, her voice warm.
“I’m not going to say too much. I’m not one for long speeches,” Wren continues. “Let’s just enjoy ourselves. Thank you all for coming. You mean the world to us.” She takes a big sip of water.
My heart is so fucking full I think it might burst. I look around at all the elderly shifters scattered throughout the room.
So many of them I helped during my time at the Vaccination Center.
So many who signed up to come live here, to be part of what we’re building. Not just a care facility but a family.
I look out through the big stackable doors at the property beyond. Down at the bottom, I can see the petting zoo. Forget just miniature horses. There are mini goats, and a couple of mini cows…even a couple of chickens. My mouth twitches into a smile.
Conversation has picked up again.
“Excuse me a moment,” I tell Wren, kissing her on the side of her head. Then I make my way through the crowd toward the corner of the room.
My mother is in a comfortable wingback chair, a blanket tucked around her legs, even though it’s not cold. Both Peanut and Butter are on her lap, sleeping soundly. The little traitors barely acknowledge anyone else these days. They’ve completely adopted her as their favorite person.
I crouch down beside her chair. “How are you doing, Mom?”
She looks up at me, and her eyes are clear. It’s a good day.
“I’m wonderful, sweetheart.” She reaches out and cups my cheek with one weathered hand. “This is all so beautiful. You and Wren…you’ve done something special here.”
“We’re trying,” I tell her.
“You’re succeeding.” She pats my cheek, then lets her hand drop back to pet Butter. “I’m so proud of you, River. Your father would be too.” Her eyes get watery.
My throat tightens. She doesn’t always remember my real name these days. Hearing it now, seeing the pride in her eyes, it almost undoes me.
“Thanks, Mom.”
Wren appears beside us, a plate of food in her hands. She kneels down on my mother’s other side, offering her the plate.
“I made sure to get all your favorites,” she says, smiling.
My mother takes the plate, beaming at Wren. “You’re such a dear. I’m so glad my boy found you.”
“I’m glad I found him, too,” Wren says, and she glances at me. The look in her eyes makes my chest tight all over again.
I watch as they talk, as Wren makes sure my mother has everything she needs. The way she’s so gentle, so patient. The way she genuinely cares.
This woman is going to be the mother of my child. Of our child.
The thought hits me all over again, fresh and overwhelming.
I have the best fucking life.
“Love you,” Wren mouths to me.
“Love you too,” I mouth back.