Chapter 18 #2
For a moment, I was wondering if maybe this was a mistake.
Turned out okay though. He followed instructions great and did what I said.
At this rate, none of them were going to need baking lessons.
I wasn’t sure if I was happy or sad about that.
They all seemed much less angry than I ever did over the shit luck life threw at me.
I didn’t mind the kids helping with dinner. They proved useful and eager to assist. But I learned quickly that Mason could be very sensitive and didn’t respond well to criticism or being barked at. He cried twice.
When Mason cried, Noah’s aggressive side surfaced. I wasn’t surprised to see it. That was what I’d been expecting all along.
Cam, being the baby of the group, seemed oblivious to it all. He was easy going and little seemed to bother him.
As soon as Noah began snapping back at me for fussing at Mason who wasn’t listening while using a knife, I put him to work on making bread.
My grandmother knew a thing or two. Kneading dough was not easy. It was like a full body workout when done right. Getting in there and taking all your frustrations out on that dough was therapeutic. I knew that better than anyone.
I smirked watching Noah aggressively knead the dough.
And I knew that he would be proud of the outcome when we served it with dinner.
This particular recipe was a quick rise that took a fraction of the time of normal bread making.
Technically he didn’t even need to work it that much, but it wasn’t going to hurt it and it was good for him.
It was later than expected by the time the meal was ready though.
“We’ll get better with our timing. Thanks for the help tonight, boys.”
I high fived each of them as they set the finishing touches to the table and I went to wake my mate.
But when I turned to leave the kitchen, she was already standing in the doorway watching us. She had a funny look on her face.
Our eyes met and it felt as if our wolves truly connected in that moment too. Almost otherworldly in nature.
I was drawn to her in ways I didn’t even want to admit to myself.
My desire for her was ridiculous. All I ever thought about was her.
If it weren’t for the boys being present, there was no telling what I would have done, probably gone all caveman and thrown her over my shoulder to take her to bed, or maybe just as far as the kitchen table.
Images started playing out in my mind. I was a celibate man who had lived just fine without female temptations, not that I’d given myself many opportunities for that. But now, she was like an impossible temptation.
My body was strung tight with desire.
“Dinner’s ready,” I barked at her more aggressively than I meant to.
Hurt flashed in her eyes, but she smiled.
“It smells wonderful.”
“We helped,” Cam told her. “Come see.”
It was maddening that I was jealous of a four-year-old as he slipped his little hand into hers and escorted her to the table. And when she lightly brushed against me when she passed, my body responded immediately.
I was starved and it had nothing to do with the food we were about to eat.
“You all made this?” she asked.
The boys nodded proudly.
“Isaac let us help,” Mason said. When she shot him a look, he added, “He told us to drop the mister and just call him Isaac.”
“Can we just call you Vanessa?” Noah said.
She seemed to consider that for a moment. “I suppose it’s okay, but not at school. It sets a bad example for the other kids.”
He nodded. “Deal.”
Cam crawled up in her lap and hugged her. “I wish we could call you mama instead.”
Tears pricked her eyes, and I watched in fascination at the emotions that crossed her face. Was that what she wanted?
Keeping the boys temporarily was one thing, but forever? That was a big commitment I was not ready for.
“I think we should just stick with Vanessa, okay?”
He nodded sadly.
“Now, what do we have here?”
I remained quiet as they explained everything they’d made and served her like she was queen of the house. Maybe because she was.
That thought overwhelmed me.
I ate quietly and kept to myself as she assisted with homework and then ensured they each had a shower before telling them goodnight.
She found me in the kitchen finishing up the dishes when she was done.
“Thanks for letting them help you today.”
I shrugged like it was no big deal. “Might as well earn their keep.”
*****
I had wanted to ask Vanessa to stay over. What the hell did I know about raising kids? But I suspected that would not have gone over well, even if I volunteered to sleep in the guest room and behave myself.
It sucked watching her go, and I was grumpy the rest of the night. Fortunately, the kids kept their distance.
By the time morning came, I was struck with the reality of having to deal with the kids all on my own. It was Saturday, so it wasn’t like I could just send them off to school.
When the rooster crowed, I knew it was past time for me to start my day.
I got up and pulled on my muck clothes to get my chores done.
The second I opened the door, I heard those little piggies rummaging through my kitchen.
“What are you up to?” I barked.
I heard at least one of them yelp.
When I got to the kitchen and saw my cabinet doors open, I growled.
“I’m letting you stay here and you’re still going to steal from me?”
“We’re hungry,” Cam said.
“We didn’t mean anything by it. I thought we could have food on account of us staying here,” Noah tried to argue.
“It’s Saturday. Why are you even up? Even I know there’s no school on Saturday. Don’t kids usually sleep in?”
They shrugged.
“Not when we’re starving,” Mason said.
“I fed you well last night. You’re not starving. Besides, if you’re up, then you can help with chores.”
“But. . .”
“Not buts, Mason. Chores first then food. That’s the way of the farm.”
Much to my surprise, they listened to me without question.
“Are we still going into town for shoes?” Noah asked.
“Yes, but we have to tend to the animals first. It’s dry enough for you three to collect eggs while I get everyone fed.”
“Can I help feed the animals?” Cam asked.
“Sure, why not?”
I spent the next hour showing him around the farm and introducing him to the animals.
“That one’s Gertrude, right?”
“Right. How’d you know that?”
He shrugged. “You talk to her a lot. That’s how we knew when it was safe to get stuff. Because if you were out here, you were yapping to that goat. And if not, then we were safe.”
I groaned. “Do you hear this load of crap, Gert?”
She shook her head and made a very unladylike noise that had Cameron laughing.
Maybe having these kids around wouldn’t be all that bad.
By the time we were finished up and ready for breakfast, Vanessa arrived.
I walked out to meet her after shooing the boys inside to wash up and get ready for breakfast.
“Good morning,” I told my mate, wishing I could take her in my arms and kiss her.
Where had that thought come from?
“You’re up awfully early,” she replied.
I shrugged. “Just normal farm stuff.”
“Are the boys awake?”
“Yup, they just helped me finish up and we’re heading inside for breakfast now. Thought I’d take them down the mountain to pick up some shoes. If they’re going to help me around here, they really need good work boots. Would you, uh, want to ride along?”
Mentally, I counted the seats in my truck. As long as we didn’t buy much that needed to be in the cab, then we would be fine with all five of us.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. I’d like that. I sort of cleared my weekend just in case you needed help.”
Even if I didn’t, I would have told her I did just to spend some more time with her.”
*****
Our outing Saturday turned out to be fun. The boys each got two new pairs of shoes: work boots and new sneakers for school. None of them could remember ever having brand new shoes and they went on and on about it until Vanessa made them go to bed.
She’d stuck around a bit longer as we sat in the living room and talked until it was almost too late for her to drive home. She looked exhausted, but stubbornly insisted, claiming it would set a bad example for the boys if she stayed.
I whole-heartedly disagreed, but I was learning a thing or two about my mate, and I knew she was every bit as stubborn as me.
But true to her word, she was back bright and early the next morning despite the torrential downpour we were getting.
“But Isaac, it’s raining,” Mason argued.
“Do you not eat because of some rain?”
“What? Of course we eat when it’s raining.”
“So why do you think those animals are any different? Learn the ways of the farm, kid. Doesn’t matter the weather, you still have to tend to the animals.”
They nodded solemnly, put on their new boots, and followed me out in the rain.
Vanessa had wanted to protest. I could see it clearly on her face. I felt like I knew her quite well now after spending the whole day with her yesterday. There was still plenty more I wanted to learn about my mate, though.
While we were feeding everyone, Vanessa was in the kitchen preparing to feed all of us.
I certainly wasn’t used to anyone taking care of me like that. It was nice though.
She once again spent the day with us. This time we sat around the living room playing games with the kids. I didn’t exactly have much in the way of games, but I did like to play Solitaire, so I had several packs of cards. Vanessa used those cards to teach us all how to play Poker.
I hadn’t played Poker in ages, but it was a numbers game and I was good with numbers. By the time she was done explaining the rules, I was refreshed and ready to go.
One lesson I learned quickly was that my mate did not like to lose.
*****
Since Vanessa had cooked us both breakfast and lunch, I insisted the boys and I fixed her dinner. They didn’t argue or try to get out of it. In no time at all we whipped up some burgers and fries with fresh baked buns.