26. Henri
Chapter 26
Henri
By the time dinner rolls around, I’ve had enough of today, and I’m just ready to go upstairs, curl up in my bed, and stare at the ceiling until I fall asleep. Except the kitchen is full, and there’s no way I’m just going to be able to casually steal my ice cream out of the freezer and dart off to my room.
“Well, I spun around on that tabletop so fast and, being more than a little tipsy, fell right into that handsome man’s lap. It wasn’t even six months later, and he was askin’ my momma for my hand in marriage.” Ms. Gertie, the elderly human adopted by Pack Alden, tells a story.
Her eyes are lit up, and everyone’s laughing.
“Ms. Gertie, so scandalous, dancing on a table like a floozy.” Lena laughs, and Ms. Gertie shakes her tea towel at her.
“There she is!” Ms. Gertie sees me, and I get a megawatt smile. “Cade told me I just got myself a new neighbor. He also said that, unlike himself and Thalia, you fancy yourself a morning tea drinker. I may be able to convince you to sit on the front porch and share a cup with me every morning. ”
That sounds so comforting.
I nod. “I’d like that very much.”
It’s no wonder they all love her. Ms. Gertie has this ‘mom vibe’ I can’t quite figure out.
“Well, come on now, sit down. I gave Lauren the night off. She’s got a date.” Ms. Gertie wiggles her shoulders excitedly. “I made chicken and waffles because ya’ll don’t seem to have any place here that serves it worth its salt.”
Despite how exhausted I feel and how low my energy level is, I sit at the counter next to Lena and watch Ms. Gertie finish cooking. Not even five minutes later, Cade and Thalia walk in the back doors, and then two minutes after that, Finn comes down the hallway from the offices.
Deacon? I want to ask. But it’s been a week since Cade told me he needed some time off. And I haven’t seen or smelled him.
“Alright, before we get too far into relaxing for the evening.” Finn pauses and waits until I’m looking at him. “I’m going with you and the sheriff’s department to get your things from Nathan’s house tomorrow. I’ve set aside four hours, and we’re bringing two of the sentries. So, if you’ve any furniture or anything, we’ve got enough hands to move it. If you’d like, we can have the sheriff’s office send a notice to Nathan and let him know, asking him not to be there during that time. However.” Finn shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. If we make him aware we’re coming, it may escalate things further. I want to be sure we get everything in one go.”
With a nod, I struggle to come up with anything to say. My shoulders tighten, and I try to think through where everything of mine is in the house so we can get it all at once and not miss anything, but I can hardly breathe.
Lena rests her hand on my shoulder. “Don’t stress out about it. Finn told me I couldn’t come because apparently you shoot an ex and can’t be trusted. ”
Thalia snorts. “According to Finn, it was two.”
She jumps off her stool, almost toppling over, and Cade mutters something under his breath as he reaches for her. He guides Thalia around the counter and starts the assembly line to make plates from the dishes Ms. Gertie stacked her hard work on.
“Listen... The first one pissed me off, and the second one knew that and still chose to be stupid. It’s different.” Lena rubs her back and picks up a plate.
“I’m sorry, you shot two of Finn’s exes?” Cade sounds outraged, turning around in the line to look at Lena. “Are you trying to—”
“It wasn’t Finn’s ex.” Lena cuts him off with a sharp snap. “And again, they were stupid.”
Finn pats my shoulder and gestures for me to follow Lena rather than him through the line. The break from protocol makes me uneasy, but he hands me a plate and insists.
“Well, I guess we’re even, then, for the burnt grilled cheese.” Cade sighs.
“Accidental arson, attempted murder, potato, tomato,” Thalia adds.
I cannot believe what I’m hearing. I’m just grateful none of this made it to social media.
Drawing deep breaths, I force my shoulders down from around my ears and unclench my jaw.
“And you all thought me dancing on a table was scandalous.” Ms. Gertie’s voice is right behind me.
Finn put Ms. Gertie before him in line, completely throwing off the whole traditional hierarchy I’ve been learning from the pack.
“Ms. Gertie.” Cade, waiting at the end of the line for the rest of us to fill our plates, puts a hand on his chest and feigns indignation. “The impropriety. We draw the line at public indecency.”
“Oh, okay.” Lena rolls her eyes. “I guess it depends on what you call public, then. Shall I remind you there’s a trail camera at the gun range?”
“Cade!” Thalia gasps.
“Like you could even see anything.” Cade snorts but looks at Thalia adoringly. “There’s no way she or Deacon could see anything.”
Thalia shakes her head, her face bright pink.
I feel secondhand embarrassment on her behalf.
There are so many cameras... Lots of opportunities to be kind of caught.
Fuck. That shouldn’t be hot.
Rather than eating in a long line at the counter on the stools, the six of us sit at one of the big round event tables in the formal dining room.
Butter, syrup, and jam are on the table already. Cade and Finn take trips back to the kitchen and return with decanters of milk, juice, and water.
“I was promised a mimosa.” Lena eyes Finn as he sits down.
“Yes, you were.” Finn smiles at her. “I figured you’d like that with the rest of your reward tomorrow morning after church.”
Lena raises an eyebrow but picks up her fork.
It’s been fascinating to watch their relationship. Looking at them, it’s hard to reconcile the way they are now and the early days of their relationship. Sometimes they communicate almost entirely without words. But then there are times when I’m fairly certain Lena might shoot him.
Deacon should be here. My wolf looks at his family, and we can’t help but miss him. It’s strange spending time with his family without him.
They’re my employers, and I’ve been with them less than a year, but with how much time I’ve spent with them, sometimes I feel like I belong.
But in a couple days, I’ll be moved into a cabin and have that separation of work and... well, a life, I guess. For now, though, the hospitality and the fun family dynamic are a good distraction from the hollow of loneliness carved in my heart.