Chapter 2
Maverik was still smirking by the time he got to Daniel’s and Avaleigh’s door. He knocked and waited for somebody to come let him in.
The door opened and Daniel stood there, eyeing Maverik over the rim of the coffee cup he was sipping out of. “It’s early.”
“Yep. And you been up for at least an hour already.”
Daniel grinned at him and took a step back, ushering Maverik in with the wave of one hand.
Maverik stepped inside and closed the door behind himself.
“So, how’s things?” Daniel asked as he led the way to the kitchen.
“Things fucking suck,” Maverik said.
“What’d you do?”
“I didn’t do a thing! Nothing. I woke up, made some coffee, was considering breakfast, and Ronan dropped all this shit on me about finding his mate and getting a whole damn family, and now his whole future is jeopardized and I’m not real fucking happy about it!”
Daniel nodded slowly as he finished pouring another cup of coffee. He walked over to the kitchen table and sat down as he pushed the fresh cup across the table to Maverik. “I’m guessing you didn’t get to enjoy that coffee you made.”
“Not a damn bit,” Maverik snapped, reaching for the coffee Daniel offered and sighing as he held it in both hands, inhaling the aroma before taking a sip. “Good coffee. Just like Avaleigh’s.”
“She taught me.”
“Had to. Yours sucked. Like fucking motor oil.”
Daniel chuckled lightly. “Thanks would have done just fine.”
Maverik looked down at the coffee, then sipped again. “Thanks,” he managed.
“So he’s found his mate?” Daniel asked.
“Seems so. Not that she’ll have him.”
“It’s not such a bad thing. In fact, it’s rather satisfying to see them settled, loved, and appreciated.”
“Says you who was going to kill his son-in-law,” Maverik said.
“I wasn’t really going to kill him. I was just going to kill him a little until he went away.
And now I’m glad I didn’t. Boon’s the best thing that ever happened to Angelle, except for me and Avaleigh.
” Daniel thought about it. “And Delilah, because without Delilah we wouldn’t have ever known about her.
And maybe Kaid for agreeing they ask if we wanted to parent her.
” Daniel shook his head as though to clear the thought.
“But I digress. All of your other kids are mated and you never had a meltdown over any of them. Why Ronan?”
“I don’t know,” Maverik said irritatedly.
“Yeah, you do,” Daniel said.
“It’s lots of things,” Maverik said, shaking his head as he sipped more coffee.
“Such as?”
“Such as he’s never even talked about a mate, and if he did it was in terms of look how fucked up the others are over their mates. Not going to be me! And now, it’s him. More so than the rest. Except for Havoc, and he created that monster.”
“Havoc also managed to fix that monster and build a loving and trusting relationship with his mate.”
“True. Didn’t say we aren’t good at fixing our fuck ups, it’s just that I never thought Ronan would have one.”
“Haven’t heard anything about a fuck up yet, just that he never really expressed wanting a mate.”
“All he’s ever wanted is his degree — all three of them.
He wants to be a biomedical engineer. And the thing is, the kid has the brains to do it and do it well!
He’s already got his first degree, and is a short time away from his master’s, then he’s got his PHD to work toward.
He’s got a long time left in school. But he’s looking at taking on a woman and her kids, too. ”
“Kids?!” Daniel asked.
“Yeah! Two of them. And they little! It ain't like he can just let them do their thing while he’s away, he’s gonna have to be involved. And she’s older than him! Older! With kids!” Maverik insisted, his voice rising with his irritation.
“Older can be better. More mature, less bullshit, no games,” Daniel said.
“Lot of baggage. Somebody else’s problems to clean up. Somebody else’s kids to raise. Somebody else to have to accommodate when trying to navigate your relationship. You, her ex, and her, and the kids! Like it ain’t hard enough with just the two of you.”
“He’s not the only male that’s ever wanted a mate that already had kids.”
“No, I know that. But now he’s saying he’s not going back to school.”
“He said that? He’s quitting school?” Daniel asked.
“Not exactly. He said he’s going to transfer his hours to Tulane. Finish up his studies there. But you and I both know if he starts being mate and daddy, he ain’t ever going to finish his studies. Day to day crap will take over.”
“I don’t know that,” Daniel said.
Maverik looked off toward the wall behind Daniel as he thought about the conversation he and Ronan, and then Valerie had shared first thing that fucking morning.
“If he’s taking care of a mate and kids, he’s not going to be able to load up his classes like he likes to do, and it’ll take him twice as long. He’ll get tired of it and quit.”
“Maybe, but isn’t that his choice?”
Maverik swung his gaze to Daniel. “You ain’t helping as much as I thought you would.”
Daniel grinned at Maverik. “I get your concerns, I really do. But so far, all of your objections are just that — concerns. None of it has come to pass. And if Ronan is anything like his father, the more you tell him he can’t, the more he’ll prove that he can.”
“Yeah, well, that much is true.”
They sat there quietly for a few moments before Maverik threw one hand up in the air, signaling his frustration with the whole situation.
“What does he see in this woman? She’s old!
She’s hard — has to be. She’s been through abuse, she’s had to fight all her adult life it seems like.
And now she’s single and until just recently she was homeless.
You know what kind of hardness it takes to pull yourself and your two kids through something like that?
And all the props to her for doing it, but why does my kid have to be the one that carries her going forward? ”
Daniel watched Maverik thoughtfully, then sat forward, capturing Maverik’s gaze and refusing to allow him to look away.
“I call that strength. I call that doing what’s needed no matter what it is to make sure that your babies have what they need in life.
Not a thing about that is something to be ashamed of. And how much older is she?”
“I don’t know. She’s just older, with a ready made family. And he’s happy about it!”
“Seems to me you were older with a ready made family, and your mate saw that as a plus.”
“Yeah, that’s what Valerie said. She call you and tell you that while I was coming over here?” Maverik asked suspiciously.
Daniel laughed. “No, she did not call me. But she’s right, and so am I. At one time a description of you sounded a lot like you just described this woman Ronan is saying is his mate.”
“Maybe she just wants him to take care of her and hers.”
“Maybe. But most likely not. Women who’ve been through hell in their lives, don’t want anybody to do for them.
They want to do for themselves. It’s a matter of pride.
A matter of if I do it myself, nobody can take it from me ever again.
They don’t want to be taken care of. They want to make their own way, for them and their babies. ”
“I can see that. I can. I mean, I got daughters, too. I can’t imagine either one of them just sitting back and allowing a male to take care of them. They want their own achievements, their own independence.”
“Yep,” Daniel said.
“I just don’t want to see him walk away after he’s worked so hard for his dreams,” Maverik said.
“That I absolutely understand.”
Maverik nodded. “Flip side of that is I’m worried that she’ll reject him, because he’s younger and inexperienced in everything except school.”
“My advice to you is that you go meet this woman. Don’t make accusations, don’t question her or her motives. Just kind of meet her, see what kind of person she is. You might really like her.”
“I do like her! I know her, or at least know of her. I just don’t know enough.” Maverik leaned forward staring right into Daniel’s eyes. “But you know her. You could feel her out. Tell me what you think honestly, you know?”
“I know her?” Daniel asked, sitting back in his chair. “How do you know I know her?”
“Because I met her through you. Her name’s Giada. She’s working over at the shelter. Her and her kids living in one of the tiny houses there.”
“Giada? Giada our receptionist, Giada?” Daniel asked.
“That’s the one.”
Daniel looked away for a second as he gathered his thoughts, then looked back at Maverik. “Are you out of your mind?”
“What?” Maverik asked defensively.
“Giada is one of the most honest, strongest, hard-working, independent women I’ve ever met.
Where do you get off thinking she’s not good enough for Ronan?
!” Daniel sat there wearing a confused expression as he considered all the questions running through his head.
“When did Ronan even get the chance to figure out she’s his mate?
She’s twenty-nine, Maverik. And she barely looks like she’s his age.
Hell, when I first met her I thought she was only twenty because she looks so young.
He’s twenty-five. The fuck you mean she’s old?
You make it sound like she’s fifty and he’s half her age.
And who the hell cares if she’s got kids? Her kids are great!”
“Hey!” Maverik said, jumping to his feet as he held his hands out in front of himself, palms toward Daniel. “Hey, hey, hey! I’m not attacking her personally! I’m just concerned for my son’s future because he’s talking stupid! Finding your mate doesn’t mean you completely change course.”
Daniel remained seated, scrubbing his hand down his face before he focused on Maverik again.
“Your assumptions about Giada are all wrong. I don’t know the details about her past, but I will tell you that the little bit I do know, she’s dealt with more shit in her life than any female should have to.
And she’s still breathing, and so are her kids.
She’s smart, and determined, and there’s not a lazy bone in that woman’s body.
Her kids are polite and well-mannered, despite living in a homeless encampment, in a tent, surrounded by drunks and addicts, who were in much worse shape than they were.
She not only managed to keep herself safe and alive, she kept her boys safe and alive.
If Ronan was independently wealthy she’d probably reject him right out the gate.
She’s had enough of controlling entitled men.
She’s not hard, Maverik, she’s a survivor.
She’s had to be. You’d think that you of all people would be impressed by that, not worried by it. ”
“I ain’t said she’s a bad person. I met her. I know she’s not. But I can’t help but be worried. He just ain’t ready for all that.”
Daniel sat there, wanting to say so much, but knowing nothing he said would make Maverik understand the person Giada was until he saw it for himself.
“You need to spend a little time with her. You’re on the schedule to volunteer at the shelter this week.
Make it a point to be around her. Make yourself available in the office.
Talk to her. You just don’t realize how important she’s become to the shelter.
She’s a very valuable employee. The funny thing about all this is, that if Ronan makes his intentions known, she’ll probably be afraid that he’ll want her to step back from all she’s achieved and refuse him based just on that. ”
“Maybe neither one is ready for this,” Maverik said.
“Nobody but them knows. But I can tell you one thing…” Daniel said.
Maverik waited, his eyes locked on Daniel’s.
“You raised Ronan. The one thing none of your kids is ever, is unprepared. Your kids are not only smart — they’re street-smart, too.
There’s not a one of them who can’t take care of themselves and everybody around them if the situation calls for it.
You’ve got strong, smart, capable kids with integrity and drive.
Don’t underestimate Ronan just because he’s the youngest and hasn’t made his mark yet. ”
Maverik nodded slowly.
“And don’t count this girl out just because she’s had to survive. Ronan could do a lot worse than her.”