“Yeah, ok.” He began backing out again and Katrina took in a sharp inhale. What if it wasn’t great? What if she had instigated something that would hurt this beautiful, perfect man?
When they pulled up to the single story house four hours later Katrina felt panic rise through her body. What if things didn’t go the way she’d imagined?
“Mama, I’m hungry,” the small voice came from the backseat. Katrina turned around and smiled at her son.
“Hungry? Well, we’ll have to find you something to eat, maybe some grass, or some leaves?” She teased her little man who peered back at her with the dark eyes of his father.
“Ew, that’s gross,” he laughed.
“What about some turkey with gravy and mashed potatoes?” Zachary joined in.
Katrina watched as her son’s eyes grew wide and excited.
“Yum,” he crowed.
“I guess we’d better get inside then,” Zachary said as he unbuckled his son’s car seat.
Zachary held his son and Katrina clutched the apple pie as they stood in front of the house. He rang the doorbell then looked at Katrina who did her best to smile and look confident.
The door in front of them opened and an older man with gray hair appeared in the frame.
“You made it,” Zachary’s father said. “Come in, come in.”
Zachary put his son down as he entered the house and embraced his father. The older man pulled him into his arms and held him for a long time. Katrina looked up to see a woman with short hair and a soft floral dress come out of the kitchen. She was wiping her hands on an apron and Katrina could see tears in the woman’s eyes.
“Mom,” Zachary said as he walked to the woman.
The woman opened her arms for a hug and Katrina heard a stifled sob of happiness.
“And who is this little man?” Zachary’s father asked, looking down at the dark haired little boy standing in front of him.
“This is Alexander,” Katrina said softly.
“Alexander?” Zachary’s dad looked at Katrina and she nodded.
“What is your name?” Alexander looked up at his grandpa with curious eyes.
"My name is Alexander too," his grandfather bent down and put a hand on the child's face.
Alexander looked up at his mother and Katrina almost laughed.
“Go on,” she said.
Alexander wrapped his little arms around the older man with force and Katrina looked at Zachary. Zachary’s eyes met hers and she understood the weight of what was unfolding before her.
“Well, Zachary never told us how lovely you are,” his mother said as she brought a vegetable casserole to the table. Zachary’s father had begun to carve the turkey and little Alexander was sneaking a spoonful of mashed potatoes from the bowl in front of him.
“Alexander,” Katrina scolded. Both the grandfather and the son looked up and Katrina laughed, then everyone laughed. It was the first real release of tension in the group and Katrina was happy for it.
Katrina had insisted that Zachary writes to his parents. She knew all too well what it was like to lose her family and she also knew that his parent's deserved a chance to accept him as he was now. Days after he'd written the letter he'd been moody and distant. He'd enveloped himself in his work and meetings.
Since the incident with the wolf pack Zachary had decided to get involved, to talk with the local leader of the pack. He’d explained how he’d been attacked during the war, how his comrades had been torn to pieces and killed. The local pack had conferred and decided that perhaps certain weaponry was needed after all, as long as certain precautions were also taken. Zachary had listened and agreed.
Since that time he’d found a comradeship with the other werewolves. He wasn’t one of the pack and he never would be but be had begun to respect and even appreciate who he had become.
Katrina had watched all this, first with trepidation, she knew they could be violent, she’d seen that first hand. But when she saw the changes in Zachary she was grateful. He was learning to accept himself and his werewolf side.
With each day that passed the man before her became more confident, more loving, and more open.
She helped him with his work while she could until their son was born, then she became a full-time mom. Katrina had even bonded with some of the pack's other mom's. She was able to understand the challenges of being a mother to a child that would one day bare his teeth and howl through the night.
The sense of community was priceless. It was just what she’d longed for during those long days of solitude when she’d first arrived at the mansion.
Then one day the response from his parents had come.
“This is really nice,” Zachary’s mother said looking around at the dinner table and her family. “We are so happy you’ve all come.”
“We’re happy to be here,” Zachary said. Katrina could tell that he really meant it.
“So, we have a tradition in the Drew household that we’ve been doing since Zachary was a just the size of little Alexander,” Zachary’s father said. Little Alexander looked up at the sound of his name, mashed potato smeared across his cheek.
“Every year, before we eat, we say one thing we are thankful for.” Zachary’s mother picked up the thread from her husband.
Zachary winked at Katrina. So this was what a happy family was supposed to look like. She’d always thought that families like this were only in movies, not real life.
“I’ll begin,” Zachary’s father put down the carving knife and cleared his throat. “This year, I am thankful for my son. My son and his lovely Katrina, and their amazing little miracle.”
Katrina felt her throat constrict with tears. She looked up at the older man who was looking around at each of them with love and acceptance.
“Ok, enough from me,” he continued. “Honey you want to go next?” He looked at his wife.
Zachary’s mother put a hand to her chest.
“Well, you’ve already taken mine,” she smiled. “If I have to come up with something different, then…I am thankful for…my rose garden.”
Everyone looked at the older woman, waiting for an explanation.
“Because roses teach you that to get the most beautiful flowers you need a little rain.” She smiled and looked shyly at the faces around her.
“I am thankful for the thorns in life,” Zachary said. “The thorns sometimes lead you to the most beautiful rose.” His eyes darted to Katrina who blushed.
Her eyes darted to his parents who were both smiling and looking between the two. Katrina cleared her voice and tried to think.
“Well,” she said, as clearly as she could manage, “I am thankful for a slow job market, which got me a job with the best possible man…I am thankful for the morning sickness that brought me you.” She looked at her son, who grinned. “And I am thankful for this wonderful meal.” She looked around at all the food before her.
“Three different things, is that allowed?” Zachary looked to his parents.
“We’ll let it slid this time,” Zachary’s father said with a grin.
“…And I guess that’s our cue to eat.” Zachary’s mother put her hands together and looked over the table, trying to decide which bowl to pass around first.
“What about me?” Alexander’s little voice chirped up. “I want a turn!”
Katrina looked at her son and felt such a rush of love for the little man. She wanted to scoop him up in her arms and squeeze him to her, even though she knew very well he would squirm out of her embrace to go find some new adventure.
“What are you thankful for?” she said gently to her son.
“Hmm,” he tapped his forefinger to his chin in thought as he looked at the grownups around him. “I am thankful for all the ‘bad’ apple pies mommy made. They were deeelicious!” He grinned.
Katrina looked up with wide eyes at Zachary, her secret of all the trial pies she had made was out.
This time it was Zachary’s mother who started the laughter
.
“I’m thankful for that too,” Zachary pitched in, as the group all burst into a new wave of laughter.
*****
THE END
About Jasmine Wylder
Jasmine Wylder is a Real Estate Agent by day and an emerging Paranormal Romance Author & Adventurer by night. Hailing from California, her passion for sultry stories, steamy scenes, and all-things romance began early on and it has stayed with her ever since.
When she isn’t creating captivating storylines, Jasmine loves spending time in the great outdoors, practicing yoga, painting, and treating herself to fine cuisine. She is also an avid animal lover (dogs in particular) and is the proud owner of a Husky named Luna and a Yorkie named Anya.
Whether it’s out-of-this-world love (literally), dragon shifters setting your heart ablaze, or unquenchable vampiric desire, Jasmine has you covered!
Currently, Jasmine is in the midst of crafting paranormal romances and tries to escape to the countryside every so often to get the full writer’s experience.
Feel free to check out my Author Page and grab your next story!
All the Best,
Jasmine
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