She rolled over, not at all surprised to see that the other side of the bed was empty. She could hear Luis moving around through the open doorway and knew that he had already started preparing for their arrival.
She got dressed quickly, picking a bright blue sweater and gray slacks. She ran a brush through her hair and pulled it back into a long ponytail at the nape of her neck. Feet still bare, she padded into the hallway and followed the sounds of Luis working in the kitchen.
“That smells delicious,” she said, startling him, leaving them both laughing.
“I thought you were going to sleep until they got here.”
“I’m awake now. Can I help you?”
“Everything is already prepped, and the turkey has been in the oven and will be done right on time.”
He grabbed her, gently swinging her into his arms and dancing her around the kitchen. He kissed her sweetly, stopping to hold her in his arms and taste her sweetness in a slow, leisurely kiss. When he finally released her, she was flushed and breathless.
“What was that for?”
“Because I love you.”
“I love you,” she said.
Their eyes locked, smiling at one another and sharing a tender moment while they were still alone. Luis was the first to break contact, turning to the refrigerator, quickly putting together a small plate of fruit, cheese, and crackers, and handing it to Tara.
She took the plate, sitting down at the table and watching him work.
“You know they’re going to be shocked to see each other,” she said between bites.
“I know. I’m a little nervous about that, but I think it’s going to go well. They love each other; they just need a little push.”
“You mean like us?”
“Exactly. And how can Martin get mad when he’s done the same for us?”
“You hold on to that,” he laughed, quickly rinsing off the dishes he’d already used and putting them in the dishwasher. He looked out the window that overlooked the long, winding gravel road that led to their home. “I guess we’re about to find out how this is going to go. I see one car, and not too far behind it, I’m pretty sure there is another car.”
Tara finished off her plate and handed it to him to load in the dishwasher, going to the window and looking out into the chilly day.
Eager to see her mother and to usher her into the house before she saw Martin, Tara met the first driver at the front porch, greeting her mom from the warmth and safety of the porch while Luis carried her bags inside.
Her mother was already going into the house when the second car came into Tara’s more human view. She was so excited to see her daughter that she never looked over her shoulder. Tara led her mom through the house, giving her a tour of each room before leading her to the restored living room so she could sit down and rest after her long flight.
She grabbed a bottle of water for her mother, and Laila was just starting to take a sip when she heard male voices from around the corner, coming down the hall.
“Is there someone else here besides Luis?” Laila asked, looking perplexed.
“There is,” Tara said.
“Oh, well, of course, I’m sure that Luis has family, too. It will be nice to get to know Luis’ family, too.”
Before Tara could correct her mother’s assumption, Luis walked around the corner, Martin right on his heels. Martin walked into the room, and Laila stood to greet their latest guest, standing with her hand outstretched, a warm smile on her face.
When their eyes met, Laila’s smile slid off her face and a look of shock replaced it. Her hand was still held in front of her, but it was almost limp and much too far from Martin for him to shake hands.
“Martin?” Laila whispered, her blue eyes, identical to Tara’s, wide with shock and already glassy with unshed tears.
“Laila?”
They turned as one, looking at Tara and Luis as they would a couple of naughty children that were plotting to get divorced parents back together.
Acting on impulse, Tara smiled and motioned to the sofa near the fireplace, which was already roaring to chase off the cold of the northern Virginia winter.
“We have news,” she said, and they both sat down, separated by little more than a foot on the plush couch.
Luis looked to Tara, then back to Martin and Laila.
“Yes, we do. We have some wonderful news, and we wanted to tell you both, face to face. I won’t make you wait; Tara and I are expecting. We don’t know when because the news is really fresh for us too, but we wanted you guys to be the first to know.”
Laila clapped her hands together once and jumped up to hug her daughter, murmuring words of congratulations. She sat back down next to Martin, a little less space between them. Martin was sitting on the sofa still, his face shocked, rendered speechless by the news.
“There’s more,” Luis said. He looked at Martin. “We want you to be part of the baby’s life, too.”
“As what?” Martin began, running his fingers through his hair nervously, “Like a godfather?”
Tara smiled gently at him, looking at her mom and then back to him again before she spoke.
“I was thinking more along the lines of a grandfather,” Tara said, her eye contact unwavering and her meaning clear.
Martin looked at Laila.
“Does she know?” he asked, reaching out tentatively to grab Laila’s hand and stopping himself, unsure of everything at that moment.
“You didn’t think Luis was going to keep it a secret?” Laila asked. “She told me months ago, but she hasn’t mentioned it since. I should have known that she was plotting something.”
“Me, too. I thought after three months passing and Tara saying nothing that Luis had decided it was better if she didn’t know.” Martin looked at Tara, his face sad. Laila reached out and grabbed his hand gently, giving it a squeeze before letting it fall to rest between them, still clasped in her tiny hand. “I’m sorry, Tara. We did what we thought was best. I couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to you. Having you in another house and watching you grow from afar was torture, but your safety was worth it. I’m so sorry I didn’t-”
Tara held her hand up to stop him and went to him, kneeling on the floor so that she was eye-level with him.
“You did what you had to do to protect us. No one will fault you for that, least of all me. You saved my life and kept me from getting exiled when I was still a teen. There is no apology needed.”
“Then why are we here?” Laila asked. “Surely you didn’t know that you were pregnant three months ago, so I’m wondering what you have planned.”
“No plans, Mom. Just two people who love each other and had to let the other go getting a gentle push in the right direction.”
Martin laughed at her words. “That is almost word for word what I said to Luis,” he said.
“And it holds true for the two of you as well,” Luis agreed.
Tara and Luis looked at each other and smiled before turning their attention back to Tara’s parents.
“There’s a blizzard expected tonight, so it looks like we’re stuck here under this roof,” Tara said, looking pointedly at the two of them. “Seems like the perfect time to catch up.”
But they weren’t listening to Tara. Laila’s hand was still wrapped in Martin’s much bigger hand, and the space between them on the sofa was almost nonexistent.
They were lost in the other, communing silently, their souls speaking words that the ear could not hear. Tara felt Luis’ hand on hers, and she turned, quietly following him out of the room and leaving Laila and Martin to catch up.
He led her to the den, sitting on an overstuffed chair and pulling her into his lap. She leaned against him, relief flooding through her at the sight of Martin and Laila connecting as if twenty long years hadn’t gone by.
“Do you think they’ll be alright?” Tara asked, already sure that she knew the answer.
“I think so.”
“And what about us?
”
“Are you kidding?” he laughed, tilting her head tenderly and looking into her eyes. “After what we’ve been through, I’m sure we will be fine. Better than fine. As long as we’re together,” he brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed her gently, “there’s nothing we can’t overcome.”
Tara decided that she couldn’t argue with his logic. She wasn’t even going to try.
THE END
Message From The Author:
Thanks so much for reading all the way to the end, you can check out and see ALL my other shifter releases by taking a look at my Amazon page here!
Jazzy x x
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Her Undercover Panther : A Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance Page 19
