Healing Cathy

by Kasey Belle

  “No, I’ve got it. I wasn’t sending out an SOS, just informing you.”

  “I’m the reason she’s crying.”

  “She’s not the weepy type, Dec. It’s got to be hormones. Look, let me talk to her. If we need you, you’ll know. I’ll keep the link open.”

  “Angel, talk to me please.”

  “I think I’m losing my mind.”

  Cade pressed his lips to the top of her hair to hide his smile. “Why do you say that?”

  She pushed herself away from his chest and sat up straight. “I am not a crying, wimpy woman, and here I am all boo-hooey because Declan wouldn’t, you know. I miss making love to you at the same time, but come on, this,” she motioned to her tear-stained face, “craziness is ridiculous.”

  “Dec, I can’t stand this. She’s killing me. Maybe I could hint at it?”

  “Don’t do it, man. I mean it. I’m done with my shower. I’ll let Emma Grace sleep a bit more and be there in a few minutes to reassure Fee how much I love her.”

  “Easy for you to say, you aren’t here. I’m not going to come right out and spill the beans. I’ll hint at it, nudge her in that direction.”

  “Seriously, don’t, man.”

  Cade wiped the tears from her cheeks. “You know, angel, it is close to that time of the month.”

  Declan yelled, “Dude, noooo!”

  Fiona stilled, her eyes narrowed, and Cade swore he saw his murder play out in her eyes. “Did you just suggest that this could all be PMS?”

  “Um.” Shit. “Declan?”

  “Nope. I told you not to say shit, but you didn’t listen. There is no way in hell, I am entering that bedroom now. Although, I wouldn’t mind witnessing her kicking your ass.”

  “Calling big bro for help, Cade? Declan can’t save you. If he’s smart, he will stay out of this.”

  Declan was laughing his ass off. Cade wanted to close the link, but he promised to keep it open.

  Cade thought an apology was the best way to go, Fiona shut him down when he opened his mouth.

  “Don’t say anything, Cade. Seriously, that’s probably safest for you right now.”

  His ever helpful brother offered his advice. “Just say yes.” Declan was enjoying this a little too much.

  “Yes, angel.”

  “I’m not saying it is PMS and I’m not saying it’s not, I am saying however, that it is not smart to suggest it.”

  “Say you’re sorry,” Declan prompted.

  “Sorry, angel.”

  Fiona gave his chest a little placating pat as if to say “good boy”. A pained sigh left his lips when Declan laughed, again.

  Fiona smirked. “Declan is laughing at you isn’t he?”

  Cade nodded. He put as much “pity me” behind his sad, puppy dog eyes and pooched out lower lip, as he could muster.

  Fiona giggled. “Poor baby.”

  Cade could tell she wanted to say more, but didn’t. “What is it, angel? What’s going through your head?”

  “I… I don’t want to… okay, look, I don’t want to alarm you or Declan, because y’all go a little nuts where I am concerned. I think I should make an appointment to see Brian or Mitch.”

  “I think she knows, Dec!”

  “On my way.”

  “He’s on his way isn’t he? You called in the cavalry?” Fiona threw her arms up in disgust.

  Cade smiled as the bedroom door swung open and slammed against the wall. His brother rushed over, knelt down by Fiona, and took her hand. “Love? Why do you want to see Brian or Mitch?” Declan asked, then kissed her palm.

  Fiona caressed his brother’s cheek and smiled. “I said, I don’t want either of you to freak out.” She scowled at Cade. “I think I might be coming down with something or might have a vitamin deficiency. I’m tired all the time. I fell icky, and I had a dizzy spell in the shower.”

  “And, you’ve never felt like this before?” Cade asked carefully.

  “Cade. What are you doing?”

  “Ending this craziness. Our plan had merit, but now she thinks she sick. All that worrying isn’t good for her or our cub.”

  “Well, of course, I’ve felt sick before Cade. I’m human.”

  “I meant all those symptoms at the same time. Tired, rundown, emotional, dizzy.”

  “Yeah, but it’s been a long time. I haven’t felt like this since…”

  Fiona stopped talking mid-sentence and her wide eyes darted from him to Declan and back again.

  “Since, when angel?”

  “No.” She jumped from his lap, paced a few steps, and stopped. She turned and her eyes bounced from his to Declan’s several times. She slammed her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed, and she pinned them with an accusatory glare.

  Declan stood, but didn’t approach her. On the outside his brother appeared as though he didn’t have a care in the world, but Cade could feel the anxiety rolling off his brother in waves.

  “Well Cade, got a plan for this situation?”

  “Keep our mouths shut and play dumb?”

  “Not really your specialty, little brother.”

  Fiona walked over to the nightstand and grabbed her cellphone. Cade watched her shuffle through her screens and then she started to count. He shared a look with Declan.

  She tossed the phone on the bed and came back around to stand in front of them again. “You know.”

  “What is it you think we know, love?”

  “The protective overkill, constantly trying to feed me, suggesting naps, and not claiming me together. You know.”

  “Know what, angel?”

  “I’m pregnant. Right?”

  Cade nodded, unable to speak. Emotion overwhelmed him. He was finally able to acknowledge their cub. Declan seemed to be in the same predicament.

  “How long have you known?”

  Declan cleared his throat. “Since the morning after we created our cub. Your scent changed and we can feel our cub in the bond between us.”

  “You knew this whole time? I thought I was losing my mind. You, you…. men!” Fiona’s eyes filled as she pressed a palm to her abdomen, where their cub grew inside her. “I can feel this tiny little spark of love. I couldn’t before, but I can now. Is that our baby?”

  “Yes, love.”

  Fiona’s moods gave Cade whiplash. He didn’t know how she felt about the pregnancy. She had closed off that part of their bond. It frustrated the hell out of him, but he didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure if she was aware of it or not.

  She looked at them with tears running down her cheeks and asked, “Are you happy about this?”

  “Yes love, very much.”

  “Happy as hell, angel.”

  “What about you, love, are you happy?”

  Cade couldn’t stand not touching her. He took a couple steps and sighed in relief when he pulled her into his arms. Declan cuddled up to her back and wrapped his arms around her. She still had not answered Declan’s question.

  “Promise me.”

  “Anything, angel.”

  “Promise me, I won’t have to this alone, and you aren’t going anywhere. I won’t survive it again.”

  Declan looked at him, they both knew what she was asking. She lost David two weeks after Emma Grace’s birth and it had crushed her. She loved David, he was her husband, but unlike him and Declan, David wasn’t her mate. If something ever happened to them, their deaths would affect her a thousand times more than David’s had. They had no plans to leave her any time soon, but they couldn’t control everything. Anything was possible, and he didn’t want to lie to her. However, the chances of something happening to both of them at the same time was slim, so they technically wouldn’t be lying, if he promised. Declan nodded, as usual they were on the same page.

  “You won’t have to do this alone, not ever. Are you happy, angel?”

  She looked up at them and smiled. The joy she felt flooded their bond and filled their hearts. Cade leaned down and ran his tongue along the seam of her lips, she open
ed to him, he entered her mouth, and slid his tongue alongside hers. He used his tongue to mimic what he planned on doing with his cock later, fuck her slow and easy. She moaned into his kiss. He pulled back and smiled when she tried to follow him. She opened her eyes, gods, he loved that dazed look. Loved when her eyes glazed over with need. Unfortunately, they didn’t have time to do what he so desperately wanted to do. He leaned in again, his lips a breath away from hers, and whispered, “Later, angel.” He turned her toward his brother.

  Declan pulled her into his arms. Although his kiss was a little more aggressive than Cade’s, it held the same reverence. Cade couldn’t resist those sexy little noises she made. He pressed against her back, moved her hair aside, and nibbled at her neck, licking and sucking at his mating mark between her ear and shoulder. Both he and Declan pulled back at the same time and she whimpered in protest.

  “We would love to continue this, mate, but a certain little girl will be up soon, as well as our houseguests. There is no time to love you properly, Fiona.”

  Fiona sighed. “You’re right. Rain check, though, right?”

  Cade hugged from behind drawing her tight to his chest. “Definitely, angel.”

  “Don’t say anything yet to Emma Grace about the baby. Okay?”

  Cade didn’t like that idea. “Why not? I think she’ll be ecstatic. She’s mentioned wanting a brother or a sister.”

  “I’m sure she will be happy, at least I hope so, wanting and actually happening are two different things. She has been an only for four years. She may feel threatened and we don’t have time for a meltdown, should that happen. That’s not the only reason I don’t want to mention it. I want to make sure everything is okay before we say anything.”

  Declan tensed. “Do you think something is wrong? Maybe, we should go see Brian right now.”

  Declan rushed over to the dresser, started pulling out clothes for Fiona, and tossing them on the bed. “Get dressed, love, we’ll go right now.”

  “Um, Declan. Declan.”

  Fiona looked to Cade for help and he shrugged. He thought Declan’s idea had merit. She shook her head and threw her hands up in exasperation. She crossed her arms over her chest and tried, once again, to get Declan’s attention. Declan ignored her and walked to the closet mumbling to himself or he could have been talking to Cade. It was hard to tell.

  “I can’t believe we stood there and made out with her like a bunch of horny teenagers. She said she felt icky, and we practically stuck our tongues down her throat. We are her mates our job is to look out for her well-being and that of our cub. We suck so bad.”

  Fiona sat cross-legged on the bed, put her elbows on knees, and propped her head on her palms. Declan came of the closet with a pair of Fiona’s flip flops and scowled at her.

  “Why aren’t you dressed?”

  “Because I’ve been trying to get your attention for the past five minutes. We don’t need to go rushing off to see Brian.”

  Declan started shaking his head the minute Fiona started talking and didn’t stop.

  “Stop shaking your head. I will call Lynn later and arrange something.”

  “No, we need to go now. You said, something could be wrong. You said, you feel ‘icky.’ Your words, mate.”

  Fiona’s dark chocolate eyes lit with amusement. “I didn’t say something was wrong. I said, I wanted to make sure nothing was wrong.”

  “That’s the same thing.”

  “No. One is certain, the other is precautionary.”

  “You said, you feel ‘icky.’” Declan narrowed his eyes at her. “Are you laughing at me?”

  She smirked and held up her hand, her forefinger and thumb about an inch apart. “Maybe a little. Yes, I feel icky.” She smiled and cleared her throat. “But, now that I know why, it’s all perfectly normal. Did you forget that I’m a nurse?”

  Obviously, Declan didn’t like this turn of events. His expression went for disgruntled man to sullen toddler, in the blink of an eye. “No.”

  She climbed off the bed and wrapped her arms around Declan. “I will call Lynn in a bit. I am sure everything is fine, I promise. I just don’t want to say anything to Emma Grace until I’m a hundred percent sure. It would be too confusing for her if we told her about the baby, then had a change in situation.”

  Cade rubbed his stomach, sick at the thought of losing their cub. Fiona turned and looked at him.

  “I’m fine, Cade. I take it the entire pack knows I am pregnant?”

  Cade shrugged, “Only the shifter portion. Shelly and the rest of the human members don’t know.”

  She turned her attention back to Declan. “I assume you sent out an all-points bulletin and let them all know, I know?”

  “Yes, love.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Do you think you could send out another bat signal and tell them, to not say anything, until we have a chance to tell Emma Grace?”

  “Yes, love.” Declan kissed the tip of her nose.

  “Thank you. Oh, and I don’t think we should mention it to Cathy either. I have a feeling she might leave.”

  “Agreed, love, I believe she would.”

  “Now, enough of this heavy emotional stuff. I am going to get dressed. If one of you could wake Emma Grace and help her that would be great.”

  Chapter 5

  Cathy knew that at least one of her hosts were awake. She heard movement down the hall and the shower running. She wanted a cup of coffee, but didn’t feel comfortable rummaging around in Fiona’s kitchen. Cathy hated that she warred with herself about the simplest things. Fiona and her men told her to make herself at home, to help herself to whatever she needed. Cathy knew they meant every word.

  The problem was Cathy, more accurately, the broken part of her. That infinitely strong worthy part of her that used to tell her she belonged, was worthy, and deserved happiness. The one Bud had so thoroughly ground to dust, recreated, and molded it, until she no longer recognized herself.

  She wanted to be that woman again. The woman who, before Bud, would get out of bed, go into her friend’s kitchen, and make coffee and breakfast, as if she had the right to do so. She did, damn it! She had a right to make herself a freaking cup of coffee. However, no matter how many times she told herself that, she couldn’t rid herself of the anxiety that plagued her. What if Declan or Cade didn’t appreciate her wandering around their house? What if it she ended up alone in a room with one or both of them? They were large men. They could hurt her so easily. What if make yourself at home, meant only the confines of guest room and connected bathroom?

  “Mom?”

  Luke’s voice startled her, and she jumped, too wrapped up in her pity party, to notice he was awake.

  “Morning, baby.”

  “Morning, Mom. Why do you look all annoyed? Is something wrong?”

  I am annoyed, at myself. Yes, something is wrong. I’m a ninny. However, voicing her thoughts wouldn’t wipe the wary look from her son’s face. So, she donned her everything is awesome face and sunny voice, and said, “I am kind of annoyed. I want to get up and get going. Then again, I don’t want to. This bed is super comfortable.”

  Luke tilted his head and thought over what she said. Cathy wasn’t naïve. She knew Luke didn’t always believe her when she told him everything was fine, but he accepted it. He nodded. “I get what you mean, Mom. This is a real comfortable big ole bed. The biggest I’ve ever seen.”

  “Me, too.”

  “We’re staying here, right?”

  “We are.”

  “For how long?”

  “I don’t know, yet. You know what we should do?”

  “What?”

  “I think we should forget about why we are here and treat this like a vacation, a dude ranch vacation.”

  “What’s a dude ranch?”

  “A working ranch people pay to vacation at to get a taste of country life. They get to take care of the animals, ride horses, and enjoy the quiet atmosphere.”

  Luke nodded enthusiastically
. “That’s an awesome idea, Mom. We’ve never been on a vacation together. Weekends at the beach don’t count. Ms. Fee said Mr. Declan and Mr. Cade would show me the horses this morning. Do you think I can ride one? That would be so cool.”

  “I’m not sure if you can ride one, but we can ask. However-”

  “Privileges come with responsibilities, I know. I’d help out with all kinds of chores if I could ride a horse.”

  She smiled and brushed his hair off his forehead. “Well, if you want to see about riding horses, we should probably get up.”

  “What time is it?”

  “A little after eight.”

  Luke jumped up out of bed. “Heck, yeah we better. Grandma Maddie said she was making my favorite breakfast, French toast and sausage. We need to hurry so it won’t be all gone by time we get down there. Mr. Declan and Mr. Cade are huge, I’m sure they eat a lot.” He grabbed the clothes she set out for him last night and raced into the bathroom. He turned around and huffed in exasperation. “Mom, get up. I’ll hurry so you can get a shower, too.”

  Just as Luke turned on the shower, there was a soft knock at the door. “Cathy, it’s Fee.”

  She opened the door to greet her friend and was surprised when she found not only Fiona, but also, Emma Grace.

  The little girl let out squeal and rushed to hug Cathy. “Miss Cathy! I missed you.”

  Cathy wasn’t sure how that was possible, but the longing in Emma Grace’s voice made her want to believe it was true.

  “You did?” Her eyes met Fee’s, and they shared a smile.

  “Oh, yes. Des what?”

  “What?”

  “It’s gonna be my birthday. I’m gonna be four in six days.” Emma Grace held up six fingers.

  “I heard. I can’t wait.”

  “You’re going to my party?” Emma Grace vibrated with excitement. “I’m not sposed to ask if you brought me a present. Mommy says, that’s bad manners. So I’m not gonna ask.”

  Not with words anyway, Cathy thought. The little sweetheart sure was asking with her eyes. Cathy glanced at Fiona who was obviously fighting laughter.

  “I may have brought you something, but you’ll have to wait until it’s your birthday.”