Halloween Treats

by Sandra R Neeley

  Avaleigh hugged him even tighter and kissed his head. She knew he was remembering his aunt abusing him. “Nobody is ever going to hurt you or her. Not ever. You’re both my babies and I will kill somebody before anyone ever hurts either of you. You understand me?” Avaleigh said.

  Remi nodded and gave her a teary smile.

  “You know that I’d burn the whole damn world down if you, or Angelle, or Mama were ever threatened in any way, don’t you?”

  “Yes, sir. And I’d help.”

  “Then they’d be in a world of trouble, wouldn’t they?” Daniel asked.

  “Yes, sir,” Remi answered, smiling and wiping away his tears.

  “Good. Now, go get washed up and Mama’s going to finish making our snack, then we have a barbecue to get ready for, okay?” Daniel said.

  “Okay,” he answered.

  “Do you have a lot of homework?” Avaleigh asked.

  “No, I just need to do my math sheet. I can do that while I eat,” he answered.

  “Alright then, I’ll see you in the kitchen in a couple minutes,” Avaleigh said.

  “Okay,” he said. He started to go toward the bathroom, but stopped and looked back at Avaleigh and Daniel. “Do you think Angelle can sleep in my room sometimes?” he asked.

  “Absolutely,” Daniel answered.

  “Cool,” Remi said, grinning happily as he ran toward the bathroom to wash his face and hands.

  “I wish he didn’t remember the abuse,” Avaleigh said softly.

  “I know. But, it’ll make him stronger. Make him love harder and protect more fiercely. He knows he’s loved and cherished here. We’re his family. Understanding not everyone is good, will keep him from being taken advantage of later.”

  “That’s true, I just wish we could have saved him from all that,” Avaleigh said.

  “We did,” Daniel told her.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  The party was in full swing when Avaleigh, Daniel and Remi arrived at Maverik’s house. When they opened the door to come in, everyone cheered and went to greet them.

  “Oh my gosh! How did ya’ll all get here so quickly?” Avaleigh asked.

  “Just changed clothes, grabbed the kids and came,” Bane answered. “What took ya’ll so long?”

  “Had to feed Remi, and Daniel, then Remi had math homework,” Avaleigh answered.

  “Math gives me a headache,” Ms. Sadie confided.

  “I like it. I’m pretty good at it,” Remi said.

  “Well, good for you, baby. Because those of us who don’t, need to defer to those of you who do whenever math is needed,” she said, hugging Remi.

  “Avaleigh! Come show me how to make your baked beans,” Valerie yelled from the kitchen.

  “I’m being paged,” Avaleigh said, chuckling as she walked through the throngs of family in answer to Valerie’s call from the kitchen.

  “Daddy, can I help Uncle Maverik when he cooks like I help you?” Brandt asked Bane, looking up at him.

  “We can find out,” Bane said, taking Brandt’s hand and looking around for Maverik.

  “He’s out there,” Brandt said, pointing through the sliding glass door to the back yard, where Maverik was stacking charcoal in a huge brick barbecue pit.

  “Let’s go see if we can help,” Bane said, picking up his boy and heading outside. “Hey,” Bane called out, stepping out onto the back deck.

  “Hey!” Mav answered.

  “Brandt wants to help you light the fire and do the grilling,” Bane said.

  “Well, come on then. I need somebody out here that knows what they doing,” Maverik said.

  Bane walked down the back steps and into the yard to stand beside Maverik with Brandt in his arms.

  Brandt looked down into the bricked in pit and immediately saw a problem. “You need crunched up papers in there,” he said, pointing toward the charcoals.

  “I do?” Maverik asked.

  “Yep. That’s how my Daddy does it. And he knows the best about making fires,” Brandt explained.

  “Well, I guess I need crunched up papers then,” Maverik agreed. “Here,” he said, “Can you crunch up these papers so I can stick ‘em beneath the coals?”

  Bane set Brandt on the ground and Brandt got to work twisting the sheets of newspaper that Maverik saved for just this purpose. While he worked, Havoc and Hellen ran around the yard screaming and playing. Analise was swinging with Daisy, and attracted by the screeches and laughter of Hellen and Havoc, ran over toward them. Havoc turned to run and happened to accidentally run right into Analise, knocking her over and knocking the breath out of her.

  Faster than either Bane or Maverik could get to Analise, Brandt was at her side, glaring at Havoc while he tried to take care of Analise.

  Bane and Maverik quickly joined him and Bane picked Analise up, talking to her and soothing her as he calmed her down.

  “Damn! You feel that?” Maverik asked, looking from Brandt to Havoc.

  “Yeah, I did,” Bane said, watching Brandt in a stand off with Havoc.

  After a few tense moments, Havoc finally backed off. “I wouldn’t hurt her. She’s special. It was an accident,” he said.

  “You gotta be careful,” Brandt said.

  “Fine. I’ll be careful,” Havoc answered, stomping away and over to Bane who held Analise. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Lise,” he said. “I was just playing.”

  “She knows,” Bane said. “Don’t you?”

  Analise nodded. “I got in the way,” she said between hiccups from crying.

  “I’ll be carefuller when we play,” Havoc said. “I forget!” he said frustratedly. “I don’t have to be careful with Hellen! And when there’s other girls I just forget.”

  “It’s okay,” Analise assured Havoc.

  “You wanna go inside and get something to drink?” Havoc asked her.

  “I want my Daddy,” she said, still pouting.

  “Want me to bring you inside?” Bane asked, amusedly watching the kids work out their differences like little adults.

  Analise shook her long, bouncy, red curls. “I can walk,” she assured her uncle.

  “Okay, then,” Bane answered and put her down.

  “Come on, I’ll take you to him,” Havoc said, shuffling his feet just knowing he was going to get in trouble for knocking her over.

  When they disappeared in the house, Maverik looked over at Bane who was watching Brandt pace around the yard, still watching the back door Analise and Havoc had disappeared into.

  “I’m wondering if maybe the Alpha of their generation isn’t going to be your Brandt,” Maverik said.

  “Naw, surely Barron, or Havoc,” he said.

  “Brandt is three. He just backed Havoc down, and did it so forcefully I felt a bit of his dominance,” Maverik said.

  Bane grinned, then shrugged. “Yeah, I did, too.”

  “You got a strong boy there,” Maverik said. “It’s going to be interesting.”

  “It’ll be fine. They’re all family and it’ll all work out,” Bane said.

  “Why you crushing up papers, Daddy?” Hellen asked.

  “Because Brandt says we need ‘em to start the fire,” Maverik answered.

  “I’m gonna crush some, too,” Hellen announced.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Maverik answered.

  A few minutes later the flames were rising from the bricked in barbecue pit and Brandt and Hellen watched as the flames climbed into the sky.

  “You were right,” Hellen announced. “The papers makes it go higher.”

  “Yep,” Brandt said as he stood with his little hands on his hips and watched with a satisfied smile.

  “Ya’ll trying to burn down the whole damn place?” Kaid asked, opening the back door and coming outside.

  “Naw, just getting ready to grill some steaks and some boudin,” Maverik answered.

  “I’m going to find Barron,” Brandt announced, walking back up the stairs and pausing to slap Kaid’s outstretched hand as he waited for a high f
ive from the child.

  “You should’a seen it,” Maverik said to Kaid.

  “It’s nothing,” Bane said, hoping to get Maverik to drop it.

  “Seen what?” Kaid asked, coming out to join them.

  “Brandt just got irritated with Havoc. Shut. Him. Down,” Maverik said animatedly. “Felt that little burst of Alpha oppression.”

  “Oh, yes. Definitely,” Kaid agreed.

  “You’ve noticed?” Bane asked.

  “Absolutely. That one is most likely this clan’s next Alpha. Can’t believe you didn’t notice it before now,” Kaid said.

  Bane looked a little surprised to have Kaid say it so bluntly. “I mean, I felt it from time to time, but I figured we could all have been Alpha of a clan, or pack if we wanted it. Figured it would just be handed down,” he said.

  “That’s the thing, though. Being Alpha, and wanting to be Alpha are two different things. And our clan is unique in that we are several different species all mixed together into a family. We make it work because while we all love and support each other, we don’t all want to claim the same place in the family. If we did, some of us would have to separate and start our own clan,” Kaid explained.

  “You think it will come to that?” Bane asked.

  “No, I don’t. I think they’re raised as family and before they’re old enough to have to even worry about it, they’ll fall into their places. They’ll be fine, and they’ll always be there for each other. But, I’d be very surprised if it’s not Brandt at the helm.”

  “Why do you say that?” Bane asked.

  “Bam has girls, and while Bam is powerful as hell, he’s too soft hearted to be Alpha and his girls got that soft heart from him. Maverik’s babies are Maverik’s babies, and they don’t want to lead, they just want to be free to follow their hearts. Avaleigh’s boy — maybe. He might carve himself out a leadership role, but he might not. At the moment he’s content to just have a place to call home and be surrounded by people he trusts. Barron, all he wants to do is make sure everybody is happy. He’s strong, and if you piss him off, you got a world of trouble on your hands, but he’s not interested in controlling everything unless he’s pissed off. Figuring out Daisy is tricky. She’s a lot like Bam, but she’s got you in her, too, Bane. But Brandt… Brandt has never liked too much chaos. He’s given off waves of Alpha since he was barely able to walk. Every time one of the kids irritates him you can feel it. He’s happier alone than with a crowd. He’s observant, and he watches everybody and everything before he makes a decision. While he doesn't like to be in the middle of it, he likes to know where everybody is if we’re all together. I’m telling you, I could be wrong, but I really think Brandt is gonna lead the next generation, and I’m fine with that. The boy is fierce! They’ll all stand together just like we did, which one is at the helm doesn’t matter to me, because they will all stand with each other.”

  “And there you have it,” Maverik said. “The mark of a good Alpha. A complete lack of pride and pompousness.”

  “No reason for all that crap. We are family — period,” Kaid said.

  “Daddy!” Barron yelled from the porch.

  “What?” Kaid answered, turning around to look at his son.

  “Where’s Christian?” he asked.

  “Well, hell,” Kaid answered.

  “I got this,” Maverik answered.

  Maverik took his phone out of his pocket and pressed a few numbers. He waited while it rang and when the person on the other end of the phone picked up he spoke. “Hey! Why aren’t ya’ll here?” he barked into the phone.

  “First, where is here? And second, because nobody told us we’re supposed to be,” Vince answered.

  “My house, and you’re supposed to be. Steaks will be ready in about forty minutes. Everybody’s here. Hurry up,” Maverik said.

  “What’s the occasion?” Vince asked.

  “Avaleigh and Daniel are getting a baby daughter tomorrow,” Maverik explained.

  “We’re on our way,” Vince said.

  Chapter 9

  “Who was that?” Natalie asked, reaching for leftovers to reheat for dinner.

  “Maverik. Says they’re having a little get together and the steaks will be ready in forty minutes.”

  Natalie looked at the foil wrapped bowl of spaghetti in her hand, then up at Vince. “I’m in. Let’s go.”

  Natalie threw an extra set of Christian’s clothes in a tote bag and called out to her son who was playing in his room. “Christian? You want to go have dinner with your cousins over at Kaid’s?” she called out.

  “Yes!” Christian answered, jumping up and running into the living room.

  “Pick out some toys you can share and let’s go, then,” Vince told him.

  “Yaaayyy!” Christian shouted, running in circles before he headed back into his room.

  Vince chuckled and shook his head. “I’d pay to have his energy.”

  “Me, too,” Natalie said. “Hey, I heard you ask what the occasion is. Is there one, or they just wanted to have a cook out?”

  “Maverik said that Avaleigh and Daniel are adopting a baby girl. If I understood him right, they’ll be getting her tomorrow,” Vince said.

  “Ohhh, I bet that’s the baby that Delilah got custody of today,” Natalie said.

  “What baby? What happened?” Vince asked, with concern in his voice.

  “Remember that woman I told you about that Delilah had befriended, and how she lost her husband and all?” Natalie said.

  “Yeah, you said she passed away this morning,” Vince answered.

  “She did. But she left a will that gave Delilah custody over her baby. And I bet that Delilah is allowing Avaleigh and Daniel to adopt her.”

  “There’s no better home for a baby needing one than Avaleigh and Daniel’s. That child will have a great life.”

  “She will,” Natalie said.

  “I got a football! And I got my horseshoe game, and I got my bow and arrow, and…” Christian said.

  “Baby, I don’t know if you will need all those toys. You know they have toys, too. So, just bring a few,” Natalie said.

  “This is a few,” he said, turning to look at his Daddy. “How many’s a few?”

  “You’re good, dude. Let’s go,” Vince said, taking everything but the football from Christian, and standing at the door while he waited for his wife and child to wander out to the car so he could lock the door and join them.

  Once he got in the car and started it up, he looked over at Natalie who seemed suddenly a little down.

  “You alright, hon?” Vince asked.

  “I’m perfect,” she said, looking at him and reaching for his hand. “I just forget sometimes exactly how lucky I am.” Natalie glanced into the back seat where Christian was strapped into his booster seat for the ride. “We have our son. We have each other, and our life is blessed. I forget sometimes that other people don’t have what we do, and I just don’t want to ever take that for granted,” she explained.

  “We don’t, and we won’t,” Vince assured her. “I thank the powers that be every single night when I lie down beside you to sleep, and every single morning when I wake with you in my arms. When I hear Christian’s laugh, or I see him racing through the house, I take a minute to thank whoever put me in this place, right now. Because this is the only place I would ever be happy,” Vince said.

  “I try to do the same. I just get so caught up in trying to make sure everything is as it should be, that sometimes I forget to appreciate it,” Natalie confessed. “Then we hear of Avaleigh getting a second chance at motherhood, and I get reminded all over again that something I take as the every day norm, is so precious and not even an option for some people.”

  “It’s easy to forget while you’re busy living life, just how lucky you are sometimes,” Vince said.

  “It is. And, I was wondering…” Natalie said, pausing to be sure he was listening.

  “About what?” he asked.

  “Christian i
s getting older. And with Maria and Eustace having their baby, and Avaleigh and Daniel getting theirs, I was kind of missing having a baby.”

  Vince’s Lion surged forward and looked through his eyes at their Mate. “You want another baby?” he asked, his voice all grumbly with the presence of his Lion.

  “Yeah, I do,” Natalie admitted with a shy smile.

  Vince reached for her, holding her face in his hands. “So do I,” he said, kissing her lips.

  “Really?” she asked, grinning at his response.

  “Yes, really.”

  “Can we go now?” Christian piped up from the back seat.

  Both Vince and Natalie laughed. “You still sure?” Vince asked.

  “Yes, I am,” Natalie answered.

  “Then we will. We’ll start trying tonight,” he said, kissing her lips again, before putting the car in gear and backing out of their driveway.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  The next morning Kaid very carefully drove up the drive toward their house, and brought Delilah’s car to a stop in her usual parking place front and center of their porch. He got out and went around to the back door at the same time Delilah did. He held the door open for her and when she got the baby carrier out of the car, he held it for her while she unstrapped Angelle and took her into her arms. He closed the car door and followed Delilah over to Avaleigh and Daniel’s house. Kaid knocked lightly on the door, then let himself and Delilah in. As they stepped into the living room, Avaleigh, Daniel and Remi were coming toward them from the kitchen.

  “Avaleigh,” Kaid said, focusing primarily on her. “We have someone who’s anxious to say hello.”

  Avaleigh watched spellbound as Delilah walked over to her and placed Angelle in her arms. Avaleigh’s lips trembled as she looked down on the tiny little face with the bright blue eyes that looked back at her. “She’s beautiful,” Avaleigh whispered.

  “She’s got blue eyes and dark hair, just like you,” Daniel said, standing beside Avaleigh with his arm around her while he pulled the baby blanket away from Angelle's face with his other hand. “Welcome home, baby girl,” he said, smiling down at the baby, almost as emotional as Avaleigh was.