by Leyla Hunt
The door creaked open and a doctor popped his head in.
“Hi, doctor,” said Nico, getting up.
“Hi. Could we have a word?” asked the doctor.
We filed out into the hallway.
The doctor read something on his clipboard and sighed ever so slightly. “Look, generally, he’s doing fine, but he’s showing symptoms of an infection, and we haven’t pinpointed the source.We have to do some testing. He was on track to be discharged in a couple of days, but that may be postponed now.”
Nico furrowed his brow. “Oh, no. Is he getting treated for the infection?”
The doctor nodded. “We’re doing everything we can. We have to fight this infection off before he leaves, so that means staying for the foreseeable future until he’s all clear.”
“I understand.”
“I’m aware that he’s an orphan.” The doctor lowered his voice as people passed by us. “Do you know where he’ll be staying once he’s discharged?”
“I—I was hoping he can stay with me. I don’t know of any homes for orphans in town. Besides, I’ve become close to him.”
“I see. You might have to get the approval of a judge down at the courthouse, but I don’t foresee any huge hurdles. It’s best for him to stay with someone who can give him one-on-one care.”
“Yes, that’s what I was thinking,” said Nico.
I was so proud of Nico for stepping up to the plate. His selfless and caring nature shone through his every action.
Once we were alone, I grabbed his hand. “This is such a great thing you’re doing.”
Nico shrugged. “Wouldn’t anyone do the same thing? It makes sense, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it does,” I said, kissing him tenderly on the forehead.
He asked for some alone time with Lupo, so I went to the cafeteria to get a coffee and sat down, brainstorming for the fundraiser. I’d have to get the word out somehow. I could definitely post on social media and put some flyers up around the downtown area. I racked my brain for any contacts who could help. Wait! There was George down at the radio station, and my cousin Dex at the newspaper. I made notes on my phone, which I then put away.
“Hi, Will, how are you?”
Rosemary Vale, the former mayor of Vale Valley, smiled kindly at me. She was a wolf shifter, like us, though not an arctic wolf, and from a different pack.
“Hi, Rosemary. I’m fine, thanks. How are you?”
“I’m doing great. I love this time of year, you know. Come to think of it, I think I spotted you at the market last night.”
“Yes, I was there. It just keeps getting better every year.”
“It does. What brings you to the hospital? I hope there’s no trouble with your mom.”
Rosemary always took a genuine interest in the residents. She really cared, and it showed in her eyes, which never failed to smile along with her lips.
“No, it’s not her.” I explained to her about Lupo and the fundraiser, and how I was thinking of ways to get the word out.
She waved her hand. “Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll mention it to a few friends, and you’ll probably be over capacity. But I won’t tell the fire chief.” She winked and went on her way, but not before promising to drop by for a spot of whiskey.
I breathed a sigh of relief. When Rosemary Vale said she’d get something done, there was no stopping her. In any case, I had almost two weeks until the fundraiser, which was plenty of time.
My mind turned to the holidays. I imagined Nico with me at my mother’s place for Christmas dinner, his face glowing as he opened his presents. I’d never dreamt that I’d be mated at this point in my life. It wasn’t easy for me to let people in. I was too used to losing those I loved, and didn’t want to ever feel such pain again.
I sighed. Where was this going with Nico? I had no answers—all I knew was I wanted him near me. I cared about his dreams and wishes, and wanted him to be happy. Was that love? I had no idea.
Speak of the devil—Nico appeared and sat down at my table.
“Hey, I’m back. He fell asleep. He needs his rest.”
He was so handsome with his hair flopping over one eye.
“Want a tea?” I asked.
“Sure. Do you have plans for the rest of the day?”
I didn’t, and I realized it was because I avoided making any plans in hopes of spending the day with him.
I shook my head. “No. I’m all yours. Let me get your tea. Save our table.”
When I returned with a cup of steaming tea, he was staring off into space.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Nothing. Just wondering what it will be like to have a little kid. I watched some of my little cousins back in France, but that’s about it.”
“I have no idea. I’ve never even thought of having kids.”
“Really?” Nico tilted his head inquisitively. “You’ve never wanted them?”
Oh, man, why couldn’t I keep my big mouth shut?
“I’ve never felt the urge to procreate, no. But it’ll probably happen at some point. Hopefully sooner rather than later.” I gave him a lingering look.
I imagined him with a big, round belly, and slightly swollen face. It made me smile, even while scaring the crap out of me. I wasn’t ready to become a father—I wasn’t ready to let anyone in.
“What are you thinking?” he asked with a wry smile.
“The fundraiser. I’m making plans.” I tapped my temple. He didn’t have to know what I was really thinking.
“Oh, that. I’ll figure everything out. You don’t have to worry about it. Providing the venue is a huge help already.”
“No, I’m going to enjoy planning. Maybe I have an event-planning career in my future.” I winked at him, taking my last sip of tea.
Nico grinned. “I have a feeling you could achieve anything you want to.”
My chest puffed up. It felt good hearing those words.
“Let’s try a bit of sambuca,” I said to Chester, who promptly handed me the bottle. Nico had inspired me to come up with a new martini. I was going to call it the French Pussycat, and it was a surprise I planned to unveil the night of the fundraiser. It was funny how Nico was now at the center of my life. It seemed I couldn’t go longer than a few minutes without thinking about him and his sweet smile, or the way he brushed his hair back from his face.
The bar was closed, but Iwent in to do some bookkeeping and work on this drink. The books didn’t look too great, but hopefully the fundraiser will breathe some new life into the establishment and bring people back.
I was worried about my mother. I knew she didn’t have much income, and her old house required a lot of maintenance. Her independence was important to her, so while I had no qualms about her possibly moving in with me, I knew she wouldn’t want that. If the bar could start turning a profit, it would take a lot of weight off both our shoulders.
I took a sip of my experimental drink. No good. Something was missing. I made a note on my laptop next to the recipe I’d come up with and started a new drink. Just as I was about to pour another shot of sambuca, my phone rang.
“Hi, Nico.” It was great to hear his voice.
“Hey, hon. Great news!” He was out of breath.
“What is it?”
“I got temporary custody of Lupo!”
My heart swelled with happiness for the both of them.
“For real? Congrats!”
“Yes, thanks. I made the application early this morning, and by lunchtime someone from the city came to check out my place and interview me, you know, to see if it’s a suitable environment. And I was approved! I’m so relieved!”
“That’s awesome! Let’s celebrate!”
“It’s only temporary for now, because he needs emergency shelter. They still have to investigate whether he has any family nearby that can take him in.”
“I doubt they’ll find any of his family if they haven’t already. You’re an angel. He’s lucky to have been found by you.”
“Thanks, though I think anyone would have done the same.”
“Perhaps, but he’s still lucky.”
“It’s not permanent yet.” A hint of disappointment tainted his voice.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure everything will work out perfectly in the end. They just have to make sure you can protect him and that you’re not a crazy child abuser.”
He laughed. “I’m definitely not one of those, I can assure you.”
“You don’t have to tell me. I know you’d be a great dad.” I coughed. What on earth compelled me to say that? “I’m happy for you. Let’s get together to celebrate, promise?”
“It’s a deal.”
Nico
I spent a week getting my house ready for Lupo, and the big day was finally here. I would pick him up just after lunch if all went well with discharge. They’d told me his infection was clear, and there was no reason to keep him in the hospital.
I’d gone out and bought what I thought were age-appropriate toys and games and had set up the extra room on the first floor for him, complete with kids’ bedding and all that jazz. When he got cleared to use stairs, I’d move him to the guest room, hopefully permanently.
I smiled as I surveyed his temporary digs. I’d bought a four-post bed with a canopy and had put up a few posters of his favorite movie and cartoon characters. It looked cozy and warm, and what all six-year-olds deserved.
After today, things would never be the same. I’d have to consider his needs before making decisions. Even simple things like running out for a coffee would be more difficult, but I didn’t mind. I’d take care of him the best I could. My heart warmed as I pictured him by the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room. I wanted him to live his best life, and if I could help him even just a little, I’d be a happy man.
Speaking of errands, there was one I’d been putting off for a couple of days, but it couldn’t wait any longer, so I jumped in my car and after letting it warm for a minute, I headed off to the drug store. My heart pumped as I arrived and searched quickly for what I wanted—a pregnancy test. I glanced around furtively, hoping no one I knew would see me. If it was negative, there was no reason for anyone to know I’d even tested.
In my heart of hearts, I wanted to be pregnant, even if my relationship with Will wasn’t cast in stone. There was nothing I wanted more than to hold our baby in my arms, with Lupo and Will by my side. As soon as I paid, I stuffed the box in my pocket and hightailed it back to the car.
Ten minutes later, I was clutching my hands and staring at the test window, willing the second little line to show up. There were those who waited until the three minutes were up, but I had to know as soon as possible.
I held my breath and squinted. Could it be? Was it a shadow? Something was there, but it wasn’t that dark. I swallowed the lump in my throat. I hadn’t felt this nervous since I could remember.
I blinked.
I waited for it.
It wasn’t my imagination—the line became clearer as the seconds passed.
I was pregnant!
I finally pushed out the breath I’d been holding hostage. Yes! I fisted the test and ran to the couch, sinking into it. Staring at the test again, a million thoughts went through my mind.
Will had to know, but when should I tell him? He was busy at work today, and I wanted to tell him in person, not over the phone. I’d just have to wait until evening to tell him. My parents had to know, as well. We’ve been in regular contact and I usually told them whatever news I had right away, but in this case, Will should be the first to know.
I drew the curtains open. The snow was coming down slowly, but steadily. I had to clear my head, and I knew how to do just that.
I threw my clothes—all of them—onto a chair in the dining room and opened the back door that led to my backyard. Damn, it was cold, but I had to step outside and close the door behind me before doing my thing. I hopped onto the snow-covered patio, took a deep breath, and shifted into my cat.
My bones shrunk and my skin tingled as my rich silver and grey fur grew to its full length. We Norwegian forest cats were known for our long, lush coat, and spotting me seemed to be the highlight of some residents’ day.
I wanted to stay out of sight, so I headed toward the forest, away from prying eyes. My fur camouflaged me and the forest was just a few backyards away, so I stayed off the streets and got across a couple of fences. I arrived at the edge of the forest within a few minutes.
Meow.
I made my presence known so all the critters can hide instead of being scared half to death when I invade their territory.
I jumped and climbed and ran through the forest as fast as I could, kicking the sparkly snowflakes into the air. My soul was at peace—being this free was something to cherish.
Finding a perfect tree with solid branches was a treat, and I climbed up and lazed around for a few minutes, watching the action down below with rapt attention. When I had enough, I carefully creeped back down and went on my way. I was probably close to the edge of the trees, judging by the change in smells and sounds.
Spotting a house with familiar siding through the trees, I crept up to the fence and stopped to take it all in. It dawned on me—this was Will’s house!
Meow.
I felt a purr rising within me. Looking left to right to make sure it was safe, I jumped on top of the fence and landed on the other side with a thud. I walked around the perimeter of the house, but he was nowhere to be found. Figured. He would have called me if he’d finished work early.
I thought it would be fun to let him know I’d been there, but peeing on his house seemed like overkill, so I settled on rubbing my cheek against a corner at the front entrance. He’d surely smell my pheromones that way.
I curled up for a few minutes on a chair he kept on his covered front porch. Everything seemed fine, so I hopped off and headed back around the house to make my way home. I had no idea what time it was, and I still wanted to take a shower before going to the hospital.
On the other side of Will’s fence, I took one last look at his house and disappeared into the forest.
“Here we go,” I exclaimed, opening my front door. I’d hoped Lupo would be in brighter spirits, considering he was finally leaving the hospital, but his eyes lacked sparkle. I tried to put myself in his shoes—he was young, on crutches, and entering a virtual stranger’s home. He still had plenty of reasons to be less than joyful, I guessed.
I helped him sink into the chair I’d left in the front foyer and pulled off his boots, replacing them with comfy bunny slippers.
“This home is your home now, too.” I brought his one little bag in from the front porch. “At least for the time being.”
He nodded, and I may have seen the beginnings of a small smile. He sighed. I’d been advised that it probably wasn’t a great idea to discuss my adoption application with him, because creating a possibly false hope would mess with his psyche, so I resisted telling him it might be his forever home. There’d be a chance to discuss that when the time came.
“Thanks, Nico.” he stared up at me with his big blue eyes.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
I motioned toward the living room, but he just stood there and I couldn’t help wondering what was going through his mind.
“I need to use the washroom.”
Oh, crap. I hadn’t really turned my mind to the possibility I might have to help him with such intimate tasks. Now was as good a time to learn as any, I figured.
“Do you need my help?” I was sure he would, but it wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t ask him first.
“Yes, please.”
Two minutes later, we emerged from the bathroom with happy smiles on both our faces. I was glad to have pulled that off without any awkward moments.
“Can I watch a little TV?”
I chuckled. “Sure, hon. Let’s go.”
Although he was smiling, I could tell he was still scarred from all that he’d e
xperienced. I wanted to listen to him tell his story, hug him, and make him feel better, but I wasn’t sure how to get him to start talking. I planned to speak to a child counselor whose number the hospital had given me. I had no experience with kids, especially not those who’d been orphaned and traumatized, so I needed all the help I could get.
I set him up on the couch and pushed the coffee table closer so he could reach it.
“Are you hungry, Lupo?”
He smiled and nodded calmly.
“Okay, good. I’ve got a lovely casserole that’s right about to go into the oven. It’ll only take twenty minutes or so.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Nico.”
My chest tightened. I had a feeling he was thanking me for a lot more than lunch. “You’re welcome, dear. Anytime. And please, call me Nico.” I couldn’t help but smile at the sweet little boy.
I turned and hurried to the kitchen as tears stung my eyes. What made me so emotional? Was it the hormones, or all the feelings that came with taking in Lupo? I had no idea, but the constant weepiness was annoying the hell out of me.
I set the oven to pre-heat, and pulled the potato and sausage casserole out of the fridge and put it on the counter. I’d prepared it ahead of time, and now it just had to bake for a little while. As I stood in the kitchen leaning against the counter, images of Lupo’s haunting eyes flashed before me. The little boy had a long road ahead of him, and I planned to be there all the way.
I instinctively reached for my belly and began contemplating how to tell Will the happy news. Could I come up with some cutesy plan? I racked my brain and came up with something cute but groan-worthy. I quickly opened the cabinets to check whether I had some buns. Perfect, I had a whole bag. My plan was awesome, even if a little tacky. I’d just wait until Lupo went to bed, though. I’d tell him eventually, too, but only after Will knew. Perhaps it would be best to tell him together.
“Lunch is ready!” I called out once the oven beeped.
