It never even occurred to me to check the hours, and I was relieved to see it was open all night. It was a little hole-in-the-wall joint, but smelled absolutely delicious. I ended up getting a double order of lo mein, so that I could have some too.
Once I had it all wrapped up to go, I got back in the car and headed home to my mate.
I didn’t think there was a better feeling in the world than opening a door to announce, “I’m home,” and seeing Louis there to greet me.
“That smells amazing. I can’t believe you went all that way for me,” he said. “Here, I set out plates…”
“You didn’t have to do that,” I scolded, secretly pleased by my omega taking care of me. I set out the food on the plates and sat down. “Ready?”
“Starving! Thank you again, Cambry. I’ve been thinking about this food for a week.”
“I’ll get it every night if you want.”
Louis blew me a kiss, then took a bite of crab rangoon and moaned. “Oh yes, this is delicious!” He snapped open a set of chopsticks and twisted up a big bite of lo mein. “This sauce, is incredible, Cambry. Wait ‘til you try it.” He slurped it up eagerly. Then, his eyes widened and he clapped a hand over his mouth.
“Louis?”
He jumped up from the table and raced for the bathroom.
Chapter Eleven
Louis
I came down the stairs after another of my increasingly frequent naps. As I went, I rested my hand on my massive stomach. I felt absolutely huge, even though I had another month to go. The baby kicked where my hand was. I moved my palm around, trying to figure out which direction he or she was facing. Like always, I couldn't quite figure it out. Was I feeling a head or a butt? And when I was pretty sure I was being kicked by feet on one side, the exact same feeling would happen on the other. So, either the baby was punching and kicking or he was rolling all around. It really was quite wild to feel him inside me, wiggling and moving.
I reached the main level and spotted Cambry sitting in the chair by the fireplace, scribbling intently in a notebook. Even though we'd spent just about every single day together for the last two months, my heart still fluttered when I saw him. I paused on the stairway, just watching him, feeling an almost overwhelming sense of love for the man I still hardly knew. Grinning, I went the rest of the way down and caught sight of myself in the bathroom mirror as I did. Once again I paused, this time to take in my new and improved, younger reflection.
Cambry either heard or sensed me, because he looked up and smiled. “How was your nap?”
“It was good,” I said. “I’m still tired or maybe hungry.”
He laughed. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, no, I’m fine. What are you up to?”
“I was coming up with some plans for the café. I think I've got a pretty good one in place. But, of course, I want to run it by you first.” He stood as I joined him and gestured for me to take over the chair. I sank gratefully down, in spite of having just gotten up from a nap, and smiled.
“Okay,” I said. “What's the plan?”
“Well,” he said, settling onto the arm of the chair. “Unfortunately, the baby is going to be born pretty much right as tourist season starts for the spring”
I nodded. I had noticed that.
“Which means,” continued Cambry, “that if we want to get things open again in time for the season, we're basically going to be scrambling to turn everything around during your last month of pregnancy. And while the baby is still a newborn.” I nodded again. “So, I was thinking, we close for the season.”
That was something I hadn't thought of. Then again, I could never have afforded to close before. “Hmm, okay. Go on.”
“Well,” he said, “if we close for the season, it gives us a chance to focus on just you and the baby for a few months, which I think is important.” I nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. “And it gives us plenty of time to make plans and arrangements, and start changing things up. Now, I'm not going to change your mother's aesthetic, but a fresh coat of paint, some new menu boards. A little touch here and there, just to shake things up, and make it look nice and new.”
“Yeah, it definitely could use that,” I said, glancing at the peeling paint on the walls. Frankly, I was embarrassed by the state of the outside. The salty sea air didn't help when it came to paint, and the shop was in desperate need of a few coats of it.
“It also gives us a chance to take our time hiring new staff and giving them some very thorough training,” Cambry went on. “And it lets us really get the marketing nailed down. We close, put up a big ol’ banner: Grand Reopening! We catch the interest of the locals and the vacationers who come back year after year, and we get them excited for it. And next spring, we open with a bang, with all brand new everything. And we knock their socks off with the best coffee they've ever tasted.”
“I like it,” I said. “That sounds great.”
“You're okay closing it for the summer?” he asked. “Hell, not even the summer. It would practically be a year before we reopen.”
“I am. To be honest, I already feel better,” I admitted. “I have been kind of stressing about all the things we need to do and how quickly we'd have to get everything together. I think taking a year off is exactly what we need.” I hesitated and then added, “But can we afford that? I mean, I'm in the red.”
Cambry waved a hand dismissively. “We can afford it. Don't you worry. Besides, think of how much money we’ll save on supplies if we're closed for the summer. I’ve got plenty to burn anyway.”
“That's true,” I said. We wouldn't be bringing any money in, but we wouldn't really be spending much either. I didn’t miss another reference to his supposedly healthy bank account. “Why money to burn?” I asked. “I know you have a successful café, but even then…”
He sighed and turned away, not meeting my eyes.
“This isn’t the first time you’ve acted like you have a lot of money,” I pressed. The first time, I was concerned he had come by the money fraudulently. Being turned and getting pregnant had distracted me. “I’m your true mate and if you insist on giving me so much money, shouldn’t I know a bit about our finances?”
“Yes, yes you should,” Cambry said reluctantly. “It’s just… I guess I’m uncomfortable with it…”
I folded my arms, fixing him with a somewhat impatient look.
“My aunt and uncle own a lot of developed land on Half Moon Island,” he said after a long pause. “They collect quite a tidy sum from business leases and rental properties. And they divide the profits up evenly between them and my cousins… and me.” He shrugged, embarrassed.
“You don’t feel like you deserve it, since you’re not their son?” I guessed.
Cambry nodded. “And by adding me, they’re splitting it up another way and all of my cousins get less. I feel bad getting it, especially with… well, I hate to spend it, so it just piles up. But I can’t think of anything better to spend it on than my true mate.”
“I thought your cousins all had businesses of their own,” I said. “Surely they don’t begrudge you getting a cut of it. Besides, wouldn’t you feel even less like a full member of the family if you didn’t get an even portion?”
He winced. “Yeah, I suppose that’s true.” My stomach rumbled and he laughed. “I heard that. Why don't I get you something?”
“If you insist,” I said, knowing he did. It felt strange to have him fuss over me, and yet I enjoyed it.
I sat back while he bustled around in the little kitchen. And soon he had a sandwich and a mug of something. He brought it over to me.
“This one is a half-caf, because I know you're not at your caffeine limit for the day.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“Try it.”
I chuckled and took a sniff. Once again, it was completely different from some of the other coffees he had offered me. I tasted it cautiously, then took a couple more sips.
“It's not bad,” I conceded. “
But probably still not something I would order by choice,” I said gently, hoping not to offend him.
Fortunately, he threw back his head and laughed. “Just you wait, Louis,” he promised. “I'm going to find something to get you excited about coffee.”
“I really think I can run a café without enjoying coffee,” I told him. “Besides, I do drink it. I just don’t love it.”
“I'm not going to have a mate who doesn't like coffee…” He raised a playful eyebrow. “Or cats.”
I smiled at him and admitted, “Actually, I think I'm quite starting to like cats now.” I stood and caught him by the shirt, pulling him close to me for a kiss. “In fact, there's one in particular I'm growing quite fond of…”
~~~***~~~
“Well, thank you. I really appreciate it, Segel. I’ll tell Cambry, thank you.” I hung up the phone with a groan. I couldn’t believe I missed another appointment due to the weather. Instead of finishing up my fourth check-up with Segel, I had just missed my third scheduled ultrasound, and my last chance to see the baby. I was too far along now that Segel, not to mention Cambry, didn’t want me making the six-hour round-trip to the office. The weather was also making it tough for Segel to get out to me, so I had only seen him once.
I would have been nervous, but he had instructed Cambry on how to measure my stomach, and had me tracking my weight, and counting baby kicks. So far, everything seemed fine. I was heavier and larger than Segel said he would have liked, but after a couple of blood sugar tests he was confident I just had a large baby. Not to mention a very active one. Segel wanted me to feel ten kicks every two hours, it was usually at least twice that. He suggested that if the baby was indeed on the big side, I was naturally feeling more movement. Either way, the baby and I seemed healthy, and I wasn’t worried about my missed appointments. Although, I was a bit disappointed I hadn’t gotten to see the baby yet.
And now, I was so close, this was supposed to be my final appointment. My due date was just two weeks away. Segel had just told me his schedule was clear enough that he would come spend the week in Port Canard to make sure he was nearby when the big day came. If all went well, I’d have a baby in just two short weeks.
After hanging up, I plodded downstairs, feeling off balance from my ridiculously huge stomach. I had to admit, sometimes I had seen a pregnant woman and thought she looked somewhat huge, but I couldn't believe just how uncomfortable it was. I felt like I was constantly at risk for tripping. And I was beyond annoyed that the weather was still this bad in early April. I felt nervous every time I went outside and there was ice, absolutely positive that I was going to slip and fall.
I put a hand underneath my belly, lifting it just a little, and supporting it as I walked down the stairs. I couldn't imagine how people did a full nine month pregnancy. This was awful. I could hear Cambry talking and went down the rest of the steps as quickly as I dared, to see who he was talking with, before seeing that he was on his cell phone. He was just hanging up as I reached the bottom steps, and turned toward me with a wide smile.
“They got him!” he cried. “The hunter!” He laughed in disbelief and sat down on a stool, running a hand through his hair. “God, I'm so relieved.”
“Oh,” I said, pushing aside my rushing thoughts of kick counting and the upcoming due date. “You mean the one who was after your family?”
“Yeah.” Cambry waved his phone. “That was Carrick, letting me know the hunter is finally in custody.” He sighed. “What a relief.”
“Seriously. How did they catch him?” I asked.
He shook his head and chuckled. “Brooks got him.” His mouth twisted into a wry grin. “I'm glad; I know Brooks was itching to pay him back for shooting him.”
“Brooks is your cousin's mate, right? I thought the hunter shot Carrick.”
“He shot Brooks too,” Cambry said darkly. “Nearly killed him.” He shivered visibly and a haunted look crossed his face.
“You were there?” I guessed. A chill ran up my spine at the thought of how close Cambry had been to the hunter. I couldn't imagine life now had something happened to him, even though we hadn’t met.
“It happened outside my café,” he said softly. “They brought him into the back room, so that Carrick could turn him. He would have died otherwise.” He heaved another sigh. “At least it's all over now.”
“That means when you go back home, you don't have to worry about avoiding you café anymore,” I said slowly.
He grinned. “Right. That'll be nice.” He must have caught something in my tone, because worry immediately crossed his face. He stood and regarded me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I just…” I decided I might as well voice my concerns. “I'm kind of worried, I guess. You seem so fond of your café, and your whole family is there on that island. I know you've been talking about my grand reopening here next spring and everything, but…” I hesitated.
He immediately knew. “You're worried about where we're going to live,” he said softly. “Because you don't think that I want to leave my café, and you don't want to leave your mother's?”
“Sort of,” I said. “I mean, I honestly don't know where I'd want to live. I hate to leave here. But I don't want to make you leave your home either.”
“If you're at all worried that I would leave you….” he said, as he rushed over. Cambry took both of my hands and held them tightly. “I will always go wherever you do,” he said firmly. “You don't have to worry about that. If this is where you want to stay, this is where we will make our home.”
“What about your family though?”
He shrugged. “They'll be all right.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Half a dozen people call you every morning after a full moon to make sure you're okay. I know you feel like you're the odd one out sometimes, but I really don't think you are. I think they love you like a brother. And that your aunt and uncle love you like a son. And I think and I don't they'd be very happy if you moved away just for me.”
Cambry smiled. “You're probably right,” he said softly. He shook his head. “In fact, I know they feel that way. I truly do. I just… I don't know. I guess sometimes I have trouble believing it. But,” he added. “I wouldn't be the only one who moved away for a true mate.”
“You wouldn't be?” I asked. “I thought your whole family lived there.”
“My cousin Lysee lives in New Orleans with her mate and their child. They did live on Half Moon for a while, but they ended up going to live near her mate’s family instead. Besides,” he said with a dark chuckle. “I’d call and visit a hell of a lot more than Sladin does.”
“Sladin?” I asked. It was an unfamiliar name.
“My cousin,” Cambry said, somehow not actually sounding all that convinced. “He… well, I don't know. Nobody really does. He just up and left Half Moon one day, ages ago. I was hardly more than a toddler at the time; not sure I even remember him. He just left and travels, I guess.” He shrugged. “He hasn't been back at all, as far as I can tell. He calls once in a while, but my aunt is usually beside herself missing him.”
“Is he an alpha? Isn’t that dangerous to be alone like that?”
“Yeah. He’s young though,” Cambry said. “I mean, age is just one of many risk factors for full moons, but if he’s happy… Who knows. I haven’t told my family about you yet, for all we know Sladin has a true mate.”
“And you think you’re the black sheep,” I said, gently teasing. “Sounds like you’ve spent more time with your cousins than he has.”
He laughed. “Good point.” Then, he tilted his head. “What was that sound?”
“Mail,” I said, nodding to where a couple of envelopes had dropped through the mail slot and onto the rug. “I’ll get it.”
Before I could even stand, he was waving me off and heading for the door. He bent down and grabbed the letters.
“Hey, this one is for…” He trailed off and stared at it, eyes wide. “No way…”
“
What is it?” I asked.
“Oh my God,” he breathed. “I think it's from my mystery benefactor…” He stepped swiftly to the window and flung back the curtain, looking outside. He moved almost like he was suspicious, if not nervous.
“Your what?” I asked.
“It's kind of a long story,” he said. He walked to one of the tables and sat down, tapping the envelope on it like he was reluctant to open it.
“We have time,” I chuckled.
“I suppose we do,” agreed Cambry. “Can I get you anything to eat before I tell you all about my weird stalker?”
“I’m fine, just quite curious,” I said. I stood and joined him, holding out a hand. He passed me the envelope and I studied it. It was just a plain, somewhat thick envelope addressed to him. No return address or anything.
“So... you know how I feel about my uh… my place in my family,” Cambry began. I nodded. “Well, for most of my life, someone has given me gifts. Expensive gifts.”
My eyes narrowed. That wasn’t what I expected. “Expensive gifts? Like what?”
“One Christmas, all of my cousins wanted kayaks. I was probably twenty or so? Anyway, everyone wanted a kayak. But they were expensive and I…” He bowed his head and shrugged helplessly. “I didn’t feel like I deserved that much spent on me. So, I made it clear I did not want a kayak. And I didn’t get one… not from my aunt and uncle. But when spring came and my cousins went to try them out for the first time, there was an extra one in the boathouse. One with a card with nothing but my name on it.”
“Your aunt and uncle got it for you anyway?” I guessed.
He shook his head. “No. They didn’t. They didn’t know where it came from, neither did my cousins.”
“You’ve mentioned other aunts and uncles? And I think you said you have grandfathers?”
Cambry shook his head again. “Half of them didn’t even know about the kayaks. The rest swore it wasn’t them. I was grateful, but confused. Then, a couple of years later, I went to pay my half of my college tuition – my aunt insisted on splitting it 50/50, she didn’t want me to pay at all – it was paid in full.”
Espresso for His Omega Page 9
