by Kasey Belle
Our Calypso? She was not going to cry. Nope.
“Fate is never wrong about these things,” Maggie agreed.
Thorne kissed Callie’s cheek and released her. “Absolutely perfect.” He clapped Matt on the shoulder. “I believe you’ve met your match, Matty. Karma. Isn’t she wonderful?”
Matt growled and took a playful swipe at his grandfather making him laugh. Maggie, Stephan, and Deidre joined in ribbing Matt about there finally being balance in the universe where his comeuppance was concerned. He shoved them out the door and told them not to return until they could play nice which only made Matt’s family laugh harder.
She and Matt left not long after his family for Koda’s. The children were excited when they learned Callie and Matt were official mates. They completely freaked out when she and Matt asked if they were okay with them trying to obtain custody. They responded with tears and laughter and happy little faces. They made sure to caution Emmarie and Lula that it may not happen quickly. There were certain things that had to happen before she and Matt could foster them. However, Callie did let them know their seeking custody didn’t negate their temporary placement with Koda and Ella, so they could stay together and didn’t have to leave Sanctuary.
Kevin informed her and Matt that things would run smother if they were married. A wedding didn’t mean the same to her as it did to humans. A civil ceremony at the courthouse was fine, and she told Matt as much. The girls thought it would be fun and begged to be there. Whatever made them happy made Callie happy. She and Matt went and applied for a license and scheduled the ceremony for Saturday. They invited his parents and grandparents as well as Koda, Ella, and their pack. The small ceremony grew to Callie and Matt with twenty-plus guests.
After lunch, Matt shifted into his wolf and played with the children in the snow.
Callie had been excited and awed to meet his wolf for the first time. Matt in wolf form was a sight to behold. His body was covered in dark almost black fur except for a patch of pure white on his chest. His eyes turned from their usual dark blue to ice. He was simply gorgeous. She urged Cat to shift with him. But her feline other half wasn’t fond of snow touching her paws. They played until late afternoon and the children finally expended all their pent-up energy. Callie hated leaving them as did Matt. Emmarie, Lula, and Sage weren’t too happy about it either and begged to go with them. Callie sat them down and explained if they wanted the judge to pick her and Matt as their guardians then they had to follow the law from now on.
They decided to run into town instead of heading straight home. Matt needed to groceries and suggested they eat dinner first since they were both starving. He pulled into the diner parking lot when Callie’s phone rang. She didn’t even need to look at the screen to know who was calling her. The feeling of foreboding that washed over her to her all she needed to know. She frowned when the caller ID confirmed it. Might as well get it over with.
“Hello, Father.”
“You mated a mongrel?”
“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”
Matt took her hand and brought it to his lips. She smiled at him. He returned it, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He was hurting for her. Callie could tell he wanted to rip the phone away and protect her, not because he thought she was weak but because he loved her.
“You will deny this beast and come home. Now.” Callie felt her father’s power through the phone. It had the opposite reaction he intended. It didn’t make her want to submit. It pissed her off.
“That’s a big not going to happen.” Her father was stunned silent. “My mate is not a beast or a mongrel. He is a fine man and his wolf is beautiful. You don’t have to accept him or me for that matter. You’re the one who will miss out. On me. On any grandchildren we have.”
“Abominations,” he spat.
“Only to small-minded bigots such as yourself. Whether they are pups, kittens, or hybrids we will love them as will Matt’s family.”
“If you do not come home, you will be shunned. You will no longer be my daughter or your mother’s. You won’t have a family.”
She knew it was coming, but it still hurt. “I’m sorry you feel that way. I may not have you anymore, but I do have a family with my mate. If you have a change of heart or if Mama, Leander, or Ajax would like to get in touch, you know how, and you know where we’ll be. Goodbye, Father.”
Callie sighed and slid her phone back in her purse.
“You okay, goddess?”
She nodded then shook her head. “I don’t know. I knew that would happen, but I still hoped it wouldn’t.” She looked at him. Matt’s concern was written all over his face. “I’m sad for him. For them. Living that life. It’s exhausting. I know. I never wanted it. I have you, the kids, and your family. I have everything right here.”
“Except your family.”
“If it is so easy for them to write me off, I never had them to begin with. Did I?” She shrugged. No use crying over something that wouldn’t change. She was better off. “Let’s go inside. I’m hungry. I want something fried, loaded with calories, and extremely bad for me.”
Matt leaned over the console and kissed her. “Sounds like a plan, my sexy goddess. If you clean your plate, I’ll let you claim me later.”
She pressed a palm to heart and channeled Scarlett O’Hara. “Be still my heart. You would do that for little ole me. Why Matthew Stone, you are too good to me.”
Chapter 19
“Merry Christmas!” Matt’s mother exclaimed as she burst through his front door. Matt’s dad stumbled in behind her with an armful of wrapped packages. Matt snickered, planted a kiss on his mother’s cheek, then rushed to relieve the man of some of his burden only to have the man wave him away.
“It smells wonderful in here.”
“That would be Callie’s magic skills in the kitchen.”
His mother pulled a face. “They definitely aren’t your magic skills.”
Matt placed a hand on his chest. “You wound me, Mom.”
“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes. “Not being able to cook more than scrambled eggs and toast without setting the kitchen on fire is not news to you.”
“Hashtag truth.” Because, she wasn’t wrong.
His dad laughed and bumped his shoulder against Matt’s. “Remember that time you burnt the microwave popcorn. How you did that when you used the popcorn setting, I’ll never understand.”
Matt shuttered at the memory. He had to sleep in his old room at his parent’s house while he aired his house out for two days to get the smell out.
“Your grandparents will be over later. They decided to stop at Koda’s first. They didn’t want to overwhelm the kids or your mate. First Christmases can be stressful enough without the added loss.” His father lowered his voice. “How are they?”
“There have been ups and downs both last night and this morning. One minute they're okay and the next we’re mopping up tears. Theirs and ours.”
His mother gave him a sympathetic smile. “I can’t imagine, poor babies. You and Callie are handling things okay?”
“Callie more than me.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “Even a hint of tears and I’m tripping over myself to stop them.”
“Even as a boy you never could stand to see anyone cry, especially your friends. You always tried to make it better.”
“Callie told me stop doing that with the kids.” Matt grunted with a frown. He shook his head not liking the idea any more than he had last night when his mate threatened to put him in a timeout if he didn’t stop.
“She’s right.” His mom placed a staying hand on his forearm. “They need to feel their loss and come to terms with what it means in their own time. As much as you hate to see them hurting and sad, it’s all part of the healing process. It’s healthy.”
“Yeah, she said that too.” Matt toed the carpet with is socked foot. “Like you said. I’ve never been good at doing nothing when people I love are upset.”
“You wouldn’t be you if you could
.” His dad placed a firm comforting hand on the back of Matt’s neck. “You’re a good man and even better father. All you have to do is let the children know you’re there if they need you.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
His father nodded and carried his load over to the Christmas tree.
“Wow.” The awe in Lula’s voice coming from behind Matt made both him and his mother smile. “That’s a lot of presents.” Her eyes tracked Stephan to the tree in the corner of the living room. She watched as he placed the gifts under the tree Lula and her siblings had helped decorate. “Who are they for?”
He shared amused looks with his father and mother. He wasn’t the only one who heard the silent Are any of them for me? in Lula’s tone.
He got Emmy’s attention. “Why don’t you take Lula and Sage over to the tree and see if you can find anything with your names on it that you can open after we eat.”
“Really?” Emmy smiled brightly.
“Duh.” He nudged her shoulder. “I have it on good authority Santa stopped by my parent’s house as well.”
Lula squealed with delight. She tugged on her sister’s hand. “Come on, Emmy. Santa left more presents.”
Matt had wanted to make Christmas as low key as possible, but Callie put an end to that way of thinking. She said it was important to make everything as normal as possible for the children. This Christmas would be hard as would many others to come most likely, but time didn’t stop because you were grieving. The holidays would still come around as would birthdays and other special days. Acknowledging and remembering Katie and William Bennett with love and happiness would go a long way in helping the children cope with their loss.
Matt had been skeptical at first especially when there were a few tears shed earlier after opening presents from Santa. However, after the emotional display the children rallied bolstering each other with happy memories and funny stories. Emmarie being the oldest had the most memories of their parents which she willingly shared with him and Callie even though he knew it was hard for her to do. He was so damn proud of her.
Matt was glad he listened to his mate as he watched his puppy-kittens bounce with excitement around his father.
The children chatted excitedly about their presents and kept up a running string of guesses of what may be in the packages Santa had left for them at Mr. Stephan and Ms. Deirdre’s house.
They were halfway through dinner when his father announced, “I would like to propose a toast if I may?”
“Of course, Dad.” Matt reached for his wine glass. “You don’t even have to ask.”
“This is your house, Son.”
“That shouldn’t matter. Right, Matt?” Lula asked. She peered up at him from where she sat to his left. “Family should always be able to talk to family. You said so.”
He reached over and mussed her curly hair. “That’s right, Little Lu.” He looked at his father. “You heard Lula. Go ahead, Dad.”
His father winked at Lula before standing. He raised his glass. “You’ve always been a good kid, Matt. A bit devilish, but that’s part of your charm.” He shot Matt a knowing grin while Matt’s mom snickered. “I’m proud of the man you’ve grown into. Your mother and I are so happy that you’ve found your mate. Callie I always wanted a daughter. More children weren’t in the cards for Deidre and me, now I realized it was because we were waiting for you. Thank you for loving our son. And thank you for all of this.” He glanced around the table. “I thought we’d have to wait forever for this one to make us grandparents.”
“You should make them a Grammy and Grampy if they want to be, Matt.” Lula frowned at him. “Not everybody is as nice as Mr. Stephan and Ms. Deirdre. We don’t have a Grammy and Grampy.”
Obviously, Lula didn’t realize his father had been talking about her and her siblings.
Matt smiled when his father shot Lula a playful frown. “No?”
Lula shook her head. Matt caught Emmarie wiping away a tear.
“Everyone needs a Grammy and Grampy. Would you let me, and Ms. Dierdre be your Grammy and Grampy?”
Lula’s eyes widened with wonder. “You’d want to do that? For us? For real?” Her lower lip quivered. “Our mommy’s and daddy’s mommies and daddies didn’t want anything to do with us because they didn’t ‘prove of them mating and ‘cause we’re different.”
Callie blinked several times and looked away. He reached over and took her hand. Matt understood what she was feeling. He was fighting his emotions as well. He rubbed his thumb back and forth over her knuckles offering her comfort her. At the same time came up with rather inventive ways to eviscerate all those people who let the children down.
“We want to be your Grammy and Grampy if you’ll have us,” Stephan stated.
Lula nodded.
Then, Matt’s dad did something that melted his heart into a puddle of goo. His larger-than-life father, Stephan Stone, heir to the alpha throne of Black River Pack and all around baddass knelt in front of a four-year-old girl, wiped away a tear, and tilted his head in submission and honor.
Matt wasn’t the only person in the room who gasped at the sight. He wasn’t the only one in awe of his father. There wasn’t a dry eye at the table after Lula flung herself into Stephan Stone’s waiting arms and cried, “I love you, Grampy.”
Epilogue
Matt and Emmarie sat on the steps grinning as they watched Lula and Sage, dressed in snow pants and jackets, run around the backyard laughing and tossing bits of snow at each other. Matt used the blower again that morning to clear enough of the white stuff out of the way to give them a decent area to play between the playhouse in the corner and porch. It was a pain doing it after every snowfall, but he hated the idea of them being cooped up all winter long.
“That little house is so awesome,” Emmy remarked when her siblings disappeared inside it.
“Storm and I did a pretty good job. If I do say so myself.” Matt blew on his fingernails and brushed them over his shirt. “The playhouse isn’t the only thing that’s awesome. FYI. I meant me.”
Emmy snorted. “Whatever. Lula made Sage have a tea party in it yesterday. He was all “No Lu” until he found out the tea was chocolate milk and the cookies were real. Then he was all over it.”
He barked out a laugh. “I heard. I also heard he wasn’t the only one who didn’t turn down the invitation.”
She lowered her eyes embarrassed by his praise. Her blush was endearing. He decided to give her a moment and turned his attention back to Lula and Sage. Honestly, he could use a moment to gather his thoughts as well. He’d put off talking to her long enough. At least, that’s what Callie said when she cornered him in their bedroom before he came out to join their kids. Their kids. He was one lucky bastard.
“Are you sure you want to go with us to Spokane and pack up your house?”
“I am. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I want to do it. I want to make sure it’s packed properly and certain things are set aside for Lula and Sage. I’d rather do it there.”
“I understand.” He nodded. “I just want to protect you.”
“I know. Thank you for that.”
He felt Emmy’s eyes on him as if she knew he had something else on his mind. What she said next confirmed it. “Just say it. Whatever it is.”
Matt cleared his throat and turned to face her. “Callie and I wanted to…” He blew out a breath. “I know we can never replace your parents. We wouldn’t even try. But, maybe we can stand in for them. Pick up where they left off. Create our own new normal.” He nudged her shoulder with his. “What do you think?”
“You’re already fostering us. I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”
“Callie and I want to adopt you. All three of you. We figured we could hyphenate your last name like Casey did when Jim adopted her.”
“Bennett-Stone?”
“I like the sound of it. Don’t you?”
Emmy nodded slowly. “It wouldn’t be like we’re forgetting them,” she stated then qu
ickly added, “if we decide it’s what we want.” She paused. “I need to talk to Lula and Sage first. I can’t make the choice for them.”
“Of course.” Matt frowned when she stared back at him. “Well? What are you waiting for?”
“You to get all weird and edgy.” She shot him a quick grin before jumping up and heading over to talk to her sister and brother. Emmy crawled into the playhouse and sat just inside the door. Lula and Sage joined her. Sage sat in Emmy’s lap while Lula sat cross-legged in front of her.
He felt Callie’s presence before she joined him. His mate plopped down in the spot Emmy had just vacated.
“How did it go?” she asked as she laid her head on his shoulder.
“Okay. I think. She wanted to asked Lula and Sage what they thought first before making a decision.”
“She’s a good sister.”
“The best.” He reached over and took her hand in his. “I want them to say yes.”
“They will. Emmarie is right though. It has to be a unanimous decision. It’s the only way it will work.”
“She liked the idea of hyphenating their name.” He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Were you able to speak to your mother?”
“Yep.” He didn’t need to ask how the conversation went. It written all over her face.
“I’m sorry, baby.”
She shrugged as if what had transpired were inconsequential. “I knew it wouldn’t do any good, but I had to try.”
Callie’s jaw tensed as she fought her emotions. He knew she didn’t want the children to see her upset. “I know my mother doesn’t think the way he does, but she will never defy him. She’s never gone against him on anything. I doubt my brothers will either. Too much to lose I guess.”
Matt thought they’d already lost the most important thing. He wanted five minutes alone with her father and brothers. He’d never even indulge in the idea of hitting a woman, but he was surely tempted where Callie’s mother was concerned.
Callie tilted her head to look at him. “Thank you for giving me this new family.”
