This wasn’t how I had imagined my first pregnancy going when I had dreamed about it. And now that Bal had shown up here, declaring his feelings, his love, I didn’t want to go through my pregnancy without him. Didn’t want to go through labor, deliver our baby, without him by my side. Didn't want to raise our baby without him.
My choice was made before I said the words.
My place wasn’t here anymore. My future wasn’t in Sweet Alps, or anywhere in the human realm.
I belonged with Balfour in Santa’s Village.
That was my home, and I think it had been for months now.
Kendrick
Past…
Me:Rod and I broke up.
Grumpy Elf:Who is Rod?
Me:You know very well he was my boyfriend.
Grumpy Elf:You go through them so fast, I can’t be expected to remember their names. I’m just going to start giving them numbers.
Me: *laughing emoji*I DO NOT! And he was my student’s dad.
Grumpy Elf:Well, that’s going to be awkward at parent teacher conferences.
Me:I know, right! It will be fine. He’s looking for an omega to settle down with and have more babies with. I am not that omega.
Grumpy Elf:Yuck. Boy bye!
Me:Boy Bye? What have you been watching?
Grumpy Elf:I do not watch television, except for Bake off, you know this. I do not have time for frivolous time wasters. I need to go. Schedule to keep.
Me:Lying will get you put on the naughty list.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Kendrick
September
“Thanks for coming to lunch with me,” I told my mom and Keegan. Kacey bounced in the seat next to me, anxious for her hot chocolate to cool enough to drink. Kieran had been left in the safe hands of Pops, who had opted to stay home today. “I needed to get out of there. It was too much.”
“Nik refuses to read directions,” Keegan nodded in understanding, taking a bite of his sandwich. “Dad is just as bad. Kris and Bal read all the directions, from start to finish, beforeeven starting. It’s a problem when they all get together. Lots of alphaness and arguing.”
“Well,” Mom gave me, and my very large belly, a look, “I’d say they are getting that crib put together just in time. You look about ready to pop.”
Running a hand through my hair, I sighed. Harry, our server, came over and refilled my water with a smile, asking if we needed anything else.
“I think we’re good, thanks Harry.”
I actually loved living here in the village. At first, I thought I would miss my old life, miss teaching, but I really hadn’t. I loved being able to just enjoy my pregnancy, not having to worry about much of anything.
Bal and I had moved into a larger cottage just two weeks ago, and while a bit stressful, the move had gone fairly well. Today, Bal, Nik, Kris, and my dad were putting together the nursery furniture. That had not been going well.
After listening to them all snipe and yell at each other for three hours, the crib still laying in several pieces on the carpet of the baby’s room, I had begged my mom and Keegan to meet me for lunch at the village restaurant.
“Maybe they’ll be done by the time we get back,” Mom sounded hopeful.
