Chapter 3
“YOUpress this button.” Fleur Bissette held Elaine’s cell phone and clicked the screen. “See? Now we can FaceTime each other, you know, if you go back to Alaska.”
Elaine nodded when Fleur’s face appeared on the screen. “That’s great, thanks. This is a new phone, and I haven’t had the energy to go through all the settings yet. The kids know how to use it better than I do.”
“Of course, if you stay on Gemini Island, you won’t have to worry about all that annoying technology. We can speak face to face.”
Elaine gave her the side eye. “Are you trying to keep me here?”
“Yep. It wasn’t the same without you. You’re my best friend, Elaine. Aside from Jani, of course, but he’s the kind of best friend I sleep with.”
“It’s good to see you.” She smiled and touched a finger to Fleur’s dark hair. “You look so pretty with your hair curled.”
“I thought I’d try something new.” She patted one of her ringlets. “Jani seemed to like it. He joked that it’ll be like taking another woman to bed tonight. I reminded him that if any other woman ever comes near our bed, it had better be because we’re in a resort and she’s paid to change the linens.”
“As if Jani would ever cheat on you. The man worships the ground you walk on.”
Fleur blushed. “I’m a lucky girl. Never in a million years did I think I’d be here with all of you. Having you back makes it perfect. Well, as perfect as it can be.”
Without Lloyd.
When Fleur glanced at the floor, Elaine grabbed her hand. They sat in silence for a moment. It gave her a chance to catch her breath.
Upon hearing of the ice cream excursion, her friends from the Ursa Lodge had joined them. After grabbing a few more snacks and drinks, the group had moved into one of the lodge’s new event rooms for an impromptu “welcome home” party. Elaine was appreciative of its casual air and relative intimacy. They knew she still shied away from big groups. It was just their close circle, the ones who’d always been nearest and dearest to her and Lloyd.
Andy and Layla were currently occupied in touching Lia Snow’s big belly and her mate, Ryland, was showing them where the baby’s head and feet would be. It was good to see Ry and Lia so excited. After all their heartaches, after seeing their beloved lodge burned to the ground, they deserved some smiles.
Just as when she saw Connor again for the first time, catching up with her other friends wasn’t the gut-wrenching experience she’d anticipated. She’d expected torrents of emotion to punish her again and again, but she’d only felt cushioned by a wave of love and patience. Yes, she still expected Lloyd to walk around every corner, but that expectation was fading.
He wasn’t coming back, no matter how hard she prayed for a miracle.
“So how’s it been with Connor?”
Elaine started at Fleur’s question. “Fine. He’s been amazing, actually. He always was. I just wasn’t in a position to see it. After Lloyd died, he tried so hard to be helpful, but I was in such a bad head space.”
“How’s your head space now?”
Elaine struggled for the right words but couldn’t find any. “Never mind me. How about you?”
Fleur took a sip of her rum and Coke. “I see what you did there. You tried to change the subject.”
“Did it work?”
“Nope, but hey, great effort.” Fleur threw her arm around Elaine’s shoulders. “We don’t have to talk about it right now if you don’t want to. I’m here when you’re ready.”
They clinked glasses. Elaine liked being with Fleur. They understood each other. Fleur never pushed her for answers she couldn’t formulate. It probably had a lot to do with her having been victimized for much of her life. She knew when to prod and when to back down.
That was the reason Elaine had been uncomfortable around their other friends after the lodge tragedy. They’d all suffered, and they all wanted to support her, so badly she could taste the acid tang of their need. She knew they meant well, but it had all been a bit overwhelming at times. Now, watching them circulate through the room, she was more at ease.
Maybe she’d really needed the time away after all.
It was good to know none of the other mated couples had suffered irreparable damage. They’d all been hurt in the battle, men and women, some more than others. Despite the best efforts of their enemies, the Alpha Brethren, the family from the Ursa Lodge remained intact and strong.
In fact, over the past hour or so, Elaine had seen many instances of a tightening in the group. Bonds had been formed in the chaos and danger. They looked out for one another, not just for their mates. Invisible chords of consideration wound through the room. It was evident in the way they all catered to each other, offering seats to one another and helping friends with drink refills and snacks. They’d always been kind people, but now they all seemed to anticipate one another’s needs a bit more. It made sense. After enduring hardship together, they knew each other’s weaknesses.
When Ryland’s brother, Soren, spent a moment too long at the window in lonely contemplation, his mate, Gioia, rushed right over and wrapped her arms around his middle. He turned and pulled her into his embrace, and the shadows disappeared from his eyes.
The princely Anton, a tiger shifter from Hungary, waited hand and foot on his mate, Marci, a long-time employee at the resort. She’d spent the first part of the party rushing around, seeing to everyone else’s needs. Anton made her sit, said something that made her smile, and kissed her on her nose before getting her a drink.
