They were celebrating.
Zelda appeared and said she’d serve the customers if had something to do in the house. She had impeccabletiming.
Did everyone, including the pack, trees, and my mate share a secret that had been hidden from me? I should have been annoyed but instead I was filled with joy.
“Soooo.” My voice was shaky. "I guess we should probably make this official with a test. Lucky last.”
“Nah, this is just the beginning my darling.” He slung an arm around me and we strode toward the house and our future.
TEN
ROSCOE
The day after we confirmed Reed's pregnancy, Right as Rain(deer)transformed into a thriving Christmas marketplace. In my mind, it wasn’t just people celebrating the holidays that made it magical, but also the pack finding a home and our growing family.
“Roscoe, can you and the others help this family with their tree?” Reed called from the Noble Fir section, where he was carefully examining branches with a customer. From this distance, I couldn’t miss the green tinge of his complexion that he’d had since he woke up.
I jogged over. This particular tree had already been pre-dug and the root ball wrapped in burlap as Reed was certain it was going to sell.
Erik and his mate, Anthony, and I loaded the Fraser Fir onto the pack’s truck, but my attention wascentered on my mate. He was trying to hide his morning sickness, just as he had kept his daily peeing on a stick a secret. But I could scent his nausea. He needed to rest and my reindeer agreed with me.
“Drive safely,” I told Anthony as I secured the last rope and the customers thanked us.
As their car pulled away, I was at Reed's side, offering him water that Zelda had told me to carry everywhere.
“I’m fine.” But he took the bottle. “It's just first trimester nausea. I expected it and there’s research that shows it might be a good thing.”
My mate had sat up last night plowing through pregnancy websites, saying as he hadn’t been planning on getting pregnant, he had a lot to catch up on.
“You don’t have to suffer though.” I was on vacation and the barn was livable, so I was capable of running the farm while my mate rested. I placed my hand on the small of his back. “Why don’t you take a break?”
“During our busiest season? Absolutely not.” Reed straightened up. His posture and the look in his eyes told me he wasn’t headed to bed or the couch. “Besides, your family is depending on this weekend to boost their sales.”
Zelda and the younger pack members had set up alarge booth near the office where they were selling Herbal Harmonyproducts. Everyone in the pack was taking turns to man the stall. They’d received positive feedback and were selling more than they’d hoped. People loved the idea of buying handmade, organic skincare alongside their Christmas trees, and the gift sets were the best sellers.
“Reed!” A little boy’s voice cut through the December air. The Chandler family approached with their sons. “Did Noelle get picked yet?”
Reed’s face lit up despite his discomfort. “Not yet, Beau. She's still waiting for the perfect family.”
“Can we see her again?” his brother, Scott, asked aspeered down the row of trees.
My mate led them toward the Noble Fir section, and I followed. Reed had confided that the family had been visiting every weekend for a month. Each time, they inspected many different treesbut always ended up at Noelle.
“She's gotten even prettier.” Scott brushed his hands over Noelle's branches.
My mate leaned close to the boys and drew them to him. “I’m pretty sure she’s enjoyed your visits.”
Their mouths fell open. “Can she talk?” they said in unison.
“Not in words, but when you’re here she shimmers, and she’s never done that before.”
“Dad, Papa.” The boys grabbed their parents. “We have to buy Noelle.”
The parents exchanged looks. “Is Noelle the one?”
The boys jumped up and down before circling Noelle. “Yes!”
While I helped the family load Noelle's large pot into their pick up, Reed pressed a hand to his belly. I was about to insist he take a rest but he moved to the side of the vehicle and blew Noelle a kiss.
