He didn’t say it like he believed it. Of course, that wasn’t too far from the truth.
“No, I’m fine. Now I’d like to talk to your sister if she’s there.”
Lissy came on, and she was, as always, brightly chatty on the telephone, eager to tell him all about her summer camp and vacation activities. Tyr let her natter on, letting the words wash over him, enjoying the sound of her cheerful young voice.
Was this what Aven and Ayra would be like as teens? No, of course they would be different; people always were. He hoped he was around to see them grow into teens and then adults, and find out who they were going to be as people. He already loved who his first two kids were turning out to be.
“I’ve got to go, Liss.” If he didn’t go now, he never would. “Love you, kiddo.”
“Love you, Daddy!” she chirped, and then she was gone.
The only other person he really needed to talk to was Cela, but he knew she would fight him every inch of the way. If he was going to fix this for her, in this particular way, he couldn’t ask beforehand.
I’m sorry, my love.
He didn’t bother to pack. He would be gone a short time, or forever. But he stopped to write a note. It was, in some ways, the hardest letter he’d ever had to write. He used his phone to weigh it down.
Dear Cela,
I have gone to Griffin Island. If an answer lies there, I will find it. Whatever it takes.
I love you and look forward to seeing you again, and holding you again. Forever and always, this time.
Your Tyr
CELA
Cela had hoped being awayfrom Tyr would make things easier.
It didn’t.
She missed him with a desperate, constant ache. Living with him hadhurt, having him so close to her and yet being unable to touch him. But at least he had been there. His sense of humor, his charm, his willingness and even delight in showing her new things about the world beyond Griffin Island, his warmth with the twins and ability to soothe and calm them.
She felt far worse than she had expected about taking the twins away from him.
Being in the middle of Gaby’s whirlwind of a family did help somewhat. Gaby and Derek had three children, ranging from ten-year-old Sandy to little Mina the bear shifter, only slightly older than the twins. They also had frequent visits from their friends with kids, including Ben and Tessa with their daughter Skye, and Melody and Gunnar with their own children. More than anything else, it reminded Cela of being back on Griffin Island among her clan, in a good way thistime. She enjoyed the cheery ring of children’s voices as they called out in play on the back lawn, and found herself part of the gossip circle in the kitchen as she helped Gaby, Tessa, and Paula’s mate Dan prepare dinner for the whole gang.
“It’s lovely having you here,” Gaby told her as they washed dishes afterward with the help of the older kids. “But I’m not sure if here is where you should be.”
“I’m thinking about it, believe me.” Cela kept drifting off into thoughts of Tyr, looking at the wall as if she could see through it across the miles that separated Gaby and Derek’s farm from Tyr’s house. Her dreaminess, she knew, had not gone unnoticed.
After cleanup, she took a walk with Gaby and Sandy out to the barn to check on the family’s animals. They had a pony that the kids liked to ride as well as some chickens. While Sandy petted the horse and then took it into the barn, Gaby and Cela leaned on the fence and chatted.
“Tyr isn’t very popular here in town, is he?” Cela asked.
“You mean Terry? Well, it’s not that, exactly. He seems nice. It’s just that we met him as Paula’s ex, and everyone likes Paula.”
“He’s trying hard to do right by her and the kids,” Cela said.
“I know. Everyone in town can see it.” Gaby smiled. “You’re completely gone on him, aren’t you?”
“Well, heismy mate,” Cela said, blushing.
“I’m human, so I suppose I don’t quite know what mates mean to shifters,” Gaby said. “All I know is that when I met Derek, I knew right away that he was the only one for me.”
“You did not,” Derek said, his deep voice coming out of the gathering twilight. He strolled up behind Gaby and gave her a hug from behind. “I thoughtyouwere the best thing I’d ever seen. You thought I was a giant lummox blundering around in your coffee shop.”
Gaby twisted around in his arms to return his embrace. “A very handsome lummox.”
