The next nightwas the first time Cade, Mara, and Rachel joined the rest of the pack for dinner. The baby slept nestled in a sling on Mara’s chest, and though she was exhausted and didn’t contribute much to the conversation, she found herself smiling more and more as the meal went on, enjoying the comfort of family.
When Tierney tried to get Serena, Livie and Shawn’s daughter, to take a bite of mashed potatoes, the little girl spit them out with a look of horror on her round face, then lunged for a bite of steak on Shawn’s plate instead.
This time, Mara’s laugh didn’t hurt as much, and the relief it brought to Cade’s face? Worth the discomfort.
“This one hates anything that even resembles a vegetable now,” Livie said and turned to Shawn. “I was gone for all of a week and you turned our pup into a carnivore.”
“She’s just going through a growth spurt.” Shawn handed the baby to his mate and tried offering her a pea. Serena batted it away, then reached her arms out for Mara and screamed.
“No, honey. Aunt Mara’s got her hands full.”
More screaming ensued until Mara artfully extracted Rachel from the sling and passed her to Cade. “I haven’t held my niece in months. Come here, you little stinkbug.”
As soon as Serena’s head tucked under Mara’s chin and the little girl calmed and started sucking her thumb, Mara burst into tears.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” The terror in Cade’s voice infused the entire room, and everyone held their breath.
“Nothing,” she sobbed. “Nothing at all.”
Serena snuggled closer, and Mara swept her gaze around the large dining room table. Even Regulus had joined them, sipping from a stoneware wine glass Mara was pretty sure wasn’t any vintage she wanted to taste.
“I didn’t think I’d ever have this again,” she said when she finally calmed enough to take a steady breath. “Dinner with family. It’s the simplest thing ever, but...to me...this is everything.”
Cade rocked Rachel gently in his arms and leaned in to press a kiss to Mara’s temple. “I love you, honey. And you’re right. Familyiseverything.”
* * *
