While he didn’t go out on the trips as much as he did when he first started out, he was still getting them ready to go.Just yesterday, he’d been able to pick up a short run, and he’d forgotten how much he’d enjoyed it.As soon as they docked, the fishermen, catching their limit in the few hours they’d been out, were singing his praises and wanting to book a three-day adventure for next month.He handed them the contract and the flyer that Shawn had made for him, and was happy that they were so happy.He smiled when he was able to see what he’d been missing and wondered if he should do it more often.
He might just do that to keep his mind on what went on when they were out on the sea and fishing.He’d been lax in going out, and he couldn’t think of a single reason that he hadn’t been doing it more often.Other than the fact that he was so busy with his family that he really didn’t have the time.
He and Emma had four children, all boys but for the one girl.He loved coming home to them when he’d been busy all day and couldn’t believe how much fun he was having with being a dad.As soon as he got home, he gathered them up together and did homework.It wasn’t much, but he would keep on top of it just for them.He wanted them to be successful and hoped that it showed in the way that he ran his business.Emma came home about an hour after he’d been home, and he told her that he loved her.
“I love you too.I’ve had a good day today and couldn’t wait to share it with you.But now all I can think about is getting together with your family on Friday and having fun.You did know about it, right?”He said that Jack had contacted him.“Good.It’s been a couple of months since we’ve been together.Jack even said that he thought Margo and Grayson would be there.I hope so.I miss them both so much.”
“I do too.But I’m happy for the two of them, too.”She said that she was proud of them for having started their own business.“If anyone could run a school, it would be her.She is so organized that it used to boggle my mind how well she could put things together.And she helped me study for tests, too, by showing me how to map things out.”
“I’ve seen her scheduling, and I have to admit that I was jealous.You should see her Christmas schedule.She has things planned out for the minute.”The two of them laughed as they gathered the kids up for dinner.They were having pasta for their meal tonight, and it was one of their kids’ favorite meals.“I might have to go out later tomorrow.There are three applicants on the desk that need to be looked over.I didn’t think about it being Thursday and the weekend coming up, so I have to go and make sure that someone goes over them.They’re for a couple of families that are down on their luck.I love helping families that need help.It makes me feel like this is just what the foundation is about.”
“I saw some kids on the dock today.They were begging for work.I had them help the clients get their catch together and take them to the cars.I paid them in cash, hoping that it would help them.I have a feeling that they’re going to be coming around a bunch now.I don’t mind until they become too much.Understand?”She said that she did as she cut the lasagna into squares for the kids.“I love you so very much.”
“I love you as well.”Then the kids started saying how much they loved the two of them, and it made him laugh.He loved his family so much that he felt like he was the luckiest man alive.“We love you guys as well, so eat your dinner.”
It was messy having pasta with the kids.They would eat it well, but they still got sauce all overthemselves and each other.When it was time for dessert, the kids only wanted a dish of ice cream, while he and Emma skipped it.He didn’t care for sweets all that much, so he didn’t mind when he didn’t have any.Emma said that she’d have some fruit later, and he knew that she would.She did love apples and kiwi together, and he’d have a bit for himself.
After bathing the kids and getting them into their beds, he sat on the couch with Emma, and they talked about their day.Like her, he was excited about having dinner with the family on Friday and couldn’t wait to see them all together.The kids would be a great distraction, but they would play with their cousins all evening and be ready for bed when dinner was over.He wondered if, like the last time dinner had been catered, if they’d have a different meal for the kids.They would eat hot dogs over steak, and he thought all the kids were like that.
“I’m thinking that Kayce and Molly will be having their baby soon.How many will that make them?”He told her it was six.“Of course, they’d have the most kids, with him being the youngest.”
“He’s the best at bandaging them up, too.Did you hear about the babysitter that they hired so that they could go to dinner?She left the kids there by themselves because her boyfriend called her.I would have murdered her.To leave my kids like that?Well, they’d never find her body again.”He laughed, hoping that she was joking.His wife could be furious when it came to their kids.All of them.“She even expected them to pay her for the whole night, too.I guess Kayce called her mom and got her into trouble.She’s not supposed to see the boyfriend when she’s supposed to be working.”
“His kids are good kids, too.Which one of them called their parents?I know it was one of them who did it.They’re very protective of their siblings, too.”She told him it was Carrie, the oldest.“She’s scary smart, isn’t she?I was talking to her the other day, and I couldn’t believe that she’s only twelve.I thought for sure I was talking to an adult.She claims that she’s going to be the king of our kind someday.After she takes Denver’s job of pride leader.”
“I would believe it.”They relaxed on the couch, and he laughed a little.“What?Did you think of something that I’m going to think is funny too?I could always use a good laugh.”
“I was thinking of what Ronin would say if he knew she was gunning for his job.He’d probably be impressed that she thought she could at such a young age.She’s the oldest twelve-year-old that I know, and that’s saying a lot.I have about half a dozen twelve-year-old nieces and nephews around now.”
“I guess she’s taking college classes online.I don’t envy her parents having someone that smart around all the time.”He agreed with his Emma and told her that he was glad that his kids were just above average.“That’s not right either.I think our kids are brilliant.”
They talked about their kids for a while and got a laugh out of how much they were into things.They did talk about Taylor having them over in the summer months and wondered how she did it.He knew that while he looked forward to having them gone to her house, they didn’t want to have to clean up after they were gone.
“There is so much glitter.”Emma told him how Taylor was going to make sure that everything had glitter on it this year, as she found out that Denver hated it.“He does.He said that months from now, he’d find it on something in a room that no glitter had been in before.He said that his car sparkles all the time from when he picked them up from the house.I bet she does just that and makes sure that it’s all over everything.”
When they were headed up to bed, he locked up the house.He did it nightly and was glad that his family was safe.As soon as he was on the stairs to go up to their room, Carter, their second-oldest son, said that he wanted something more to eat.Not one to turn them down when they were hungry, he took him to the kitchen to find that sandwiches had been made for them, and he shared one with him.As he sat there eating his part of the sandwich, he looked up at him.
“How do you know when you find your mate?”He told him what he’d been able to do when he found his mom.“I thought so.I think that I found her.My mate, I mean.”
He didn’t know what to say when he said that, so he waited for him to say more.To find one’s mate so young was rare, but it did happen.He asked him who it was.Not sure who Connie Gibbonswas, he asked where he’d seen her before.
“She’s in my class.She said that I’m not to touch her.And I don’t.She can be really intense when she has something to say, Dad.”He barely caught his laugh.This was too serious for him to think that something was funny.“She smells like a girl, no problem, but when I’m around her, I want to protect her something terrible.She can take care of herself, so I just make sure that she’s not going to be hurt.And I can change my clothes when I get out of the shower.I think that one told me the most.”
“Yes, that’s the one that got me.”He sat down on the chair and waited for his son to say more.When he didn’t, he asked him if he was sure.“I mean, she could just be a girl that happens to be nice to you.”
“Oh no, she’s not nice to me at all.She’s kind of mean all the time.”He did laugh then, and his son looked at him oddly.“I know that sometimes mates can be bossy, but I’m not sure what to do with her.I think I’m going to let her protect me when I need it.”
“Good thinking.”He played with a second sandwich before taking a bite out of it.“Have you told her yet?I mean, does she know—is she a lion?”
“She’s a lion, but darker than mine.I can tell by her hair color.She’s going to be a beautiful cat when she can shift.And no, I didn’t tell her anything, but she told me.I guess she can change her clothing, too.Are you mad at me, Dad?”He asked him why he’d be mad at him for finding his other half.“Because I’m only ten years old.I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“Of course you didn’t.But you’re lucky.You know who you’re going to be spending the rest of your life together with, and that’s a good thing.”He nodded, still unsure looking.“As you grow older, you’ll learn to appreciate her and her moods.I hope so anyway.You two will get to grow old together, too.That’s a good thing.”
“I guess so.I just didn’t know how you were going to take me finding my mate.I’ve wanted to tell you for the last few days.”He had to wonder how much he’d been going through with his thoughts of having a mate when he was so young.But he knew that he had a good head on his shoulders and that he knew the rules of having a mate.“I won’t ever force her into anything that she doesn’t want to do.I know that’s important.But I’m scared to meet her daddy.He’s been at school picking her up, and he gives me the evil eye.I’m staying away from him.”
“If he gives you any trouble, you come to me or your mom.”He asked if he’d tell her.“I will as soon as possible.But if Mr.Gibbons says one thing to you that makes you feel bad, you tell me, and I’ll have a talk with him.”
“Don’t kill him.”He promised that he wouldn’t.He just hoped that he’d be able to keep that promise.“I don’t want to have to visit you in prison.I want you to be there when we get married.I know that’s a long way off, but you might get life or something like that and not get out in time to be there for me.”
