Mac had had trouble when she conceived their only child.Throughout the pregnancy, it was touch-and-go for her whether or not she’d carry to term.Not to mention the toll it had on her own body.The doctor told her she’d be better off not having more children, and it nearly killed them both to know that they’d not be filling their house.But they made up for it as best they could.
They were making birdhouses with the older kids when he was asked for a snack.He was good at having things on hand for them all and was happy to stop what he was doing to get them some.They were growing kids, and he wanted to make sure that they had everything they needed when at his home.Getting apple slices and milk for them all, he sat with them and ate some of the snack himself.It was hard work being the best uncle in the world.
It was just him today with the kids until noon.He’d had them over since nine, about the time that Mac had left for her job.She still worked for Brandy and was enjoying it.He knew that when she got home, there would be a whole new set of things to do by then, and he was looking forward to it.They were headed out to the pool after lunch, and he was happy when Mac joined him in her bathing suit.
“I’ve had just a nasty day, and I’m glad to be home.”He asked her to tell him about it.“I will later.Right now, I want to enjoy this and have fun with the kids.Where is Margo?”
Their daughter could be found in the middle of whatever was going on.She loved having the kids over as much as they did, and it showed.While she was older than some of the kids, she never treated them with anything but respect.She was even really good at sharing her toys with the girls that came over, and since he’d taught her to share with the boys too, they would scoff at the idea of playing dolls with her.That was fine.He loved that she tried.
“I’ve taken the next week off.”He asked if it had anything to do with her day.“Yes, mostly.I just realized that I don’t like working on Saturday anymore.Sundays are off limits as that’s family time, but Saturdays are for us too.I told Brandy, and she said that was fine with her, too.Did you know that she’s only working one day a week now?”
“I had heard that she was spending more time at the pack house.I wondered about that.But it’s been a long time in coming.She’s been saying that she was going to do this for some time now.”Mac nodded and watched the kids.“You look beautiful in your swimsuit.I don’t tell you often enough how lovely you are.”
“You tell me that every day, and I appreciate it.After the day that I’ve had, I need a boost.”She looked at him.“The restaurant is going to have to close down and start again.If she wants to start again.The staff needs to be gotten rid of, and the store is just too far gone to save.Just walking around the place on my own, I could see where rats had been around.When I told Brandy, she called the store right then and closed it down.She’s going to have to have the inspector come out and condemn the place so that she can get a crew out there as soon as possible.”
“I thought shifters worked there.”She said that’s what was so disturbing about the place.There should have been nothing like that around with cats working there.Yet there were plenty of them around.“That’s terrible.The place must have been a real nightmare if that’s going on.”
“You’ve no idea.”She smiled at him.“How do you do that?Make me feel better with just a couple of comments or compliments to me?I was ready to go to bed and cry.I hate putting people out of work, but I knew that I had to come down here with you and the kids, and I’d feel better.And you’ve done it right away.”
“Because I love you.”He kissed her on the mouth, much to the shame of the kids around them.Laughing, he kissed her again and told them they’d be kissing someday soon.Of course, that made them all act like they were sick, and he loved that about them.“I’ve ordered pizzas to come here at six.Most of the parents are picking the kids up at seven.Lica and Brandy went to an auction today, so they’ll pick them up a bit later.”
“That’s fine.I spoke to Brandy about it, and she said they’d hurry it along.I told her that they could spend the night if they wanted, and we’d be fine with that.She said she might take us up on that.”He was excited to have the boys staying over.Margo would be in heaven teasing them all.“I thought maybe we’d try out the hot tub tonight when they’re all in bed.I know that I’d enjoy a relaxing night of it.”
“Deal.”He kept an eye on the kids and the time.He wanted to get them out of the pool in time to have them get dressed and ready for pizza.He also knew that all the time they’d spent in the pool would wear them out so that when they did go to bed, there wouldn’t be a peep out of them.“The dining room is a mess, but I’ll get it in the morning.The older four have been making and decorating birdhouses, and the little ones have been spreading glitter all over the room.I think we’ll be cleaning that up forever.”
“I don’t doubt.It gets into the air and gets everywhere.”They both laughed, and he had to stop one of the boys from splashing the girls.He knew it was a pool and you were supposed to get wet, but they were playing with the dolls and should have been far enough away that it wouldn’t happen.Mac asked if he was going to hang the birdhouses.“I mean, they could take them home, couldn’t they?”
“They’ll need a bit to dry.Then I’ll put a sealer on them so that they’ll stand the weather.After that, they can give them to their parents.The glitter project will go home at the same time, so there won’t be any fights.”She nodded, but he could tell that she was distracted.“Anything I can do for you?I mean, you’re all right, aren’t you?”
“Just had a rough day.”She lay back on the lounger she was sitting in and smiled up at him.“I’ll be fine once I get a good night’s sleep.And having the week off with you will be just what I need.I’ve been looking forward to it all day.”
“I’m glad too.We should plan something.”She said that they could rent a cabin in the Smokies and take Margo.“How about that?Yes, I love that idea.WE could do some hiking and have some nice dinners out.She’ll love that.”
“Did you want to take any of the kids?”Did he?He wasn’t sure but told her that he’d rather just spend some time with her and Margo.“Good, I was hoping you’d say that.I just want to laze around the pool house and have some good times hiking.I miss that when we were younger.”
“I do too.Margo will enjoy the pecan pancakes.She said that they don’t taste the same as we make here.”Mac said that she could understand that.“I do as well.It’s because it’s in that nice restaurant that we love to go to.We’ll be able to take her on the sky lift too this year.She’ll be old enough to enjoy it.”
Mac went in after playing with the kids a bit to make the reservations.She’d get them a good deal too, and they’d have a nice place to stay.They loved using the cabins because they afforded them more privacy, but they’d take a hotel if that was all that was offered.He was mentally making plans to see the mountains and enjoy some time with his family.When she came back out, he knew that she’d gotten them a big cabin with all the things that they’d need and that they would be leaving soon.
Helping him get the kids out of the pool was wonderful with her help, and he got them all dressed in record time.The girls were starting to look like they needed a nap, but he encouraged them along with the idea that pizza would be coming soon, then it would be television time.They would all sleep late in the morning, and he knew that his family would enjoy that as well.
“We leave on Monday morning and return on Sunday night.We have a two-bedroom cabin that is brand-new, and we’ll be able to cook if we want to.”They never did, and he didn’t see them changing it up now either.“I’ll start packing for Margo first because she’ll want to take everything with her, and then I’ll get a start on us tonight.That way, when Monday comes around, we’ll be set to go.I’ve already made arrangements to have our mail picked up by Ivan and Sen.They said they’d be happy to watch the house for us, too.I guess we should give the week off to the staff, too.”
“It would be nice for them.With pay, of course.Since this is such short notice for them.”She agreed, and it was all set.By the time the pizzas were delivered, he was starving.Glad that he was able to order enough for all of them, he also ordered himself a sub and one for Mac.He loved pizza, but the kids tended to want theirs with just cheese and pepperoni, and he wanted one with everything.The sub was just what he wanted.
After getting Lica’s kids to sleep along with Margo, he and Mac went out to the hot tub to relax.She told him of her day and how the staff there were so blasé about how things looked in the place that she wanted to fire them all right then.Even the management staff was lazy, and she couldn’t believe that the place had ever done any business the way that it looked.
“Most of the wait staff didn’t even have on uniforms.There are rules that they had to wear company shirts, but I never saw a one of them while I was there.Not to mention the kitchen help.Most of them had on flip-flops and no socks.I don’t think that’s very sanitary.Do you?”He said that he’d not think so, but he didn’t know for sure.“I’m sure, and they’re supposed to wear closed-toed shoes when working in the kitchen.Also, they weren’t wearing anything like a uniform either.When I asked about it, all I got was a shrug.I wish I could have been there when Brandy closed the place down, but I was already on my way home by then.”
After going to bed and Mac was asleep, he thought about his childhood.He normally wouldn’t think about it at all, but for when the kids came over.He mostly thought about how much his parents had missed in having all the grandkids around.Not that he’d allow them near them, but had they been different parents, it would have been wonderful.As it was now, they all told their kids that their grandparents were dead and left it at that.He didn’t think that any of them told their kids about what sort of parents they all had.It would have caused them nightmares for life if they’d done that.
He still limped from the damage that his mother had caused him.She’d taken off her shoe to beat him with it and had injured his toe.It had to have been removed because of how badly she’d beaten him.She, of course, denied having done a thing when pressured by the police.She told them that he’d been playing with a knife, and it slipped.Of course, he’d had to agree with her because she was standing right there when asked, but he’d never spoken to her again after that.No matter what she’d done to him.It was a scar that would never heal because the toe had been gone, and he’d not be able to be a whole wolf because of it.He thought of the day that she’d done it whenever he looked at his feet.
“Are you all right?”He smiled at Mac and told her he was just fine, just thinking about the trip.“Well, I hope we have more fun than you’re grumping about.You’re thinking of your parents, aren’t you?I guess tomorrow is the day, twenty years ago, that she killed your father.I might not have known that, but Brandy told me that’s what Lica had said to her.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.I guess it is.”He remembered that day like it was yesterday.It had been a day of freedom for them.And if not for the Wilkins, there is no telling where they might have ended up.But they were free from their parents, and that had been the most important thing that had ever happened to them.“I should get with the others and have a nice dinner in celebration.It might be fun.”
“You should.That’ll be a nice send-off for when we’re gone.”He warmed to the idea and told her she was brilliant.“I know that.You should say that more often.”
