“I love just watching the snow. Or when it rains, pulling up a pillow and enjoying the gloomy days,” Brice sighed. The silence that settled between them wasn’t uncomfortable.
Keena pulled her eyes away from the windows. She took in a few picture frames that were resting on the coffee table. One picture caught her eye. It showed four smiling faces with one of them being Brice. It had to be her family during Christmas time. There was a massive fully decorated tree behind them.
“That’s my family,” Brice said. She leaned forward and snagged the photo. A wistful smile appeared on her face as she gazed down at it. Keena leaned over and took in the handsome family. Brice appeared younger, in it her smile was just as bright. Beside her stood another woman with similar features and a silly grin. “This is my sister.”
“Carmella,” Keena murmured.
“She insists she’s the sister with all the good looks.”
Keena looked between the two sisters and shook her head.
“I think she’s mistaken,” Keena said softly. Notthat Carmella was ugly or anything. She was a beautiful woman, but Keena’s attention was captivated by the woman who sat next to her.
“Well, thank you,” Brice said almost shyly. She pointed to the couple standing next to her and Carmella. “These are our parents.”
“They still live in Boston?” Keena asked.
“Yeah and can you believe my mom will mail me coupons,” Brice chuckled.
“Coupons?” Keena didn’t understand. Why would her mother randomly mail her coupons? For what?
“She apparently thinks that even though I am thirty-three years old, I don’t know how to bargain shop. So when she finds good coupons, she sends them to me.” Brice rolled her eyes and groaned. She placed the picture frame back on the table.
“Do you know how to shop?” Keena asked. Her mother had been deceased for years. Maybe Brice’s mother had picked up on something that was lacking regarding her daughter. Keena was sure mother’s always meant best.
“I’ll have you know I clipped three coupons on my own back around Thanksgiving. Saved me three dollars and fifty-five cents!” Brice exclaimeddramatically.
“So your mother was right?” Keena arched an eyebrow at her. Brice gasped even more dramatically.
“Are you taking her side?” If Brice had pearls on, Keena was sure she’d be clutching them by now. Her eyes were wide and filled with a devious glint.
“No…I mean…don’t mothers know things about their kids?” Keena was flustered. She was enjoying herself and even felt her lips curved up in a smile again. How had Brice done this?
“You have a beautiful smile. You should do it more often,” Brice said softly.
Keena wasn’t prepared for that. She glanced over at Brice and didn’t know how to respond. It wasn’t the first time someone had told her that. Her hand tightened on her mug. She glanced down at the dark brew and inhaled slowly before blowing out her breath.
“Thanks,” she whispered. The past five years had been a struggle. She just didn’t understand why the Moon Goddess would bring such light and warmth into her life only to take it away.
The logs settled with a sharp crack and orange light danced across the room. They fell into a comfortable silence where music flowed over them along with the warmth fromthe fire.
“What about your family?” Brice asked softly.
“My parents passed away a long time ago,” Keena replied. “My father was killed in a pack incident when I was about twenty. My mother died a few months later.” Keena sniffed. “They said my mother died of a broken heart.”
“Oh, my…I’m so sorry.” Brice’s small hand landed on her knee. It was a simple touch, but it conveyed her true sorrow. Keena glanced over at her and didn’t see pity in her eyes. There were tears balancing on her eyelids. “I’m sure they’re together.”
“I know they are. They were fated mates.” Keena smiled softly at the memory of her parents. She motioned to the room. “If they were here, they’d be dancing. My mother loved this time of year. They both had a love for music. I grew up listening to the Temptations, the Stylistics, Al Green, the Spinners…”
Her voice faded off as more memories of her childhood flooded into her thoughts. Brice gave her knee a squeeze before letting go.
“Your parents had good taste. My parents played the same. I think that’s why most people say I have an old soul when it comes to music. I have no problem blasting The O’Jays, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Minnie Riperton—she’s a favorite of mine.”
“Mine too. I can listen to Teena Marie all day,”Keena admitted. It had been a while since she’d played any kind of music. Her wolf sat up upright. For some strange reason her animal was pleased that she was opening up with Brice. Keena held back rolling her eyes at her animal’s huff.
“Oh, my God! I love Teena!” Laughter bubbled out of Brice. She wiped the lone tear that had escaped her eye. She grinned and that sparkle was back in her eyes. “Who would have thought you’d be a Teena fan!”
“They would have liked you.” The words escaped Keena before she could stop them. She fiddled with her mug. “My mother would have had you playing different songs while my dad would be talking your ear off about books.”
