Chapter 60
“Gabriel and Kane are coming to oversee the installation of the server, the televisions, and the network. I was going to have it done while we were gone, but Gabriel insisted that he be here to oversee the operation for security purposes.”
“I can see that.” Donal sat up. “Is it too early for breakfast?”
Alexei smiled and stroked Donal’s thigh. “Is my mouse hungry?”
“I’m starving.”
“Then it’s a good thing Katya brought up breakfast just before I woke you up. I started a fire to take the chill out of the room. It’s supposed to snow again today. I can’t wait for spring.” Alexei handed Donal his robe and they strolled over to the breakfast table.
Katya had prepared oatmeal, American style pancakes, a dozen scrambled eggs, home fried potatoes, and rye toast. Donal fell on the meal like a bear just out of hibernation. After he and Alexei finished what Katya had brought up, he was still hungry but embarrassed to say so. Katya must have read his mind because she brought up a tray of more than a dozen pastries.
“Go ahead, eat up.” Alexei chuckled. “You’ll need the fuel. I want to weigh you today. If you are still too slender, we may have to postpone the mating. Dr. Artis is coming this afternoon to check on your progress.”
“I have to have gained at least ten pounds. I need to exercise so it won’t turn to fat.”
“Let’s get you fattened up first, and I’ll make one of the rooms upstairs into a weight room. I’ll hire a personal trainer for both of us. There are several loup garou trainers I’m told, so we can work with someone familiar with both the loup garou and human physiology.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Donal said after he swallowed a spoonful of scrambled eggs.
They finished breakfast, and Katya and her helpers took all the plates away.
Gabriel and Kane arrived at ten and Alexei, Gabriel, and the four installers began to work immediately. Kane suggested that they go to the family dining room. “That’s probably the safest place to be where we won’t get in the way.”
Because there were strangers in the house, Grigory who had been assigned to guard Donal; and Gaspard, Kane’s guard, stayed with the two of them and sat in the background in the great room.
“I wanted to talk to you about your high school equivalency test. Would you still like to be tutored?” Kane asked as they pulled out the chairs from under the table.
“Oh, yes. Alexei said he’d pay for Juilliard, but I have to meet the entrance requirements. I hope to be able to do well enough on my tests to be admitted and for that I’ll need help.” Donal was excited, anxious to begin, scurrying around the table like a white rabbit. Finally, he moved onto one of the chairs, on Kane’s left.
“New York State has selected a new high school equivalency test called the Test Assessing Secondary Completion to replace the General Educational Development as the primary pathway to a New York State High School Equivalency.” Kane took a paperback textbook from his shoulder bag and handed it to Donal. Donal began to thumb through it with trepidation.
“I brought the study guide with me. I knew you wouldn’t have a chance to purchase it yourself. I don’t see you having trouble with the English or the composition, but you’re going to have to study for the math, social studies, and science. We’ll use the guide and other resources they have online to help you study. You’re very bright, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I used to be very good at math. They say if you’re good at music, you’re good at math. Science, I’m not so sure about. I used to remember everything I read, so if everything has been healed by the gods, I should have no problem with the social studies.”
“Let’s take the practice test and see how you do. That way we’ll know where we have to put in extra time. I made a copy of it for you. Once Gabriel sets up the network, you can study and take practice tests online.” Kane handed Donal the test. Donal looked over at Grigory and Gaspard who were having a quiet conversation on the couch.
“I’ll have Katya bring up some tea and cakes, and you can have me take all five tests. I used to quiz Julio on nights in the winter when we huddled in the doorways. Maybe I know more than I think I do.”
Katya brought up a tray, and both Mates started to nibble. Donal offered some to Grigory and Gaspard who thanked him, took a slice and went back into the great room.