Chapter 29

Anthony was unaware that Kathy had fallen asleep in the tub with him, until he glanced down and saw her smiling, at which point he delicately brushed her cheek. He carefully lifts her in his arms, steps out of the tub slowly, and stands on the rug. He wrapped her in the towel, helped her up, and carried her back to bed so she could rest. Anthony went back into the bathroom to drain the water from the tub before drying himself. He opened the dresser to grab a white shirt for himself, then Kathy threw the towel in the basket and covered herself with the blanket. He went to put on pajama pants before getting into bed and snuggling under the blanket with her.

Noah watched his brother and his mate enter the house next door to the packhouse through the packhouse window, instead of her moving in with the rest of the family. He then went out the back to tell his brother, Anthony, to take Kathy as his wife. Noah is on his way to his room, desiring a fast sexual release. When he entered his room, his partner was in bed, completely naked and pleasuring herself, until she saw Noah enter and shut the door. Betty stopped what she was doing and went to Noah with the goal of pleasing him. Although he didn't want to deal with Betty, he was extremely aroused just by thinking about Kathy, and he didn't care if Betty pleased him.

The following morning, Kathy awoke ahead of her alarm clock because she intended to prepare breakfast in bed for Anthony; however, before doing so, she went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face before heading downstairs. But Kathy is unsure if he needs to go to the company today. She got out of bed quickly and silently, but then she realized she was wearing a long shirt that smelled like him. She exited the room and then shut the door. She unpacked everything and arranged the objects. She saw her ashes on the table, sat, and spoke to her deceased mother.

"I'm sorry, Mom, for leaving you alone in the hotel.

I didn't forget you; you know Dad left because the house reminded him of the past. So, I am going to sell it to a family who wants it. I took everything, but left the furniture for the family. The guy I saved helped me by pretending to be my husband to stop my father from arranging my marriage. You would angrily confront him if you were here. Anthony Thompson, a kind man, proposed to me sincerely this time. Mom, I know you want me not to judge, but I don't like Anthony's family. However, it creeps me out. Anthony gave me this house, and he's staying here with me, though he has a room at the packhouse. He doesn't want me by myself in the house. I'll make him breakfast; we'll talk again.

Kathy went to the box with some pans, retrieved one, then opened the refrigerator to gather ingredients for breakfast, including orange juice, bacon, and eggs, and placed them on the counter. She proceeded to another box to get the cookware and cutlery, then washed them quickly. Kathy is considering exploring the house while Anthony is out, getting a food tray, plates, and cups, washing them before plating the food, and then pouring the juice. Once Kathy finished, she turned off the stove, left the dirty dishes, and would return later. She checked that everything was on the tray, not forgetting the soup, and slowly walked back upstairs with the heavy tray, trying not to drop anything.

Anthony woke up and felt the empty bed, then he smelled food and got out of bed to use the bathroom before Kathy arrived. He didn't know his partner had cooking skills; however, he must go to the office later to complete some paperwork, which will leave her by herself all day. He might be able to find a female guard to act as her companion while he's not present. After Anthony finished his morning routine, Kathy entered the room, carrying a tray with breakfast for them to enjoy in bed.

“Good morning, my love. Let me get that for you,”

"I made breakfast for us this morning, before you have to leave for the office in a few hours."

"I had no idea you knew how to cook."

"I do, in fact, cook. Are you implying I would serve you burnt food? Absolutely not. My mother taught me how to cook properly."

Kathy and Anthony settled into bed, began eating breakfast, and as she shared a story about her mother's walks in the woods, Kathy recalled a trip to a private lake when she was five, and she couldn't swim. Grace and Kathy's mother would enter the water wearing a long shirt, just as her own mother did, and Grace would begin to teach Kathy how to swim; as they were swimming, Kathy noticed her mother's mermaid tail, believing it to be a detachable tail available for purchase online. After Kathy touched it and it felt real, she would ask her mother if she was a real mermaid and Grace whispered, “Yes, I am a mermaid little one you can’t tell anyone about it okay,” Kathy never told anyone that her mother is a mermaid.

"So, your mother is actually a mermaid?"

“Yes, crazy, huh? She warned me I could get it early or late in life, but never to be out in the open," she whispered, her voice hushed.

"When did you find out you were a mermaid?"

"I believe, when my body felt hot and I realized I needed to cool off, at the hotel where we were staying."

"Do you have information regarding your mother's family?"

"No, she never mentioned them to me. I don't think she enjoyed discussing it,"

Anthony decided to find out if Kathy's mother's parents or any siblings were still alive after breakfast. Once finished, Anthony cleared the dirty tray and put it on the dresser to prevent it from accidentally being knocked over. Kathy and Anthony got under the blanket like before Anthony would pull her in closer to him.

“Thank you for breakfast,”

“You welcome, I can make you something for lunch and bring to your job,”

“I would like that, also I will have a female beta with you, while I am away,”

“What is a beta female?”

“Miles is my beta male, who I trust to have my back and even protect me plus he is also my best friend,”

“I see, I would like that,”

Anthony and Kathy went back to sleep, the gentle hush of the morning filling the room as they nestled together beneath the warmth of the blanket. Sunlight filtered quietly through the curtains, painting soft patterns across their resting faces. Hours later, the world outside had brightened, Kathy blinked, smiling at Anthony as she stretched, limbs lazily untangling from the cozy cocoon they had made.