Chapter 40: Time to Talk.

Bella’s pov.

“What do you want me to make you and John for breakfast?” I asked Megan as she sat at the dinner table, her face scrunched up in concentration.

“Can we… have pancakes with cream?” She asked with a grin, knowing those are my favourite.

“Obviously! Who could say no to that!” I laughed as I grabbed everything we needed to get started.

I let Megan mix together the batter in a bowl while I heated up the frying pan.

She loved helping me in the kitchen growing up, and when I could I tried my best to involve her with everything.

Lately though… It's been hard. I’ve barely had any time. And since Martha died, I’ve really had no time at all.

She was my biggest support. The only person I trusted to care for Megan.

It has been incredibly hard finding someone to watch her for me.

I’m hoping that maybe one of our new pack members will make a good fit.

“Is it good?” Megan asked as she slid the bowl towards me, big chunks of flour still on the sides.

“I’ll take over from here,” I chuckled as I grabbed the bowl, mixing the rest of it together before pouring some into the hot frying pan, humming as I watched it cook.

“Can I colour while we wait for John?” Megan asked as she also watched the pancakes cook, my head turning towards hers.

“Of course. You don’t have to ask, you know where everything is.”

She nodded her head once before hopping off of the stool she was standing on, waddling her way towards the kitchen table.

‘Are you almost here?’ I asked John down our link, practically feeling Megan’s eagerness for his arrival.

He chuckled, the sound making my heart beat faster.

‘Yes, I’m down the hall,’ he said before the link shut down.

I flipped the pancake before walking towards the door, opening it just as John had his hand raised to knock.

“Well hello,” I said with a cheeky grin, stepping aside so he could come in.

He shook his head in amusement, walking past me towards Megan.

“Hey chipmunk!” He greeted her, sounding genuinely happy to see her, “come here and give me a hug before I tickle you!”

She giggled uncontrollably as she ran up to him, jumping into his arms.

He spun her around the room, both of their laughter echoing off of the walls.

My heart clenched in my chest from the sight.

Her own father never acted that way towards her.

Her own father never called her anything cute like that.

I walked back to the kitchen, continuing to cook their food.

My eyes kept flickering in their direction, watching their interaction absentmindedly.

The genuine smiles on both of their faces as they talked to each other.

The way Megan’s feet bounced up and down from excitement.

The way John's hands were clasped in front of him so he could give her his full attention.

I smiled to myself as I plated their food, placing it onto the table before calling them over.

“Foods ready! I put extra whipped cream, just the way you like it, Megan!” I said, smiling wider as her face lit up.

She got up from where she was sitting with John, quickly jumping up into her chair.

“Thanks, mommy. It looks good!” She said while digging in, whipped cream smeared all over her face.

John walked over, sitting down beside Megan, also digging into his food.

“It is good, isn’t it?” He said while smiling over at me, some whipped cream at the corner of his mouth.

Without thinking I walked towards him, wiping it off of his face with my finger and licking it off.

John's muscles flexed as his hand clenched around his fork.

I smirked as I noticed his self control slipping.

“Gross, mommy! We don’t eat food off of other people's faces! Martha taught me that!” Megan said loudly, pointing her finger at me.

John and I laughed at her tiny voice getting so angry.

“I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!” I chuckled with my hands up in mock surrender, my laughter dying down as I continued to watch them.

I sighed to myself as I realized how much work I have to catch up on.

Twiddling with my fingers as I thought of asking John to watch Megan so I could go catch up with my work.

“John?” I said, hesitating…

He looked over at me, his one eyebrow raised as he waited for me to go on.

“Could you watch her for a few hours? Just so I can go catch up on some of my work. I’ve fallen behind big time… I’d really appreciate it,” I asked quietly, looking away from his face while I waited for his answer.

He laughed softly, making my eyes look back up quickly.

He had a toothy smile showing and his eyes were squinted slightly from his laughter.

Making my own smile appear.

“You don’t really have to ask, Bella. I’d be happy to watch her, anytime,” he said, looking back towards Megan who’s almost done her food, “is it okay if your mom goes to work for a while and I’ll watch you?”

She licked her lips, looking towards me curiously.

“Yeah…” she mumbled, a tiny grin on the one side of her lips, “that would be fine. As long as John paints with me like Martha used to!”

My heart dropped from the amount of times she’s mentioned Martha lately.

Almost everyday there’s been at least once she’s mentioned her name.

Martha this, Martha that. Martha did it this way, Martha did it that way.

I haven’t had the heart to tell her she’s gone, that she died.

I just told her she went on a very long trip and I wasn’t sure if we’d ever see her again.

She was sad at first, but after a few days she got used to it and never forgot to mention her name.

“Yes, hun. You guys can paint to your hearts content. I love you, I’ll see you later, okay?” I said while hugging her, kissing the side of her head softly before I grabbed my things and walked to the door.

“Don’t worry about us. Take as long as you need,” John called to me as I was about to walk out.

“Thank you, I’ll take that offer!” I giggled before closing the door, rolling my eyes at the thought of leaving him to care for Megan all day.

Sometimes it’s hard to see him as the fatherly type but the way he is with Megan changes my mind.

Just as I was smiling stupidly to myself, thinking about all things John, I bumped right into someone.

“I’m sorry!” I rushed out as I bent down to pick up my things that fell to the floor, “I should’ve been watching where I was going!”

“It’s okay, Alpha…” a small voice said.

I looked up and noticed it was one of my older pack members.

“Kadence… What brings you here?” I asked curiously, knowing my members don’t usually come to the pack house.