Chapter 467 Chapter 467
Emersyn stayed on the far side of the counter. She looked down at it, this seemed to be her favorite way to be among the others without having to be close to any of them. It was odd, she’d spent years wishing for some company, and someone to talk to—now she had a house full of them and couldn’t bring herself to be near them. If anyone walked up behind her or touched her in passing, she have a full-on panic attack. She leaned on the countertop and looked around at the others that were inside. The kids were all excited about the boxes on the one end of the table, computers that Kobie had brought for school. Emersyn couldn’t decide if she was excited about it, but the chance to learn more than basic words would be good.
Noah’s mother did seem nice, but there was something hidden in her eyes. She watched his father sitting at the table talking to Cooper and Ed. There was something about him that just froze her blood in her veins, then again for most males, she was like that.
She looked at the window and wondered how much longer Aspyn was going to be out with Nora. It was good that she had so many around her to look after her, but each time she was out of her sight for too long that fear set in. The fear that something had happened.
Going around the counter, she went over to sit near the sitting area. She smirked as she did, once the internet was going, she doubted this would be a quiet corner. The entertainment center was loaded with screens and more electronics than she’d ever seen in her life. She was sure the children, and adults would make good use of all of it.
Sitting down, she turned so she could glance out the window from time to time. The side gate was visible from here. She watched Noah’s mother come over and sit in the chair across from her. She was trying not to judge her by Noah’s feelings.
“I don’t think we were introduced.” She smiled, being pleasant enough. “I’m Elona.”
“Emersyn.” Noah looked a lot like his mother, she decided, with the same-colored eyes and hair. She couldn’t guess her age but was sure the stress of losing two children was a factor.
Elona turned and looked out the window, she glanced briefly over at her mate before turning back to Emersyn. “I lost my little boy and now he’s returned a giant of a man.” She smiled fleetingly. “I’m still processing what the prince and Ed told us.” She looked down at her clasped hands. “It’s almost too much to handle.”
Watching out the window for a moment, she tried to decide what she could or should say to that. “The little boy,” Emersyn paused when Noah’s mother looked back to her, “he died a long time ago.” She could have worded it differently, but the truth was sometimes needed. “In his place is who Noah needed to be to survive.” She raised her cup and took a small sip while she measured what the other woman thought of that.
Elona closed her eyes for a second and then looked back at her, a steady assessing look on her face. “You were taken too, weren’t you?”
Emersyn sucked in a few short breaths and then nodded. “When I was eight.” She watched her lift her hand to cover her mouth for a moment, she tried not to judge her by the fast recovery. This woman knew heartache too well to do that.
“Was your girl born there?”
Emersyn nodded, then looked out the window. She needed to see her now, answering questions about it had her stomach churning.
“I’m sorry, that wasn’t a very nice way to ask.”
She looked back at her. “It’s fine.” She blew it out, “I haven’t been free for very long, so it’s still affecting me quickly.” She tried to hold her look, but the pity on the woman’s face made her want to grind her teeth.
“You’re mates?” Emersyn lifted her lashes and looked at her. “Noah and you?” The look of pity was gone, “you’re good for him.” She nodded, “I could see how hard it was for him—seeing us and you seemed to calm him.”
Emersyn licked her lips and then decided a drink was better. If she had any idea how close he’d been to losing control of his cat, she wouldn’t be sitting there so calmly. Lowering the cup, she nodded. She didn’t want to paint an ugly picture, but she also needed to tell this woman the truth, it’s what she would have wanted if it were Aspyn. “We are.” She lifted her brows and then blew out a quick breath, “I don’t know if we’ll ever be what mates are though.”
She watched the confused look slide over to replace the pleasant smile on Elona’s face. Turning back to look out the window, she couldn’t even begin to explain how complicated it was. All of it faded to nothing when Noah came running through the gate with both Aspyn and Mason on his back. The children were laughing so hard, she had no idea how they were staying on his back. “She’s going to treat him like a pony.” She said with a grin on her face.
Elona turned and looked. “That’s Noah?” Her voice was breathless.
Emersyn nodded. Noah made a big production of lowering his long body to the ground. When his belly was on the ground, Mason slid off and landed on his bottom on the ground, he was laughing so hard. Aspyn was hugging Noah’s neck and talking to him. Noah stood up and shook his large body, leaving her daughter laughing. Crouching down, he waited for Nora to pull her off and then leaned forward and licked her face. Aspyn collapsed laughing again.
When he lifted his head and looked right at the window, she knew he could see her watching him. Turning, he bound back through the gate. She watched that Aspyn and Mason didn’t give Nora issues about going to the front door before turning back to Elona.
His mother glanced over at Ollie and then smiled at her, “children heal everything eventually.” She whispered it.
Emersyn turned to look at the little brother that Noah already liked. “I guess we’ll find out.” She whispered more to herself than as a reply.