Chapter 121: Honesty or Lies and New Feelings
Falcon
I watched from the back porch as Raul’s daily bear lesson with Maddy started. Godric loved to rough house with him and I saw the change in Raul as he let himself finally be free. He laughed more and threw himself into family life more readily. I had never seen him so relaxed and happy, not even when we were children. His bear had introduced himself as Ramdon and he was fiercely protective of Osprey, going so far as to try to protect him from Tasha and Maddy.
I knew it had hurt his feelings when Friday and Saturday had gone by without even a hint of his mother showing up but I couldn’t risk it without knowing the truth. We knew Raul’s father was a bear but we didn’t know which bear and that was what frightened me the most. I knew I should have been more honest with Tasha about everything that was going on but I would always be selfish. I didn’t want to share them with anybody. Not Osprey. Not Tasha. Not even Raul.
Sharing meant more people that would swoop in and try to steal their attention and affection away from me. I hated it but I couldn’t help it. I hadn’t been back that long and I wanted just a little more time to figure out all these new feelings. I wanted to reassure Tasha that I was here to stay. She tried to hide it but I saw the fear in her eyes every time I had to leave the house. Carson would whine trying to get her to understand that we loved her and no matter how many times I told him it would just take time to build her trust up, he still retreated from me. My phone rang and I jumped as the shrill melody snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Falcon. I have-”
“Are you busy right now?”
“Until 4, yes.”
“Okay. I will meet you at your office at 4.”
“Ummm, okay.”
“Bye, Tammy.”
Ramdon eyed me curiously but pretended to tumble to the side when Godric was tossed on top of him. He pretended to howl in agony when our son grabbed the skin around his neck and shook his head viciously, growling like the little demon he was at times.
‘Does she have the results?’
‘I hope so. It’s been four days.’
‘Just come back, okay?’
‘Always.’
I got to my feet and went over to grab Godric around the waist and toss him into the air. He shifted back and I caught our laughing son in my arms. I tickled his ribs and let my aura out lightly.
“Behave for Mommy and Daddy while I’m gone, okay?”
He nodded. I kissed Tasha before putting him down. I walked to the car and opened the door before hitting the top of it. I fucking hated this shit. I was always so lost and unsure of leaving. I jogged back to them and ran my hand over Ramdon’s back. He nudged my leg and I rubbed his ears for a second before going back to my car.
Fuck. This whole thing was awkward for me. Arianna made it look so easy and here I was embarrassed to be affectionate with Raul and his bear. They had slept together the first night and Tasha had come to my bed the second. The third night I had crept into their room when my need to be close to them had gotten to be too much to bear. I scrubbed my hand down my face. I hadn’t wanted to admit it but I enjoyed my little moments of affection with Raul. I wanted to ask them if I could sleep in bed with them but I wasn’t sure if I was ready. I sighed. I guess we would just have to see tonight when we got ready for bed. The floor had not been comfortable last night.
It took me no time to make it to the clinic and I sat in my car for a moment before reversing out of my parking spot to go to the resale shop down the street. Tasha loved bargain hunting, or at least that was what she called it. We all knew she loved to pick up old stuff and make up elaborate stories on them.
I heard her telling Osprey a story one night and it had melted my heart. It had been a beautiful music box with a horse and a pony on it that moved around the top while it played a soft, romantic melody. She had weaved a story of a soldier who had rescued a little girl and had given her the music box to bring her good dreams at night. She had then wound the box up and left it to play our son to sleep. He didn’t wake up once that night and we hadn’t even auraed him.
I walked aimlessly around the shop, picking things up and setting them back down when my inspection left me believing there was a better treasure for Tasha hidden here. I had almost given up when I heard voices coming from the back. I curiously made my way to the back to see what they were fighting over. Two elderly women were arguing over a wedding gown that was draped over a store attendant's arm. The younger woman repeatedly rolled her eyes as they continued to argue.
I moved my eyes over it, taking note of the yellow tinge the edges of the lace had and the round white buttons that went up the back of it. Sheer lace had been lovingly stitched over it and flared out at the wrists. I closed my eyes and the image of Tasha wearing it immediately filled my imagination. This was it. This was what I was going to take home to her. It would be perfect for her to get married in. I could already see the awe in Timothy’s eyes when…. I sighed. I wish this would already just hurry up and he would open his eyes. The waiting was killing us. The not knowing was even worse. I cleared my throat.
“Excuse me, how much is the gown?”
Both women turned to glare at me. “It’s my gown. I want it.”
“No, I’m getting it for my granddaughter.”
I met the attendant’s eyes. “$1,000. Right now for the gown.”
“$1,500,” the crazy old bat in front of me said, making me instantly furious.
“5.”
She glared at me. “6.”
“$10,000,” I huffed. “I’m taking the dress, so you might as well give up.”
She flipped me off and stormed out of the store. I turned my angry stare on the other woman.
“What’s it going to be?,” I asked.
She turned around and went back to the dresses. The attendant let out a relieved breath.
“I thought that was never going to end,” she laughed. “Thank you for saving me, sir.”
I shifted. “I have a meeting in 20 minutes. Can I, please, get rung out?”
I followed her to the register and thanked her profusely when she only charged me the original $100 bucks for the dress. She had me wait at the front of the store to grab something from the back that she claimed the previous owners wanted to accompany the dress. I waited impatiently but as soon as she stepped back out of the door, I was glad that I had waited. In her right hand, she held a beautiful pair of matching shoes and in her left, she held yards of a sheer veil. On her hip, a small bag had been clipped and she carefully laid the veil and shoes on the counter before opening the bag to reveal pearl earrings, a necklace, a belt and a gorgeous gold and pearl-adorned decorative comb. She smiled at me.
“Here you go, sir. The rest of your items.”
I stared in awe at the carefully bagged items in my hands for a moment before smiling at her. “Thank you. My lady will love this. You don’t even know.”
She nodded. “I’m sure she’ll love it as much as the woman who brought it in did. Have a good day, sir.”
“You, too.”
I carried my precious cargo out to the car and got it loaded before I drove to the clinic. Tammy stood outside the building talking with a patient while I patiently waited, excited to get home and show Tasha. She held up a finger before disappearing into the building. She hurried back and climbed into the car, holding out a sealed manilla envelope to me. I took it hesitantly.
“Did you look at the results?”
“No. How is Timothy doing? Is he eating?”
“He’s fine, just been busy.”
“Alright, well give him something for me?”
“What’s that?”
She leaned over to kiss my cheek. “Tell him I love him, please.”
“I will.”
She climbed out and I turned the envelope over in my hands once before opening it with shaky hands. I pulled out the report and stared at the back of it. I was nervous. This report could open a whole other world for us but it could also end any chance Raul had with having a relationship with his mother eventually. I took a deep breath and flipped it over. I slowly read the report before rereading it. Laughter bubbled up seconds before it poured out of me. I put my car in reverse again and headed deeper into the city to Valerie’s house. I got out and went up to knock on the door. A man answered it and he frowned at me.
“Who are you?”
“I’m looking for Valerie. Is she in?”
He narrowed his eyes on me. “Why are you looking for my wife?”
“Falcon? Is that you?” Valerie came out of a door from down the hall. “Oh my god, it is. Is Raul okay?”
“Can I come in?”
“Of course. Come on.”
I walked past the man who followed close behind me as I walked towards her. She took me into the kitchen and made me a cup of coffee.
“OK, niceties are out of the way. Is my son okay?”
“He’s fine.”
“Then why are you here?”
I took a deep breath. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“What you’re doing tonight.”
“Tonight? Nothin. Just dinner. Why?”
“I wanted to invite you and your family back to town. Tasha would love to meet you guys and I know Raul would love to see you, too.”
“Why now?”
“Now, I know you told Raul the truth. This is my apology to you for treating you the way I did. I’m sorry. My only wish is to protect my family.” I sighed. “Sometimes I go overboard.”
She eyed me. “You know Vincent was his father?”
“Yes. He has a little brother.”
“Another one?”
“Yes.”
“Victor, can we go?”
“If you want to. I owe him an apology, too. I may have overreacted trying to protect my family, too.”
I sighed. “Guess we better get our acts together before we get smacked for being stupid.”
He laughed and held his hand out. “I’m Victor, Valerie’s husband.”
I shook his hand. “I’m Falcon…. Ummmm…”
“Raul’s partner,” Valerie finished for me.
I looked at her for a second before shaking my head. “No. He’s my mate just like Tasha.”