be the same.
As if either of them truly wanted those lives back again. He still ached when he remembered how alone he’d felt, how bleak his future had looked before Xandi and Stefan, and then his greatest blessing, Keisha, had come into his life.
Children were their future, not merely for the Chanku, but for each of them. They offered the promise of forever.
A promise Ulrich Mason was about to receive. Only a dozen years older than himself, Ric was going to be a grandfather. Anton chuckled softly. And to think he was still hoping for more babies, Goddess—and Keisha—willing.
Age was such a nebulous thing for Chanku. So far, none of them appeared to have aged since their first shift, which made Anton question their potential longevity. Did Chanku grow old? He didn’t know, but now that he had his clinic and the lab, and his very own, highly trained doctor in Logan Pierce, Anton was determined to find out.
He raised his hand in greeting as Millie and Ric climbed stiffly out of the car. “Hey, Grandpa. How was the trip?”
Ric’s head shot up. “She hasn’t had the baby yet, has she?”
Anton was already trotting down the stairs. “No. Not yet, though she’s having those weird contractions…Braxton-Hicks? Whatever they’re called, her belly gets hard as a rock. A very large rock. Make that a boulder.” He laughed. “She’s reached the point where she looks misrable, but she’s not complaining. To any of us, anyway. Luc may have a different take on the matter. I tell you, though, the females are definitely the tougher sex.”
Millie threw her arms around him and hugged. “I heard that. It’s good when a man actually admits the truth.”
“Millie, it’s great to see you.” He gave her a quick kiss, and grabbed the filled tote bag she held. Millie turned around and showed him a great looking rear end as she dug in the backseat for more of the colorful cloth bags.
“Here.” She looped the handles from a half dozen totes over his wrist. “You can take some of these, too.” She rolled her eyes in Ric’s direction. “Grampa went shopping.”
“Dad! You’re here!” Tia waddled down the steps with Luc at her side.
Ric’s eyes went wide. He looked at Millie and grinned. “What did I say?” Then he held out his arms and drew Tia into a tight hug. “Ah, baby…looks like your mama got her way. Again. I knew you were carrying twins.”
“Dad! No one knows!” She shot a furtive glance at Anton. When he burst into laughter, she frowned. “What?”
It took him a minute to get things under control. “Dear, dear Tianna, this is not meant as an insult because you are absolutely gorgeous, but you are huge. It’s quite obvious there’s more than one baby in there. Don’t you think everyone’s guessed by now?”
Tia glared at him. “I have no pride left. None. Luc? Take me inside, please.” Then she got the giggles and totally blew the imperious façade.
Millie slipped an arm around Tia’s waist. “Sweetie, I had twins and you have my sympathy. You will get your figure back. I promise.”
Everyone glanced at Millie’s slim figure. She struck a pose, stuck out her tongue and grabbed Tia’s hand. “The serfs can bring the luggage. We’ve got catching up to do.”
Anton watched the two women walk slowly up the stairs. He turned to Ric and caught his friend smiling at his mate and his only child with tears coursing down his cheeks. Anton thought of all the years Ric had been alone since the death of his first wife, the years when he’d been afraid to tell Tia of her birthright, the tough cases he’d had with Pack Dynamics when there’d been no one to come home to, no one to share his life with—not the good times or the bad times.
Now Ric had Millie. He had Tia and Luc and two little girls on the way…girls with Camille’s sass and brass if her spirit had anything at all to do with this. Anton hugged Ric around the neck and pulled him close. Ric sniffed and took a deep breath.
Luc patted his father-in-law on the back, and grinned.
Ric shook his head and punched Luc in the shoulder. “Luc, you bastard…I can’t believe what you did to my little girl.”
Luc grinned, shrugged and picked up Ric’s bag without saying a word. Laughing quietly, Ric and Anton grabbed the rest of the luggage and the totes filled with baby gifts, and followed the women up the stairs.
Keisha, Eve, and Lisa spent most of the following day preparing a welcome feast, now that everyone had arrived and all were moderately adjusted to the same time zone. When Tia first saw the two huge rib roasts and all the side dishes waiting on the buffet, she’d thought they’d have leftovers for a month. Now, as the twenty-three adults and two children cleaned their plates, she realized how badly she’d underestimated the appetites of a houseful of Chanku.
She’d also underestimated the depth of her own emotions, how it would actually feel to sit in a room filled with family and friends, packmates all, who had come from all across the country just to be with her when she gave birth to her babies.
She flashed a grin at Luc. The look he gave her in return took her breath. Goddess how she loved him!
Tia pushed her plate away, stood up and clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention.
“Is it time?”
Tinker’s big laugh had everyone going. He’d been asking that same question for at least a month now.
Tia glared at him. “No, Tinker. For the gazillionth time…not yet.” Grinning broadly, she glanced at everyone along the long table, but when she finally paused, she focused on her father and her heart pounded in her chest. “Dad, Millie…I am so glad you’re here. All of you. I’m not exactly sure when this big event is going to happen, but I want to thank everyone for coming, and Anton, Keisha, Stefan, and Xandi for once again graciously opening their home to all of us.”
She glanced at Anton. He sat with his fingers steepled in front and his chin resting at their peak, but he quietly nodded his response. Still looking at him, she added, “Anton always says we’re strongest when we’re together. Having all of you here when I’m delivering just…” Her voice cracked and she took a minute to regain control. “Well, you have given me a wonderful gift, and I wanted to thank every one of you.”
She touched Luc’s shoulder. His big hand covered hers. “And,” she said, feeling a little foolish, “I imagine a lot of you have already guessed it since I look like a beached whale, but yesterday Logan confirmed what Luc and I have suspected all along—Mom got her way on this one. I was almost sure I popped out one egg, but it looks like we’re having twin girls.”
She laughed at all the raised eyebrows and the applause. “Okay, so I guess not everyone figured it out. I’m surprised, as humongous as I am. I feel as if I’m carrying an entire soccer team, but thanks to Anton’s brand-new, state-of-the-art clinic, I got to see both our little girls yesterday when Logan did a sonogram. And yes, there are only two in there.” She cupped her hands over her huge belly. “Thank goodness!”
Luc rolled his eyes. “I’m actually relieved. I was thinking litter…I figured she had at least four in the oven.”
Tia thumped him on the head with her fingers before she sat down. Her dad smiled at her and she caught his thoughts.
Your mom must be so proud of you, sweetie. I just know she had a hand in this.
Thanks, Dad. I think she did. I was afraid it was me, but there’s no way I’d do this to myself!
Tia helped Mei and Jazzy clear the table and then wandered out to the great room where everyone had gathered. There were a couple of chess games going, and Anton and Stefan were chasing the babies around on the floor, much to Lily and Alex’s delight.
Oliver was trying to do a magic trick Stefan had taught him, and the laughter from his corner of the room told Tia he wasn’t having much success. Millie,