by Kallie Frost
“You don’t feel like you deserve it, since you’re not their son?” I guessed.
Cambry nodded. “And by adding me, they’re splitting it up another way and all of my cousins get less. I feel bad getting it, especially with… well, I hate to spend it, so it just piles up. But I can’t think of anything better to spend it on than my true mate.”
“I thought your cousins all had businesses of their own,” I said. “Surely they don’t begrudge you getting a cut of it. Besides, wouldn’t you feel even less like a full member of the family if you didn’t get an even portion?”
He winced. “Yeah, I suppose that’s true.” My stomach rumbled and he laughed. “I heard that. Why don't I get you something?”
“If you insist,” I said, knowing he did. It felt strange to have him fuss over me, and yet I enjoyed it.
I sat back while he bustled around in the little kitchen. And soon he had a sandwich and a mug of something. He brought it over to me.
“This one is a half-caf, because I know you're not at your caffeine limit for the day.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“Try it.”
I chuckled and took a sniff. Once again, it was completely different from some of the other coffees he had offered me. I tasted it cautiously, then took a couple more sips.
“It's not bad,” I conceded. “But probably still not something I would order by choice,” I said gently, hoping not to offend him.
Fortunately, he threw back his head and laughed. “Just you wait, Louis,” he promised. “I'm going to find something to get you excited about coffee.”
“I really think I can run a café without enjoying coffee,” I told him. “Besides, I do drink it. I just don’t love it.”
“I'm not going to have a mate who doesn't like coffee…” He raised a playful eyebrow. “Or cats.”
I smiled at him and admitted, “Actually, I think I'm quite starting to like cats now.” I stood and caught him by the shirt, pulling him close to me for a kiss. “In fact, there's one in particular I'm growing quite fond of…”
~~~***~~~
“Well, thank you. I really appreciate it, Segel. I’ll tell Cambry, thank you.” I hung up the phone with a groan. I couldn’t believe I missed another appointment due to the weather. Instead of finishing up my fourth check-up with Segel, I had just missed my third scheduled ultrasound, and my last chance to see the baby. I was so far along now that Segel, not to mention Cambry, didn’t want me making the six-hour round-trip to the office. The weather was also making it tough for Segel to get out to me, so I had only seen him once.
I would have been nervous, but he had instructed Cambry on how to measure my stomach, and had me tracking my weight, and counting baby kicks. So far, everything seemed fine. I was heavier and larger than Segel said he would have liked, but after a couple of blood sugar tests he was confident I just had a large baby. Not to mention a very active one. Segel wanted me to feel ten kicks every two hours, it was usually at least twice that. He suggested that if the baby was indeed on the big side, I was naturally feeling more movement. Either way, the baby and I seemed healthy, and I wasn’t worried about my missed appointments. Although, I was a bit disappointed I hadn’t gotten to see the baby yet.
And now, I was so close, this was supposed to be my final appointment. My due date was just two weeks away. Segel had just told me his schedule was clear enough that he would come spend the week in Port Canard to make sure he was nearby when the big day came. If all went well, I’d have a baby in just two short weeks.
After hanging up, I plodded downstairs, feeling off balance from my ridiculously huge stomach. I had to admit, sometimes I had seen a pregnant woman and thought she looked somewhat large, but I couldn't believe just how uncomfortable it was. I felt like I was constantly at risk for tripping. And I was beyond annoyed that the weather was still this bad in early April. I felt nervous every time I went outside and there was ice, absolutely positive that I was going to slip and fall.
I put a hand underneath my belly, lifting it just a little, and supporting it as I walked down the stairs. I couldn't imagine how people did a full nine-month pregnancy. This was awful. I could hear Cambry talking and went down the rest of the steps as quickly as I dared, to see who he was talking with, before seeing that he was on his cell phone. He was just hanging up as I reached the bottom steps, and turned toward me with a wide smile.
“They got him!” he cried. “The hunter!” He laughed in disbelief and sat down on a stool, running a hand through his hair. “God, I'm so relieved.”
“Oh,” I said, pushing aside my rushing thoughts of kick counting and the upcoming due date. “You mean the one who was after your family?”
“Yeah.” Cambry waved his phone. “That was Carrick, letting me know the hunter is finally in custody.” He sighed. “What a relief.”
“Seriously. How did they catch him?” I asked.
He shook his head and chuckled. “Brooks got him.” His mouth twisted into a wry grin. “I'm glad; I know Brooks was itching to pay him back for shooting him.”
“Brooks is your cousin's mate, right? I thought the hunter shot Carrick.”
“He shot Brooks too,” Cambry said darkly. “Nearly killed him.” He shivered visibly and a haunted look crossed his face.
“You were there?” I guessed. A chill ran up my spine at the thought of how close Cambry had been to the hunter. I couldn't imagine life now had something happened to him, even though we hadn’t even known each other during the incident.
“It happened outside my café,” he said softly. “They brought him into the back room, so that Carrick could turn him. He would have died otherwise.” He heaved another sigh. “At least it's all over now.”
“That means when you go back home, you don't have to worry about avoiding your café anymore,” I said slowly.
He grinned. “Right. That'll be nice.” He must have caught something in my tone, because worry immediately crossed his face. He stood and regarded me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I just…” I decided I might as well voice my concerns. “I'm kind of worried, I guess. You seem so fond of your café, and your whole family is there on that island. I know you've been talking about my grand reopening here next spring and everything, but…” I hesitated.
He immediately knew. “You're worried about where we're going to live,” he said softly. “Because you don't think that I want to leave my café, and you don't want to leave your mother's?”
“Sort of,” I said. “I mean, I honestly don't know where I'd want to live. I hate to leave here. But I don't want to make you leave your home either.”
“If you're at all worried that I would leave you…” he said, as he rushed over. Cambry took both of my hands and held them tightly. “I will always go wherever you do,” he said firmly. “You don't have to worry about that. If this is where you want to stay, this is where we will make our home.”
“What about your family though?”
He shrugged. “They'll be all right.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Half a dozen people call you every morning after a full moon to make sure you're okay. I know you feel like you're the odd one out sometimes, but I really don't think you are. I think they love you like a brother. And that your aunt and uncle love you like a son. And I don't think they'd be very happy if you moved away just for me.”
Cambry smiled. “You're probably right,” he said softly. He shook his head. “In fact, I know they feel that way. I truly do. I just… I don't know. I guess sometimes I have trouble believing it. But,” he added. “I wouldn't be the only one who moved away for a true mate.”
“You wouldn't be?” I asked. “I thought your whole family lived there.”
“My cousin Lysee lives in New Orleans with her mate and their child. They did live on Half Moon for a while, but they ended up going to live near her mate’s family instead. Besides,” he said with a dark chuckle. “I’d call and visit a hell of a lot more than
Sladin does.”
“Sladin?” I asked. It was an unfamiliar name.
“My cousin,” Cambry said, somehow not actually sounding all that convinced. “He… well, I don't know. Nobody really does. He just up and left Half Moon one day, ages ago. I was hardly more than a toddler at the time; not sure I even remember him. He just left and travels, I guess.” He shrugged. “He hasn't been back at all, as far as I can tell. He calls once in a while, but my aunt is usually beside herself missing him.”
“Is he an alpha? Isn’t that dangerous to be alone like that?”
“Yeah. He’s young though,” Cambry said. “I mean, age is just one of many risk factors for full moons, but if he’s happy… Who knows. I haven’t told my family about you yet, for all we know Sladin already has a true mate.”
“And you think you’re the black sheep,” I said, gently teasing. “Sounds like you’ve spent more time with your cousins than he has.”
He laughed. “Good point.” Then, he tilted his head. “What was that sound?”
“Mail,” I said, nodding to where a couple of envelopes had dropped through the mail slot and onto the rug. “I’ll get it.”
Before I could even stand, he was waving me off and heading for the door. He bent down and grabbed the letters.
“Hey, this one is for…” He trailed off and stared at it, eyes wide. “No way…”
“What is it?” I asked.
“Oh my God,” he breathed. “I think it's from my mystery benefactor…” He stepped swiftly to the window and flung back the curtain, looking outside. He moved almost like he was suspicious, if not nervous.
“Your what?” I asked.
“It's kind of a long story,” he said. He walked to one of the tables and sat down, tapping the envelope on it like he was reluctant to open it.
“We have time,” I chuckled.
“I suppose we do,” agreed Cambry. “Can I get you anything to eat before I tell you all about my weird stalker?”
“I’m fine, just quite curious,” I said. I stood and joined him, holding out a hand. He passed me the envelope and I studied it. It was just a plain, somewhat thick envelope addressed to him. No return address or anything.
“So... you know how I feel about my uh… my place in my family,” Cambry began. I nodded. “Well, for most of my life, someone has given me gifts. Expensive gifts.”
My eyes narrowed. That wasn’t what I expected. “Expensive gifts? Like what?”
“One Christmas, all of my cousins wanted kayaks. I was probably twenty or so? Anyway, everyone wanted a kayak. But they were expensive and I…” He bowed his head and shrugged helplessly. “I didn’t feel like I deserved that much spent on me. So, I made it clear I did not want a kayak. And I didn’t get one… not from my aunt and uncle. But when spring came and my cousins went to try them out for the first time, there was an extra one in the boathouse. One with a card with nothing but my name on it.”
“Your aunt and uncle got it for you anyway?” I guessed.
He shook his head. “No. They didn’t. They didn’t know where it came from, neither did my cousins.”
“You’ve mentioned other aunts and uncles? And I think you said you have grandfathers?”
Cambry shook his head again. “Half of them didn’t even know about the kayaks. The rest swore it wasn’t them. I was grateful, but confused. Then, a couple of years later, I went to pay my half of my college tuition – my aunt insisted on splitting it fifty-fifty, she didn’t even want me to pay at all, until I insisted – it was paid in full.”
“And not by your aunt?” He shook his head. “You’re sure?”
“Positive. Aunt Verona… she’s a very compassionate, wonderful aunt. But if she had paid it, or gotten the kayak, she would have told me. Not because she wanted thanks or credit, but because she’s… honest I guess. She wouldn’t do something like that and keep it a secret. Especially because she was pissed when she found out my tuition was paid. She was convinced that I did it instead of letting her help. And she was just as baffled as me when I said I thought it was her.”
“What about Carrick or Tessa? Or your other cousins? They all have their own businesses, right? And they get a cut of all the lease money too.”
“They all swear it wasn’t them. And it has been going on long enough, I believe it.”
“It didn’t stop with the tuition?”
“No.” He pointed toward the envelope I was still holding. “After tuition it was a sudden increase on the down payment on my café. Since then, it has been things like that. Every couple of years I get really nice equipment for the café. Once it was a full set of new chairs and tables. I woke up one morning to a whole pile of high-quality slate for my new patio. Another time I was remodeling the loft I live in, and it was paid in full overnight…”
“That’s… crazy. Could it be… maybe someone from your father’s family?”
Cambry smiled grimly. “He didn’t have much family. I have a couple of distant relatives on that side, but nobody I’m close enough to, or wealthy enough, to do this for me. Plus, I have no idea how this person even finds out what I’m doing or what I need…” He cast a look over his shoulder at the window. “It’s creepy sometimes…”
I nodded. It sure sounded creepy. Insanely generous. But also quite weird. I held out the envelope. “So, what’s this?”
“I never know. Half the time I don’t even know it’s coming. It just shows up. You can open it.”
Nervously, I slid my finger beneath the flap and tore it open. I pulled out a piece of paper. Blank expect for one, neatly written sentence: For your mate’s café.
I nearly dropped it. “He knows about me!”
Cambry snatched it, then hissed. “How? Nobody knows about you! Well, Hobie does.” He glanced at me, “My assistant manager. And I know he isn’t buying me extravagant gifts; I didn’t even know him when my tuition got paid.”
“Could he have told someone?”
“Even if he did tell my family, which he promised not to, it’s not one of them. What was in there?”
“What was in… oh! Sorry, baby brain.” I picked up the contents on the envelope. “It looks like a receipt of some kind… for the purchase of…” My jaw dropped. “One thousand dollars of…” I frowned at it. “I can’t tell what was bought.”
“Nothing. Yet,” Cambry said with a snort. He reached over and took the receipt. “Ah, my favorite coffee supplier. Of course.”
“The mystery benefactor bought you a thousand dollars worth of coffee?!”
“Not exactly.” Cambry waved the receipt at me. “For a while he was sending me checks – don’t ask, I couldn’t trace them – and I refused to cash them. He’d wait about a month, and if the check wasn’t cashed, he’d just buy twice as much.” I frowned so he explained, “Like this receipt. It’s a wholesaler for beans. I’d get a check for say, one thousand, that would say it was for coffee beans, and if I never cashed it, I’d get two thousand dollars worth of beans delivered a month later.”
“So… whoever it is pretty much ensures that you benefit directly from the money,” I mused. “This just keeps getting stranger.”
“Yeah.” Cambry shook his head as he frowned at the receipt. “So, now he just pre-pays for things. It’s almost like a gift card or a store credit. I get to place my own orders for what I need… on the house. I feel bad accepting it, but I’ve learned I sort of don’t have a choice in a way.”
I picked up the other receipts from the envelope and handed them over. Cambry looked at them, shaking his head.
“One thousand for a commercial coffee maker supplier… two thousand for an appliance store, five hundred for a hardware shop…”
“He knows we’re going to clean things up and reopen?” I demanded.
“Seems like it.”
“And just gave you…” I added it up. “Almost five thousand dollars for my café. For me. And you don’t even know who it is?!”
“Welcome to my life,” he said dryly. His
face fell and I felt a flutter of emotion from our bond. “I’m sorry, Louis. I never even thought about him and what would happen once we were together. Honestly…” He laughed sadly. “For a while, I thought maybe it was my true mate. You know? Like for some reason he couldn’t be with me, so he sent me gifts instead. Obviously, that’s not the case. I’m baffled. And I’m sorry you’ve been dragged into it.” He frowned and hissed. “I hope I haven’t put you in danger.”
I shook my head. “If whoever this is has done nothing but send you money, insane amounts of money, for fifty-some years, I don’t think there’s any animosity. It’s weird as hell, but doesn’t seem dangerous. And I guess… he approves of me?”
Cambry smiled at me. “Yeah, I guess so.” He pulled out his wallet and tucked the receipts inside. “I guess we’ll be all set when we start the reopening planning.” He stood, and extended a hand to me. “Isn’t it about time for your nap?”
“Probably.” I let him help me to my feet, not minding as he shadowed me up the stairs. “Oh, I almost forgot. Segel is going to book a hotel here next week, so he can be in town when the baby comes.”
“Fantastic!” Cambry cried. “I’ve been worried about that.”
I pulled off my shirt when we got to the room, tossed it aside, and eased myself onto my bed. Cambry pulled off his own shirt, and pants, and joined me, curling an arm around me and caressing my belly.
“Napping with me?”
“At least for a little,” he said. The bare skin of his chest was hot against my bare back, and I pressed against him, hungry to touch every possible inch of him. He nuzzled my neck and I felt the still-new-and-unusual sensation of purring. Cambry started purring in response. The sound was comforting and soothing, and combined with the gentle vibrations from both of our humming bodies, quickly began to lull me to sleep.
At least, until I noticed something hard against the back of my thigh and rubbed against it.
“Mmm,” Cambry moaned softly. “Tease.”
“Who says I’m teasing?” I murmured sleepily. I reached a hand behind me and cupped his erection through his boxers, gently pressing against it.