by Robin Roseau
"It's hard to get a loan for a house in that condition," Vivian said. "Even with an excellent credit rating."
"That's what he said next. Then he told me to go to the bathroom."
"He wanted to talk to Virginia."
"Yes. I came back and they told me they were strongly encouraging me to look for another house. That the only way I could buy this house was if I were willing to do an awful lot of work, and I'd have to do it myself. 'Darling,' Virginia told me. 'This is a good house for someone who works in construction and knows how to fix it.' I told them I was willing to learn, that I could do anything I set my mind to, but I understood they wouldn't recommend such a risk. Then they looked at each other and Virginia said, 'You won't be able to get a bank loan, Darling. We'll have to loan you the money.' I couldn't believe they were willing to do that."
"You saved their daughter, though. They would have done anything for you."
"Yes, but they weren't going to let me be foolish. Robert told me there would be strings. The first string was I had to fix the roof immediately, and that I would have to either hire a professional to do it or accept help. And there were other things I had to do immediately, and he didn't think I could learn to do all of them at once."
I started to cry. "They loaned me the money. And they loaned me extra money to pay for the repairs I would need to do right away. They were going to do it without interest, but I insisted on paying what the bank in town was charging. They offered a twenty-year loan, but I wanted ten, and I paid them off in four. I hunted nearly all my food for four years, but I paid them off in four years. I did all my repairs myself, but Robert insisted I had to accept help for the roof, and I had to do it the weekend after I moved in. I thought he'd come over and show me what to do. But instead he, Virginia and Bree came. And his brother and nephew. Virginia's father was there, and a cousin. The cousin was a contractor, and he brought all these tools with him. He got all of us going, and then he disappeared. Later I found him inside, and he was fixing the plumbing. By the end of the weekend, we had fixed the things Robert told me I had to do right away. And the cousin had done a complete inventory of the entire house, telling me everything I had to do and how to figure out how to do it."
I dried my tears. "Robert and Virginia gave me a house warming gift. They bought home repair books, several of them, plus all the basic tools I would need. Hammers, screwdrivers, saws, all that stuff."
I sat up straight. "But after that, I did the rest. I fixed everything. The walls were plaster, but they were rotted from water damage, so I stripped them, one room at a time, and replaced them with drywall. I didn't want to work with plaster, but drywall seemed easy. I painted, I learned how to fix the electrical. I replaced both toilets." I paused. "Well, you get the idea. I spent years fixing the house, making repairs and improvements as I could afford to pay for the materials."
"You have a right to be very proud," Vivian said. "I've never done anything like that. Neither has Lara."
"You don't have to," I said.
"No," she said. "But you did, and you did an amazing job. You should be proud."
"I am, I guess, but it's not like millions of people don't do the same things I did."
"That doesn't belittle the accomplishment," she said.
"I guess."
I had been talking for a long time. "Why did you want to know all that?"
"Because it's part of who you are. And maybe I suspected some of the story, and I wanted you to remind yourself of what you've accomplished."
There was more. "And you don't want me to avoid you anymore."
"No," she agreed. "I don't want you to avoid me anymore."
"All right," I said. "I won't make up any fake excuses anymore."
She smiled. "Good."
"No, I'll make sure I have real ones."
"Michaela-"
"Teasing!" I said. "You're always so serious."
* * * *
I didn't avoid Vivian anymore. Some days were harder than others. Some days I'd arrive for our session, and I would tell her, "I am having a bad day," and we would talk about Bayfield, or how I felt about Lara, or whether I felt I was integrating in with the pack. One day she tried to get me to brag about all the ways I lose the wolves when we're playing our games out in the woods, but I fed her a line of bullshit a mile wide. She knew I was doing it but kept a straight face the entire time. When we got done that day, she asked, "Was a single word of that true?"
I laughed and replied, "I'm sure if you rearranged the words very, very carefully, you might arrive at something resembling the truth."
And, slowly, I told her the things she wanted to know. She pursed her lips a lot, and I thought perhaps she didn't believe me. Nothing about telling her any of the things she asked made me feel better.
But every morning, Lara told me, "Today, with me, you are safe." And she would pull me into her strong arms and make sure I knew how much she loved me. And that helped.
I started to wonder whether when she promised to keep me safe forever, it might actually happen. But I knew it wouldn't.
But for now, for the first time in my life, I felt safe.
Shopping
The summer continued to zoom past. Lara acquired more land near Bayfield and was working with a team of architects. We wouldn't start building until next year. I was worried that meant I wouldn't see much of Bayfield, but we ended up spending far more time up there than I expected.
The school was a year round program, although the summer sessions offered a reduced workload. All my kids, except Chelsea, were now juniors or seniors, and they'd had a year of biology, so I taught an introduction to marine biology class as well as math. The rest of the summer's studies were devoted to hands-on classes, including a month-long introduction to sailing. The kids loved it.
So did I. I had never captained a sailboat before. By the end, I decided if I had my choice, I would still rather be in my kayak, but the sailboat was great fun, too.
Lara took me dress shopping. We made a party of it with Elisabeth and Angel coming along. Elisabeth pulled me aside as we were piling into the cars.
"This is important to her, Michaela," she told me quietly. "You're already acting sullen. I don't get it."
I looked away, gathering my thoughts.
"Well?" she asked me, moving into my line of vision.
"It's the fuss, Elisabeth," I said. "I've lived this long by avoiding notice. It's not my nature to seek attention. And she pretty much told me she's going to spend an insane amount of money on my dress. If I had my way, we'd have a simple ceremony with about fifteen people in attendance and I'd wear a dress I might actually wear again some day."
"All right," she responded. "I can understand. Michaela, you realize, you are marrying the alpha. Not just Lara. You're marrying two people at once. You understand that."
"Yes."
"Do you like that she's the alpha?"
I'd never thought about it like that. "I'd marry her either way," I said.
"But do you like that she's the alpha?" Elisabeth asked again. "Michaela, I've watched you when she goes all alpha. Your eyes shine with pride. And as alpha, she makes you safer than she would if she were an enforcer and Ron Berg were alpha instead."
I looked into Elisabeth's eyes, then glanced over at Lara. I caught her watching Elisabeth and me, but she looked away when I caught her looking. Lara was tall and strong, and I felt safe in her arms, and some of that safety was because Elisabeth was right; Lara was the alpha.
"You're right," I said. "I like that she's the alpha, and I'll do anything to keep her there!"
Elisabeth smiled. "Good. Marrying the alpha means you have responsibilities. And you can either accept those wholeheartedly or you can be miserable."
"And that includes politics." I said the last word with a certain amount of disdain.
"Yes."
"And being visible." I said that word with even more disdain.
"Yes."
"But there are perks, too," I
said.
"Yes."
"And I should enjoy those as compensation for the responsibilities."
"Yes."
I hugged Elisabeth. "Do you think Scarlett and Francesca should be joining us?"
She laughed. "Yes."
"Angel!" I said loudly. "Do you think Scarlett would like to join us? And perhaps also the alpha's aunt?"
Angel turned to me with a smile. "I know Scarlett wanted to go, and I think Mom did too."
"Call them, please," I told her.
She pulled out her phone and turned away.
"Tell them they have time to dress," Lara said. "But to be quick if they can."
Five minutes later, Scarlett and Francesca came out of the school together. Scarlett was dressed like a teenager, Francesca like a school teacher. Scarlett ran over. Elisabeth intercepted her, spoke to her quietly, and she ran off. Francesca walked straight to me. "So not only do you think you can drop your teaching duties for a day, but you think I can too?"
"Um-"
She grinned. "Thank you for inviting me. I had already arranged for Hadley Smith and Harper Armstrong to teach today." Then, right in front of me, she made adjustments to her clothing, and she went from prim school teacher to surrogate mother of the bride.
Scarlett took ten minutes, but when she returned, it was a complete transformation. I didn't notice her at first, but instead I saw Angel staring and smiling. When I followed her gaze, I saw Scarlett walking straight towards her wearing a simple white blouse with a bit of lace peeking out over the top and a black skirt. She was wearing tennis shoes but carrying a pair of low heels and a stylish purse.
She walked straight to Angel and kissed her briefly then turned to Elisabeth. "Better?"
"Yes," Elisabeth said.
I sidled under Lara's arm, kissed her cheek, and said, "There's going to be another wedding in a year or two."
"No," she told me quietly. "They'll both finish college first. I already talked to them. But other than timing, I think you're right."
We took the limo.
"We need a designated driver," Elisabeth said.
"The girls are too young to drink," I pointed out.
"Not today they aren't," Lara said.
Karen drove them limo, but Lara asked Eric and Rory to take a second SUV.
"For the record," I said, once we set out. "I am not trying on dresses in front of the guys."
I earned chuckles and assurances they would be stuck outside the shop and probably bored silly.
"They won't be bored," Karen said. "We undoubtedly won't be the only people shopping today, and there's going to be some single bridesmaid hitting on them, or some mother of the bride trying to hook them up with some daughter or niece."
I laughed. "Oh my god," I said. "Someone get video of that!"
"I won't have video," Karen said. "But I put a bug in both their pockets. We'll have audio. I'm recording it."
"Are you serious?" I asked.
She fished her phone out of her suit pocket and handed it back to us. "Elisabeth," she said. "Eric is 71. Rory is 89." Lara took the phone and handed it to Elisabeth. Elisabeth punched buttons on the phone, and then we heard Eric's voice.
"She's just so hot," he was saying.
"I know," Rory agreed. "If you mess up with her, I'm next in line."
"Oh my god!" said Angel. "Whom are they talking about?"
"Shhhh!" I said.
"Turn it off," Lara said. Elisabeth immediately silenced the phone. There was a round of complaints. "I know," she said. "And I would have loved to hear the rest of that conversation myself, but think about how all of you would feel if it were you. Worse, there's the distinct possibility they're talking about someone currently in the car, and I don't think this is how she should find out both of them are interested in her."
I looked back and forth between Karen and Elisabeth and realized they were both amazing catches.
"Don't look at me!" said Elisabeth. "I'm taken."
I stared at her. "Who?" I demanded.
"My job."
"Enforcer!" Lara said.
"Alpha?"
"If you are asked out on a date by someone you find attractive, You. Will. Go."
Everyone in the car laughed, everyone except Elisabeth.
"Lara."
"You heard the alpha," I told her sweetly.
"Yes, Alpha," she said meekly. But she was glaring at her sister. "Little Fox, I can't wait to see you in some frilly dress."
I immediately went into air head mode. "Me, either! It will be, I mean, just so super! And you're going to look lovely in the bridesmaid dresses I pick out, with a big bow right over your butt."
The car grew immediately silent. Elisabeth stared at me. "You. Wouldn't. Dare."
I smiled sweetly at her.
"Alpha, will you be wearing a tux?" Elisabeth asked.
"Yes," Lara said.
"Then I believe I will also be wearing a tux," Elisabeth said.
I immediately said, "Lara, I will cheerfully wear any dress you pick as long as I get to pick the bridesmaid's dresses."
"Elisabeth, you'll be wearing whatever Michaela picks for you."
I smiled sweetly at Elisabeth. "Let's see," I said. "There's the time you helped stuff me into a cage. And there's the times you wouldn't let me go outside just because I had a silly concussion. And there's the time you helped Lara trick me into that wager about fighting her instead of Eric or Rory. And there are all those times you licked me knowing how much I hate being licked." Elisabeth's expression filled with horror. "Big. Ass. Bow." I said.
"Oh god," she said.
"Michaela," said Angel from the back seat. "Please don't make me wear a bow on my butt."
I turned around to look at her. Scarlett was smirking. "You look familiar," I told Angel. I snapped my fingers. "Now I remember. You're one of the people who helped the alpha cheat during a recent game of catch the fox."
"But-" she said. "But-"
Scarlett's smirk grew even wider. I turned to her. "Don't think I have forgotten your role. I suppose you think you're going to my wedding as my maid of honor's date."
Scarlett's expression froze.
"I believe that means I get to pick your dress, too."
I turned around and settled into my seat. I grabbed Lara's arm and wrapped it over my shoulder. "Ahhh," I said. "The day is looking up already."
Karen snickered from the front seat. "I heard that, enforcer!" Elisabeth said.
I glanced up at Lara. She was holding a straight face, barely. I winked at her before settling more firmly against her.
We finally reached the bridal dress shop. It was a human establishment. They were expecting us. We parked in the lot and climbed out of the cars, the enforcers establishing a perimeter before they would let the rest of us out of the car. I thought it was an unnecessary amount of caution, but I didn't say anything.
We climbed out, and I took Lara's hand. She leaned down and whispered to me, "Are you really going to make Elisabeth wear a dress?"
I turned and spoke into Lara's ear. "No way. She'd look ridiculous. Tux, right?" Lara nodded. "She'll look stunning," I added.
As a group we began moving towards the shop entrance. Angel and Scarlett caught up to me and pulled me to a stop. "Please, Michaela," Angel said. "I'll wear a dress, but please!"
"You're going to look so cute," I told her. "You too, Scarlett. Don't worry, though. Lara's paying for everything."
Lara stiffened for a moment then began to chuckle. "Right," she said. Then she took my arm and drew me to the store. "Having fun?" she asked me quietly.
"Yes," I said. "Was that last bit too far?"
"It would have been, except neither of them can afford a new dress. You were absolutely right."
"I'll pay for their dresses," I said. "But I can't afford to pay for mine."
She looked over at me. "It's all right," she said.
"No, I want to." She nodded and smiled.
I stopped us outside the d
oor. "Who has a camera?"
I couldn't believe it. No one had brought a camera. "I have my phone," Angel said. Everyone had a camera on her phone.
"Hand them over," I said. "Every single one."
"What?" said Karen.
"Hand them over," I said. "The only person taking pictures today is me. Give, or we can all turn around right now."
Lara was the first to hand me her phone. Karen and Francesca immediately handed me their phones, and my hands began to fill up. "Wait," I said. I looked around. Scarlett was the only one carrying a purse, and it looked like it might barely be large enough to hold all the phones. "You!" I said. "Can I trust you?"
She nodded.
"Put these in your purse," I said. And one by one, we put everyone's phone in Scarlett's purse except my own. I closed the purse myself and said, "If your purse rings, you will hand it to me. If you do so much as open that clasp, I will-" I tried to think of a good threat.
"It's best to leave your threats unstated," Elisabeth said. "It gives you more options later." Elisabeth looked at Scarlett. "No games. I can't tell if she's serious about the dresses, but she's serious about the pictures."
Scarlett nodded. "I'll keep them safe," she said.
"Thank you, Scarlett," I said, smiling.
And then we stepped inside.
We were met immediately by a woman named Georgia. She approached the wolves slowly, eyeing them up and down carefully. I thought perhaps she was intimidated by their Amazonian physiques. But then she saw me, the diminutive fox, and she smiled broadly.
"I am Michaela Redfur," I said, stepping forward to shake her hand.
Georgia looked at me then looked at the women clustered around me. I was wearing flats, which meant I was just barely five feet tall. I smiled. "I know, they're intimidating, aren't they?" I clutched at Lara's arm. "This is Lara Burns, my fiancé. She will be picking my dress, and hers is the only opinion that matters."