“How?” she chokes, tears spilling down her chin. Tilting her face up to her fiancée, she holds it up in question like he hadn’t heard her. When he smiles, she turns to her father and says again, “How? Daddy?”
“It was returned after her passing, Fry,” he says jostling Roan in his arms and smiles as his grandson squeals again. “I had it re-sized for you. You and your brothers are the only piece of Cecilia I have left; I want you all to have things to remember her by…..so we never forget how wonderful she was.” He hugs his grandson tight, tears leaking out onto his stern face making her heart break again.
“Thank you, daddy,” she mumbles over her tears, “for everything.” Slipping the ring on her left middle finger, she glances back up into Conall’s green eyes. “Thank you, love.” Standing on her tip-toes she captures his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck. “It means the world to me,” she whispers, leaning her forehead to his before taking his lips again and wasting no time in licking his lips and slipping her tongue into his mouth as he growls. She doesn’t care that their family and friends are in the room, she just wants to show her man how much this means to her and she presses her body flush to his front as he holds her tight, moving their lips and tongues in a dance of passion.
Conall’s father finally clears his throat, breaking up the show and the household is again filled with lively chatter as Conall lowers her to the floor; a mischievous grin plastered on his sexy lips. Sylvia and Cassie steal her away before she has a chance to catch her breath, cornering her in the kitchen.
“So what did the Doc say about the babies?” Sylvia coos right at her belly and Siofra can’t help but laugh. Sylvia rubs her belly, talking to it and Siofra pushes her hand away playfully, telling her to quit it. “Well, get used to it. ‘Cuz when you start showing, I am gonna do it all the time.”
Siofra rolls her eyes and Cassie laughs at them both, saying, “Really, Fry, what did the Doc say?”
“She says my due date is around August 17th,” she stops as both ladies squeal in delight, “and that both are looking good. Snuggled in there safely.” She smiles as she rubs her stomach and the girls both ‘awe’ softly.
“What about the wedding?”
“Yeah, when are you gonna get hitched?” Cassie laughs, handing Siofra a cup of tea as she fixes one for herself. Siofra wraps her hands around the warm mug, tapping her fingers on the ceramic while she thinks.
“Well, I’ll have to talk it over with Connie, but maybe Halloween?” She shrugs her shoulders and both ladies nod in agreement. They stand in the kitchen and talk over ideas about a fall wedding, along with things they’ll need to buy for the babies before August. Siofra can’t help but feel the love of her friends and soon to be family. They rejoin everyone in the den and she just stops and stares at the full room; a room full of people that she loves.
Conall is playing with Roan on the floor, making silly car sounds right along with the boy and she laughs; leaning on the doorway and just taking in the sight. Her little boy looks up at Connie, holding up one of the fire trucks and says, “Here, da-da. Put out ta fire,” and the simple little request pulls at her heart.
Getting Trey and Jace to make sure Conall stays distracted, Siofra goes to the hallway closet to grab his brand new guitar, stopping only for a second to wipe the happy tears from her cheeks. She puts it behind her back as she makes her way back into the room, knowing it’s not hidden very well. Coming around the corner, she sees that he’s now standing with his two friends, his back to her, as they watch the kids play. Reaching around him, she holds the guitar in front of him, her other arm wrapping around his waist.
“Love!” he gasps, taking the guitar from her hand and turning to face her. Conall’s face is lit up like the Christmas tree, joy playing off all of his features. “A Fender, California Series Kingman SCE,” He says each word with quiet enthusiasm, running his hand along the curves of the unworn wood. He turns to show Jason, Jace and Trey as they gather around a little more to see it.
They all ‘ohh’ and ‘ahh’ over it for a few minutes, each of them strumming the strings once or twice, and smiling at the sound. She smiles to herself as Conall holds it like it’s something fragile, his eyes large and with a wondrous expression. She knows she did well and she’s more than happy that he likes it.
She is so caught up in his joy that she doesn’t notice when Conall hands the new toy over to Jace. He spins around; gathering Siofra in his arms and captures her mouth with his in a most demanding kiss. Running her hands up his arms, she interlaces her fingers behind his neck, pulling him tighter to her as his lips glide over hers. A low growl escapes his throat as he releases her mouth.
“I love it,” he whispers hoarsely, kissing her lightly again on the mouth before setting her down. “Almost as much as I love you.”
“Well I’m glad there was an ‘almost’ in there,” Siofra smirks, playfully smacking his shoulder as he grins.
“Well let’s see how it sounds,” Jace gathers his own guitar, helping Conall tune his present. They are just like the children, breaking in their new toys. Jason joins in, sitting at the piano, and Trey picks up a mandolin that always sits in the Alpha den.
The night goes on, everyone gathering near the fire place and singing their own versions of carols and country songs. The children are dancing and playing with their toys, eventually dropping like flies into the sleeping bags arranged around the smaller tree in the living room.
With Roan asleep in her lap and Conall next to her, strumming ‘Silent Night’ with his band mates, Siofra feels more at home than she ever had. She has a man that loves her undoubtedly, and a family, no, a Pack, behind her; no matter what.
That’s what family is. Through the dark clouds of disaster, family is a fierce support structure, and Siofra has found hers in the desolate town of Broadus, Montana.
EPILOGUE:
The 2014 New Year has brought many great things for the Big Sky Pack, and especially for Conall and Siofra. In April, Clyde Johnson and Bubba Smithe relinquished leadership to Michael and Jace. Both elder wolves retired to ride Harleys and hang out at the auto shop and bar, shooting the breeze. Siofra thinks it’s a good thing to see the men being able to relax. They have guided their Pack for over thirty years; now is their time to just sit back and watch their grandbabies grow.
As her twins grow, she has to be put on bed rest with a lot of protest. She hates the idea, but at least it starts in the spring, instead of her being cooped up in the winter. Siofra spends the spring days with Susan, and sometimes Cassie and Sylvia; sitting on the back porch while watching the children play in the yard. Conall decided he wants a pond; so the men of the Pack have dug a thirty foot wide, twenty foot deep, spring fed pond on the edge of the tree line behind their home. Building a dock that reaches out over the shore makes the pond look surreal and it is perfect in Siofra’s mind.
Wedding plans are coming along great for a Halloween wedding. They are just going to have it in the backyard, weather permitting, and Siofra can’t wait. She wants to officially be Mrs. Johnson as soon as possible.
Her father, Marcus Sr., has also retired, handing the reins of the Clover Pack over to his son Duncan, who moved back to Buffalo from British Columbia. Marcus moved permanently to Broadus after divorcing Nancy, leaving her with nothing; not that she deserved anything after sleeping with another man. He spends his days with Clyde and Bubba, riding Harleys and being menaces to the women in their lives in between watching their grandkids and helping at the auto shop when asked.
Roan is growing every day, first walking on his own, then graduating to running in no time. He chases his cousins around the yard, getting covered in mud and grass most of the time. He likes to press his ear to Siofra’s protruding belly and say, “I hear dem, Mama.”, then place a kiss to it, running away giggling. He is absolutely too cute and it warms Siofra’s heart every time he does it.
The love between Conall and Siofra grows stronger with every passing day. He makes it a routine
of placing his lips to her stomach and growling, issuing his care for his unborn children while bringing Siofra to tears every time, and slowly making love to her after. Conall is a beaming father-to-be, always talking about Roan and his soon-to-be born sons to everyone who comes into the auto body shop.
****
August 1st, 2014
Siofra is sitting on the back porch watching Roan chase some butterflies just beyond the stairs when a sharp pain runs up her side, causing her to hiss in a breath. Breathing through the slight pain, she looks back down at Roan to see him staring at her, his little brow furrowed. “Mommy’s fine, baby,” she shouts, waving and giving him a smile and he goes back to chasing the bugs, but not without looking over his shoulder.
Going to stand, she has to catch herself on the arm of the Adirondack chair as another pain runs through her and a gush of liquid runs down her leg. Trying not to panic, she calls out for Susan who comes to the glass sliding door with a jug of lemonade in her hands.
“Sue, I think the lemonade will have to wait,” she smiles at the she-wolf through another slight contraction. Susan’s eyes follow Siofra’s lead, down to the pool of liquid on the porch, and she jumps almost dumping the pitcher of liquid. As Siofra waddles into the house, yelling for Roan to come in, Susan is already on the phone with the auto garage.
“Roman, honey, tell your brother Conall to get his ass home, right now!” she yells into her cell as Siofra giggles at her urgency. Her making fun of Sue soon dissipates as a contraction hits, dropping her to her knees and she has to grit her teeth to keep a scream in as Roan starts to panic. “Tell him to get the Doc,” Susan yells back into the phone before snapping it shut and kneeling beside Siofra.
Siofra’s wolf whimpers at the pain; but Roan’s little hands grip her cheeks, she meets his blue-grey eyes with a smile. “Mommy’s okay,” she whispers through the pain, kissing his forehead, “now be a good boy and go sit in the play room.” He starts to object, whining, but Siofra’s wolf jumps to the surface, issuing a commanding growl and Roan kisses her cheek, waddling then crawling into the play room and sitting right in the doorway so he can see her.
“Come on, honey,” Susan says, scooping her arm under Siofra’s and getting her to her feet. “Let’s get somewhere where you’ll be a little more comfortable than on the hardwood.”
She leads Siofra, who is now panting through the pain, into the living room. She helps her down onto the carpet, propping her back up against the couch with pillows so that out of the corner of her eye she can still see her oldest still sitting in the doorway of the playroom.
She’s fighting the urge to push when truck tires spray the loose gravel of the driveway over the lawn and two car doors slam shut. As her mate comes bursting through the front door, Siofra can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief and laugh a little at his frazzled appearance. The doc rushes to her side as Conall drops to his knees, taking her face in his hands and kissing her lips sweetly.
“I’m here, love,” he whispers with a smile and she giggles through another contraction, her wolf already at ease in his presence.
“Alright, missy,” Dr. Trapper smiles taking her place at Siofra’s knees, “time to deliver some twins.” She smiles and winks at her and Siofra nods, scooting up on the pillows and taking a few deep breaths. “You know what to do, momma.”
About ten minutes later, two- five pound, perfectly healthy brothers, Clyde Duncan and Marcus Conall Johnson, are born; both screaming and crying like their older brother had when he was born. Conall was too busy kissing and telling her he was so proud of her each time one of their sons came out, that when the doctor asked him to cut the cords, he looked at Siofra in shock and, both times, she laughed lightly telling him to hurry up.
Since that day they have been the apples of everyone’s eyes, and Siofra knows they will grow to be lookers like their father. Clyde has her medium brown hair, but has Conall’s green eyes, and Marcus (commonly called Markie) has Conall’s dark brown, almost black hair and Siofra’s sky blue eyes. They are perfect babies, just like their older brother. Not fussy unless hungry, and always happy, cooing and babbling. They love when their big brother is around, and Roan is always making faces and funny sounds at them.
****
Dusk on October 31st
This day has approached out of the blue and their home and back yard is the setting for the ceremony and reception. Everything looks just like she had wanted it and she has to keep wiping her eyes to keep the tears from ruining her makeup. Standing in front of her full-length mirror, Siofra can’t believe she is finally going to be marrying Conall.
Finally, she thinks smiling to her reflection. He is going to be all ours, her wolf answers.
“You ok, sister?” Sylvia, who is beaming, being six months pregnant, asks and Siofra smiles at her. She loves that she looks amazing in her red, silk bridesmaid dress. She’s behind Siofra, fixing her hair and making sure her dress is perfect from behind.
“Yeah…..just butterflies,” Siofra takes a deep breath in, smoothing her hands down her hips. God, she feels sexy. She ran every-day, once being cleared by the Doctor, since the twins had been born. It paid off because the dress fits perfectly again, just like that awful day she had tried it on in the dress shop; but that is all behind her. Her future will be filled with long days spent with her husband and sons.
The clicking of heels as Cassie re-enters the room saying, “It’s time, girls.” Grabbing Siofra’s bouquet for her, she takes her by the elbow. “Your dad can’t wait to see you.” Leading Siofra out into the hallway where Marcus Sr. waits to walk her down the aisle, both Cassie and Sylvia kiss her on a cheek.
Turning into the hallway, Siofra’s eyes meet her father’s; she can’t keep the tears from falling this time. She watches him with a smile on her face as he looks her up and down, straightening his tie nervously.
“Wow, hun, you look amazing,” he smiles and she sees the moisture on his lashes.
Her fingers go to the necklace he had given her for Christmas, the one belonging to her mother on their wedding day, and she hugs her father tightly. He squeezes her tight and she sinks into his familiar arms, kissing him on his newly shaven cheek as he winks at her.
“I love you, Daddy,” she smiles through the happy tears. Releasing him, she fixes his jacket while Cassie and Sylvia fix her dress and veil.
“Ready?” he looks down at her, sticking his elbow out for her to slide her arm through.
“Definitely. More than ready,” she breaths out, trying to catch her composure.
They walk down the staircase, preceded by Sylvia, Cassie, flower girl Susie and ring bearer Roan. In front of the French doors that lead to the porch and yard, where the guests are waiting, they stop and listen for their cue. Her heart is racing and her palms are sweating. She couldn’t be any more nervous and her father squeezes her hand.
Violins start to play a sweet little tune written by Jace Smithe. Sylvia gives Siofra one last grin before stepping through the doors with the children in tow, and closes them after her, to shield her appearance till the right moment. Siofra’s stomach is in her throat when her father places his free hand on hers, patting it slightly.
“I’m so proud of you, my lil’ Fry,” he kisses her forehead. The violins pause for a second, then start up again, signaling her approach. Reaching to open the doors, her father smirks at her and clears his throat, “You have one last second to run!”
Punching him lightly with her bouquet, she just smiles. A slight breeze meets them as they step out onto the porch, calming her nerves. She loves fall, just like Conall does; that’s why today is the day. This crisp, perfect day is signaling the start to their official life together; Siofra smiles wide as she takes in the appearance of her yard.
Rows of white folding chairs come up to meet her, as her father leads her down the runner lined aisle. Guests stand and smile as she looks around. She spots Trey with his new girlfriend, Francie Barnes, Siofra’s childhood friend that has moved to Mon
tana only a few months before.
The plump, cheerful face of Dorthea Petit comes into view next, and she’s blotting away tears. Being flanked by Leon Sullivan and Sebastian Campbell, making her like a cougar, showing off her younger boy-toys. Grinning, Siofra nods in the Cajun woman’s direction.
Her brothers and their wives are packed into the first two rows to her left, all winking at her as she walks by, and she sticks her tongue out at them. Her bothers, Duncan and Sean, are holding her two month old twins, who are decked out in their little tuxedoes, and the grown men are making the babies wave to her, getting her to giggle. Susan Johnson smiles at her, tears rimming her eyes, from the first seat on the aisle to her right. Her father stops so Siofra can place a one armed hug around Susan’s shoulders, just like they had rehearsed. She owes the she-wolf so much, and doesn’t think, in all the years of her life to come, that she’ll be able to convey her thanks.
The violins fade out and they come to a stop right in front of Clyde Johnson, the one officiating the ceremony to Pack rules. Addressing the crowd, he asks, “Who presents this woman to be married?”
“Her brothers and I do,” Marcus Sr. replies, lifting Siofra’s veil and kissing her cheek; making sure her veil is neatly placed back around her face. Taking her hand and placing it in Conall’s, he turns and takes his place in the front row, as Siofra’s eyes threaten to spill over with fresh tears.
Bringing her to his side and interlacing their fingers, Conall winks at her, coaxing a rapid blush out of her. The first part of the ceremony flies by, up to the ring exchange and bonding ritual; and Clyde’s strong voice calls out, asking for the rings.
Siofra's Song: Book 1 The Broadus Supernatural Society Series Page 15