“That is untrue. You are a competent musician, Joseph.”
He closed his eyes. Competent. He hated that word. Just like he hated adequate. “Yeah, I know. Competent. In other words, mediocre.”
“You are not, nor have you ever been, mediocre.” Leo straightened. “An average musician is not competent. A competent musician is knowledgeable. Skilled. Proficient. Adept. You have great talent, my son. And I’ve always recognized that.”
“Is that why you say my performances are adequate?”
“What is wrong with adequate?”
“Adequate is passable. Tolerable. That’s not in keeping with someone who is skilled and adept. That’s mediocre.”
Leo snorted. Then he studied Joe. Joe stiffened. Waiting for a blow he was sure to receive.
“I never meant it in that way. I suppose I didn’t want to give you a swelled head by giving you more praise than that.”
“Praise? Adequate is praise?”
“From me…yes. Receiving an adequate from me is like receiving a superlative from someone else.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Superlative?” Joe swallowed. No way would he let his emotions overwhelm him now.
“I don’t shower my performers with praise. They work for it. And you always have. And though I’ve rarely said it. You have made me proud.”
Joe grabbed a chair to keep from doubling over. He swallowed hard and blinked away the tears that gathered. “You’ve never told me you were proud of me.”
“Surely, I have.”
“No. You haven’t, Papa. I promise you, I’d have remembered it.” Oh shit, he’d called the old wolf Papa. He hadn’t done that since he was little.
Leo considered him for a moment, his face softening. “I’ve been remiss then. You do make me proud. I know you have great skills. I might not understand them as well as I would if you played classical music, but I recognize talent, Joseph. And you have it. And you’ve worked for it.”
He met his father’s gaze again. “Does that mean you’ll attend the concert?”
“Would you like me to?”
Joe nodded. His throat was so tight he couldn’t speak. Just to hear some praise from his father, even after all this time, was more than he’d ever hoped for.
“Very well. We shall all attend the concert. It will be…educational, I’m sure.”
Joe chuckled. “You’ll live through it. Don’t worry.”
Leo’s lips curved. “I’m sure I shall. But the question is—will my ears?”
Chapter Thirteen
Joe had been quiet the rest of the night. He hadn’t even made love to her. He’d just held her close until they’d both fallen asleep. She stood in the kitchen in the early morning light. She’d woken with the dawn and been unable to sleep, but she didn’t want to wake Joe. So she’d showered, dressed and wandered into the kitchen.
Was he mad at her? Maybe she shouldn’t have pushed the issue of the concert after all. But it just seemed so damn unfair. Joe was really talented and his father should acknowledge it. The kitchen door opened and Carly shuffled into the room in nightdress, robe and fluffy slippers.
“You’re up early,” Mandy commented, starting the coffee brewing.
Carly hated mornings. She usually slept in until ten and then stumbled to the kitchen for coffee.
“Your father woke up with a woody and after we took care of it, he rolled over to go back to sleep but I was awake. The bastard.”
Mandy fought her laughter. Her mother never swore, except when she was exasperated with Eddie. But Mandy really hadn’t needed to know why her mother was irritated.
“Oh, don’t be so squeamish. You know your daddy and I have sex.”
“Yeah, I do. But I really didn’t want to know the details.”
Carly shook her head. “Is the coffee done yet?”
Mandy checked and carefully poured out a cup even as the drip maker continued to make coffee. She took the cup to her mother who blew on it briefly then took a sip.
“Nectar of the gods,” Carly groaned.
“You’re welcome,” Mandy responded dryly, and Carly winked.
“Soooo…you and Joe went to bed early. Did you have fun?” Carly teased.
Mandy rolled her eyes. “We went to sleep.”
“Eventually.”
“Right away. Or at least Joe pretended to go to sleep. I think he was pissed at me for tackling his father about Maria’s career and seeing Joe perform.”
Mandy took the eggs and bacon out of the fridge, heated a pan and started to cook. At least it gave her something to do with herself.
“You mean you didn’t get busy?”
“Carly, please.”
“Well—did you or didn’t you?”
“No. We didn’t.”
“That’s bad. Make-up sex is really hot.”
“We didn’t have a fight.”
Carly studied her over her coffee rim. “You sure?”
“He never said a word. Joe even held me tight while we were in bed. He didn’t talk at all, just caressed me while he held me. After a while, he started to snore.”
“What about this morning?”
“I woke up before he did and came out to the kitchen so I wouldn’t wake him.”
Carly shook her head. “You should have woken him with a blowjob.”
“Carly!” Mandy shook her head. “You’re my mother. You’re not supposed to say stuff like that.”
She laughed. “Honey, I’m a female. A rowdy, horny one and I always have been. I may seem all genteel but I’m your father’s True Mate. That should tell you all you need to know.”
Mandy focused on cooking breakfast while her mother watched her far more intently that she would have liked.
“Just stop, Carly.”
“Honey, I’m not doing anything.”
“You’re watching me.”
“Hard not to. We’re the only people in the kitchen and you’re the only one doing anything productive.”
Mandy dished up breakfast for them both. She set down their plates, grabbed the jug of orange juice then joined Carly at the table. She took a bite or two of eggs.
“You should talk to him. If he’s upset, don’t let it fester. Get right to it and make sure you never go to bed angry at each other.”
“Isn’t that kind of a cliché?”
“Not really. It’s good policy. One that your father and I didn’t follow when we were young, and our relationship suffered as a result. Learn from our mistakes.”
“You and Daddy are both really good at saying do as I say, not as I do.”
Carly laughed. “That’s because we have experience. We messed up and we want you to do better than we did.”
“Why?”
“Because we love you.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh.”
They concentrated on their food until Maria joined them. Mandy rose to cook for her while Maria poured herself a cup of coffee and sat at the table next to Carly.
“I’m capable of cooking, my dear.”
“You’re a guest.”
“I’m family.”
“Well, I want to cook for you, all right.”
“Very well.” She glanced back and forth. “So what’s the topic of conversation?”
“Joe didn’t jump her bones when they went to bed early last night.”
Maria’s eyes widened. “He didn’t? Whyever not?”
“Mandy thinks Joe is mad that she pushed Leo about the concert. What do you think?”
Maria considered as she watched Mandy. “Possibly. It’s also possible he was just overwhelmed.”
Mandy turned to stare at her. “Overwhelmed by what?”
“Do watch the eggs, dear.”
“Right.” Mandy focused on the food so she didn’t burn it. “So what was he overwhelmed by?”
Maria pressed her lips together. “I think you should discuss it with Joe. He and his father had a rather intense
conversation last night. I hope it will help their relationship and I thank you for pushing Leo into it. It was long overdue.”
“I didn’t mean to push him into anything,” Mandy said as she served the food and brought it to Maria.
“Of course, you did. And with the best of intentions.”
“Good intentions…the road to hell is paved with ‘em.”
Maria smiled and bit into the eggs. She blinked. “These are quite good. I like the seasonings you’ve chosen.”
“Thanks.”
Maria nodded and returned to the topic. “Leo needed a push, and from someone with an objective eye. I’m too close and he and I have long been at odds about Joe’s chosen career.”
“Joe seems to think he’s a disappointment.”
“He’s not. To either of us. But as you rightly pointed out to me, Leo has always been hard on his sons.”
“To keep them from getting soft.”
“To keep them from being complacent. They all have talent, but they needed to work to perfect it. Not expect to have their future handed to them.”
“I doubt they expected to have anything handed to them.”
“No, perhaps not.”
“And if Joe wanted to take the easy way out, he would have been the good little soldier and studied classical guitar even though his heart was somewhere else.”
“True. I wonder if Leo ever considered that.”
“I hadn’t, but I supposed it’s true. Good morning, ladies,” he said as he came into the room. Leo settled beside Maria and gave her a morning kiss.
Mandy rose to fix him breakfast and it wasn’t long until Eddie stumbled in as well. He wore jeans. Socks and no shirt. Mandy was used to it but Maria’s eyes widened slightly. Carly preened.
“He’s very pretty, isn’t he?”
Maria glanced at Leo and laughed self-consciously. “Yes. But my Leo is quite as…um…pretty himself.”
“Is he?” Carly asked, then turned to study Leo, as if imagining him without his shirt. “Well, you’re a lucky lady then.”
“I am indeed,” Maria agreed, patting Leo’s hand.
Mandy shook her head as she finished Leo’s breakfast, served him, and then started on Eddie’s. As she was setting a plate in front of her father, Joe strode in and stopped abruptly. He was dressed a lot like Eddie, but he wore low-slung sweat pants and socks. Carly glanced from Joe to Leo and back, then she looked at Maria.
“He resembles his father quite a lot, doesn’t he?”
Maria got a secretive little smile on her lips. “Yes. Yes, he does.”
Carly laughed out loud then returned to eating.
“You’re here.” Joe relaxed, totally missing the byplay between his mother and his mother-in-law.
“Where else would I be?”
“Sorry. I just…” He ran his hand through his hair. “Yesterday, after I practiced you were gone.”
Mandy took a deep breath. He thought she’d left him again. She crossed the room and walked into his warm embrace. Suddenly, the world was right.
“I missed you, angel,” he murmured against her ear. She nodded, holding him until he relaxed.
“You want breakfast?”
“Yeah, sounds great.”
Mandy set to work on more eggs and bacon. Joe went to the toaster and put in a couple of slices and then buttered them after they popped. He watched her for a while.
You okay, Joe?
You were gone and I kind of panicked. Sorry.
After yesterday, I’m not surprised. I woke early but I didn’t want to wake you too.
You could have given me a BJ.
She burst into laughter as she dished up his breakfast.
“What’s so funny, honey?” Carly asked. She looked at her mother then back at Joe and shook her head. No way was she going to tell her mother that Joe agreed with her. Just…no way.
“Nothing, Mom. Just a weird morning, I guess.”
“Where are those boys? It’s nearly nine in the morning,” Leo grumbled. The back door banged and Jake and Jules bounced in, full of energy. “Where have you been?”
“We went for a run.”
“A run?” Leo asked, frowning. “A shapeshifting run or did you go jogging?”
“It’s okay, Father. This place is shapeshifter central.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Whitewolf is a town settled by shapeshifters, Leo,” Mandy explained, “The Whitewolf pack lives here in the valley. Up in the mountains above us are two other packs: Redwolfs and Goldwolfs. Farther west are two aeries who run a ski resort. On the east is a family of human magick users—the Feldspars. Shifting is no big deal around here.”
“There are no ordinary humans?”
“There may be some but not many. Most are tourists and you can smell a tourist a mile away.”
Leo considered. “How extraordinary.”
“It’s pretty cool actually. It’s one of the reasons I love living here. I can be just who I am and I don’t have to hide my real self from anyone.”
“Are you part of the Goldwolf pack that you mentioned?”
Mandy looked at her father. “I don’t think so. Are we?”
“No,” Eddie commented. “My father came here when he was young and petitioned to buy a house. The Whitewolf pack owns all the land, so essentially, you buy the house but the land belongs to the pack. That way they have approval for any purchases and as far as I know, they don’t sell to non-shapeshifters.”
“So does the packleader run everything?”
“She has final say, but there’s a city council made up of the other packs, the birds and the magickers.”
“She?”
Mandy grinned at Leo, “The Whitewolf packleader is a female. She just found her True Mate and all kinds of shit hit the fan. Zach was part of it because he’s on the city council.”
“Zach is on the city council?” Joe asked, nearly dropping his orange juice.
“He’s much more responsible than he seems.”
“He’d pretty much have to be.”
Mandy laughed then looked at her brothers-in-law. “You guys smell like wet dog. Go shower then I’ll fix you breakfast.”
Both men ran from the room and were back in minutes in fresh clothes. Mandy cooked for them and finally settled herself back in her chair with Joe beside her.
“So, you said something about shopping last night,” Mandy said to her mother.
“Yes, I have nothing for Maria’s birthday.”
“Neither do I,” Mandy agreed.
“That’s not necessary, but we should get gifts for Eddie and Carly. Forty years as mates is important.”
“No need to worry about us.”
“Everyone gets presents,” Mandy scolded. “Anyway I don’t have anything for my mate for Valentine’s Day.”
Joe paused in his eating and looked at her. “Presents? We have to get each other presents?”
Her lips twisted. “It’s considered customary.”
“But… I mean. What do I get you? I don’t know you very well yet.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
He opened his mouth then looked over at Carly. She shook her head.
“As I said last night, we’ll split into two teams: girls and boys,” Carly laughed.
“But then how do we get something for Maria?” Mandy asked.
“Oh, we can manage that. We’ll let the males go off on their own, with the full knowledge that subpar gifts will get them months of disdain from their mates.” When Jake and Jules laughed Carly frowned. “You two aren't exempt. You have a mother to buy both birthday and Valentine's Day gifts for.”
“What a novel notion.” Maria laughed, considering her mate and sons. “I like it.”
“But Maria, liebling…”
“Haven’t you bought me a gift yet, Leo?” He colored. “Then do make productive use of your time.”
The females laughed and went to get dressed while the males looked bew
ildered and slightly terrified.
* * * * *
Later in the afternoon, arms loaded down with bags full of presents, the females bustled into a coffee shop in downtown Whitewolf. They found a table and ordered.
“How do you think the males are doing?” Mandy asked as she sipped her hot chocolate.
“Not well,” Maria laughed. “The boys have texted me several times asking for suggestions and Leo has gotten in touch mentally.”
“Same for me. Texts from Joe and True Mate touches from Eddie,” Carly agreed.
Mandy laughed. “Joe did ask for ideas for you and Eddie, but I think he’s in better shape than his father and brothers because he knows you two pretty well.”
“Well, he’s panicked about what to get you, honey.” Carly sipped her coffee and nibbled a bite of coffee cake.
“Did you tell him it’s not the cost?”
“Why on earth would I tell him that?”
“He’s not a rich guy and I don’t need something expensive to prove he loves me. I just need something he thought about.”
“He can afford something nice. Ever since he joined the band, we’ve been making better money and doing more concerts.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Mandy said. “I just hope I did well with my presents for Joe.”
“Why won’t you tell us what you bought? We can both help you know.”
“I know. But I wanted to do it on my own.”
Maria asked, “You wanted to keep it fair, didn’t you?”
Mandy grinned, “Yeah. I got the best team for shopping. He got stuck with the losers.”
Both older females laughed and patted her arm.
* * * * *
Joe watched his brothers sniff perfumes and wrinkle their noses. They were hopeless. Leo was looking at some dresses that Joe knew his mother would hate and Eddie was reviewing scarves. Carly never wore scarves. How did he end up with such a loser team for this task? It was fucking unfair. He was the only one with a single relevant idea for presents and none of them would listen to him. He was just about ready to strike out on his own.
“Would Mother like this?” Jules stuck a perfume under his nose and Joe snorted.
“Are you nuts? It smells like socks.”
“Oh.” Jules returned the bottle to the counter and looked lost. Just like all the other guys.
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