Chapter 34
Mary and Mateo
Sundays were always a big deal for Mary. She missed cooking everyday for everyone but knew that now that children were here everyone wanted to cook for their own children, especially the couples who couldn’t raise their first child. She also enjoyed that Abby had wanted cooking lessons from her. Most of the mothers had come to her for a few lessons but had taken to it quickly. Abby however wanted to know everything. Abby also enjoyed it as much as Mary and now helped her plan Sunday meals.
Mateo still works with Charles and trains the half-bloods and has started to train some of the children that are not Fury’s. She and Mateo now also had three children of their own. Her first was a boy who they names Mateo Jr. and he was now eleven. Their daughter was born two years later and they named her Violet who is now nine. Their youngest was Caleb and he is now five. And just as Marsali had said they take after the Dragons. Her children are healthy and never get sick. They are strong and smart and the best part is she knows they will be immortal like her and Mateo. They will not die until they choose to be.
It is now Sunday morning and as Mary cooks her family breakfast her head is spinning with ideas. Not to mention it is the first Sunday with everyone home. Colleen came home the same day that Chloe had. Marcus and Iraina surprised everyone and came home a few days ago. So the plan tonight was Italian food everyone’s favorite. Mary had four lasagnas planned, spaghetti and fettuccine. Garlic bread and garlic rolls as well as salads, Eggplant parmesan and baked ziti. So much that she knew she needed to get started as soon as she was finished.
“Good morning my love how is planning coming?” Mateo asked as he came into the room.
“Gonna be a busy one love. Italian tonight and that means as soon as we are done I need to get started.” Mary replied
“Well I know how much I get in your way so how about I keep the kids busy today and let you do your thing?” Mateo laughed knowing that she would want nothing more.
“Sounds great, I know Finley is heading to the water park again today maybe the kids would like to go again.” Mary hinted knowing Violet had already asked to go.
“Sounds good to me, Mateo also asked if we could get him a new video game today. Seems after dinner the older boys all want to play teams.”
“Well that is fine as long as he has done his chores to earn it.” Mary responded
“My room is clean my bed is made and I took the garbage out. I also cleaned our bathroom and started laundry. Is there anything else you would like me to do before we leave?” Mateo Jr. asks
“Well no son I think you earned a game. Just remember to put the load in the dryer before you leave so it does not spoil.” Mary responded still surprised sometimes at her own children. Gabe had needed his arm bent backwards to lift a finger. And he was so paying for what he gave her with his own daughter Irelynn.
“Thank you and I won’t forget.”
“Mommy can you do my hair before we leave?” Violet asks as she walks into the room.
“Yes sweetie I will braid it since you are going to be in the water. Now where is Caleb?” Mary asks
“He is cleaning his room hoping he can get a game too.” Mateo Jr. tells them.
“Oh he is? Well let’s see what he gets done and if it merits a game.” Mateo responds
The next thing anyone sees is Caleb walk into the kitchen and starts to grab plates from the cabinet. He then sets the table with plates and silverware. When he is done he comes into the kitchen and starts wiping the counters behind Mary and trying to hurry her along so he can clean up. Mary just laughs and scoots him out telling him he can get a game. The look on his face was nothing but relief.
Before Mary sits to eat she shoots a quick text to the girls and Abby letting them know that she will be in shortly and the plan is Italian. She then sits to eat with her family. When they are all done the kids and Mateo leave for the day and Mary cleans up her small kitchen.
In the main house the kitchen had been remodeled to look more like a kitchen in a restaurant. She now had six huge ovens and two smaller ones. She had a total of twelve burners and plenty of working space. She even had assigned stations for the girls and an area to place all the cooked food before it got brought out to the big table in the dining room. The plates and silver ware now stayed at the table in lovely silver stands.
As Mary entered the kitchen she saw that Abby was busy making the dough for the noodles. Aileen was working the salad station and cutting up heads of lettuce. Beth was boiling tomatoes for the sauce and Skylen was working dough for the garlic bread and rolls in two huge stand mixers. Abby was at the smaller two mixers with the pasta attachments and lastly Sandy was writing out a dessert menu that everyone would work on once they had dinner prepped.
“Well aren’t you all busy bees?” Mary laughed looking at all the girls. They girls had only been in the house about a year now. The previous ones had found their soul-mate after a while and decided to have families. So these four girls now lived in the apartment area downstairs and loved it. They were also paid extremely well by Kaiden and Zoe. These girls after all kept the main areas clean and did all the shopping for everyone. Not to mention that Beth and Aileen were turned Earth Dragons now and helped with the gardens.
“Alright ladies this is the plan.” As Mary recited what they were making the girls all paid attention, especially Abby. “Now any questions before we start?”
“Nope.” The four ladies of the house all said at once while Abby kept staring at Mary.
“Abby dear what’s wrong?” Mary asked concerned
“Dodge is dead. Ben came home on Friday night and told him it was ok to go. He waited until this morning though. Ben leaves tonight after dinner and he is so upset. I don’t know what to do.” Abby burst into tears. The poor girl was only sixteen and didn’t know how to handle emotions like this yet. Her mate being upset shook her to her core.
“Oh honey I am so sorry. Do you need to go be with him? I can take over you know you don’t have to help.” Mary pulled her into a hug.
“No I’ll be ok. I need to be here because well…..Ben just wants to hold me…..and….well..I..umm.” at her admission the ladies all burst into laughter.
“Oh dear…..I remember being sixteen and yes I understand so let’s keep you busy in here instead of busy in a bedroom.” Mary said as she tried to look anywhere but the young girl in her arms. “How is the dough coming? Is it almost ready?”
“Yes it is how much lasagna do we need?” Abby ask with a red face of embarrassment.
“Well four lasagnas at probably forty a pan. Just remember to layer with wax paper because the sauce won’t be ready for a couple hours. Then I need two pans of ziti and lots of spaghetti noodle along with fettuccini noodles. Those ones can wait until the very last though. I am going to get started on the meatballs.” Mary explained
By three p.m. the sauce was done and Aileen and Skylen were putting the four lasagnas together. The salads had all been made and were in the large cooler. Abby was making the baked ziti while Mary and Beth are making desserts and Sandy is shaping the rolls and bread.
“You know we all love Sundays and look forward to it?” Abby asked
“You do?” Mary asked
“We do. Ben always talks about how he misses your food. And well I want to tell you that because of you I am switching my career to culinary and I want to open a restaurant. What I am really asking is if you would like to partner with me?” Abby confesses
“Oh Abby I would love to!
“Yay! I have finally told Ben after months of thinking about it and I was shocked when he wasn’t upset that I wouldn’t be a vet. He says he just wants me to be happy.” Abby tells the girls.
“Of course he does Abby. You see everyone and everything and you don’t see that?” Skylen asked
“Well when it comes to me I don’t see it and it’s hard for me to see Ben because he isn’t in front of me. I can’t actually see his colors over the internet.” A
bby snapped back.
“I’m sorry Abby I was not trying to be mean it just shocked me a little that you didn’t realize that because you and Ben have been together for so long.” Skylen apologized
“Oh then I am sorry too. I am just all over the place lately. I want to get it over with and finally be with him. But at the same time I don’t you know. I miss him so much and when I see him I feel like I a raging brat. We fight because I don’t want him to leave then we make up and that leads to me wanting to just throw in the towel you know?” Abby vented to no one and anyone.
“We know honey. You are so young though that you don’t want to push it just yet. Graduate first and then culinary school, at least wait until you are twenty and that is only four years away. Stay busy and you will be good.” Aileen told her
“I will try. But gosh have you seen Ben lately?” Abby asked the girls
“Nope I haven’t seen him in almost two years.” Beth said
“Well take a peek at dinner and you will see what I am talking about.” Abby told the girls with a knowing smile on her face.
At six o’clock families started to pour into the dining room. Morgan had made a smaller long table that matched the larger round ones. It had been placed in the middle of the room with the large round tables surrounding it. This table was for the children five and under that could sit on their own. The babies all sat in special highchairs that Morgan had designed.
What all the parents loved to watch were their children with their mates. Brandon who was only four years old was adamant that he sat next to Thea who was still only four months old and slept through dinner. Still he insisted that he sat at the end nearest Justine who had begun to bring a carrier bassinet with her and just place Thea near Brandon.
Abby watched the girls as they noticed Ben walk into the room and at the looks on their faces they were pretty surprised. Ben was now about six foot two. He was lean but not at all skinny and he was very muscular. He also walked with confidence into any room. Ben wore his black hair longer than he used to and now it was to his shoulder with slight waves in it. It was also layered so the waves were almost curls. Tonight he was dressed in a wool sweater and dark jeans that were slightly baggy. When he noticed Abby his face lit up and Abby heard the girls next to her suck in a breath. She looked right at them and asked “see what I mean. You try to keep it together with his arms around you. I don’t think you would.” Abby laughed as both girls looked at her and shook their heads from side to side.
As everyone made their plates and took their seats and once the children all had a plate Harley stood up. As soon as Abby looked up at him and then at Bristol she saw it happen. A small golden string ran from her belly right to Abby’s belly. As Abby looked down to her belly and then back to Bristol she gasped. Ben looked at her with the question in his eyes. She just shook her head and took a bite of her lasagna holding back the tears she wanted to let flow. She now knew that within the next five years she was going to give birth to a baby girl.
“Everyone I want to share some wonderful news!” Harley yelled out. “Bristol is with child and well if no one else is pregnant I am having a BOY!” Harley said as he began to get teary eyed
Congratulations were yelled out and the kids began to laugh because all the adults were. Zoe loved soaking up how happy her family had become. She watched all the kids in the room and then the adults. When she saw Abby eating like she was starved she looked a little closer. Ben was looking at Abby like he had no idea what was wrong. Zoe tapped Zach on the leg as he always sat next to her she then nodded over to Abby. Zach looked over and threw out his feelers. When Zach looked back at Zoe all he gave her was a smile keeping any information he got to himself.
Chapter 35
Ben and Abby
Four years later after that informational dinner Abby is sitting at her desk in her room. She is now twenty years old and happier than ever. She had graduated early from high school and left for culinary school shortly after. Ben had graduated right before she had left for culinary school and they had gotten to spend the summer together. They had reconnected on a level that Abby had forgotten they had. She had forgotten that he was not only the love of her life but also her best friend. So when she had left for school it was on very good terms.
Her school had been a twenty month course but she had excelled so well that they had placed her in a fast track program which she had gotten her degree in just fifteen months. She had just finished an internship with one of the best chefs in Europe. Now she was working online with one of her heroes Mr. Steinman and he was working the deal for her to buy the restaurant that was in town. She and Mary had worked it out and were completely fifty fifty partners. The restaurant was a small one and they wanted to keep it that way. It was not going to be anything fancy just good food.
There was one empty house that was for her and Ben. Neither had moved into it yet as they both wanted to move in at the same time. The good news was that they were going to be moving in very soon. Ben had proposed the night she had come home from her internship. She had immediately said yes and he had given her a gorgeous black diamond swirl ring with smaller white diamonds on the sides. It was in a platinum band and she had burst into tears upon seeing it.
Ben had wanted to wait another year before they married but Abby had said she did not want to wait anymore. However Ben had placed a six month wait on her so that he could give her the wedding of her dreams. Bristol however had given birth to a little Water boy his name was Costin and he was now three years old. Every time Abby came into contact with him that thread she had seen now ran from him to her abdomen. It had also gotten stronger.
Today was the day though. She now sat looking in her mirror. She had just woken up and would head to the main house soon. Zoe had demanded that she was in charge of the dress and Abby trusted her completely. After all the mass wedding that they had had so long ago Zoe had done an amazing job. Abby still had her flower girl dress hanging in a bag in the closet. She would never toss it out, in fact her little sister had been given one just like it for the wedding. Delilah who was now eight and Ben’s two sisters Rainey now seven and Claire now ten were the flower girls and her little brothers were going to be the ring bearers. The girl’s soul mates would be the ones walking them down the aisle.
“Abby Abby its time! We have to go see Colleen and Zoe.” Delilah squealed loudly from the doorway.
“Ok I am ready.” And she was more than anything she wanted this. “Just remind me ok. Tell me one more time.” Abby asked nervously
“Okies we girls are going to Zoe’s suite to get ready. The boys have all gone to town to breakfast and then they are coming back in a few hours. That way Ben can’t peak at you.” Delilah giggled
“Abby sweetie are you nervous now?” Piper asked from down the hall as she stood there watching her two girls side by side walking towards her.
“Yes I am. I know I shouldn’t be. I have wanted this forever it feels it’s just finally happening mom.” Abby stated as tears filled her eyes.
“I know baby but you will do fine. Your father and I are so proud of you. Also when it is your sister’s time we will both be where I am now. She will be just as nervous.” Piper teased
“Oh that is going to be a good day. Tell me Delilah does Orin still stop Preston and Sawyer from messing with you?” Abby asked
“Yes and he does it with the boys at school too. But sometimes I want to punch him for it because sometimes we are just playing and someone gets rough and he is right there to stop the fun.” Delilah whines
“It will get better Ben used to be the same. When I first came here and mom and dad weren’t here yet I just had Ben. He was always there but I wouldn’t change that for the world because he became my best friend.” Abby told her little sister.
“Well Carmela and Adele are my best friends. Orin is great but he is a boy and he doesn’t like girl things like me.” Delilah informed
“That will change in time.” Abby said as they walked
out the door and into the gold cart. The girls were all quiet as they made their way to the main house. The house was also very quiet as they made their way to the top suite. Inside they found Zoe and Halina waiting with Colleen. No kids were in sight except for Delilah.
“Where are Rainey and Claire?” Abby asked nervous they might not show.
“Well I asked them to come in about an hour from now. That way we can have time to work on all of you. Colleen here has brought some friends. They are in my room so… umm… ya no Dragon talk. They don’t have a clue and we aren’t ready to give any. They used to work with Colleen when she did runway shows they are the ones that are going to do your hair and makeup.” Zoe informed the girls
“Oh wow! Thank you Colleen and Zoe so when do I get to see the dress?” Abby asked excitedly
“Nope not going to happen until your hair and makeup are done and the girls are too, not to mention the mothers. They get a treat too. You remember the dresses before right? The ones Marjorie made?” Colleen asked
“Yes I do mom and me still have ours.” Abby responded
“Well Marjorie and I got together and she still had all the fabric samples and designs so we worked out magic and created all new ones. As well as the boys suites which Kaiden has and he will make sure the boys are taken care of. You however will be the last one to dress.” Colleen looked very seriously at Abby and Abby pouted a little.
“Alright let’s head back and get you ladies started. You haven’t showered like we asked right?” Zoe asked and Abby shook her head no. “Good then right to the bath for you.” Zoe opened her double doors wide to reveal six women smiling at them.
“Ladies this is Piper and her daughters Abby and Delilah. Abby here is the lucky one. Ladies this is the best team I have ever worked with and my best friends.” Colleen made the introductions to her team and then they got to work.
Abby was led into the bathroom and soaked in a bath with lots of floating flowers. Zoe washed her hair with a special shampoo while her mother helped scrub her down. The rich smell of the flowers soaking into her skin. When she was done she was led into the bedroom and three chairs had been placed behind a long table. Delilah sat in the middle chair and her long hair was being rolled up in curlers. Piper took the far chair and Abby sat in the first one closest to the door.
Redemption (The Extinct Race Series Book 4) Page 20