Chapter 12

 

Adam wandered around the hotel again. He wasn’t sure how much more he and Evan could do without professional help. Grinning, he thought of what sort of professional help they might really need. Coming down the staircase, as always he could see it finished, people coming in and out of the place. That was when he knew they could do this.

“Hello.” The man standing in the front lobby smiled at him. “I’m Angus Barnhart. I was told that I could meet Mr. Whitfield here. Or a Doctor Whitfield. I’m with Mason Tile and Paper.”

“Oh yes. I forgot that you were coming today. My brother is working—on call—but I can help you with whatever you might need for today.” The younger man nodded and looked around. “Do you think that you can help us out?”

“Oh yes. We’ve been in business for a long time, and we specialize in older places, redoing the walls and floors to match the time they were built in. This is from the late eighteen hundreds, I believe.” Adam was impressed. He’d gotten the time right, and his positive attitude had him believing that they had a good chance of making this work. When Angus walked over to the front desk, something that Adam thought had to go, Angus pulled out a small crowbar and lifted a square of tile off the top. “Just as I thought. You can keep this or not, but we can bring this wood up to its original beauty, and I’m betting that since this is wood, you’ll find that the sides are also the same work.”

He flushed brightly, and Adam smiled. “I think we might be able to work well together.”

“I’m sorry for not asking first if I could tear up your counter this way. My dad said that I need to work on this.” Angus laughed, but his face was no less red. “I get excited on projects such as this one. Most people would have gutted the place and made it all plush and modern. I prefer the old over the new. The antiquated aspects of a place that make us remember, while not the best of times, that there were other times than where we are now.”

“I’ll have to take you to my brother’s house. He had everything about it redone to match the time period. With a few alterations for better plumbing and such.” Angus told him that he’d enjoy that. “Good. And if your firm is anything like you, I’d count on having the job.”

“Thank you. I only need to take some video of the entire place, one room at a time. If you don’t mind.” Adam told him that he could do whatever he wanted. “Are you thinking from top to bottom or just an overhaul of this area, Mr. Whitfield?”

“Call me Adam, please, and the entire place. With the exception of a couple of the rooms being turned into suites, we’re going to bring it up to code. We also want to add Wi-Fi and convenience things such as that but have them blend into the rest of the place. Can that be done?”

Angus was looking around the main floor. Adam followed him because he was liking the way the man seemed to be searching for any flaw in the place, things that others who had owned the hotel had done to bring it up to whatever design they had in mind for it.

Twice more he pulled something away from the wall. Once he peeled back carpet to show hardwood floors—not just hardwood, but a floor that had been made into a design, oaks and walnut in a pattern that circled the room. Adam knew that neither he nor Evan had thought of what might have been under the carpets, and wondered if there were more little treasures like these. And Angus took pictures of everything that he did.

After getting a call from his dad, Adam told Angus how to get in touch with him. The huge tablet sort of thing was turned on now, and he was going around each room describing what he was seeing and what he’d discovered. Adam watched him for a few minutes more before leaving him to his work. Excited as all hell, he talked to his brother on the way to his parents’ home.

“You remember your Aunt Bea, Grandda’s sister, Bea Whitfield?” He told his dad that he did and shivered. “Yeah, right there with you, son. She’s coming for a visit. I was thinking that maybe you can find her a house to rent—one on the other side of town so she’s out of our hair. Dad has a couple, but he said he’s not having her that close to us. I can’t blame him on that. She’s a bit of a nosy biddy, and—well, a lot of other things too. But if you could find her something, like I was saying, it’d be much appreciated, son.”

“How long will she be here?” Dad said too long, but Mom told him that it was to be until after the holidays. “In which year? I mean, the last time she stayed through the holidays, I think she was here for four or five years.”

“Yes, well, we’ll cross that bridge when we have no choice.” Adam had to hide a smile. Aunt Bea had never married, as far as he knew, but she wasn’t shy about telling anyone how many lovers she’d had between this time and the last time you might have seen her. “She said that she only wants four bedrooms. I don’t know how old she thinks you boys are, but she wants room for you to be able to spend the night.”

“I’m thinking that none of us will take her up on that. I think that we’re all a little too old for sleepovers. In fact, I don’t think any of us spent the night with her at any time.” Dad shivered this time. “Dad, she can’t be as bad as she used to be, can she? I mean, she has to be in her eighties, right?”

“Ninety-four. And she’s not changed a lick.” Dad sat down and looked at him with pleading on his face. “I know that Josh usually does this sort of thing—you know, finding housing and such. But he’s helping Adrian with a speech that he has to give at the White House in a few days. Aunt Bea is coming to invade us on Thursday morning. Told us to hold Thanksgiving for her. Like she rules the roost.”

“Oh, stop being so dramatic, Oliver. You know as well as I do that she’s not that bad. Just too opinionated and loud about it.” Mom smiled when she looked at Adam. “She’s going to be so happy that you boys are having mates and children. We have so many now, and more on the way with Sunny due at the first of the year. I’m thinking that the news of children will mellow Bea out some. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.”

Adam asked Josh what he had on the books for a rental, long term. After getting a list from Dad’s office in the form of an email, he took it home with him. There weren’t that many on the market for rentals. There were a great many smaller homes, homes that the bank had seized, as well as a couple more that had to be torn down because of the terrible shape they were in. As soon as Ivy came home, he told her about his aunt.

“She sounds like she’d fit right in with this family.” He thought about what she said and realized that she was right. Aunt Bea might be rendered speechless when she met up with the Whitfield women of this family. Ivy looked over the list, as well as the one for the things Aunt Bea wanted in a house. “From this list, I’d say your aunt is lonely. Who wants a large house like this one when they’re only renting? Someone hoping for a visit now and then. Also, she wants live-in help, a cook, as well as someone to take care of the yard. There isn’t any reason for her to have her yard attended to if she’s only here through the holidays. It’s winter, no need for her trees to be pruned or her flowers planted. I can see that she might like a cook. But a staff of ten? Nope, this is a person that needs company.”

He looked over the list again with fresh eyes. There were other things on the list that Adam noticed. She wanted a driver. Yes, that he could see as well. When she’d been younger, she’d been hell on wheels, as Grandda told him. And them being sister and brother, he’d know best.

Without looking up from the list, Adam reached out to confirm with his parents when she was to arrive. When they said Grandda was on his way to talk to him, Adam knew something was up, especially after he saw the look on his face.

“She’s here isn’t she?” Grandda answered him with a grumble. “When did she get here? I’m assuming recently, correct?”

“This morning. She came in, made sure we were working on that blasted list, and left, to stay, temporarily she told me, at the local B&B. Do you think we could hire someone to take her out and leave her there?” He looked at his grandda. Adam was sure that he’d ever heard him say something like that before. “Well, you can’t blame me. She went to your mom’s house with white gloves on and swiped them all over the place. She didn’t find anything, of course. But you have no idea how nervous it makes us when she does something like that.”

“Mom runs a tight ship, Grandda. And I’ll save you if she comes around here pushing her way around.” He had no idea how he was going to stop that. Aunt Bea scared the crap out of all of them, except for Blake. For some reason, probably because he was the youngest, he could get away with more than the rest of them. “I think, I hope anyway, that she’ll be easier to be around once she sees the children and the mates. And you know as well as I do that none of them will take any crap from her.”

Grandda smiled. It was bright enough that Adam was sure that he could see by it in the darkest of nights. In that moment, Adam was sure that he’d do anything in the world for the man. Not that he wouldn’t have before, but he made him feel all powerful.

Adam hung around his house until dinner. Everyone was going to the house to meet the old bag, as Grandda called her. None of the rest of them could do that. No one that he knew would ever say anything like that to Aunt Bea’s face. But he was also glad to know that she’d be meeting his own mate.

As smells began to permeate the rooms as soon as he was in his parents’ house again, he felt his mouth water. He knew that tomorrow afternoon, Thanksgiving Day, at his house would have a smell explosion. Every veggie, plus the turkey and ham, would be cooking. There would be roast pork and homemade breads. And gravy. Christ, he was full just thinking about what dinner would bring.

Adam had taken the list of foods that he could remember them having every year and passed it onto Nate. And even though he’d never spent a single holiday with them as yet, Nate was just as excited as he was. Then there would be Christmas.

His family would go all out on those two holidays. All of them really, but the big ones were the last two holidays of the year. Not even his birthday could compare to the food that would be made, the groans that could be heard during the entire day. Then there was football.

They didn’t really have a team that they only rooted for, not like some people did. The Whitfields just enjoyed football. Other sports too, but nothing like the leather ball that was kicked up and down a beautiful field to score.

Adam knew the moment that his aunt was in the house, and met his only true love, Ivy.

“This young woman, she said that she belongs to you, Adam.” Ivy told her that she’d said no such thing, and that she never belonged to anyone. “Whatever makes you rest easily. Is this true?”

“Yes. She is my mate. The rest of it, you’re on your own with that one, Aunt Bea. I would like to point out that she does have a mind of her own.” Aunt Bea snorted. “She’s working with Evan.”

“A nurse?” Ivy told her that she was a renowned surgeon and worked all over the world. “Yes, well, don’t you think that you’d be better off staying at home, being a good wife and cooking my nephew a nice dinner?”

“No, I don’t think that at all. If he wants a milksop of a woman, one who’ll wait on him hand and foot, then he’d better be making out his will and buying himself a nice plot. I don’t put up with the thought that women are too stupid to breathe without a man around.” Aunt Bea looked as if she had more to say on the subject, but Ivy cut her off. “I’m a good wife to him. Him a better husband than I could have ever asked for. I cook when I please, which isn’t all that often. I don’t make the bed. I would, I suppose, if I was the last one in it, but usually I’m in the hospital before the sun comes up.”

“Are you saying that you’re better than my nephew because you get to cut people open?” Ivy crossed her arms over her chest and stared at his aunt. “Intimidation doesn’t work with me, young lady. I’ve been around for a very long time, and I know tricks that you’ll never understand.”

“Do you now? And for the record, you started this bullshit. I haven’t any idea if this is the way you treat everyone, but you won’t be walking all over me. Not today, not ever. You might want to stick that feather in your cap too.” When Grandda snickered, Aunt Bea turned her eyes on him. “You hurt him either, by word or deed, and I’ll show you tricks that will turn you inside out and backwards so quickly that you’ll think it was all a bad dream. Watch yourself, old lady, or I swear to Christ and all that is holy that you’ll rue the day you ever opened that flapping mouth of yours.”

No one moved. Adam was reasonably sure that no one was breathing either. While he didn’t much care for his aunt’s words most of the time, Ivy had just threatened her with bodily harm. When Aunt Bea turned and looked at him, Adam felt his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth, his legs weakening at the thought of what she might say to him next.

When she pointed her boney finger into his chest, hard and repeatedly, he started to tell her that he was sorry about Ivy and that he would.... Well, he wasn’t sure what he’d do. Not tell her she was wrong, because it had been Aunt Bea who had started it.

“You keep this girl, Adam. She knows up from down and won’t steer you wrong if you need someone in your corner. And if you need someone to kick your ass into something, I’m betting all I own she’ll do it and not care one bit if you lose it all. You hear me?” Adam told her that he loved Ivy. “We’ll, you’d be a damned fool if you didn’t.”

Aunt Bea stood in front of Ivy who looked as relaxed as she did every day. Only a few knew the turmoil that was going through her mind at any given moment. The only time that he’d known her not to stress was when she was in the operating room and doing what she did best.

“You, my dear, are going to go far. Not too far. I don’t want anything to go to your head. And don’t think I didn’t know about you before coming here. I have a good head on my shoulders, and I know how to use a computer. And what I didn’t find out there, I found out where I wanted. You are a great surgeon. Now, give me a hug. I think I deserve one after the tongue lashing I got, don’t you?”

“I do. But this wasn’t a game of power, Ms. Whitfield. You really will be sorry if you hurt anyone in my family. I know that you are family as well, but you won’t be long if you fuck with me.” Aunt Bea laughed. It was hardy and full of mirth. And when the two of them hugged, Adam could see that it was robust as well. “I think I might like you, Ms. Whitfield.”

“Call me Bea. I don’t allow that much familiarity when I just meet people, but I like you. A great deal.” She looked around the great hall where the rest of them were standing and pointed out the women. “Come on now, let’s get to know each other. I tell you, I might just have to stick around, teach some of you manners before all is said and done. Yes, ma’am, this might be just the place I lay down my hat.”

When they entered the living room, Dad came over and hugged him. When he asked him what that was for, he laughed.

“I should have done that years ago. I might well have slept better before and while she was visiting.” He laughed again. “Of course, she might have hit me through the wall or something had I done it. Yes, your mate? She’s the ticket. Cannot wait to meet the rest of the brides coming here. It’s going to be a fun time for all, I believe.”

Adam joined them all in the living room. Blake stopped him and looked like he might be sick. Adam asked his brother what was wrong, and he looked into the living room before answering.

“I’m not going to survive a mate if she’s anything like yours. Any of them, as a matter of fact. I’m so fucked.” Adam laughed. “You think this is funny now—wait until one of them takes you to task for something. You won’t then.” Adam wondered what had happened and decided that he didn’t care. He was home, mated, and happy. That was all right in his book.

~*~

Ivy had no idea what had come over her to talk to an elder like she had. Of course, it had turned out all right, but still, that wasn’t like her to do something so rude. When Adam sat on the arm of the couch she was sitting on, he kissed her head and took her hand into his.

I was so rude. Not that I really think I shouldn’t have been, but I don’t talk to people that way. He told her that his aunt brought out the worst in everyone. Then he told her what his dad had said. Well, he’s not wrong on that. But I just don’t know what the hell came over me.

Her. Listen love, even her brother was dreading her coming over tonight. They only see each other once or twice a year. I don’t have any idea why she might even be here now. But I have to say, I was terrified that she was going to pull out a gun and pop you in the head with it. Ivy asked if he was kidding. Yes. She’d never use it on your head. I think she’d use it elsewhere, a larger area to hit. But if you’re asking if she carries, yes, she does. Has for years.

That didn’t make her feel any better. But now that the tension seemed to have dissipated, she was getting on better with everyone. Ivy had a feeling that the woman was here under false pretenses. There was another motive for her being here at this time. Something terrible, and Ivy was afraid it was serious.

Dinner was called about thirty minutes later. It was hard to equate this thing with a dinner—it was a huge feast. There were platters of food on the table. Sideboards were opened up to full capacity, and there was more food there—cakes and pies as well as cookies as big as her hand. When Nathan came to her, asking what to do, she told him that he’d better fill his plate, because she was hungry enough to eat it all. Laughing, he filled up two plates of food and went to the table that held his new cousins.

Meghan looked just as lost. Ivy bumped her with her hip as she waited for her turn at the platters. “I thought for sure that woman was going to bite your head off. Shift, you know, and take you down.” Ivy told her sister that she was a bigger cat and she was younger. “That’s not funny. I was worried you’d gone too far.”

“So was I, if you want to know the truth.” Meghan laid her head on her shoulder. “Are you all right, sis? I mean, is motherhood taking its toll on you? I can watch Nathan if you need some time. I know that I’d have to have an adjustment period getting used to kids.”

“You would not. You’d be right in there in the thick of things. No, I’m all right with Nathan. We’re having a good time with the house. I just hope we don’t do something terrible with it so that Ollie kicks us to the curb.” Ivy didn’t say anything to her, but she knew that Ollie was going to gift it to Meghan for a Christmas gift. “I’ve found myself a job. I wasn’t going to be able to sit around the house, just waiting for Nathan to come home. Your mother-in-law, she invited me to come and help her at the historical society. It’s fun. My college courses are finally going to pay off.”

They were both laughing as they filled their plates. The table in the dining room was stretched out into the secondary room which Ivy had often wondered what the space could be used for, and today she had her answer. The doors had been slid into the pockets on the wall, and the table, already a mammoth of a thing, had been pulled apart and eight more large leaves were put in. Christ, the table had to be at least ten feet long when in regular usage. Now it was nearly twenty feet long, and seven or so feet wide. It was a table meant for a large family. She asked Eve where she hid all the chairs and leaves when not in use.

“Oh, my. You’d have to talk to Adrian about it. When he was in high school and college, he tinkered, as he called it, in making large things take up the least amount of space. This table, it was his graduation project. Believe it or not, there are four more leaves where these were. Under the wider slats are braces that hold the leaves when not in use.” She showed it to her by lifting up the table cloth. “The chairs all hang on the walls in the basement. They’re all wrapped up in burlap bags that have been treated to keep bugs and such away. Being cats, we don’t have a lot of trouble with rodents.”

“I would guess not.” They were both laughing when Adam sat down beside her and kissed her on the forehead. “Are all cats like you? All cuddly and stuff.”

Yesterday Ivy had had a long talk with one of the nurses at the hospital. She told her all kinds to things that she’d not known about shifters and straightened out some things that she’d been told that were not necessarily a lie, but they weren’t quite the truth either.

“You think I’m cuddly? I think you are too.” He smiled at her as he touched her mind. I’d like to take you home right now and show you just how cuddly I can be. It’s been a long time since I’ve had you beneath me. Or for that matter, just naked. I love it when you’re naked. Makes me hard as stone.

Behave yourself. We’re at your parents’ home. Adam wiggled his brows at her and she laughed. No one asked her what was so funny, nor did they tease her. She supposed that when everyone could talk to each other like her and Adam were, there was no reason to have to explain anything. I’m going to make you so hard then walk away from you. Just for teasing me like this.

Adam took her hand and slid it over the length of his cock. He was already stone hard, and she wanted to get up and find them a dark corner. The only problem that she could see was that she’d have to be quiet when she came. Ivy was a screamer since she’d met this man and didn’t want to hold back when he took her. And when he leaned over and nipped at her earlobe, hard enough to make her hurt, she couldn’t have stopped the moan if she’d had tape over her mouth.

Again, no one seemed to notice. And when she told Adam to behave once again, he complied. If they kept playing around at the table, they were going to hurt each other. Eating no longer held an appeal for her, but she knew that she’d need her strength for later. Yes, she told herself, she was going to make him pay for this.