Robert and Charles sat on the porch finishing off the crepes they had smothered in whipped cream.

“Man, those were good. I wonder if she’d make them for us again tomorrow,” Robert said half to himself and half out loud, licking whipped cream from his lips.

“All you have to do is ask.” Charles licked his fingers. “Did my eyes deceive me or did I see you kiss Heidi.”

“Yeah, I did. She looked so cute, I couldn’t resist. Charlie, I think she’s my mate.” He finished off his last crepe. “When she first arrived, I felt odd. It made me dislike her right off and I didn’t know why. Then she held my hand and applied that salve, I was having feelings I’ve never felt before. I didn’t understand what I was feeling. It was like someone was squeezing my heart and I couldn’t breathe.”

“I remember how I felt when I first met Jackie, do you remember?”

“In the restaurant, oh yeah, I remember. But you didn’t realize right away either. In fact, it wasn’t until the next night when you figured it out.”

“I think you figured out Jackie was my mate before I did,” Charles sighed. “Sometimes, it seems like yesterday and other times, like it was a million years ago. She knows you’re her mate, Rob. She told Jackie yesterday. She thinks you hate her.”

“I can’t imagine why. I’ve acted like a total ass.”

“Don’t worry, I think you made a whole lot of progress in the past hour.” Charles looked out over the frozen lake. “I like her, Rob, you need to talk to her. You don’t want to wait too long, she’s going home in a couple of days.”

“Not if I can help it,” he told his brother.

“Good, I’m glad to hear it. Shall we go back in and face the music. I imagine they’re pissed we stole their breakfast.” Charles had a big smile. “They were good.” They got up and walked back into the house.

The girls were finishing up breakfast. “Oh, here come the thieves, guard your plates, ladies.” Becky loved to tease.

“Has anyone seen Fletch this morning?” Charles asked.

“I think he went out early to run, I hope he didn’t get lost,” Robert added. “Do you think we should go look for him?”

“I think we better.” Charles was just about to go outside when Fletch showed up. “Where have you been?”

“I went for a run. Sorry, I do it every morning. I didn’t do it yesterday because we had already agreed to go out for a run together. I really like it around here, it’s so quiet.”

“We were afraid you might have gotten lost,” Jackie told him.

“Naw, I just went where Charles took us yesterday. There’s a great running path around the lake. Have you had breakfast already?”

“Would you like some crepes?” Heidi asked. “I have to warn you, there are crepe bandits around here, robbing people of their breakfast.” She looked around at Charles and Robert.

“No, that’s okay. I’ll just fix myself some toast and eggs, if no one minds.” Fletch grabbed a cup and help himself to coffee. “What do you guys plan to do today?” Fletch asked as he started to fix his eggs.

“Holly and her mate are supposed to stop by,” Charles told him.

“Really. Gee, it will be great to see Holly. I always felt so bad back when we were, you know, in that place. Donnie and I couldn’t help her. I’m surprised she even survived.”

“Yeah, well don’t bring that up when she’s here,” Charles warned. Charles wasn’t happy that he had just brought it up in front of the girls.

“No, I wouldn’t think of it.” Fletch tossed some bread in the toaster.

Heidi kept her eyes down. She didn’t like to be reminded of what happened to them. She was afraid to look at Robert. She got up and took her plate to the sink and started to run the water for the dishes. Robert walked up behind her.

“Could I talk to you privately for a few minutes?” he said quietly. “The dishes can wait.”

She nodded her head and dried her hands. Robert had walked to the hall and headed for the den. Heidi didn’t say anything as she followed him. Everything was too quiet and Jackie came to the rescue.

“So, Fletch. Tell me about yourself. Where are you from originally?”

 

                                                      *****

The conversation slowly faded into the background as Heidi followed Robert into the den. He closed the door and asked her to sit down on the sofa, where he could sit next to her.

“My I hold your hand?” Heidi placed her hand in his. Rob cleared his throat. “Yesterday, when you rubbed that salve into my hand, I couldn’t breathe. I had to leave. I didn’t understand what was happening to me,” he took a deep breath. “Heidi, I think you’re my mate. Correct that, you are my mate. I know you are. I’ve never felt like this before.” He waited for her to say something.

Heidi raised her eyes to his and they glistened with tears. Robert lifted her hand to his lips.

“I didn’t think you liked me,” she sniffled.

“Come here.” He pulled her into his arms and held her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t understand what was happening. I never thought I’d ever find my mate and here you are in my arms.” He placed his finger under her chin to raise her face to his and he gently kissed her mouth. Suddenly, Heidi stiffened and tried to pull away as memories came flooding back.

“Nooo, you can’t,” she cried. “I’m used and dirty. Terrible things have been done to me. You should have someone clean and pure.” He refused to let her go.

“It’s alright, I know all about it.”

“You do?” Tears started to spill down her cheeks as she glanced at his face for the truth and it was there.

 “We’ll get over it together.” He held her tight and kissed her forehead.

“Wait,” Heidi wriggled out of his arms and started to pull up her sweatshirt.

He stopped her. “You don’t have to do that.”

“You don’t understand,” she sniffled. “I have to show you. If you find out later, you will be ashamed of me. You won’t want to touch me.” Heidi raise her shirt off her back to show Robert the dark red welts and scares across her back.

Robert was horrified. “Do they still hurt.” She nodded. “May I touch you?”

“Yes.”

Robert slowly ran his fingers over her scares. “My poor mate.”

Heidi’s body began to shake as she started to sob. All he could do was hold her and try to comfort her. Now he understood what Charles had told him. She had been holding in all the terrible things she had been through.

“I’m ugly,” she managed to say between sobs. “Why would you want me?’

“No, you’re not ugly. I think you are beautiful,” he whispered. He pulled her shirt back down. “A few scars aren’t going to change what I feel for you. I love you.” He picked her up and placed her across his lap.

Heidi continued to cry. After a while, the tears slowly subsided and she leaned against him with his arms around her. He brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her forehead. All he could do was sit and hold her until she was done.

Charles quietly opened the door and looked in. When he saw Robert holding Heidi in his arms, he gently closed the door and left them alone.

                                                         *****

Charles returned to the kitchen. Fletch had finished his breakfast and the girls were finishing up the dishes.

“Is everything alright?” Jackie asked when he came back.

“Yes, I think so. They are in the den, so you might want to avoid that room for a while.” He patted her on the shoulder. “Now, the turkey is all set. What else do you need before I go do my chores. I’ll take Fletch with me and make a woodsman out of him. We need to rub off some of that city boy.”

Fletch looked at Charles. “I’m not a city boy.”

Becky made a rude noise. “Wanna bet?” Everyone busted up.

“All right, I might be a little bit of a city boy,” he admitted, “lead the way Charles, I’ll grab my coat.”

“Well, this has been an interesting morning,” Franny commented. “I guess Heidi will be staying here. She’s so lucky. I don’t think I’ll ever meet my mate.”

“Don’t say that.” Jackie chided her cousin. “It could happen anytime. I’m a perfect example of that.”

“Yes, you’re right. Are there anymore McCormicks hiding about?”

“No,” Jackie laughed, “it looks like the McCormicks are all taken. Now, shall we start making pies? What should we make? I have all the ingredients for pumpkin and apple. Does anyone have a preference?”

“I wish Heidi would come back in here. She makes a fabulous pecan pie,” Becky commented.

“Well, when she comes back, we’ll ask her. I don’t know if I have pecans, but you never know. Charles and Robert have a grocery store in that pantry. They stocked it to the ceiling before the first snow. You never know when we might get snowed in.”

The girls set to work and did all the work so Jackie could take it easy. While they worked, they talked about the events of the morning.

“Woohoo!” Becky suddenly yelled.

“What?” Franny questioned.

“They’re both bears. That means they can have babies, right!” They both looked to Jackie.

“As far as I know,” Jackie admitted. “When Amy gets here, we’ll ask her. She’ll know.”

“Is a panda bear considered a bear, bear?” Franny asked. “They’re not like a marsupial or something, are they?”

“I don’t know, I don’t think so,” Jackie thought for a moment. “No, a marsupial has a pouch or something. I don’t think Heidi has a pouch, does she?” They all started laughing.

“No, I don’t think so,” Becky replied, trying not to laugh, but the giggles had set in. They were all affected and couldn’t stop.

The door opened and Amy walked in. “I want to know the joke, too. Tell me, tell me.”

Between fits of giggles, Jackie managed to introduce everyone.

She started with her cousin Franny and then Becky. When Amy shook Becky’s hand, she instantly knew what she was.

“You’re a wolf.”

“Yes, I am.” Becky was surprised.

“Becky, Amy is a gray wolf,” Jackie told her.

“Oh, how wonderful. I’ve never met another wolf shifter other than Holly.” They hit it off right away. Just then, the door opened and Holly walked in and the room exploded in screams and squeals.

Charles and James were right behind her. Charles quickly grabbed James and spun him around and went back out the door.