Chapter Sixteen
It took two months after Joseph’s confession for the cops to release Eneko. The chief of police himself came to apologize for his treatment and promised that the cops that had treated him with such blatant disrespect would be punished.
Eneko didn’t care, except as far as wanting to get away from the jail. He was tired of this. It saddened him that another child was going to lose his father, but Clifford had assured him that he would be representing Joseph and was certain that he could get the charge dropped due to self-defense, or at the very least lessened to involuntary manslaughter.
In any case, Eneko was glad that Joseph was going to do the right thing. As awful as this whole situation was, it was the only ending they could have. In the end it was Jana’s own mindless hatred that killed her. If she hadn’t attacked a pregnant woman, then she never would have been killed.
“You look distracted,” he murmured to Jasmine, who sat in the car next to him.
He kept glancing at the clock, even though he knew it wasn’t going to help anything go faster. He was sorely tempted to push his speed another ten or twenty miles per hour, but he was already going at the edge of the speed limit and didn’t want to risk being pulled over.
“I’m just thinking.”
“It’s over,” Eneko said softly. “Everything is going to be okay now.”
“Not really. Andy and Jerimiah have joined forces now. I know that they’re forbidden from going anywhere near the clinic now, and that Clifford is helping you sue them both for defamation and harassment, but they’re just symptoms of a deeper problem. The scab over the festering wound. Anti-shifters like them… they make me worry about the future. For Luken and Maite.”
Eneko knew how she felt. Sometimes it felt like an insurmountable problem, but on the other hand, things were improving. People were talking about the issue, and now that he actually watched the media coverage of his case (something he had refused to do before now) he found it was surprisingly balanced.
He knew they had a long way to go yet. It wasn’t as easy as gaining one step in the right direction and then sitting back and resting. There was a whole cultural shift that needed to happen. For people to start realizing that shifters weren’t going anywhere and making them hide who they were for fear of backlash was doing more harm to society than just the shifter community.
“Marcus has arranged for a shifter pride march,” he mentioned. “I’m thinking that this time I’ll take the kids to it. I was worried in the past that it would open them up to the antis there, but I think fostering a sense of community with them would be good.”
Jasmine nodded slowly. A thoughtful expression wiped away the anger in her eyes and her nodding became more enthusiastic. “Yes. Yes, that’s a great idea. And I’m going, too. I’ve spent most of my life thinking that there was something wrong with me, or trying to repress who I am. I am sick of it, and I’m going to celebrate who and what I am.”
Eneko smiled in her direction. He took his hand off the wheel long enough to squeeze her hand, then rolled his shoulders. “Good. I’ve always been comfortable with who I am. I didn’t realize that others might not be. So, I’m going to go not only for my kids, but for the people who aren’t brave enough yet. Maybe by the time the kids are grown, we won’t need to march to prove we’re worthy of being proud of who we are.”
Jasmine smiled at him, looking more relaxed now.
Glad that he had helped her feel better, Eneko cast about for another topic, one that would continue to lighten the mood. “So how long is Lori going to be living with us? Not that I mind having her around, it’s just I’m a little confused about how this is going to work in the future.”
“She’s paying for the apartment now, so I don’t know.” Jasmine let out an exaggerated sigh and shook her head. “That girl. I swear sometimes she acts like her head isn’t screwed on right. Paying for the apartment but not living there.”
“At least she has a job.”
“Yeah…”
“Try not to sound too excited.” Eneko smiled at his mate’s tone.
It had come as a shock for all of them when Lori had come home one day and announced she had gotten a job at Clifford’s law firm. She was only going to be a cleaning lady, but the fact that she got the job was still surprising. Jasmine suspected that her sister had only taken it because she had the hots for Clifford, and was equally certain that Lori was going to leave him brokenhearted.
Eneko wasn’t so certain. Clifford had a reputation of his own, and it just might be that Lori had met her match in him.
“I just hope she doesn’t ruin the new clinic for you.”
They passed the city limits of their destination. Eneko slowed as houses started to fly by, although now that they were so close slowing was against his instincts. He wanted to speed up and get there even faster. Safety first.
“She won’t ruin the clinic,” he said distractedly.
Isaias and Clifford, who as it turned out was extremely wealthy himself, were going in together to build a new, state-of-the-art, fully staffed clinic on the clan’s territory. The matriarch had approved of it all and they were just waiting on permits from city hall now.
“I hope not,” Jasmine muttered.
It didn’t take much longer to get through the city to the rural area on the other side. Even that far, however, felt like an eternity. Eneko’s bear paced in circles, anxious to get out of the cramped car. When he pulled up to the large house where Sadie’s parents lived, the children and their grandparents were already waiting outside.
Maite and Luken charged towards him, calling out. Eneko left the car door open as he ran to his children. He scooped both of them up and hugged them close as they wrapped their arms around his neck. His heart physically ached from missing them so much, and seeing them again made tears roll down his cheeks. He was just so grateful to see them here, safe, to have them in his arms again.
“Jazz!” Maite wiggled out of his grasp and threw her arms around Jasmine’s legs. Jasmine knelt and hugged her tight. “You’re back! We can go home and never leave now, right?”
Jasmine kissed the top of Maite’s head. “Of course, sweetheart. That’s why your father and I are here. Everything is okay now and we’re going to take you home.”
“Good.” Matie’s voice trembled and she buried her face in Jasmine’s shoulder.
Luken hugged his dad hard. His small body shook and Eneko patted his back, trying to soothe him without bringing too much attention to him. Bobby and Sam smiled from where they were, and when Jasmine and Eneko straightened both of them were greeted warmly. They would stay the night, so the two of them got their things from the car and went in.
“Two rooms or one?” Sam asked Jasmine, her eyes sparkling.
Jasmine ducked her head and Eneko grinned at her embarrassment. “One.”
Sam’s smile widened and Bobby patted Jasmine’s shoulder, a big grin on his face as well. “Good.”
“One?” Luken glanced between the adults and scratched his head. “But you said that… oh!” His eyes widened and he stopped dead right in front of Eneko, causing the doctor to almost trip over him. “Is Jasmine going to be our Momma now?”
“Yay!” Maite danced around in a circle and jumped on Jasmine. “You’re my Momma!”
Eneko and Jasmine shared a look. This wasn’t how they had been anticipating telling the children, but he was glad that they had such a positive reaction. At his nod, Luken threw himself at Jasmine, too, hugging her tightly. That seemed to break down whatever walls he had up and he started to cry. Eneko picked him up, even though it was awkward since at nine he was getting to be a big boy, and cradled him. Luken clung to his neck, sobbing.
“Don’t cry,” Maite said, looking bewildered. “Jazz is our Momma.”
“I know that.” Luken wiped his eyes. “I don’t know why I’m crying.”
Jasmine stroked his hair. Eneko transferred him to her, then took the bags up to the familiar room while Sam led the way. Once they were alone, Sam put a hand on his arm, smiling still. There was sadness in her eyes, though.
“I’m glad that you’ve found your true mate,” she said softly. “It’s been too long since Sadie…”
“Have you heard from her at all?”
Sam sighed. “She called when the news of your arrest was broadcast. Worried about the children. I told her that you phoned us and asked us to work with Jasmine to care for them if the worst came to it. She told me that she wished she had been a better person, but that she couldn’t be a mother.” Pain radiated from her eyes but she smiled still. “They have a mother now, though. And they have you. I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you. You’re the best father those children could have had.”
Eneko nodded, his throat constricted with emotion. They quickly rejoined the others. As he mingled with his family, Eneko was filled with warmth and gratitude. Maybe these last few months had been awful and trying, but at the same time they had made him appreciate what he had more than ever. And he had gained so much more. His hand slipped into Jasmine’s and she grinned at him.
The road forward wasn’t going to be all smooth sailing. They were going to have to learn how to handle differences in opinion and overcome obstacles. The whole issue with the anti-shifter groups was far from over. But they were making progress. For now, that was enough. He had his mate, he had his children, and he could see a long, happy life for them in the future. Things were going to get better. He knew they were.
*****
THE END