Chapter Five – Haley

Nerves kicked in halfway to Tiana’s house and Haley wanted to turn the car around and drive back home where she could dive under the covers and hide from the world in the sanctuary of her own bed.

But even as she imagined her bed, Buck entered her daydream, his strong arms wrapping her up in a secure embrace from where no one and nothing could hurt her. But could he make her safe, or should he be the thing she feared?

However, she knew she couldn’t turn around. The girls were too excited, full of chatter about camping out and toasting marshmallows over a camp fire. And she wanted to see Buck, she truly did. She wanted to know for real, with absolute certainty, he was the one for her.

Of course, she made it harder on herself by not telling T over the phone. For some reason the words would not form in her mouth and she could not give life to them. Why? Because she felt stupid. Stupid to admit she was ready to risk her heart again.

She turned off the main road, the car eating into the distance to where her true mate no doubt waited for her.

What was she supposed to say? How was she supposed to react?

She was about to find out. As she came to a stop next to Mason’s truck, she looked up and saw Buck waiting for her.

“He knew you were coming,” Alicia breathed in awe as she stared out of the car window at Buck.

“That proves it, doesn’t it, Mom?” Marie asked hopefully.

“He might just have heard the car,” Haley said, trying to explain it away, even though she wanted to believe.

It was like Christmas as a child all over again. Haley had been one of those kids that believed in Santa even when her friends said he wasn’t real. She’d wanted to wrap herself up in that make-believe for as long as possible, even when the doubts crept in and she knew deep down it wasn’t true.

But this was different. This was true. Tiana and Mason were testament to that. It was real, the mating bond was real. She had to hold on to that even if her head told her it was a lie. Because even if she didn’t trust herself, she trusted Tiana’s judgment.

“Mom, are we going to get out of the car?” Alicia asked, nudging her out of her daydream.

“Yes.” In a flurry of activity Haley opened the car door and nearly fell out. Strong hands caught her upper arms and pulled her upright before she hit the ground. The shock of recognition between them obliterated all thoughts that this might not be real.

“Are you okay?” Buck asked as she stared into his soft brown eyes and admired the strength of his jaw, and of his hands that were still in contact with her flesh.

“Yes,” she squawked like a parrot before clearing her throat. “Yes. I’m fine, my foot got caught in the…” She looked back at the car but there was nothing for her foot to have gotten caught up in.

“Do you want a hand carrying your gear?” Buck asked, not dwelling on her clumsy behavior.

“Thanks, that would be great. I think we packed for a week,” Haley admitted and earned herself a smile off Buck. “What’s so funny?”

“Mason and Rhett said you would pack too much stuff.” He hauled Alicia’s suitcase from the car. “They were not wrong.”

“I wanted to make sure I have everything I need,” Alicia said firmly as she took another suitcase from the trunk and placed it on the ground.

“Good thinking,” Buck responded and lifted Marie’s suitcase out, while Haley grabbed her own luggage which consisted of a backpack and a small vanity case.

“Hi there!” Rhett appeared on the porch and came to meet them. “Here, I’ll take one of those.” He reached out for Marie’s suitcase and Buck let him have it. Not because he couldn’t manage, he could carry all the luggage with one hand, but Rhett wanted to help, and Buck wanted to encourage him.

“Where are we going to camp?” Alicia asked, falling into step beside Rhett, with Marie running to catch up to them.

“I thought we could go down toward the end of the lawn. There are fewer trees there to block the view of the stars.” Rhett was talking to the two girls and Buck took the opportunity to speak to Haley.

“Where are you sleeping?” he asked and then closed his eyes as the words registered in his head. She had to admit she found his nervousness kind of cute. “I didn’t mean that to sound like a proposition.”

Haley looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “Maybe I wouldn’t mind if you did.”

Color rose in his cheeks, she’d made Buck feel like an awkward teenager, which turned her thoughts to Rhett and his sudden and unexpected return home. That age was filled with big decisions you had to make about your future when you didn’t have any idea of where you wanted to go. Haley hoped spending a couple of days goofing around with Alicia and Marie, who were like sisters to Rhett, might help him clear his head. Then he might talk to his mom about his problems. If he had any. They might all be reading too much into the whole thing.

She switched her focus back to Buck.

“I meant inside or outside the house?”

“I know what you meant.” She glanced sideways at him and gave him a lopsided smile.

“I have to get used to the way you tease,” Buck said and set the suitcases down as Mason and Tiana came out to meet them. Tiana looked as if she’d been crying and Haley hoped she wasn’t the cause of her best friend’s tears.

Haley stepped forward, placing her hand on Buck’s arm for a moment before she reached out for Tiana and hugged her. “Thank you for giving us a place to stay.”

“Any time. Mason said the ceiling should be easy enough to replace once it dries out.” Tiana kissed her cheek and then pulled back and looked at her for a second or two too long before inclining her head slightly toward Buck.

It was Haley’s turn to blush. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you.”

“With words,” Tiana rebuked.

“I know, it just…” Haley dragged her hand through her hair. “It’s all a bit much.” Her expression faltered but then she summoned the strength to put a smile back on her face as Rhett and the girls came over.

Tiana kept hold of Haley’s hand and squeezed it. “Right, Rhett, why don’t you and Mason go and grab the camping gear from the attic? Then we can all help set up. I have made cookies and brownies and there is plenty of cold soda.”

“We should employ you to project manage the building site,” Buck joked after Tiana had given jobs out to everyone else.

“Believe me, T is more than capable of running a building site.” Haley heaped more praise on her friend. “The way you kept things going when your dad was in that home and Quentin lived at the end of the garden…”

“And now I have a baby on the way to add to the mix,” Tiana said, smoothing her hand over her stomach.

“Which is why you need me here,” Rhett blurted out in a choked voice.

“Oh, honey.” Tiana gathered her son in her arms. “Is that what this is all about?”

Rhett hung on to his mom, his face buried in her shoulder, but didn’t speak. Tiana and her son needed time alone, which wasn’t going to be easy since they had taken in lodgers for a couple of nights.

“Okay, let’s go find the cookies.” Haley shepherded the rest of them into the kitchen, a lump in her throat that she was trying to swallow down but refused to go away. “You, too, Mason.”

Mason nodded. “I hate seeing them like this.”

“Is Rhett okay?” Marie asked, looking over her shoulder as Haley shut the kitchen door.

“He’s scared,” Alicia said.

“But Rhett’s never scared, even when that big spider fell from the ceiling. Or when…”

“It’s a different kind of scared, honey,” Haley told her younger daughter as she looked outside to where Tiana and Rhett stood talking. As she switched her attention back to the kitchen and the cookies, she caught Buck’s eye. He was watching her, and a faint smile spread across his lips.

She smiled, squeezing the lump in her throat down until her tears had passed.

“He’s scared of change. But change isn’t always bad, is it?” Alicia locked eyes with her mom, then she turned around and faced Buck. “Shall we go and get the camping gear?”

“Sure,” Buck said quickly. “Although I have no idea where it is.”

“I do. We’ve been up in the attic loads of times.” Alicia grabbed hold of Marie, who had a couple of cookies in her hand. “We’ll show you where it is.”

“Is that okay?” Buck asked Haley.

“Sure, that would be great. Then we can go and pitch the tent as soon as Tiana and Rhett are ready.” She walked across the kitchen to Buck and placed her hand on his arm, wanting to feel the connection between them. Life had been turned on its head lately, since the arrival of Mason in town their quiet lives had been replaced by a sense of wheels turning faster and faster as they rolled downhill toward an unknown fate. It took some getting used to. For all of them. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He lowered his voice. “While I’m gone, you could decide where you want to sleep tonight.” He winked as he walked away, leaving her unsure if he was joking or not.

After they left the kitchen and their footsteps could be heard on the stairs, Haley wandered back across the kitchen to Mason, who still looked distraught. “Do you think he resents the baby? Or maybe he doesn’t think I can care for Tiana.”

“It’s nothing like that,” Haley reassured him. “They’ve been through a lot together. They learned to depend on each other. And now everything has changed for Rhett. I suppose he might feel as if he’s been pushed out. But he’s a good, sensible kid and he knows that’s not true. Sometimes we just need to hear those words spoken. For life to be breathed into them and make them real.”

“You’ve been a good friend to Tiana.” Mason put his arm around Haley’s shoulder. “I want to thank you.”

She elbowed him lightly in the ribs. “I want to thank you, for putting a smile back on her face.”

Mason removed his arm and went to get them a mug of coffee each. “I’d do anything for her. And for Rhett.” His voice was tight as he spoke.

“You love him like he’s your own, don’t you?” Haley asked. She should be surprised since they had only known each other for a few months, but she wasn’t, she’d seen how Mason treated Rhett.

“He’s part of Tiana, so he’s part of my family. Along with her mom and dad. Along with you and your kids. I’d look after and defend any of you.” He passed Haley her coffee, the look on his face telling her he meant every word he said.

She swallowed, summoning the courage to ask her next question. “Is that the same for all shifters? I know Tiana told me it was. But do you know for sure?”

Mason gave her a half smile and nodded. “Everyone I’ve ever met. And yes, most definitely for Buck, if that’s what you are asking.” It was, but she didn’t admit it.

“It’s weird. Just handing over your heart to someone because it’s meant to be. I don’t know where T found the strength.” Haley sipped her coffee. “No offense.”

Mason chuckled. “None taken.”

“Do you have any advice?” Haley heard laughter from upstairs. Buck and her girls seemed to be having fun and she smiled at the sound.

“Let it happen. Don’t fight it.” Mason looked up as the door opened and Rhett and Tiana, who had been crying again, came in. He tensed but didn’t spring into action, although by the tension in his jaw, Haley guessed he wanted to comfort his mate and lick her wounds if he could.

“Hey, how are we doin’?” Haley asked, going across the kitchen. “You are two of my most favorite people in the world. Is there anything I can do?”

“No, I think we have it licked,” Tiana said. “But thanks, Haley, it means a lot.”

“You know you’re always welcome.” Haley hugged Tiana and then hugged Rhett. “As long as you two are talking, you’ll get through this. It’s all about communication.”

“We’re talking,” Rhett said, looking up at his mom through tear-laden eyelashes.

Mason joined them, holding back as if he was afraid to interfere or do more damage. “Are we okay?”

Haley wasn’t sure who the question was directed at, but it was Rhett who answered. “I’ve been stupid.”

“No, you haven’t,” Tiana insisted. “Things have happened a little fast for Rhett, and he is thinking of coming back home for a year.”

Mason locked eyes with Tiana who gave him a half smile and a nod, a sign she was okay with it. Mason immediately responded and backed her up. “I like that idea. Why don’t you spend a couple of months helping Buck and me with those warehouses?”

Rhett’s face lit up. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“No, I’d like you to help,” Mason insisted. “We should spend some time getting to know each other better.”

“And that way you can keep an eye on him, Rhett. So he’s not late for work every morning because of the baby.” She raised her eyebrow at Mason. “How many times have you told me you are going to get up in the night and feed the baby and make me breakfast in bed, so I can rest? If you take on all the baby chores, you’ll have no time for work.”

Haley rolled her eyes and said, “Mason, you do know what this woman is capable of, don’t you?”

Mason held up his hands in mock defense. “I’m trying to be the best husband I can be.”

“Well, don’t smother her,” Haley warned, wagging her finger at Mason.

It was Rhett’s turn to roll his eyes. “Mason can’t win. If he does too much, he is smothering my mom, if he doesn’t do enough, he’ll be accused of abandoning her.”

“Hey, whose side are you on?” Tiana asked, grabbing her son around the shoulders and pulling him back toward her.

“Well, if Mason is going to be my new boss…” Rhett laughed at Tiana’s look of mock betrayal.

“I see, I’ve been dumped.” She pouted and was rewarded by a hug from both Mason and Rhett. As she caught Haley’s eyes over their shoulders, Tiana smiled. Everything was all right again, the air was cleared, her family had edged themselves around another potential storm.

Haley hoped her family would weather the change in their own circumstances. But seeing the strong bond between Tiana, Rhett and Buck, she was confident her own family could be equally as happy.

They had to take baby steps and be aware of each other’s feelings.

“You know I was only joking about the breakfast in bed and changing all the diapers,” Tiana told Mason as their group hug split up.

“No!” he protested. “I’ve listened to what you said and will firmly support you. No breakfast in bed or diaper changing.” He winked at Rhett. “We’re going to have man stuff to do.”

Rhett walked over to the counter and picked up a cookie. “Never a dull moment.”

“That’s the way it should be,” Haley said. “Because then you know you’ve lived life to the fullest.”

Which was her own intention. She planned to fill it up with good memories and love. Starting today.