Kate scooped Lucas up and kissed him all over his face. Landon started whimpering so she reached down and picked him up with her right arm and balanced the boys on either hip. They snuggled down against her neck and cooed nonsensical babblings. She smiled and hugged them close. She sat down and kept them in her lap.
“What were you doing back at Bobbles and Things? Weren’t you there yesterday?” Kate asked.
Rian nodded. “I went there yesterday to see if my order for Cadbury chocolate had come in. He sometimes ‘conveniently’ forgets to call and let me know it’s waiting for me. He called today to let me know it was in, the delivery evidently came earlier this week, just ‘misplaced’ my order yesterday and couldn’t find it. The only reason he called me back was probably to avoid me stopping in with the boys again. You know how much he hates children. He can only complain so much about us being gay. Heaven knows the Pride probably buys more than half his stock. He can’t afford to lose us as customers.”
“It’s a good look on you, Katie,” Damian said, grinning at the way Kate kept kissing the tops of the boys’ little heads.
“I could get used to this, especially in the winter. These guys are like personal space heaters.” She nuzzled their hair. Kate looked down at her burger and frowned, realizing she couldn’t eat with both arms full.
“Give ‘em here so you can eat,” Rian said laughing. She smiled gratefully and then eased each boy into his babysitter’s arms.
“You guys are so amazing for helping us with them. It’s hard enough being newly mated, much less trying to find the hyenas and the traitor in the pack. I couldn’t imagine having to take care of these guys on top of that. They are a full-time job all by themselves.” She picked up her burger.
“They are actually easy to watch despite there being two of them. They aren’t fussy at all,” Rian said as Lucas yawned.
“Okay, boys, nap time,” he said, standing up.
“We’re taking the boys back to the house for their afternoon nap,” Rian said.
Kate stood and kissed each boy. “Thanks again, Ri.” She kissed Rian on the cheek, too, and he smiled. She walked over and kissed Damian on the cheek.
Damian and Rian then walked over to where Bran and Caleb were talking to Ma, Connor, and Aleks, letting them say their goodbyes as well.
Kate had just taken another bite out of her burger when the diner door opened. She was surprised to see Cecelia Raymond walk in. She, as usual, looked elegant and well put together. She radiated a natural beauty and grace. Kate wanted to hate her, considering who her parents were, but found she couldn’t. Cecelia was sweet, kind, and soft-spoken. Everything her own mother had wanted her to be.
When Cecelia scanned the diner, Kate half expected her to head toward Bran, but instead, she started heading her way. Rebecca and Ashby scooted closer to Kate and Kate smiled. They were definitely getting great Christmas gifts this year.
“Ms. Edwards, could I speak to you for a moment?” she asked. Kate, her mouth full of her burger, pointed to the chair across the table from her.
“I know that you must not be feeling very friendly toward me at the moment, but I would like to state, for the record, I never wanted to mate with Bran. That was my parents’ dream for me, not my own. I view Bran as a brotherly figure only,” Cecelia explained, her hands folded primly in her lap.
“Thank you for that. It means a lot. But something tells me you didn’t track me down here in town to tell me that.” Kate pushed her empty plate aside.
“No, ma’am,” she started.
“Please call me Kate.” Kate smiled at the girl and was rewarded with a shy smile in return.
“Thank you, Kate. I came here because I am worried about Gina. I haven’t heard from her since yesterday. I’m worried something may have happened to her.”
“Do you have any reason to believe that?” Kate asked.
“Besides my intuition? No. It’s why I’m reluctant to go right to Bran. I don’t have any evidence that something is wrong except she missed class today and considering how hard she has to work for money, she would never skip a class. Never. Please believe me, Kate. I know my best friend better than anyone. This isn’t like her.”
Kate wiped her hands and stood, motioning for Cecelia to follow her and they both made their way over to Bran, Ashby, and Rebecca in tow.
“Bran, Cecelia believes something has happened to Gina,” Kate said.
“Do we have any reason to think that?” Bran asked.
“Besides the fact that she didn’t show up for class and the perimeter is down allowing homicidal hyenas into town? No,” Kate said.