“Coho,” Fiona said. “She doesn’t need a lecture right now.” Fiona gave Raven an encouraging smile, then returned to the stove, shutting off the burner as the kettle whistled.
Raven glanced at Pike. He had yet to say anything. He’d tightened his lips, and the look of disappointment on his face caused her breath to catch. It twisted her gut, and she suddenly felt like she’d disappointed her father. Pike had stepped in as the patriarch of the family, and with his resemblance to her dad, sometimes it felt as though she was talking to him when she spoke to Pike. Like now. Her dad wouldn’t have been proud of the way she’d handled this situation either. But then if her father had lived, she would have made other choices when she’d found out she was carrying Aidan’s baby. Life would have turned out completely different.
A hush fell over the room as they all waited to see what Pike would say. He shared a look with Fiona before resting his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers. “I take it Fox is aware of who his father is?”
Raven nodded, the emotion backing up her throat preventing her from telling them Fox had been aware for four years. It would probably be best if she never told them that bit of news.
“That explains why the scamp has been stomping around here like a pup with a wounded paw.” He glanced briefly at Fiona, giving her a nod of thanks as she set a mug of tea in front of him.“That settles it then,” he said softly.
“Settles what?” Raven asked.
“Aidan’s one of us now.” Pike blew on his tea and took a sip as though the problem was resolved.
“What? No.” She frowned.
“He’s Fox’s father. That makes him part of the family.” Pike’s tone clearly stated there would be no argument.
“Pike,” Lynx said slowly, mimicking Pike’s posture. “Making him a member of the family when there are still unanswered questions about Dad is a bit premature.”
“I’m content with the answers Aidan gave twelve years ago.” Pike looked at each of them in turn. “All of you need to let it go.” His gaze settled on Raven. “For Fox’s sake.”
Pike set his tea aside and stood. “I need to get back.” He turned to Fiona. “Walk with me?”
They left the room together, and Raven knew the two of them would be discussing her and her problems. She felt like a kid who’d just been caught in a compromising position. Well, she had, and she didn’t have the excuse of young age to fall back on this time.
“I’ll say this for all of you,” Eva said having kept quiet throughout the meeting. “Never a dull moment being a part of this family.”
Raven entered the restaurant not knowing what she was going to say to Pike, but knowing she needed to speak to him. Somehow she needed to erase his disappointment in her.
As she strode toward the bar, she noticed Aidan at a table with a very young, very beautiful woman, their heads nestling together as they talked. A feeling totally unlike anything she had ever felt before seeped into her body. The woman leaned her head against Aidan’s shoulder, and he gave her a hug. Raven wanted to yank the woman out of his arms by her shiny blond roots. She walked up to their table.
“Aidan?”
He jerked back at the sound of her voice. “Raven.” He sounded surprised, or was it guilt at being caught with another woman just twenty-four hours after he’d slept with her? He rose to his feet.
“I…uh…I would like you to meet my cousin.” He indicated the girl, who looked up at Raven, blinking back tears from her large blue eyes. “Lana, this is Raven. The woman I told you about.”
Told what about?
Lana dabbed her eyes with a napkin and gave Raven a timid smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Raven pulled out one of the chairs and sat. She didn’t care that she hadn’t been invited. “You have a cousin?” Why hadn’t she heard of this cousin before? And why was she here?
Aidan retook his seat. “Roland is her father. Lana traveled here with her boyfriend, hoping to stop Roland from causing…some mischief.”
“Mischief?” Goodness gracious. Were any of his relatives law abiding? She studied Lana, wondering if her sweet innocence was an act. Aidan must have picked up on her mood, because he leaned closer to Lana as though to shield the little blonde from her.
“Lana, why don’t you go and find Peter.” Aidan glared at Raven. “I need a moment with Raven.”
“Okay, but you won’t leave the lodge, will you?” Lana looked up at Aidan all teary-eyed again.
“I won’t go anywhere. Same goes for you and Peter. All right?”