Page 40 of Shiny Things

Everything was going to work out for us. I was so sure of that right up until I walked into his mother’s kitchen and found her glaring at me then looking down at her watch.

“You’re late.”

I checked my watch, trying to remember what time Gia had told me to arrive.

“I’m sorry. I thought I was fifteen minutes early based on what Gia had told me.”

“I was ready to begin fifteen minutes ago.”

“My apologies ma’am.”

I grabbed my apron and a knife and immediately started chopping veggies and prepping as Gia had instructed me to do.

We worked in uncomfortable silence, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she knew.

Had the rumors already begun?

Was she angry with me for being her son’s mate?

Mine,my bird protested, making me smile once more.

Helena started to relax some.

“I’m sorry. I was frustrated about other things and had no right to take them out on you.”

“It’s okay. Is everything okay?”

She shrugged. “Times are changing, or so my mate tells me. I need to wake up and join the twenty-first century.”

I smiled. “It can’t be all that bad.”

“The Council actually voted to allow seats on the Congress Council for the Pierce and Grimes Flocks. Can you even believe it? It’s absurd. What do they know about leadership? Why I never thought I’d live to see the day.”

My hand started to shake, and I set the knife down.

“I know. My father was chosen to represent the Grimes Flock until elections,” I said softly.

She gasped. “You’re a Grimes?”

I lifted my chin proudly. “I am.”

She paled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any disrespect. It’s just, well, it’s not how things are done around here.”

“Maybe your mate is right, and you should catch up with the twenty-first century. Excuse me.”

I took off my apron and tossed it onto the stool I vacated then proudly marched right out of the house leaving Helena Dean Davenport standing there in stunned silence.

In my car, I called Gia, my hands shaking with anger.

“Hey girl. I won’t be as long as I thought. I’m heading that way soon.”

“I left,” I confessed. “I just couldn’t.”

She groaned. “What did my mother do this time?”

“I couldn’t sit there and listen to her putting down my Flock, my own father, Gia.”

“She didn’t!”

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