Page 29 of The Griffin, the Tiger, and Their House Cat Omega

I nodded, my eyes filling with tears.

“But don’t you look at the stick until we’re all together, all right?”

“All right.” I was sniffling now. “But why wait?”

“This is a really important moment for all of us.” He went into our bedroom, and I heard the low murmur of voices before he came out and went into Flora’s. Emerging holding her hand, River came over and kissed me goodbye, lifting Flora for a kiss as well. “I will be right back.”

As soon as he was gone I did as he’d instructed and peed on the stick then left it on the counter and went to rest on the couch. I needed to get to work, but I texted that I’d be a little late. After a while, Allen came and sat on the end of the couch, lifting my feet into his lap. He massaged the arches, saying nothing, just waiting with me until our mate returned. It seemed to take forever, but finally I heard the car door click closed and then he came in. “You didn’t peek?” he asked.

“No, I wouldn’t do that. I’m sorry for what I did do, making you wait to find out, making me wait too.”

“Before we find out the results, was it because you changed your mind and didn’t want to be pregnant?” Allen asked, pulling on each toe and sending waves of relaxation through my whole body. He sounded so sad, and I hurried to reassure him.

“My clowder had a terrible problem with miscarriages, and I didn’t want to tell you if it was only gonna be heartbreak.” I sat up on the couch, easing my feet from Allen’s lap. “I’d better go see.”

“We’re going together, remember?” River took my hand and they both crowded into the little front bathroom with me. The stick lay on the counter, and I approached it carefully and slowly. Whatever it said would have repercussions on our whole life. What if I wasn’t pregnant? Or had been but was no longer? What if—

Allen reached past me and picked up the stick, holding it in front of all three of us.

River peered at it. “Two pluses…does that mean what I think it does?”

I held up the box and showed him. “It means yes. I’m pregnant.”

My mates whooped and swung me around before my stomach threatened to rebel and I had to beg them to stop. When they calmed down, River cuddled me close and said, “Mate, there are no guarantees in life. If anything goes wrong, we will deal with it but for now? You’re pregnant and we love you more than life itself.”

“I am really going to have a baby,” I marveled. “And most of those who lost them, as far as I ever heard, it was very early. This just might be okay.”

Right now, I was over the moon and would do anything to keep the baby safe.

Chapter Nineteen

Allen

The world was spinning fast. It felt like the days just rolled by as our bond grew. Our love for each other strengthened every day.

I’d been back to the cabin at Dad’s house twice now to pack things up and consolidate what I would and would not bring to my new life in San Diego. It was both exciting and sad. I loved that little cabin in the snow. It had given me a lot of solace.

But I had a new baby on the way. I was going to be a dad myself now. Our new family needed to be together permanently.

“Don’t be sad,” Dad said. “This cabin is yours. You can come back anytime with your family and stay out here or in the main house. Wherever you want, whenever you want.”

“Thank you, Dad.”

When I got the cabin organized and all my things stored away, I said my goodbyes to my childhood abode.

At the airport, I hugged Dad real hard. Even though I knew I would see him a lot, and probably sooner rather than later, I still had to wipe away tears as I walked through the terminal to board my flight.

When I got back to San Diego, it was official move-in day. Matthew’s house was becoming our new home.

It was only a two bedroom. Flora would have the spare room. But we planned to add on as soon as possible. Dad had given us a bonding present that included a substantial cash fund for us to use for things like that. We already had designs for a baby room and an office.

Flora ran around the house shouting. “This is my home now? I get to live here? Like for always?”

River knelt and took her into his arms. “For always. You’re ours, and this is our home now. Our family. Want to see your room?”

Her eyes grew big. It had been a surprise. We didn’t tell her she would have her own room or that we’d fixed it up perfectly for child of five. Including brand-new toys. She was going to go ballistic.

River took her hand and led her to her room. Matthew and I closely followed, not wanting to miss a moment.

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