Page 66 of Prayers for the Prickly

I couldn’t deny that the idea held some serious appeal, but I’d wait and see if it went away before I decided to put in an appearance, and even then, it would only be sporadically. I had responsibilities to consider and doubted there would be much spare time in my future to indulge in things like that. Not until the whelplets were older anyway.

Whelplets, not hoglets. We’d decided to combine the names of our species’ litters into one to give us something truly unique. Our families had already embraced it, especially my Nana and August’s Gram-Gram, who were already working on a wall quilt for the room, and had requested the correct spelling so they could include it.

Even the thought of that had me excited. Whatever they unveiled, I knew it would be amazing. My Nana was talented with a needle of any kind, and several of the quilts August had brought over in a gleaming wooden sea chest had been his Gram-Gram’s creations. They’d be welcome additions to our bed come winter, while one already dominated the center of our nest. August loved to trace the different triangles that made up the pinwheel designs, stemming while they talked about anything and everything.

Fortunately, Brendon hurried to help Janie before I had to say anything, leaving me to see what else the store had to offer, now that I’d ventured in. Talk about a color explosion, like August when he’d first walked into my shop. Checking the time, I saw that I could spare thirty minutes here and still have the food on the table when my mate walked in. Determined to make the most of that time, I moved through the space, drawn to a creepy lizard puppet with a sly look on its face that just looked appealing to me.

I picked it to slip it over my hand only to discover there was a book attached. That alone cemented the deal. I added it to the cart before slotting my cart between two rows of shelves holding similar puppets and stories. Some books came with one big ones, others sported smaller finger puppet collections in a pouch attached to the book. I grabbed a few of each, fully intending to come back for more.

There were several big books, too, that looked as if they’d fit nicely in that big mouse’s hands, so I grabbed them, too, and a gaggle of soft music and sensory learning toys, including a trio of octopuses who had horns that honked, beeped, or rattled when you squeezed or shook their tentacles. We’d need two more, preferably with different sounds, but the three were the only ones available. Didn’t mean I ignored the elephants with trunks that made different sounds, I grabbed the two available, so at least we’d have something musical for each of the kids. Then I hurried to get in line at the counter before something else distracted me. There was a whole other section of the room I didn’t have time to explore, but as an expectant father, I’d be back, many, many times, and drop huge chunks of cash I'd be smiling to part with.

“Wow,” Janie said when I reached the counter with cart, including the Warmies I’d grabbed while waiting in line, five of them, because there had been a huge selection to choose from.

The koala, stingray, giraffe, lion and panda gave off light scents, each different, as I’d been afraid that five lavender ones would be a bit overwhelming if they were all in the nest. Fortunately, the line had moved slow enough for me to research which went well together. Cedar, lavender, lemongrass, sweet orange, and chamomile, had been the choices I’d gone with after cross referencing the best ones for babies.

A far cry from the way I’d have shopped before August came into my life. It shamed me to realize that I’d never given this much care to the gifts I’d given my nieces and nephews over the years. The best I’d done was make sure it was age appropriate. Noise factor hadn’t been a consideration, either, as a few of my cousins were fond of pointing out now that I had my own little ones coming.

Revenge would be swift and amusing.

And I’d love every second of it.

“Okay, I’ve gotta ask,” Brendon said as he passed over the giant mouse. “Are you jockeying for the position of best uncle ever or do you have a passel of little hockey players at home?”

It no longer shocked me, the way my face split into a grin when someone brought up children. “A passel on the way.”

“Damn, I didn’t hear anything about a mating, and usually, this place is rife with gossip.”

“We only just revealed the news about the babies to our families, and our handfasting ceremony is in just a few days, so it hasn’t made the gossip circuit yet.”

“Babies?” Janie said, perking up with his hands clasped beneath his chin. “As in plural?”

“As in very plural,” I confirmed. “We’re having five of them.”

“Holy goddess in the heavens,” Brendon muttered with a long, low whistle. “Talk about instant family.”

“I know,” I said as I passed over my debt card. “And it’s the best damned feeling in the world.”

Though a somber look passed between Brendon and Janie, I didn’t spare more than a second to think about it as I punched my code in and watched as my purchase was approved.

“I’ll be back soon, there’s still plenty more to get before they get here,” I said as I took my receipt, bags and giant mouse, taking long strides now, as I headed out the door and turned toward home.

August had a policy about things not being put away until they were washed, and all tags and attachments were removed, so I put the bags and the mouse in the living room until I could care for them correctly, rolled up my sleeves, washed my hands, and dove into meal preparations.

Not only would August have a wonderful supper to come home to in less than an hour, but he was sure to be thrilled about all of the wonderful additions I’d brought home for the nursery.

For a grumpy as hell wolverine who’d considered myself good at very few things, I’d sure found something that came as natural to me as breathing.

And that was putting a smile on my amazing mate’s face.

Chapter 26

August

Waddling in at six in the morning, my breakfast hastily made into a sandwich when my mate had learned that they needed me to arrive at the shop early for a family meeting, wasn’t the way I’d intended to start the day. In fact, I’d planned for two more hours in bed with Gregor, who’d taken the morning off from gathering driftwood just to give us some time to bask in the sunlit space together.

While I’d grumpily gotten up and headed for the shower after the text came in, Gregor had headed to the kitchen and turned the crabcakes benedict dish I’d been promised into two crabcake benedict sandwiches he’d wrapped and placed in a brown paper sack he’d passed over when I headed for the door.

“I’ll bring lunch to you, and we’ll have it together,” Gregor promised as I paused for a kiss.

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