Page 63 of Flare
Sophie had been a couple of grades ahead of her in school, so they’d never been close friends.
Maggie added,“You might notice some people at dinner acting a little… weird around the three of them. It’s because Matt’s mated to Sophie, and so is Chris. It’s an unusual situation for shifters, but they all seem happy.”
“Someone mentioned at last week’s dinner that Sophie works at the Bearpaw Ridge Medical Center. Is she a shifter, too?” Emily asked.
Ward shook his head.“No, but she’s interested in becoming a specialist in shifter medicine.”
Emily grinned.“Cool! It’ll be great to catch up with her.” She hadn’t known Matt and Chris that well, since they’d already been seniors when Emily started high school.
Ward folded the last piece of the tent frame and slung it into the back of the van.“You ready to head out? I can drive you to the ranch.”
“Can we head home first to freshen up? I need to change my clothes.” Emily pointed ruefully to a large stain on the front of her festival t-shirt.“I’m wearing most of an espresso shot.”
∞∞∞
Grizzly Creek Ranch
One hour later
As they walked up the porch steps of the yellow Victorian, the front door swung open to reveal Grandma Elle, smiling warmly.
“There you are,” she said, pulling Ward down to kiss his cheek. Then she turned to Emily and hugged her.“And I’m so glad you could join us again this week, Emily-dear.”
As usual on Sundays, the house was filled with the sounds of conversation and laughter. Ward guided Emily through the foyer into the large dining room, where the extended family were already gathered, and got them both beers.
Maggie arrived and made a beeline for Emily.“Come say hi to my brother, his mate, and Chris.”
She pulled Emily away from Ward and led her over to the trio standing in the bay window, talking to Uncle Dane.
Ward’s cousin Matt Swanson had the same dark hair and hazel eyes as Ward, though he was slightly shorter and broader through the shoulders. To his right stood Chris Langlais, a lanky, auburn-haired man in his late twenties with freckled skin and a cheerful grin.
“Emily?” Sophie stepped forward, recognition lighting her face. She was a curvy young woman with glossy brown hair pulled into a messy bun.“Grandma Elle told me you’d moved back to Bearpaw Ridge.”
Emily’s smile widened.“Sophie! It’s been ages.”
They hugged. Ward watched as Emily exchanged greetings with Matt and Chris.
Then the dinner bell rang. The family streamed towards the huge dining room Grandma Elle had added to the back of the house after a fire when Ward was a kid.
Ward pulled out a chair for Emily, then settled beside her. Tonight’s dinner was pure comfort food—crispy-skinned roast chicken with rosemary, mashed potatoes, green beans with almonds, and Aunt Annabeth’s buttery brioche dinner rolls.
Conversation flowed easily as plates were filled and wine was poured.
“So, Sophie,” Ward asked,“how does it feel to be back in Bearpaw Ridge after living in LA?”
“It’s great!” Sophie smiled.“I loved the weather in Los Angeles, but the traffic was awful all the time. I was so jazzed when Dr. Nika accepted me into the Medical Center’s residency program.It’s grown so much since I was a kid. They’ve got state-of-the-art equipment and Cassie—” She shot an apologetic look at Emily and clarified,“I mean, Dr. Cassandra Long-Swanson. She’s Justin’s daughter and Uncle Thor’s mate. Anyway, she’s made some exciting breakthroughs in shifter fertility treatments, and I’m hoping she’ll hold a workshop at the center later this summer. I’m so lucky to be there!”
“They’re lucky to have you,” Chris corrected, patting her arm fondly.
Matt, who sat on Sophie’s other side, nodded.“The internship program is super competitive,” he said, around a mouthful of roast chicken.“But Sophie’s a rock star. She graduated at the top of her class from UCLA’s medical school.”
Elle tapped her wineglass with her fork, and everyone looked at her.“For those of you who haven’t heard, Mary Jacobsen called me this morning with an update about Andrew Brunborn.”
Chapter 18
Advice
Emily stiffened, and Ward instinctively put his arm around her shoulders. Sophie’s finely shaped dark brows rose at the gesture.
