Page 22 of Frederick
“We have a massive family tree that I can show you if you need a visual for it. The really quick version is that Frederick and Oliver had eight children. Two of those children were Hamilton and Rainier. Rainier is Benjamin’s father. Benjamin has two brothers, who actually live here now. Hamilton and his One Maryann had four children. One of their children was Edmund, who happens to be my father. Another one of Hamilton and Maryann’s children is Benedict. He’s Sebastian’s father. So, we’re cousins with Benjamin, but in actuality we’re second cousins. I am first cousins with Sebastian, Lorenzo, and Caspian though.”
Dominic, bless him, was honestly trying, and I could tell. In the end though, I think he gave up. Not that I blamed him. There were a lot of people in my family tree.
“Yeah, I’m going to need to see that visual. I’m pretty sure I got what you were saying, but that’s a lot of people. How do you keep them all sorted?”
“I grew up with them. To me they are family that has always been there.” I thought back about the summers, my brothersand I would spend with Sebastian and his brothers. Those were the best, and I was thrilled that my children would get the same opportunities we did growing up. Instead of running on the beaches of Spain, they would explore the top of Treasure Ridge.
“I’m excited to meet them, but I’m not sure they’re going to like me.”
I gave Dominic a look that he immediately understood. We had been over this before. “None of that. They are going to absolutely love you. Especially Caspian. The two of you are going to become fast friends I am certain.” If Dominic was pregnant, which I would be surprised if he wasn’t, he and Caspian would be pregnant together.
“If you say so. When do you think I will meet this family of yours?”
I was sure that a family dinner of sorts was already being planned, but I also knew that, they were going to leave us alone until we either reached out to them our month together was up. I was a bit suspicious because I haven’t yet heard from either of my parents, and I knew that they had been told I had met my one.
“Whenever you’re ready. They are no doubt planning some sort of family meal at someone’s house. Most likely Rainier and Étienne’s. They have a rather large place even though it’s just the two of them. But they picked it with the family in mind.” It would take only moments to reach out to any of them to see if and when they all wanted to get together, but I wasn’t quite ready to give up my time with Dominic just yet. We’d only been mated for two weeks, and were still working on moving into our house. Couldn’t I be selfish and keep him all to myself just a little bit longer?
“Hmm. Is it wrong if I want to wait a bit longer?”
I grinned. “Absolutely not. I’m more than happy to keep you all to myself for now.”
Dominic smirked before he leaned in and gave me a kiss. I pulled him tighter to me, deepening the kiss with him. Definitely good to keep to ourselves for a bit longer.
Chapter 10
Dominic
Ihad asked for this. I had to keep reminding myself that not even two weeks ago I was asking Frederick when I would get to meet his family. Now here we were.
“How are you doing?” Frederick asked. We were standing outside a massive cabin that seemed as if every light inside was on. I knew that we were the last ones to arrive, and I was getting incredibly nervous about trying to fit in with everybody. My family was nothing like Frederick’s. And really, I had nothing to bring to this family.
“I think I’m going to be all right.” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It’s not as if I have to meet your parents too, right?”
Frederick squeezed my hand, and I felt a warmth wash over me from him. “No. They are still in Spain, but they do have plans to join us later in the spring. Because I know how they can be, they said they are making plans for a short visit after the baby is born.”
Instinctively, I reached down and touched my still flat stomach. I couldn’t help it. I was thrilled to be carrying our son. I never thought I would have a One, let alone a child. Now I had been gifted both, and it was still sinking in.
“I won’t say one way or another about them visiting.” I looked at Frederick and hoped that he would understand that it was nerve-racking enough to meet his parents. Add in the fact that they were planning on coming right after I had our son, I wasn’t really going to feel up for visitors. I would bite my tongue and not say a thing, but I was already dreading their arrival.
Frederick turned me so that I was airing at him directly. “Why won’t you? Do you not want them to visit?”
I shook my head. “I have no issues with your parents coming to visit,” I told him. “In fact, I’m very much looking forward to meeting them. I wish my parents were still alive and you would have had the opportunity to meet them. They weren’t exactly terrible parents, but they weren’t amazing either.” I think they would have liked Frederick, but I’ll never know.
The door to the cabin opened and a man who was in slacks and a button-down shirt stepped out onto the porch. “Frederick, bring your One in out of the cold.” He looked over at me and grinned. “I’m Rainier, by the way. You must be Dominic,” he said as he came down a few steps with an outstretched hand.
I reached for the offered hand and shook it. “I am, yes. It’s so nice to meet you finally. Frederick has talked about all of you several times since we claimed one another.”
Rainier offered a warm smile. “Hopefully everything he has told you was positive.”
I smiled at the older warlock. I knew exactly what he was doing, and that he most likely understood just how nervous I was about meeting everyone in the family.
“Is there anything other than positive to say about our family?” Frederick said teasingly.
“I’m sure there are a few skeletons in our families closet somewhere. Let’s not worry about dragging those out tonight, though,” Rainier said before he turned back my way. “If I don’tget you inside soon, Étienne is never going to let me hear the end of it. He is super excited to meet you, as are Eli and Drew.”
I was quickly trying to remember who belong to whom, but I was failing miserably. With Fredericks hand on my back we followed Rainier up into the house.
“Eli is Benjamin’s One, and Drew is Sebastian’s,”he told me through our bond.
