Page 37 of Frederick
“No, I don’t think that’s what we should do.” Dominic looked at me with a bit of panic in his expression, which wasn’t unwarranted. “I don’t know anything about hosting the in-laws though. I’m happy that they’re here, and I’m not exhausted from night feedings and trying to figure out how to change messy diapers. But what do I do? Should I make a meal? Are we going to go out with them somewhere?”
I smiled at Dominic before I leaned in and kissed him. “We don’t have to do anything if that is what you wish. I can meet them without you having to do so. But they’re really not here to see me. They’re here to meet you.”
“Isn’t that the entire point of their trip?”
“Yes. I haven’t talked to them yet, because I wanted to discuss things with you before I did.”
“I’m all for meeting with them. We knew this was going to happen eventually, and I really feel that it is better that they are here now rather than after the baby is born in the spring. Are they coming here? Or do we need to go to them? No wait, you already said you didn’t know.”
I chuckled at Dominic’s little bit of panic. I felt bad because I wouldn’t ever get to meet his parents, and he wouldn’t be on the other end of things with me meeting the in-laws. But he truly had nothing to worry about when it came to meeting my parents.
“We will do whatever it is that you feel most comfortable with,” I told him. “Rainier let it slip that Sofia is expecting again, and that was one of the reasons why they decided to come visit now rather than later. I don’t know when she is due, butthey already have four children, and fox shifters have very short gestations. It’s possible that she is going to give birth before you do.”
Dominic smiled. “So you are getting another niece or nephew around the same time you will be having your first son.”
“Something like that. I can call them whenever it is that you are ready to go meet them. If you feel most comfortable with them coming here to us, they are clear to be on treasure Ridge, and that won’t be an issue. I just will need to pick them up from the transport building because they don’t know which house is ours.”
Dominic looked as if he were arguing with himself a bit, but he eventually nodded in agreement. “It’s not as if the house is a complete mess, or that neither of us knows how to entertain guests. If you want to call them and see when they would like to actually visit us, I am open for it. They’ve come all this way, so it would be rude of us to just decide not to see them.”
Rude? Yes, but warranted after what they had done. I chuckled because Dominic was implying that very thing and that technically we had every right to deny them the meeting that they sought. He was right. They were being a bit rude by simply dropping in unannounced. Luckily, they had not shown up at the door unexpectedly without notice. But then again, they didn’t know where we lived. Sure, father could use magic to locate my aura, but that would bring about new issues.
“I say call them. I’m going to go shower and get cleaned up while you do that.”
I kissed Dominic, but he pulled away before I could take it deeper. He shook his head at me, and then left. I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone to call my father. It was unusual for me to talk to him twice in the same week, but it also was unusual for him to show up like he had.
I watched as Dominic disappeared up the stairs. It took a moment for me to collect my thoughts, because I truly hadn’t expected my parents to show up like they had. I would certainly be implementing boundaries with them going forward, but since Dominic was understanding and willing to visit with them, I wasn’t going to deny them the meeting that they obviously were here for.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and after locating my father’s contact. I connected the call, wondering how long it would take him to answer. It rang only once before he answered telling me that quite possibly, he had been expecting my call.
“Hello my son. You surprise me with a call so soon after your last one.”
I rolled my eyes. “Your attempt at humor is falling flat Father. I know that you and Mother are here, and I am calling to request that the two of you come and join us for a visit and possibly a midday meal.”
“Did Rainier tell on us?”
“Did you expect that he wouldn’t? You are staying with him and Étienne, therefore he feels that it is his responsibility to warn me that you and mother decided to show up unannounced. I will warn you now that going forward, that is a boundary that Dominic and I will have. You are welcome to visit, but we asked that you schedule the visits rather than simply show up. What if we were off on holiday somewhere?”
“That does not sound like a very warm welcome,” Father said.
I rolled my eyes again. “Do you wish to meet him or not?”
“Ach, you do not need to be so grumpy about it. Yes, your mother and I would very much like to meet Dominic. We only came now because we realize that meeting him for the first time shortly after he gives birth would probably add more stress to him, and that is not what we wish.” There was a bit of a pausebefore Father continued. “When would be a good time for us to come up?”
“Dominic is currently in the shower getting ready for your visit. I will meet the two of you at the transport building in say, fifteen minutes. Does that work for you?”
“That works perfectly. We will see you then.”
The call ended before I could pull my phone away from my ear. This was so unlike them that I was honestly beginning to become a bit concerned. What truly was happening?
I heard Dominic coming down the stairs, and wondered just how long I had been talking to father. It couldn’t have been more than a couple of minutes, which told me that my one hadn’t actually showered. Instead, he had used magic to freshen up. He was in a different outfit, and I was curious if he thought that it was a requirement that he be dressed as he was to meet my parents.
“Are they coming?”
I nodded. “I’m going to meet them at the transport building in ten to fifteen minutes. Did you wish to go with me?” I looked at Dominic’s slacks and button down again. He had taken to wearing jeans most of the time, so this was a bit unexpected.
Dominic shook his head. “I’ll wait here. You will only be gone for seconds really and there’s no need for me to tag along.”
He was once again correct. I would be gone a minute at the most.
