Page 21 of Dubious Match
“Don’t tell people that,” Jed teases. “We’re not really nice.”
A laugh bursts out as I brush away my tears.
“Thank you,” I sigh, looking down at the check. “This will let me work on the van’s engine.”
“Maintenance or is there something wrong?” Morris asks.
“It’s just wear and tear,” I say cryptically. “I do all the work on the van myself, but I’ve been holding out on a few things.”
“Good. Now you won’t have to,” Jed says firmly.
They’re not going to let me leave without taking this eighteen thousand dollar check. God, this is insane and so damn nice. Folding it in half, I put it into an inner pocket of my medical bag. I’ll go by the bank to deposit it.
I’m just completely mind blown by this pack. I moved here about two months ago and put an ad in Omega’s Link that I waslooking for a few clients. The interest has been really incredible, with packs who were trying to conceive also reaching out for information.
There are a lot of different reasons why people choose home birth, and as long as mom and baby have a low risk pregnancy, it’s not a problem. I’ve also been known to assist with more high risk pregnancies at hospitals before. There’s no one way to give birth.
“Thank you again,” I whisper, trying to get my emotions under control. “This is amazing.”
Standing, I grab my bag and say goodbye, and Morris walks me out.
“Are you settling in well?” he asks.
“I am,” I say, the walk helping me a bit. “I found a tiny house on a pack’s property that has everything I need. They said they don’t have an issue with me doing work on the van either when I need to. I’m well aware it’s an eye sore.”
“It has character,” he corrects. “You also drive for work, which means it has to be safe. Does the pack have an omega?”
“They don’t, but they stay to themselves, and I do the same,” I say. “It’s nice to know that I’m not in an apartment with a ton of people around me. I’m used to being able to have my space.”
I don’t mention that I’ve been on my own for a long time and can take care of myself. Sometimes, that worries people, especially packs that are as protective as Pack Dresmond. I have a feeling they could very easily adopt me as someone to take care of, and I move too much for that to be possible.
Minneapolis is safe for now. I don’t have the feeling that someone is watching or following me. While I haven’t seen my parents in five years, the last time I saw them was really bad.
“You let us know if any of that changes,” Morris says, opening the door.
“I will,” I lie. “Good night.”
The afternoon light is fading, and I’m watching the shadows begin to creep in. I’ll go by the bank tomorrow instead, I think. Walking out, I head toward my van, my skirt floating around me as I walk. My hair flows around me, and I think about how despite everything that I’ve given up, I’ve gained so much more.
Getting into the vehicle, I turn on the engine, wincing at the sound it makes.
“Ok, Bertha, I hear you, baby,” I murmur, closing the door behind me. “We’ll get you all fixed up. I promise.”
Yes, I talk to myself often. I can’t help it. The sound of my voice feels foreign if I don’t, scaring me when I finally speak to people. It’s low and throaty, and my mom has always told me that I sounded like a man.
It’s not something I could help. I don’t know why she was so mean about it.
Pulling out, I drive down the long driveway, smiling as the gates open for me. I don’t know why, I have anxiety about them not opening one day. If I really looked, I’d say it’s because my parents used to use gates to keep me hostage.
I got lucky the day I left the house. There was a new landscape company on the property, and they couldn’t close the gate because their crews were coming and going. I used my out and ran.
Driving home, I listen to music and plan my long weekend. I’m hesitant to take a larger caseload than I have because of my history of running, which means at the moment I get to enjoy longer periods of time where I don’t have appointments.
Instead, I’m on call, because babies do whatever they want.
Pack Ledger lives down a private road without another soul living on it. At night, it’s a little creepy driving around here, but I’m getting used to it. The gate opens as the video camera see me, which means one of my landlords was notified that I’m home. Itmakes me feel safer, knowing that they’re aware and ready to let me in.
I’m a tenant, not a prisoner here. The guys are gruff but nice, and work hard. They had this tiny home built as a joke they said and as a hobby, but then decided to rent it out to help out with how difficult it is for single omegas.
