Page 79 of Hers to Call
Epilogue
Calita kept her body still, despite the nerves rioting underneath her skin. She squinted, watching the end of the driveway. Simon fidgeted next to her as a dust cloud appeared in the distance. She bit her lip and barely stopped herself from bouncing from side to side.
“Stop it, you look amazing,” she said absently as her mate fiddled with the sleeves of his flannel shirt.
“Your parents are college professors, maybe they will think I’m a rube because I own a ranch. I should’ve worn something else.”
She snorted. It was cute how nervous he was. She’d never seen him any other way than self-assured. She smiled, one mention of meeting her parents and he’d instantly changed before her eyes. She wanted to lie to him and say her parents weren’t academic snobs, but he would see through the lie. Though, it could resort in a punishment which…she considered it.
“You’ll do fine. They’ll love you,” she said instead.
“Will your mother launch into wedding talk immediately?”
She laughed and pat his chest. “Possibly.”
“And your dad?”
“My daddy…” she sighed, her smile dropping. “He’ll be a little hard. David did a number on our instincts.”
Simon pulled her into his chest and kissed the top of her head. “Everything that happened brought you to me.” He reminded her.
She wrapped her arms around him tight. The car that had been steadily getting closer, pulled up and she separated from Simon, nearly skipping down the steps. Simon was right behind her. She knew he would be. He’d always be behind her. He’d helped her through the months of construction required to get her bakery to her specifications. Their only hiccup when she wouldn’t allow him to pay for it. He’d still gone behind her back and took some of the costs off her, but she’d taken him to task and it hadn’t happened again.
He was good like that, listening and adjusting to what she needed.
She reached back and grabbed his hand and they waited as the car parked. Her mother stepped from the passenger side of the car they’d rented, a happy smile on her face. Calita had offered to pick them up from the airport in Atlanta, but her parents had spent two days in the city before coming up to Bear Ridge. Calita squeezed Simon’s hand and rushed to her mother, so excited to see her.
Janet hugged Calita then cupped her cheeks. “You look so happy,” she whispered.
“I belong here, mom.”
Janet nodded and stepped back. Calita rushed to the driver’s side and embraced her father.
“Be nice, dad.”
Brian merely grunted and squeezed her tight. She led her father to the front of the car by the hand. “Dad, Mom, this is my mate, Simon Jacobs. Simon, this is Doctors Brian and Janet Wright.”
Simon smiled and held out his hand. Simon’s face was nervous, but open, his happiness at meeting her parents obvious. Her world tilted a moment before righting itself. She loved him, more in this moment than she thought was possible. She swallowed the lump in her throat. A year ago she hadn’t thought this happiness was possible.
“It’s nice to meet you both.” Simon’s deep voice brought her thoughts back to them.
“This is an impressive spread,” Brian commented.
“I can’t wait to see the horses,” Janet’s eyes took in everything.
“Of course, I have a couple gentle mares set aside for a tour after Calita’s opening.”
“The opening!” Janet clapped her hands. “I’m so excited for you, honey. I can’t wait to see what you’ve done with the place.” Her mother tucked her hand under her elbow and led her towards the house. “The boys can get the bags, you tell me everything. The pictures you sent of the before had me worried.”
***
Simon watched his mate walk up the steps with her mother. Calita looked exactly like the older woman, down to their gait as they walked away. He turned back to the car to find her father studying him.
“I did some research on bears.”
“Is that right?”
Brian nodded. “Enough to know what it would take to bring a clan such as yours together.” His eyes assessed the ranch before settling back on Simon. “I’m told a mate is gold to shifters,” he said softly.
