Authors: Francesca Hawley
“I didn’t know what to think, Father.”
“I succeeded because of your father’s support, Joe. Without
him, I wouldn’t have been brave enough to take a risk. His love and confidence
in me made a huge difference in my life.”
Joe looked at Mandy. A considering expression on his face
and she shook her head. He’d better not be thinking about taking a page from
his father’s book.
Why not, angel? You’re good enough to perform on a stage.
I can’t handle the stage fright.
This discussion hasn’t ended.
He hugged her and
kissed her forehead.
Time to change the discussion, Mandy decided. “So, Maria’s
birthday and my parents’ anniversary are on Valentine’s Day. We should plan a
family party.”
“That’s not necessary for us,” Carly said.
“Or me,” Maria agreed.
“On the contrary, I think this is an excellent idea. Family
milestones should always be celebrated. And gifts should be exchanged.”
Leo’s pronouncement brought a moment of quiet. Then Carly
looked around the room. “Looks like we all have some shopping to do. Not only
for Maria and for our anniversary, but for Valentine’s Day as well.”
“We can find something quick,” Eddie said.
“Quick? Oh I don’t think so. I think we should have a
contest. Males against females to find the most romantic gift for Valentine’s
Day.” Carly nudged her mate.
“That lets us out then,” Jake grinned at Jules. “We don’t
have mates.”
“But you still have to get birthday and Valentine’s Day
gifts for your mother,” Mandy argued.
“Definitely. You’ve got to do right by your mama,” Carly
assured them. Both men groaned but Leo cleared his throat and they both went
silent and nodded at their father.
“Sounds like we have a plan for tomorrow. We can all
exchange gifts on Valentine’s Day.” Mandy hugged Joe and glanced over at Leo
and Maria. “I’m so glad you’re all here. And I’m happy you’ll be staying for
the concert next weekend. You can enjoy watching Joe perform with The Pack. I’m
sure you’ve seen him in concert before, but he’s amazing with
this
band.”
Leo’s cheeks reddened slightly and Maria turned to her mate.
A stern glare tightening her face. What the hell was going on? She looked up at
Joe and he was staring at the pizza in his lap.
“It’s not really that important,” he told Mandy quietly.
“What do you mean?”
“Father doesn’t like rock music,” Joe said as if that
explained it all. But it didn’t. Not to her.
“What’s that got to do with it? You’re his son and he should
see a gig, right?”
Joe glanced at his father once then looked away again. He
shrugged. Mandy turned to Leo. She watched him become more uncomfortable by the
minute. And suddenly it occurred to her.
“Wait…have you ever attended one of Joe’s concerts? Either
of you?”
Maria licked her lips, scowling at Leo. “She asked a
question.”
Leo growled at Maria, but she crossed her arms over her
chest. Evidently, this was one area of disagreement that was long standing and
still unresolved.
“No, we have not.”
“So you’ve
never
seen Joe perform?”
“I have seen him perform. We have family concerts regularly
when the family is all together.”
“That’s classical guitar. Have you ever seen him in front of
a crowd? In concert?”
Leo’s lips tightened and he frowned. “No.”
“Have you attended concerts that Jake and Jules were in?”
“Of course,” Leo sputtered.
“What do you mean, of course?” she growled. Joe caught her
hand and shook his head.
Bullshit, mister. This is important.
He doesn’t like rock. Just let it go.
No. Freaking. Way.
“Jacob is an opera singer. Julian performs trumpet solos. It
is natural for us to attend such events.”
“But not natural to see your
oldest
son perform in
the venue he’s chosen?”
“We do not drive about and stay up until the wee hours
anymore. Sadly, we’re no longer young wolves.”
“You weren’t always old, Leo. Joe’s been playing in bands
since he was—what? Twenty?” Joe nodded. “So, twenty years ago, you weren’t
seventy-two. You were fifty-two. Lots of life in a fifty-something body. Plenty
to stay up late enough to see your son play a concert.”
“Back then I wouldn’t have wanted him to attend. I wasn’t
very good.”
Mandy smiled at Joe. “You were probably a hell of a lot
better than you think you were.”
“He was,” Maria agreed. She looked at Leo a bit longer and
her mate finally dropped his gaze. “I wanted to see you play, but I abided by
your father’s edict. We should have attended a performance long ago.”
Joe lips curved. “It’s all right, Mother. I don’t blame
you.”
“But you blame me, I suppose.”
“If the shoe fits…” He stood abruptly and went to the
kitchen. Mandy rose to follow but Leo held up his hand.
“This is for me to attend to, my dear,” he sighed. “And
sometimes the old wounds heal the slowest.” He followed Joe into the kitchen.
She’d kill to be a fly on the wall, but all the others in the room stayed put.
Damn.
Joe stood at the sink staring out into the night. Damn Mandy
for dragging this up. He knew his father hated what he did. He didn’t need to
have it reinforced because of her outrage. Nor did he want his father forced to
watch him play. If the old wolf attended a concert, he wanted it to be because
Leopold chose to. Not because Mandy guilted him into it.
“Your mate is right, son. Your mother and I should have
attended one of your concerts long ago.”
Joe tensed and slowly turned around to face his father. “I
know you don’t like my music. If you’re not interested, I certainly have no
desire to force you to attend. Rock isn’t your thing. I get it.”
Leo came further into the room. “Do you know why I bought
you the Les Paul?”
“Guilt?”
“When have I ever done anything out of guilt?”
“When you bought me a guitar that you hated.”
“I don’t hate your electric guitar. I knew it was the best
available. That it was vintage and valuable.”
“Then why?”
“Because I wanted to give you the best start I could, even
though I disagreed with the direction you intended to follow.”
Joe nodded, facing his father. Meeting the old wolf’s blue
eyes. “That’s what Mother told me.”
“It was the truth. And if anyone knows my motives for
anything, it would be your mother.”
“Maybe. But, Father, your disapproval is legend. Nothing I
do is ever good enough.”
“That is untrue. You are a competent musician, Joseph.”
He closed his eyes. Competent. He hated that word. Just like
he hated adequate. “Yeah, I know. Competent. In other words, mediocre.”
“You are not, nor have you ever been, mediocre.” Leo
straightened. “An average musician is not competent. A competent musician is
knowledgeable. Skilled. Proficient. Adept. You have great talent, my son. And
I’ve always recognized that.”
“Is that why you say my performances are adequate?”
“What is wrong with adequate?”
“Adequate is passable. Tolerable. That’s not in keeping with
someone who is skilled and adept. That’s mediocre.”
Leo snorted. Then he studied Joe. Joe stiffened. Waiting for
a blow he was sure to receive.
“I never meant it in that way. I suppose I didn’t want to
give you a swelled head by giving you more praise than that.”
“Praise? Adequate is praise?”
“From me…yes. Receiving an adequate from me is like
receiving a superlative from someone else.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Superlative?” Joe swallowed. No way would he let his
emotions overwhelm him now.
“I don’t shower my performers with praise. They work for it.
And you always have. And though I’ve rarely said it. You have made me proud.”
Joe grabbed a chair to keep from doubling over. He swallowed
hard and blinked away the tears that gathered. “You’ve
never
told me you
were proud of me.”
“Surely, I have.”
“No. You haven’t, Papa. I promise you, I’d have remembered
it.” Oh shit, he’d called the old wolf Papa. He hadn’t done that since he was
little.
Leo considered him for a moment, his face softening. “I’ve
been remiss then. You do make me proud. I know you have great skills. I might
not understand them as well as I would if you played classical music, but I
recognize talent, Joseph. And you have it. And you’ve worked for it.”
He met his father’s gaze again. “Does that mean you’ll
attend the concert?”
“Would you like me to?”
Joe nodded. His throat was so tight he couldn’t speak. Just
to hear some praise from his father, even after all this time, was more than
he’d ever hoped for.
“Very well. We shall all attend the concert. It will
be…educational, I’m sure.”
Joe chuckled. “You’ll live through it. Don’t worry.”
Leo’s lips curved. “I’m sure I shall. But the question
is—will my ears?”
Chapter Thirteen
Joe had been quiet the rest of the night. He hadn’t even
made love to her. He’d just held her close until they’d both fallen asleep. She
stood in the kitchen in the early morning light. She’d woken with the dawn and
been unable to sleep, but she didn’t want to wake Joe. So she’d showered,
dressed and wandered into the kitchen.
Was he mad at her? Maybe she shouldn’t have pushed the issue
of the concert after all. But it just seemed so damn unfair. Joe was really
talented and his father should acknowledge it. The kitchen door opened and
Carly shuffled into the room in nightdress, robe and fluffy slippers.
“You’re up early,” Mandy commented, starting the coffee
brewing.
Carly hated mornings. She usually slept in until ten and
then stumbled to the kitchen for coffee.
“Your father woke up with a woody and after we took care of
it, he rolled over to go back to sleep but I was awake. The bastard.”
Mandy fought her laughter. Her mother never swore, except
when she was exasperated with Eddie. But Mandy really hadn’t needed to know
why
her mother was irritated.
“Oh, don’t be so squeamish. You know your daddy and I have
sex.”
“Yeah, I do. But I really didn’t want to know the details.”
Carly shook her head. “Is the coffee done yet?”
Mandy checked and carefully poured out a cup even as the
drip maker continued to make coffee. She took the cup to her mother who blew on
it briefly then took a sip.
“Nectar of the gods,” Carly groaned.
“You’re welcome,” Mandy responded dryly, and Carly winked.
“Soooo…you and Joe went to bed early. Did you have fun?”
Carly teased.
Mandy rolled her eyes. “We went to sleep.”
“Eventually.”
“Right away. Or at least Joe pretended to go to sleep. I
think he was pissed at me for tackling his father about Maria’s career and
seeing Joe perform.”
Mandy took the eggs and bacon out of the fridge, heated a
pan and started to cook. At least it gave her something to do with herself.
“You mean you didn’t get busy?”
“Carly, please.”
“Well—did you or didn’t you?”
“No. We didn’t.”
“That’s bad. Make-up sex is really hot.”
“We didn’t have a fight.”
Carly studied her over her coffee rim. “You sure?”
“He never said a word. Joe even held me tight while we were
in bed. He didn’t talk at all, just caressed me while he held me. After a
while, he started to snore.”
“What about this morning?”
“I woke up before he did and came out to the kitchen so I
wouldn’t wake him.”
Carly shook her head. “You should have woken him with a
blowjob.”
“Carly!” Mandy shook her head. “You’re my mother. You’re not
supposed to say stuff like that.”
She laughed. “Honey, I’m a female. A rowdy, horny one and I
always have been. I may seem all genteel but I’m your father’s True Mate. That
should tell you all you need to know.”
Mandy focused on cooking breakfast while her mother watched
her far more intently that she would have liked.
“Just stop, Carly.”
“Honey, I’m not doing anything.”
“You’re watching me.”
“Hard not to. We’re the only people in the kitchen and
you’re the only one doing anything productive.”
Mandy dished up breakfast for them both. She set down their
plates, grabbed the jug of orange juice then joined Carly at the table. She
took a bite or two of eggs.
“You should talk to him. If he’s upset, don’t let it fester.
Get right to it and make sure you never go to bed angry at each other.”
“Isn’t that kind of a cliché?”
“Not really. It’s good policy. One that your father and I
didn’t follow when we were young, and our relationship suffered as a result.
Learn from our mistakes.”
“You and Daddy are both really good at saying
do as I
say, not as I do
.”
Carly laughed. “That’s because we have experience. We messed
up and we want you to do better than we did.”
“Why?”
“Because we love you.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh.”
They concentrated on their food until Maria joined them.
Mandy rose to cook for her while Maria poured herself a cup of coffee and sat
at the table next to Carly.
“I’m capable of cooking, my dear.”
“You’re a guest.”
“I’m family.”
“Well, I want to cook for you, all right.”
“Very well.” She glanced back and forth. “So what’s the
topic of conversation?”
“Joe didn’t jump her bones when they went to bed early last
night.”
Maria’s eyes widened. “He didn’t? Whyever not?”
“Mandy thinks Joe is mad that she pushed Leo about the
concert. What do you think?”
Maria considered as she watched Mandy. “Possibly. It’s also
possible he was just overwhelmed.”
Mandy turned to stare at her. “Overwhelmed by what?”
“Do watch the eggs, dear.”
“Right.” Mandy focused on the food so she didn’t burn it.
“So what was he overwhelmed by?”
Maria pressed her lips together. “I think you should discuss
it with Joe. He and his father had a rather intense conversation last night. I
hope it will help their relationship and I thank you for pushing Leo into it.
It was long overdue.”
“I didn’t mean to push him into anything,” Mandy said as she
served the food and brought it to Maria.
“Of course, you did. And with the best of intentions.”
“Good intentions…the road to hell is paved with ‘em.”
Maria smiled and bit into the eggs. She blinked. “These are
quite good. I like the seasonings you’ve chosen.”
“Thanks.”
Maria nodded and returned to the topic. “Leo needed a push,
and from someone with an objective eye. I’m too close and he and I have long
been at odds about Joe’s chosen career.”
“Joe seems to think he’s a disappointment.”
“He’s not. To either of us. But as you rightly pointed out
to me, Leo has always been hard on his sons.”
“To keep them from getting soft.”
“To keep them from being complacent. They all have talent,
but they needed to work to perfect it. Not expect to have their future handed
to them.”
“I doubt they expected to have anything handed to them.”
“No, perhaps not.”
“And if Joe wanted to take the easy way out, he would have
been the good little soldier and studied classical guitar even though his heart
was somewhere else.”
“True. I wonder if Leo ever considered that.”
“I hadn’t, but I supposed it’s true. Good morning, ladies,” he
said as he came into the room. Leo settled beside Maria and gave her a morning
kiss.
Mandy rose to fix him breakfast and it wasn’t long until
Eddie stumbled in as well. He wore jeans. Socks and no shirt. Mandy was used to
it but Maria’s eyes widened slightly. Carly preened.
“He’s very pretty, isn’t he?”
Maria glanced at Leo and laughed self-consciously. “Yes. But
my Leo is quite as…um…
pretty
himself.”
“Is he?” Carly asked, then turned to study Leo, as if
imagining him without his shirt. “Well, you’re a lucky lady then.”
“I am indeed,” Maria agreed, patting Leo’s hand.
Mandy shook her head as she finished Leo’s breakfast, served
him, and then started on Eddie’s. As she was setting a plate in front of her
father, Joe strode in and stopped abruptly. He was dressed a lot like Eddie,
but he wore low-slung sweat pants and socks. Carly glanced from Joe to Leo and
back, then she looked at Maria.
“He resembles his father quite a lot, doesn’t he?”
Maria got a secretive little smile on her lips. “Yes. Yes,
he does.”
Carly laughed out loud then returned to eating.
“You’re here.” Joe relaxed, totally missing the byplay
between his mother and his mother-in-law.
“Where else would I be?”
“Sorry. I just…” He ran his hand through his hair.
“Yesterday, after I practiced you were gone.”
Mandy took a deep breath. He thought she’d left him again.
She crossed the room and walked into his warm embrace. Suddenly, the world was
right.
“I missed you, angel,” he murmured against her ear. She
nodded, holding him until he relaxed.
“You want breakfast?”
“Yeah, sounds great.”
Mandy set to work on more eggs and bacon. Joe went to the
toaster and put in a couple of slices and then buttered them after they popped.
He watched her for a while.
You okay, Joe?
You were gone and I kind of panicked. Sorry.
After yesterday, I’m not surprised. I woke early but I
didn’t want to wake you too.
You could have given me a BJ.
She burst into laughter as she dished up his breakfast.
“What’s so funny, honey?” Carly asked. She looked at her
mother then back at Joe and shook her head. No way was she going to tell her
mother that Joe agreed with her. Just…no way.
“Nothing, Mom. Just a weird morning, I guess.”
“Where are those boys? It’s nearly nine in the morning,” Leo
grumbled. The back door banged and Jake and Jules bounced in, full of energy.
“Where have you been?”
“We went for a run.”
“A run?” Leo asked, frowning. “A shapeshifting run or did
you go jogging?”
“It’s okay, Father. This place is shapeshifter central.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Whitewolf is a town settled by shapeshifters, Leo,” Mandy
explained, “The Whitewolf pack lives here in the valley. Up in the mountains
above us are two other packs: Redwolfs and Goldwolfs. Farther west are two
aeries who run a ski resort. On the east is a family of human magick users—the
Feldspars. Shifting is no big deal around here.”
“There are no ordinary humans?”
“There may be some but not many. Most are tourists and you
can smell a tourist a mile away.”
Leo considered. “How extraordinary.”
“It’s pretty cool actually. It’s one of the reasons I love
living here. I can be just who I am and I don’t have to hide my real self from
anyone.”
“Are you part of the Goldwolf pack that you mentioned?”
Mandy looked at her father. “I don’t think so. Are we?”
“No,” Eddie commented. “My father came here when he was
young and petitioned to buy a house. The Whitewolf pack owns all the land, so
essentially, you buy the house but the land belongs to the pack. That way they
have approval for any purchases and as far as I know, they don’t sell to non-shapeshifters.”
“So does the packleader run everything?”
“She has final say, but there’s a city council made up of
the other packs, the birds and the magickers.”
“
She?
”
Mandy grinned at Leo, “The Whitewolf packleader is a female.
She just found her True Mate and all kinds of shit hit the fan. Zach was part
of it because he’s on the city council.”
“
Zach
is on the city council?” Joe asked, nearly
dropping his orange juice.
“He’s much more responsible than he seems.”
“He’d pretty much have to be.”
Mandy laughed then looked at her brothers-in-law. “You guys
smell like wet dog. Go shower then I’ll fix you breakfast.”
Both men ran from the room and were back in minutes in fresh
clothes. Mandy cooked for them and finally settled herself back in her chair
with Joe beside her.
“So, you said something about shopping last night,” Mandy
said to her mother.
“Yes, I have nothing for Maria’s birthday.”
“Neither do I,” Mandy agreed.
“That’s not necessary, but we should get gifts for Eddie and
Carly. Forty years as mates is important.”
“No need to worry about us.”
“Everyone gets presents,” Mandy scolded. “Anyway I don’t
have anything for my mate for Valentine’s Day.”
Joe paused in his eating and looked at her. “Presents? We
have to get each other presents?”
Her lips twisted. “It’s considered customary.”
“But… I mean. What do I get you? I don’t know you very well
yet.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
He opened his mouth then looked over at Carly. She shook her
head.
“As I said last night, we’ll split into two teams: girls and
boys,” Carly laughed.
“But then how do we get something for Maria?” Mandy asked.
“Oh, we can manage that. We’ll let the males go off on their
own, with the full knowledge that subpar gifts will get them months of disdain
from their mates.” When Jake and Jules laughed Carly frowned. “You two aren't
exempt. You have a mother to buy both birthday and Valentine's Day gifts for.”
“What a novel notion.” Maria laughed, considering her mate
and sons. “I like it.”
“But Maria,
liebling
…”
“Haven’t you bought me a gift yet, Leo?” He colored. “Then
do make productive use of your time.”
The females laughed and went to get dressed while the males
looked bewildered and slightly terrified.
* * * * *
Later in the afternoon, arms loaded down with bags full of
presents, the females bustled into a coffee shop in downtown Whitewolf. They
found a table and ordered.
“How do you think the males are doing?” Mandy asked as she
sipped her hot chocolate.
“Not well,” Maria laughed. “The boys have texted me several
times asking for suggestions and Leo has gotten in touch mentally.”
“Same for me. Texts from Joe and True Mate touches from
Eddie,” Carly agreed.
Mandy laughed. “Joe did ask for ideas for you and Eddie, but
I think he’s in better shape than his father and brothers because he knows you
two pretty well.”
“Well, he’s panicked about what to get you, honey.” Carly
sipped her coffee and nibbled a bite of coffee cake.
“Did you tell him it’s not the cost?”
“Why on earth would I tell him that?”
“He’s not a rich guy and I don’t need something expensive to
prove he loves me. I just need something he thought about.”
“He can afford something nice. Ever since he joined the
band, we’ve been making better money and doing more concerts.”