Naomi unexpectedly felt heat rush to her cheeks. “That’s way more than I expected.” It was hard to get the words out. No one had ever given her anything, she’d never had anything she hadn’t had to work for.
Liam reached out to touch her shoulder lightly. “We’re shifters. That means you’re family,” he explained. “We take care of our own.”
Tears pricked the back of her eyelids, and she blinked rapidly to hold them back. She’d never been part of anything before. It had always been Beth and her against the rest of the world, and now Beth was gone, too.
“I…” she stammered, not sure what to say. She put down her spoon, having finished her soup, and looked around for a place to put the bowls. Liam held up one finger, daring her to move, and rose to his feet, gathering the bowl and plate and whisking them off to a cart beside the kitchen door.
She frowned at him as he came back towards her. “I’m not an invalid,” she told him, a little crossly.
He came to stand beside her, looking down with a smile. “I know. But you’ve been through some rough times. It doesn’t hurt to let someone help you now and then.”
Naomi promptly felt ashamed of herself, feeling her cheeks color. She looked down at her hands, neatly folded in her lap. “I’m sorry.”
“Nah, it’s okay. Come on over by the fireplace, where it’s warm.”
“Oh!” She remembered, smiling. “There’s a fireplace in my bedroom! Can you imagine? It’s gas, with those ceramic logs, but still. I never expected that! Although, there’s a basket of real logs, to add to the ambience.”
“Yeah, mine has that, too. It’s a nice touch. I’m in room four on the second floor, by the way, just down the hall from you, if you ever need anything. I have to say, staying here is an experience I wouldn’t have missed for the world.”
“It’s welcoming,” Naomi nodded, settling into a comfortable overstuffed armchair. She curled up in it, tucking her feet under her. “I could feel the stress slipping away from me, from the moment I set foot inside.” She was comfortably full, and the crackling blaze in the hearth was cheerful. “Do you think you’ll stay here for long? Are you looking for your own place?”
“I am,” he admitted, “but it may take awhile. I’m looking for a home that has plenty of room.” He glanced toward the empty lobby, but lowered his voice anyway. “I want to be able to have a private office where I can see shifters, maybe with a couple beds for urgent type care. I’ll be getting privileges at the local hospitals, too, of course, but there are times shifters can’t go to a hospital. Gunshot wounds, for instance, if they’ve been shot in their animal forms but are able to Change back to human. Or if a shifter is so ill or so injured, they’re at risk of Changing inadvertently.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I never thought of that kind of thing,” she admitted. “Isn’t that going to be, like, massively expensive?”
“I have the full backing of the Council. They’ll be getting me set up with the equipment and so forth. One of the reasons we’re able to do this here is that there’s such a large shifter community in the Northeast. Also, there are a few retired RN’s who’re willing to be on-call, and lab techs who’ll run tests as needed. We might even be able to swing a portable x-ray machine, although they’re still looking into that one. But first,” he finished, as his cell phone beeped insistently, “I’ve got to find the right place.”
“It’s my on-call ring-tone,” he apologized, pulling out his phone. “Emergency at the vet clinic. I’m going to have to go.”
He paused, looking troubled. “I hate leaving you on your own, your first night.”
She gave him a pointed stare. “I am a grown woman, Liam. It’s not like I’m going to run out into traffic.”
He laughed, as he rose to his feet. “Right! If anything comes up, give Katerina a shout. She and Troy live about a mile down the road.”
“I remember, he pointed it out on the way here. The place with the horses.” Naomi held up the box with her new phone. “I’ve got plenty to do, learning how to navigate this. I’ve never had an iPhone before. I expect learning how to use this will keep me occupied the rest of the evening.”
Liam chuckled as he strode from the room. Naomi covered her mouth as she yawned. She was full, and warm, and cozy, tucked up into this chair. It was… nice, she decided. She couldn’t remember when she’d last felt at peace like this. Or if she ever had. She propped her arm on the arm of the chair, and leaned her head on it, gazing into the flames. Maybe she could just stay here, at this lovely little bed and breakfast. Okay, so that wasn’t very practical, because what would she do for dinners? But honestly, the thought was so appealing. This place was so appealing. She’d never been anywhere like it.
Somewhat reluctantly, she sat up in the armchair and pulled the phone out of its box, not without some trepidation. She’d never had… never needed… anything more than a basic phone so that her work had a way to be in contact with her. She hadn’t had anyone to call or text with, not since she’d left home, putting all that she knew behind her.
She swiped the phone open, entering the passcode written on the paper in the box. Opening her contacts, she blinked at the list there. Katerina and Troy. Jacinth and Douglas. Liam, of course. Maroulla up in Maine. Tamera and Kester… Kester? What kind of name was Kester, she wondered? She’d never heard it before. There was also the Country Veterinary Clinic. And the bed and breakfast.
She’d never had any friends, other than Beth, and now suddenly, here were all these people, offering her friendship and support. And remembering the enthusiastic welcome she’d received when she arrived, it was impossible to question their sincerity. She just hoped… Oh! How she hoped! ….that their friendship and trust wasn’t misplaced. That she wouldn’t follow her mother, aunt, and sisters into insanity.
Letting the phone fall back into the box, she lay her head back against the chair cushion. It all seemed too much for right now. Weariness crept over her, which seemed silly since she’d slept all afternoon, and she hadn’t been awake all that long. Still, maybe she’d better get back up to her room before she fell asleep right here before the fireplace. Vulnerable. Well, it wasn’t like her mother or Beatrice were going to storm, raging, into the room, but she would feel safer up in her room, with the door safely locked.
Rising from her comfortable chair, she made her way upstairs, and was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow.
Chapter7
Naomi woke up slowly,aware of the morning sun’s rays slanting into the room. She stretched, yawning, and turned her face to the light. Even though the air was chilly, she pushed back the covers and flung her arms wide, breathing in deeply. The air here was so different from Florida, or even New York City, barely an hour’s drive away. It was crisp, and with fascinating scents.
Laying there, she took stock of her body. She felt good. Stronger than she had yesterday, and full of energy. Inside, her cat stretched, sending images of contentment and warmth. And hunger. She giggled as her tummy growled in agreement with her cat.
Turning over, she looked at the bedside clock. It was half past seven, so the dining room would be open. She scrambled out of bed, and went to the bag of clothing Katerina had provided. She really had to get to the city and get her own things, but in the meantime, she chose a pretty cotton blouse with long sleeves, and the jeans she’d worn the evening before. Grabbing a washcloth and towel and the small bag of toiletries, she headed down the hall to the bathroom.
It was well past eight when she made her way down the staircase to the lobby, and she lifted her head, sniffing appreciatively at the smells of bacon, and fresh-baked bread and muffins. Her mouth watered.
