Preston’s expression softened the tiniest bit.
“Don’t quit being you, okay?” he said a second later. “Mori, I know you have your reasons, but from the outside it seems like you’re a different person.”
“You didn’t tell me you were pregnant until you had to,” I reminded him.
“I think this is different,” he said.
“It is, but if she’s really dead this time it means Andy is safe.”
“Thank you,” he said. “Brother, whatever you’re up to be safe and wrap it up so that you can come home or settle down somewhere.”
“You can come visit! I have a proper little home and everything,” I said. “It’s only for a few years… Preston,” I finally sat down in the rocking chair next to his. “Preston, I know who my guy is. Hush. Please, don’t say anything. I’m not going to say who he is or how he’s involved in anything, but I just need a few years to make sure we all come out on the other side of this alive. Being dead is the only thing that means we can’t fix things.”
“You think I’d rather you die?” Preston asked.
“Than your baby? I’d rather die than the baby,” I said, my eyes tearing up.
Preston didn’t say anything for a long moment. He didn’t need to. Both of us would die for Baby Andy. So would Preston’s true-mate, Wess.
“I don’t want you to die either.”
“I don’t want to die,” I said. “Not when I’m so close I can almost taste the happiness.”
“Why can’t you wait it out here?” he asked.
“Because if she comes back looking for me I’d rather not endanger all of you,” I said. “I think I could handle dying to stop her even if I’d rather be alive. I could handle being dead and losing everything but I couldn’t live on knowing that I didn’t do everything in my power to keep everyone I loved alive and safe.”
“Don’t you think we feel the same way about you?” he asked.
“I don’t have kids who count on me.”
“You have a nephew who asks about you every day,” he countered.
“I miss you guys,” I said, sinking back into the rocking chair.
“Is your guy okay?”
“I think he’s happy and that’s all I can say.”
“Because of fucking Sharon,” Preston nodded.
“Fucking Sharon.”
“I’d fucking say I wish she was never fucking born except then my baby wouldn’t be here,” Preston said.
“Fucking Sharon,” I said again and we both laughed.
Chapter 35
Vatten
Canton Valley Farm
Nashen’s kitten was born the day we made it back to the GGB Territory. We headed to the farm instead of our apartment to make sure he and Bernard really didn’t need anything. Our house wasn’t ready yet, but it also wasn’t a surprise anymore since Jondi overheard me speaking with Canton. I had worried Eran would be mad at me for changing my mind at the last second, but I couldn’t stop myself. After seeing how Jondi looked at Eran and chased along after me, I knew he needed us closer. Maybe I was a softy now that I had a belly full of pups but I knew if that little otter was surrounded by adults he trusted, he’d be okay in the end and that’s the best thing we could hope for with any kid.
“Plus, we’re closer to Gooseberry too,”my dog chimed in to my thoughts as we neared the farm.
That made sense too because I probably wouldn’t travel as much to see patients once I had five puppies to raise.
