“I know! Look! They got a splash pad and a swimming pool!” Griffin said, pointing toward the back of the house.
His mother looked in the direction he was pointing. “That’s wonderful. Let’s let them eat breakfast.”
“Ma’am?” Jack said, standing up and extending his hand.
The woman looked at him, and hesitantly extended her hand to his.
Jack shook her hand. “I’m Jack Laighin. We don’t stand on formality here. You’re our guests. We are thoroughly enjoying your boy. He’s not bothering us at all. If it’d be alright with you, I was going to get the girls fed, then let them go swimming for a while. If you don’t mind, he’s welcome to join us for breakfast and swimming.”
She opened her mouth to say she didn’t want to be a bother, but Jack cut her off.
“We have plenty of swim suits we keep here because you never know who’s going to drop by, and we have plenty of food. None of this, none of you, is an inconvenience. If you want to you’re welcome to join us, or if you’d prefer, you can go ahead and get some rest. We know you’ve been through a lot.”
“And we are parents, just like you,” Bonnie said. “Griffin is not a problem.”
“I just don’t want to impose on anyone,” she said.
“You’re not. I would tell you if you were,” Jack said.
The woman nodded. “If you’re sure.”
“Go back to sleep, Mom. We’re doing fine,” Griff said, waving her off.
Bonnie and Jack both laughed.
“Look, this one is the future Alpha I was telling you about. This one is her sister that you don’t hit,” Griff said. “And that’s my mom,” he said to both girls.
She smiled and chuckled a bit herself. “Hello, I’m Maeve.”
“Hello, Mrs. Maeve,” both girls said.
“Hi, Maeve. Welcome to our home,” Jack said.
“Thank you.”
“Go back to sleep,” Bonnie said.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Get some sleep.”
“If he starts to…”
“Don’t even go there. Just get some sleep. We’ve got it,” Bonnie said.
“Thank you,” Maeve said. Then she looked at her son. “Griffin…”
“I know. Be polite. Be respectful. Don’t be mouthy, and don’t be in everybody’s business.”
“Can you do that?”
“Yes, I think so!” he said excitedly.
“I love you,” she said. “Please, please be respectful.”
“I will,” he said.
Maeve went back to her pallet, and secure in the knowledge that her son was being watched over by the Alpha and Reigna of the Laighin Pride, promptly fell asleep.
