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Chapter 13
Amelia
A knock on the door roused me from a nap. Molly was curled up next to me, and I slowly extricated myself and made my way downstairs. I was surprised to find Alaska shooing Miguel out the front door, giving him a little push to get him past the threshold.
“Hey, wait!” The closing door cut off anything else he might have said. His footsteps stomped down my steps but didn’t go further. I could only imagine him sitting there pouting at being kicked out of my house by someone other than me. I smiled at the vision.
“If he hadn’t answered, I was about to break that lock and just let myself in.” She breezed past me into the living room. Moving the blankets I had given Miguel to make room on the couch, she patted the spot next to her. “Let’s chat. Your mate isn’t going far, so don’t worry.
“Alaska, I don’t feel like chatting. I would rather curl back up with Molly and continue my nap.” I ran my hand through my ratty hair, trying to loosen the knots.
“Honey, you’ve been napping for hours. I flew all this way to see you, at least have the courtesy to fake happiness. Plus, if you don’t get up and do something, you’ll be up all night.” She patted the couch again.
“Maybe I want to be up all night,” I snapped.
“Aunt ‘Melia,” Molly’s little voice preceded her into the living room. She was getting good at prowling around undetected. Normally, her feet made the same amount of noise as a herd of elephants.
“Yes, darling?” I squatted down.
“Oh, hey, Miss Alaska,” Molly greeted when she saw her on the couch. Alaska was probably the only person in her circle she didn’t call aunt or uncle.
“Hey, pipsqueak. Did you have a good nap?” Alaska held out her arms in invitation, and Molly rushed into them.
“Yeah, but I want to go play now.” Molly squeezed her tightly, then crawled into her lap.
“I bet you do. It’s still not a good idea to go out by yourself, though.” Alaska kept her voice calm.
“You have plenty of toys, and games, and puzzles upstairs,” I reminded Molly.
“I know, but I want to be outside. Can I go over to Aunt Betty’s? She’s got a sandbox and swing set in her yard, and it’s got a big fence around it.” She bounced on Alaska’s lap.
Alaska raised an eyebrow, waiting for my response. I didn’t want Molly to leave my sight. I didn’t want her going anywhere without me again. I couldn’t lose her again.
“Pwease, Aunt ‘Melia,” Molly pleaded.
I couldn’t tell her now when she looked at me with those big blue puppy dog eyes. I sighed in defeat. “Yes, let me call and make sure she’s home.”
I picked up the phone in the kitchen and dialed the number I knew by heart. We had grown close as friends, and she loved having Molly over to play as well as Felix and Marisol, DJ and Kymber’s children. I loved going along simply to enjoy the company of a true friend. She was unmated and had no kids of her own but had built a backyard oasis any child would drool over. She admitted to me once that she dreamed of having her own family one day, and she wanted everything ready.
Betty was one of the females who had been rescued with me. She had been taken from the States and from her brother. She didn’t think he made it through the attack on her sleuth, what bears call their group, not unlike our prides. She wanted to find out but was too scared to reach out. Instead, she became an integral part of the pride and even started working as the coat check girl at Night Shift, the only BDSM club in the world owned by shifters that catered to both human and paranormal species of all kinds located within the walls of the compound.
The phone rang twice before she picked up. “Amelia, hi!” Pure joy filled her voice and made me smile.
“Hey, Betty. I have a favor to ask. Molly wants to play at your house.”
“Absolutely, I just finished another batch of cookies and rice krispy treats. Send her on over. I’ll wait on the front porch for her.”
“I appreciate it, Betty.”
“Anytime. You know I love Molly like she’s my own. She’s welcome to stay the night if you need.” Betty’s voice was filled with excitement.
“I appreciate that. I’ll let you know a little later. I’ll walk her over in a few minutes.”
“Okay, I’ll be ready.” Betty hung up.
Molly was bouncing on her toes at the kitchen door. “Did Aunt Betty say yes? Can I go over?”
“Yes, but I am walking you.” I brushed past her and found my flip-flops.
