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Lyliann must have seen her worried face. “I didn’t mean to scare you. They are lovely, just a little too old fashioned for my taste. And whatever you decide to do, I’ll have your back.”
“We both will have your back.” Mayra had walked in and sat on Niev’s other side.
Even though Niev would never admit to anyone how she felt about becoming a mother, she knew she wouldn’t be able to do this on her own. “I might need you both to guide me through this.” It was hard to admit it, but she had no idea what would happen during the next few months, and she needed their help.
“Of course, we will! All this is new to you, and we’ll help you and guide you through it. You don’t have to do this on your own.” Mayra seemed relieved, as if she’d been waiting for Niev to ask. It comforted Niev that she’d answered without hesitation.
“Pregnancy and motherhood aren’t easy. Everything is new and constantly changing and for you it’s especially challenging. You’re not alone–we are here for you.” Lyliann seemed to feel the same way as Mayra. She had the same relieved tone and facial expression.
“Thank you.” Niev looked down into the box and took out a little knitted jacket. It was gray with patterns on the chest. “Did you make this one?”
“Oh no I’m not that talented–Layla made it for me. There should be a hat that goes with it somewhere.” Lyliann leaned over the box and started searching for the hat.
“I haven’t seen her today, is she okay?”
Niev had expected for Layla to show up throughout the day to pick up Alizia. Blake said that she was expecting her second child, and now Niev was worried that she hadn’t come by all day.
“Yes, she’s just helping the families settle into our homes, making sure they find all they need and get comfortable.” Lyliann located and handed Niev the matching hat. “We’ll be staying here as long as it’s not safe out there. We gave our homes to the families that had to be moved to the inner circle. Seth and Michael will barely be home anyway, and we have more than enough room here.”
“Blake mentioned that she’s expecting her second child soon?”
“Yes, a few more weeks and we’ll have a new family member. Alizia is a handful right now and she needed a little bit of extra time and help getting her house prepared for guests, so she stayed behind and will join us tomorrow.”
“She must be exhausted.”
Niev couldn’t imagine how Layla felt so close to her due date and having to leave her home. Niev rubbed her tummy and thought about how much more she would grow before giving birth.
“Yes, she is. It saddens her a lot to leave her home. She’d just finished decorating the nursery and now she’s having a hard time leaving.”
Mayra seemed worried and Niev could understand why. Niev had barely become pregnant, and Mayra was already worried about her wellbeing and didn’t even want her to help set a dinner table. She couldn’t imagine how worried Mayra must be about her own daughter only weeks away from giving birth.
“Hopefully all this is over before the baby comes and she can move back in.”
Mayra took a deep breath. “We do hope so.”
“Niev.” Lyliann laid her hand on Niev’s. “We’re very glad to have you here. I know it’s been overwhelming for you, and this isn’t how we hoped to welcome Blake’s mate into our family. We’re so thankful that he has finally found you and we hope that all this doesn’t scare you away.”
Niev smiled. Lyliann’s words warmed her heart. “I must say, all this is very new and I’m still trying to process it, but all of you have been wonderful toward me. I know I’m probably not what you had imagined for him, and I’ll do my best to do him justice.”
Mayra seemed to be the hugging type because she laid her arms around Niev’s shoulders once again and pulled her into another hug. “You’re more than we could’ve hoped for! He’s a completely different man around you. All these years I was worried about him being alone and now seeing him with you, all my worries have disappeared.”
“Please tell me how he was as a child. It seems to me that he was very mischievous. Is that true?”
Mayra laughed. “Mischievous was his first name. He was always in trouble, and I’m surprised to this day that my hair didn’t turn gray because of him.”
She continued telling Niev stories about all of Blake’s childhood adventures. Listening to Mayra made her laugh and lifted her spirits. Niev’s worries shrunk with each story and with each laugh, the darkness clouding her mind lightened. She enjoyed their companionship and she felt as if she was part of their family. It made her excited for the future with them.
“I see you’re telling her all the good old stories.”
Niev hadn’t heard Blake come closer, nor did she know how long he’d been standing there. She jumped up and ran into his arms. She pressed her body against his and took a deep breath inhaling his lovely and familiar scent. As always, he smelled like a rainy day in the forest. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a kiss on the forehead, then looked at his mother.
“I was sent to see if there are dinner leftovers.”
“Of course there is, my love. I’ll pack it all up for you.” She quickly walked into the kitchen.
“Seth and Michael are fine–no attacks so far.”
Lyliann sighed relieved. “I’ll let Layla know tomorrow. She still hasn’t gotten here.”
