Page 120 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

“How about the boat tonight? I’d like some peace and quiet with my mate.”

“Sounds good,” Mael murmured.

“You just want to be able to scream your ass off when Mael dicks you down dirty,” Tempest said.

“Go home,” Mael said to his sister.“Sheriff.”

Tempest cackled.

“Okay, wait a minute,” Echo said. “I know dick you down, but what’s dick you downdirty?”

“Up the fudge packer,” Tempest said before booping Echo on the nose. “Have fun not being able to walk tomorrow, babes!”

Tempest waved and wandered out.

“Thatis our new sheriff,” Mael murmured. “Whatin the hellis Mom thinking?”

“I was kind of shocked that your mom wasn’t putting her on this new council given that she’s next in line to be matriarch, but now I think I know why.”

“Tempest doesn’t want it. Mom’s not pushing her. Not hard anyway. She figures Tempy will eventually mature and be ready.”

“Is she the youngest?” Echo asked.

“She’s the next oldest after me,” Mael replied. “The twins are the youngest.”

“Oh,”Echo said, pursing his lips.

“Yeah.” Mael sighed. “Do you need to stop by the house and pick anything up before we head to the boat?”

“My parents, then home, then boat.”

Mael nodded and led Echo out. “Good plan.”

* * *

Echo approachedthe front door of his parents’ home, a deep sense of dread filling him. His relationship with his mother had already been tenuous. If she didn’t forgive him, there might not be much more left for them. He had to make it count. Glancing over his shoulder at where Mael sat stuffed into his Mini, he smiled at his mate, wishing his orca had come with him.

He stopped in front of the door, gathering courage. Before he could knock, the door whipped open, and his mother stood facing him.

“What are you doing here? Come to blame something else that I didn’t do on me?”

“No,” Echo replied. “I’m here to apologize.”

His mother crossed her arms over her chest and pinched her lips. “Oh?”

Echo could already see her fighting hard not to cry. He let out a rough breath. “Someone approached me a little while ago and apologized because they were the one who called the police. I’m sorry I blamed you. It was unfair.”

His mother’s bottom lips quivered. “I can’t believe you would think I would do that to you.”

“You’ve been quite clear in your dislike of my relationship,” Echo said. “And you cross boundaries all the time. It wasn’t hard to make a hop, skip, and a ju—” He paused, shaking his head. “I came here to apologize. Not get into another argument.”

“I don’t want to argue with you either.” She lowered her arms. “I don’t want to lose you in my life. You or my grandchildren.”

“Your halforcagrandchildren?”

His mother sighed. “Daddy and I were in the back of the meeting hall.”

“I didn’t see you there.”

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