Page 109 of Protecting the White Bear

“You don’t think Craig and Margot will be too upset?”

“There’s no denying they want babies too and feel a little left out. I see Alicia watching you like a hawk. I suspect she envisioned you’re pregnant.”

“Well, you”—Monica shoved the empty milk glass at his chest—“couldn’t be more obvious about it.”

He smiled like a giddy boy. He was so excited to announce the news that he wasn’t waiting another day. “I want everyone to know.”

“You are a proud papa.”

“Certainly.” Then Andy cleared his throat and waved the empty milk glass. “We have an announcement to make.” He wrapped his arm around Monica’s shoulders and kissed her cheek. “We’re having twins at Christmas.”

Everyone clapped and cheered. Monica wanted to hug Margot, holding Lucas, one of the seven-month-old twins, on her hip. She smiled and wished them the best while tears dribbled down her cheeks.

Craig was holding Lucas’s twin brother, Sawyer, and rubbing Margot’s back consolingly.

Monica prayed they would have good news soon.

“You knew, didn’t you?” Andy asked Alicia as everyone gathered close to give them hugs.

Alicia smiled brightly. “Why do you think I was building the snow cave? I felt compelled to do it because I saw Monica needed it for your twins.”

“Twins?” Andy beamed. He glanced at Rob. “And you too?”

“Yeah. Twice, our little Jenny pointed at Monica’s belly and said, ‘Babies.’ But luckily, you didn’t hear her. And her brother nodded, envisioning the same. We felt you needed to enjoy the experience of learning it for yourselves.”

“So your daughter and son do have premonitions.” Monica was really in awe.

“They do,” Alicia said.

Monica’s mom hugged her the most. “I’ve enjoyed being the top sales real estate person in Anchorage for years, but it's time to let someone else hold the honor from now on.”

“You’re retiring?” Monica thought her mother would never leave the job because she greatly enjoyed it.

“No, honey. I’ll either work for another office in White Bear or start my own.”

Tears sprang up in Monica’s eyes. Her most fervent wish was that her parents would move down here to join them.

Her dad nodded and smiled. “We’ve talked to Genevieve and Ned about buying some of the extra land they reserved for family. Mom has shown them the house plans for the home she wants to build. We’ll buy the land and start building right away. We’ll be one strong bear force to reckon with, and it’s something we’ve never had. We really look forward to getting to know everyone better.” Then her father gave her a big bear hug.

She loved his warm, sincere hugs and gave him one right back. “I’m so thrilled you’ll be here when the babies are born.”

“At Christmastime? You bet.”

Craig had given his charge to Rob and slapped his brother on the back in a fun-hearted fashion. “We’re so proud of you both.”

“We know how much you’re anticipating having babies too.” Monica tried not to sound regretful that they had good news and Craig and Margot didn’t. She would feel the same way if she werestruggling to have children. Adopting a polar bear shifter cub was a rarity.

“Oh, the slow turtle wins the race,” Craig said. “We just need to play in the snow more, fall in the snow cave, and then that’s it!”

Monica’s jaw dropped. Had they seen them getting so amorous at the cave?

Alicia laughed. “Yeah, that’s the beginning of how it happened.”

Rob smiled. Had he seen it too?

Monica’s cheeks had to be rosy as hot as they felt.

Ben had his hands in his shorts pockets. “I should be the sad one here. I can’t even find a mate.”

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