Page 31 of Fated Surrender

“Here, man, this was under your windshield wiper on your truck,” Duncan said, handing the envelope to Connor. He and Emmett sat down on their usual barstools.

“Thanks.” He put the pack of peas down and took the envelope.

“What happened to your arm?” Emmett asked.

“Nothing,” Connor said quickly. He opened the envelope and glanced at the first couple of pictures. They were additional photographs from the different crime scenes. Griffin must have dropped them off. Gritting his teeth, he closed the envelope and stuffed it in his jacket pocket where it hung on the coat rack.

“Connor?” Madison asked, worried.

“Updates from Griffin,” he said, and she nodded before turning to Rebecca.

“So, when are you due?” she asked.

“Around Christmas. I’m hoping he will come early, I’m really ready to start having sex again.” Rebecca sighed.

“Becca!” Aleks exclaimed, flushed.

“Just saying.” Rebecca shrugged.

“It must be hard planning a Thanksgiving meal so late in your pregnancy.” Madison sipped her coffee.

Connor watched as Rebecca froze and started to get an uneasy feeling.

“Thanksgiving?” Rebecca asked, staring at Madison.

“You don’t celebrate?” Madison asked, setting her coffee cup down.

Connor, behind Rebecca’s back, began to wave his arms and shake his head. He met Madison’s eyes and saw the dawning realization that she may have just messed up.

“Oh my god! I forgot about Thanksgiving! Aleks, what are we going to do? It’s our first Thanksgiving together, and I don’t even have the ingredients to make anything! How could I have forgotten one of my favorite holidays!” Rebecca burst into tears.

Madison looked over to Aleks and mouthed,I’m so sorry.

Aleks waved off her apology and scooped up his mate as her meltdown escalated.

“I’m the worst wife ever! Our children are going to starve!” Rebecca cried.

“Rebecca, it will be okay. Ma and I will help,” Connor said.

Rebecca shook her head. “I wanted to do it. It’s my first Thanksgiving as a married woman. I should have been prepared for this.” She wept. Rebecca’s phone rang and she answered.

“Hello,” she said sullenly.

“Rebecca, what’s wrong?” Connor heard Kate ask. He’d give it five minutes before the rest of the Inner Court called.

“I forgot about Thanksgiving!” Rebecca cried.

Kate inhaled sharply. “Shit! I forgot, too! We haven’t ordered anything for the pack! What in the hell are we going to do!” Kate yelled. In the background Connor could hear Caleb and Bran trying to calm Kate down.

Nic, Ashby, and Gabriel walked in. Ashby and Nic were holding frappe cups.

“It was just you, now it’s you and Kate. What’s going on?” Nic asked Rebecca.

“We forgot about Thanksgiving!” Rebecca cried.

Ashby went pale and turned to Gabriel. “I’ve been introducing the coven to new foods, how could I forget this holiday! They’ll be crushed. Now I know why David and Daniel asked if we were getting pumpkins.” Ashby and Nic sat at the table with Madison and Rebecca.

“I’ve been so busy at the shop I forgot to remind you,” Nic whispered.

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