Page 83 of Unnatural
As voices and footsteps approached, they turned to see a man Autumn could only describe as…well,strappingwas the first word that came to mind when he stepped through the door. He was built like Sam, tall and broad, though not quite as muscular. The woman behind him was petite and pretty and very pregnant. She stepped through the sliding glass doors onto the deck, Mark behind her, a little boy in his arms. The boy was midsentence, something about a frog or a dog or a hog?
“Shush for a minute, Eddie,” the woman said, moving in front of the strapping man. “We’re going to completely overwhelm them.”
Sam stepped closer to Autumn and just slightly in front of her, positioning himself as a guard dog might.
The brunette woman smiled warmly at Autumn and then at Sam as she approached. “I’m Harper,” she said. Her gaze moved from Autumn to where Sam stood, her eyes softening as she took them both in before turning. “And this is my husband, Jak.”
The man named Jak studied them carefully too, his gaze lingering on Sam.
“And this sweet little terror is Eddie,” she said as Mark set the little boy on his feet.
Eddie went immediately to his mother’s side, leaned against her leg, and peered up at Sam. His eyes were wide, his mouth opened slightly. Sam peered down at him, oneeyebrow raised.
“Are you awizard?” Eddie asked, his expression utterly awestruck.
“No,” Sam answered, regarding the child warily as though he too was unsure exactly what this strange creature was.
“Analien?”
“Eddie!” Harper said, bringing her hand down and then patting his cheek in an attempt to quiet the boy.
Autumn had the urge to laugh, and the sensation made something ease inside her. If her sense of humor was still intact, she was going to be okay. The child’s honest innocence was just the balm she’d needed, even if Sam was still staring suspiciously at him.
“No,” he answered again, though with less certainty.
“Well, I—” Harper began.
“A superhero!” Eddie exclaimed, taking a step closer to Sam, the awe in his gaze increasing.
“Er—”
“I can run fast!” Eddie said, turning and racing as fast as his little legs could carry him to the edge of the deck and then back to where they all stood. “See?”
“You’re not fast at all,” Sam noted, causing Autumn to stifle what was sure to emerge as the mixture of a laugh and a groan. Clearly, Sam had rarely if ever encountered a young child.
“Am too!” Eddie declared, the honest insult obviously not fazing him one bit.
“Your legs are too short to be fast.”
Eddie appeared to consider that, his eyes moving from Sam’s feet to his white hair. “My dad says I’m going to be a giant like him someday,” he finally said.
Sam opened his mouth to respond.
“Giants live at the top of beanstalks and eat kids for dinner!” Eddie declared.
“Uh—”
“Why don’t I show you where you’ll be sleeping tonight, giant-to-be?” Mark said, taking Eddie’s hand. “It’s a loft bed, taller than me. You have to use a ladder to get into it.”
Eddie’s eyes widened, but he looked torn, his gaze moving between the unusual superhero and the man who had just promised a bed with a ladder. “I’ll be back!” he told Sam, taking Mark’s hand.
Judging by Sam’s expression, he considered that a threat.
“Autumn,” Harper said, shooting a quick look at her husband, “I’d love to stretch my legs a bit after traveling all day. Would you like to join me for a walk?”
“Um.” Autumn caught Sam’s eyes, and he gave her a nod that told her he’d be okay. “Sure,” she said.
When she looked back at Harper, she noticed that the woman was watching them, a gentle smile on her lips. Autumn followed her to the set of steps off the deck that led to the yard. They crossed through the winter grass and went out the gate that led to a path that traveled along the shore.
