Page 241 of His White Moonlight
“We don’t have to go, but I heard that Mrs.Shane will be there today, and I want to see how she acts when we get there.”
“Well, now you’re talking.Did Bennett tell you I overheard a call from Lindi today?”
“No.”
I explained what I heard.
“Mr.Shane reached out to Aaron on Saturday before the run, thinking he could circumvent the conditions Bennett set.”She patted my hand.“Dad quickly corrected that notion and the one that their horrible offspring’s crimes don’t fit the punishment.”
Her words had a bit of a growl at the end.
“So we’re going to the Clay and Leaf to do what?”
“I want Mrs.Shane to see how much we value you so they know you’re off limits.But this isn’t about just her.I want the pack to know your place in this family, too.Just because you choose not to wear expensive clothes or flaunt your wealth doesn’t mean you’re not part of this family.”
“Technically, I have no wealth to flaunt.I still don’t have my bank account.”
“That will be fixed as soon as my eldest cub removes his head from his ass.”
I choked on my laugh, and she grinned at me.
“I love that boy, but he’s a typical male still trying to control things.”
“He’s getting better every day, though,” I said, thinking about how he hadn’t tried manipulating the situation before we’d left.Well, at least not too hard.
It took about twenty minutes to reach the tea room.As the valet drove away with Mom’s car, Mom tucked my arm around hers.
“Let’s remind them all that you’re a Wulf.”
The hint of growl in her voice didn’t bode well for anyone who might mention the Wulf family taking in a poor orphan all those years ago.
I patted her arm and hugged it a little.She smiled and took a calming breath before we moved toward the attendant, who opened the door at our approach.
We walked into the quaintest entry I’d ever seen.It reminded me so much of something I might see in a Hallmark Channel movie.
“Do you have a reservation?”The woman at the antique desk asked.
“Yes.Wulf for two.”
The woman glanced down at her tablet then at the woman standing next to her.
“Table Twenty-Three.”
The second woman nodded and smiled at us.“Please follow me.”
I noted that all the staff wore the same medium grey vest, a light grey button-up shirt with pinstripes, and a darker grey tie, paired with black slacks.The uniforms looked trendy and old-fashioned at the same time, which helped blend the vintage decor with the modern clothes of the customers we passed.
A woman wearing a hat with a plume nodded at Mom and glanced at me.I smiled.
“Nice hat.”
She smiled back.
Under my breath, I said, “Shakespeare probably wants his pen back.”
Mom coughed suddenly, and I patted her arm soothingly, faking concern when I knew she was trying her best to swallow her laughter.
Our attendant stopped at a table and held out a chair for me.A man quickly approached to do the same for Mom.While she ordered for us, I glanced around the room for Mrs.Shane.
