Page 17 of Wolves & Watercolors
“Only a while longer,” I say. “What can I do to help?”
Her eyes open and she smiles at me. “I was thinking we could have a family dinner tonight. And Marigold planned a baby shower for the day after tomorrow. Ask her if she needs anything. I’m good. Slate won’t let me work very much at this point. Not now that I’m officially a boat.”
“Hazel,” I draw her name out, chastising her.
She raises a hand and laughs. “I’m so over this, just let me joke. I didn't mind the rest of pregnancy but these last couple of weeks suck.”
“Sorry.” I wrap my arms around hers and lean my head against her shoulder.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she says, so quietly I almost miss it.
“Me too. So when is this family dinner?”
“An hour. At my cabin.”
“Ooh, I can’t wait to see it!”
“Great. I’d better get going.”
I resist the urge to try and help her as she maneuvers to standing. Her smile is edged with discomfort as she waves at me and sets off through the trees. It worries me, but I’m not sure there’s anything I can do.
Fifty minutes later, I’m dressed in something that doesn’t have paint all over it, my hair brushed, and my nails scrubbed. It’s my version of dressing up.
Standing on the edge of the porch, I wonder how I’m going to find my way to Hazel’s cabin, when a couple walks around the edge of the building.
“Hey!” Marigold chimes, waving her free hand at me. The other is secured in the grasp of a man I don’t recognize. The boyfriend. “This is Jasper,” she says with hearts dancing in her eyes.
“Hi, I’m Aurora.” Descending the steps, I shake his offered hand.
Jasper reminds me of Slate, but where Slate is dark, Jasper is pale. Even his hair is a platinum blonde that glows in the sunlight and makes Marigold’s strawberry-blonde curls appear copper.
“Nice to meet you,” Jasper says. “You really do look a lot like Hazel.”
“Doesn’t she?”
“I’ve heard that before,” I say with an awkward laugh.
“You’re so pretty!” Marigold reaches out to gently touch my arm. “We are here to get you for family dinner! Heath’s cabin is on our way to Hazel’s, we volunteered!”
“Lead the way!”
It’s still light out, thank goodness, so I can walk beside Marigold until the trees and shrubs force us into a single file. Jasper’s hand twists behind his back, keeping a hold of his girl. It’s sweet.
We pass a smaller cabin, but that must not be the one, because we keep going until we find a cabin with a skillion-style roof. Voices drift out of the dark forest green door that is wide open, welcoming us inside.
Jasper pauses at the door until Marigold and I pass him. The cabin is full of warm wood, comfortable leather furniture, and homey plaid throw blankets. Framed charcoal drawings dot the planked walls. It’s bigger than Heath’s cabin, though it shares the same homey aesthetic.
Hazel stands in the kitchen, fussing over some sort of egg rolls. Slate hovers nearby, watching her and ready to help. She waves him off and turns toward us with a huge smile, holding up the platter in her hand. “Come in!”
She’s prepared an entire spread of finger foods, mostly fried. Everyone fills a plate before settling around the living room. Even after we start to eat, Slate won’t remove his hand from the small of Hazel’s back. He rubs small circles as she leans into him.
“How was your first day?” Marigold asks brightly.
I swallow my bite. “Um, great. Nice. I went to the garden and did some sketching.”
“The garden?” she asks. The front door swishes open. “Oh, speaking of!” Marigold’s grin turns devious and I tense.
Cedar steps through the door. But no, the hair is wrong. It’s longer and a bit darker. Not Cedar. Then Cedar steps in behind the man who must be his brother, Onyx.
