“No peeking,” Devyn told him.
“Okay. Open.” I waved my hands with a flourish. Gods, what if he wanted to go back to our old apartment? We’d given it up and I never wanted to see the inside of it again. There were too many bad memories associated with the place.
Dad said nothing as he eyed the expansive living area, the ultra modern kitchen and the balcony with the gorgeous view.
“Is this real?” We each took an arm and led him outside. “Is this ours?”
“It belongs to my father.” Devyn explained it was ours as long as we wanted it.
I hoped Dad loved it because I wanted to stay here forever and ever. There was no peeling paint, or water dripping from the faucet, the fridge was brand spanking new, there were two and a half bathrooms, and the furniture hadn’t been repaired with glue or pieces of fabric.
“How much is the rent? We can’t afford it, whatever it is.” Dad marveled at the view, saying he could see the mountains beyond the city.
“No rent.” Devyn sat Dad on the outdoor sofa while I got him a glass of water and a snack. “Father has given it to us for as long as we want it.”
“You have your own bathroom, Dad.” I sat beside him and gave him his pills. “And you have a walk-in shower.” There’d be no more climbing into the bath to shower.
“What?” He made a face while swallowing the pills and took a bite of the cheese and crackers I’d prepared. They were just as he liked them with a slice of pickle on the top.
“No sharing? Sounds like heaven.” He offered me a cracker but I couldn’t stomach food in the mornings and I shook my head. The cracker by itself would have been okay. The cheese? I was meh on that but the smell of the pickle had my belly churning. I stood up and moved away from the food.
Dad furrowed his brow. He was aware of how I used to eat pickles straight from the jar and he always pickled his own vegetables before he got sick.
“Something you’re not telling me?” He grabbed my hand and looked at Devyn.
I shared a glance with my mate. We were planning on telling Dad once he’d been out of hospital a few days and had had uninterrupted sleep. No one who’d been in hospital could sleep through the night when their blood pressure or temperature was being taken every few hours.
“Yes. There is.” As queasy as I was, I was bursting to tell him our exciting news.
“Go on.” We clasped hands.
“I’m pregnant.”
Dad whooped and hollered and we hugged. He brought Devyn in and we group-hugged. “I always hoped you’d have a family but I never thought I’d be alive to meet your children.”
“Just one at first, Dad.” I couldn’t imagine having twins or going through morning sickness again but maybe time dulled those memories.
“Tell me everything.”
There wasn’t much to tell other than I’d taken a test. Dad was concerned I hadn’t been to the doctor yet to confirm my due date. But though Devyn said there was nothing stopping me from seeing a human doctor or midwife, I was wary, especially when my mate explained most shifters gave birth at home without medical assistance.
While I hated fibbing to Dad, telling a half-truth would set his mind at ease and stop him from badgering me. “I have an appointment next week.” I didn’t but Devyn had given me the name of a shifter mid-wife so I’d make that appointment and then technically I wouldn’t be lying to Dad.
“Good.” He patted my belly. “And now I’m hoping that bedroom of mine has a bed in it.”
“I’ve put all your things in the dresser and closet.” There were still boxes of memories and knickknacks to unpack and Dad would probably rearrange stuff. But for now, his room was move in ready.
I helped him into bed and covered him with the quilt that he used for years. When I closed the curtains, he asked me to leave them open. “I want to see that view when I wake up.”
Devyn was on the phone when I emerged from Dad’s room. His replies were terse, one-word answers and I braced myself for more bad news about Roy and Sebastian. While my mate had the phone tucked under his chin, I made sure the front door was locked. I doubt Roy could break it down but his wolf might.
We hadn’t heard if he’d been arrested. But if he had, he’d make bail because of who his father was. Unless Devyn’s father told them to lock his son up. No matter how much he’d angered him, he was still Rein’s son.
Did Roy have a grudge against me? Or Devyn? Or both? I would think it was his father he had a beef with, but Devyn and I had kinda exposed that there was something hinky going on between my step-father and Roy. So he might be out for revenge if he wasn’t behind bars.
My mate ended the call and one look at his face and I strode into his arms.
“Don’t make me wait for the news. Just hit me with it.” Best to get it over with straight away.
