Page 46 of The Grizzly Situation
She gave me a tray to put the bowls on, and I carried it to the room where the boys were fast asleep, curled up together like interlocking pieces of a puzzle. I almost hated to wake them, but I’d made a promise, so that choice wasn’t really mine to make.
“Hey,” I said, nudging them gently.
Their eyes opened and when they focused on me, I got the sweetest smile. “Momma,” Eddie whispered, reaching up and stroking his fingers over my cheek.
“I have your soup, if you want to eat.”
He sat up slowly, never taking his gaze off me. He slid off the couch and down to the floor where the soup sat on the table. Before I could wake Jack he was sitting up too. I wondered about this whole twin telepathy thing, because they always seemed in sync.
“Thank you, Momma,” he said, joining Eddie on the floor.
They picked up the silverware and dug in. Amelia had put some bread rolls on the tray as well as a dish with butter in it. I slathered some on each and gave them to the boys who took them from me. This whole scene was so domestic, and I loved everything about it. Maybe it was time to start giving consideration to founding a family of my own.
Well, after I found a husband. And a house. And a job.
“This is so good, Momma,” Jack gushed.
“Mhm!” Eddie added, putting another spoonful into his mouth.
I picked up my utensil and dug in. Even though it had been made with more or less instant ingredients, it was some of the best soup I’d ever had. I slurped it down quickly, but the boys still beat me.
“You guys are quick.”
They smiled. “You always said we ate too fast.”
I had nothing I could say about that. “Are you still hungry?”
“No,” Jack said with a yawn.
“Tired though, huh?”
He nodded and I stood. “Well, let’s get you guys to bed.”
“But Momma, we want to stay with you!” Jack said, his voice almost in a panic.
“I’m going to take a nap too. I’ll be in the room right next to you.”
“And you won’t leave, right?” Eddie asked, wrapping his fingers around mine.
“Not going anywhere,” I promised.
“Okay.” His expression told me he wasn’t convinced. “You left us before.”
What could I say to that? What had them so damn sure I was their mother? Uncertain what to say, I hefted them up and carried them to their room. Once there I put them in the same bed so they wouldn’t feel alone, then covered them up, kissed their foreheads, and turned to go to the room next door. I admit it, I was exhausted. Just needed a nap and I’d be fine, though.
“Good night, guys.”
“Love you, Momma,” they said in unison.
“And I love you too,” I assured them.
Flicking off the lights, the room became surprisingly dark. I couldn’t even see a glimmer of light around the high, wide windows that were covered by a fabric that seemed to absorb the sunlight. This would have been good in my apartment. Maybe I’d have to ask Brent about it. More than likely it was ridiculously expensive, and I wouldn’t be able to afford it, but it was good to dream.
The bed looked like heaven, and all I wanted to do was sleep for a while. I didn’t bother to take off my clothes, instead crawling on top of the blankets and smooshing my head in the most freaking comfortable pillow I’d ever felt. I was out like a light in seconds.
At one point, I thought the bed moved, but then dismissed it and let sleep take me once more. That, as it turned out, was a mistake. When I woke I sat up and scrubbed a hand over my eyes. Then I swallowed back a scream as I found I wasn’t in bed alone anymore.
Laying there, pressed against me, were two bears, with long, sharp looking claws. I had no idea how they got in or made it past anyone in the mansion, but they were in the room with me, and I was freaking the fuck out. I carefully extricated myself, then made a beeline to the boys’ room. I rushed in, ready to grab them and get the hell out of Dodge, but they weren’t there. Now fear rushed through me. Did something happen to them? Was it the bears? Could they have done something to the boys?
