Redemption (The Extinct Race Series Book 4) (19 page)

“Love the kids made it to school and the other two are getting dressed now. Seems our two oldest are more responsible than their parents.” Colby stated

“That is all thanks to them being Blood. Sarah is going to be worse you know. She is already too smart for her own good sometimes.” Makayla responded

“Yep she was being a good girl and just playing in her room. Now what’s the plan today?” Colby asks as he starts the shower.

“Well thankfully Kevin opens for us but we should have shipments waiting on us to send and to accept. Those new vests should be coming today too.” Makayla says as she brushes her hair out. Colby and she had opened a shop that supplied tactical and fighting gear. At first the business was slow but now that they shipped all over and relied heavily on the website orders they were doing well. They didn’t get a whole lot of traffic in the shop but they wanted to make sure they were available if someone decided to stop by. Kevin worked full time with them unless someone needed the jet.

Once they were ready they jumped in their SUV and headed into town. At the shop there was not a customer in sight however there were new shipments all over. Justin and Sarah loved this part of the business. Colby opened all the boxes while Justin and Sarah handed the items over to be scanned into the computer. They all got right to work and while they unpacked the boxes Kevin took the empties and started to fill orders that needed to be shipped.

“Sorry we are late Kevin I forgot to set the alarm.” Colby told him

“No problems here I was able to get five of the ten orders we have shipped out when the guy delivered these.” Kevin explained

“Oh good.” Makayla was relieved to hear at some shipments got made.

“Here mommy.” Sarah said as she handed her the new goggles that had come in.

For the next few hours they got all the boxes unloaded and then it was time for Makayla to head home with the kids. Justin and Hannah would be home soon and one of them was always home to greet them.

Chapter 34

Mary and Mateo

Sundays were always a big deal for Mary. She missed cooking everyday for everyone but knew that now that children were here everyone wanted to cook for their own children, especially the couples who couldn’t raise their first child. She also enjoyed that Abby had wanted cooking lessons from her. Most of the mothers had come to her for a few lessons but had taken to it quickly. Abby however wanted to know everything. Abby also enjoyed it as much as Mary and now helped her plan Sunday meals.

Mateo still works with Charles and trains the half-bloods and has started to train some of the children that are not Fury’s. She and Mateo now also had three children of their own. Her first was a boy who they names Mateo Jr. and he was now eleven. Their daughter was born two years later and they named her Violet who is now nine. Their youngest was Caleb and he is now five. And just as Marsali had said they take after the Dragons. Her children are healthy and never get sick. They are strong and smart and the best part is she knows they will be immortal like her and Mateo. They will not die until they choose to be.

It is now Sunday morning and as Mary cooks her family breakfast her head is spinning with ideas. Not to mention it is the first Sunday with everyone home. Colleen came home the same day that Chloe had. Marcus and Iraina surprised everyone and came home a few days ago. So the plan tonight was Italian food everyone’s favorite. Mary had four lasagnas planned, spaghetti and fettuccine. Garlic bread and garlic rolls as well as salads, Eggplant parmesan and baked ziti. So much that she knew she needed to get started as soon as she was finished.

“Good morning my love how is planning coming?” Mateo asked as he came into the room.

“Gonna be a busy one love. Italian tonight and that means as soon as we are done I need to get started.” Mary replied

“Well I know how much I get in your way so how about I keep the kids busy today and let you do your thing?” Mateo laughed knowing that she would want nothing more.

“Sounds great, I know Finley is heading to the water park again today maybe the kids would like to go again.” Mary hinted knowing Violet had already asked to go.

“Sounds good to me, Mateo also asked if we could get him a new video game today. Seems after dinner the older boys all want to play teams.”

“Well that is fine as long as he has done his chores to earn it.” Mary responded

“My room is clean my bed is made and I took the garbage out. I also cleaned our bathroom and started laundry. Is there anything else you would like me to do before we leave?” Mateo Jr. asks

“Well no son I think you earned a game. Just remember to put the load in the dryer before you leave so it does not spoil.” Mary responded still surprised sometimes at her own children. Gabe had needed his arm bent backwards to lift a finger. And he was so paying for what he gave her with his own daughter Irelynn.

“Thank you and I won’t forget.”

“Mommy can you do my hair before we leave?” Violet asks as she walks into the room.

“Yes sweetie I will braid it since you are going to be in the water. Now where is Caleb?” Mary asks

“He is cleaning his room hoping he can get a game too.” Mateo Jr. tells them.

“Oh he is? Well let’s see what he gets done and if it merits a game.” Mateo responds

The next thing anyone sees is Caleb walk into the kitchen and starts to grab plates from the cabinet. He then sets the table with plates and silverware. When he is done he comes into the kitchen and starts wiping the counters behind Mary and trying to hurry her along so he can clean up. Mary just laughs and scoots him out telling him he can get a game. The look on his face was nothing but relief.

Before Mary sits to eat she shoots a quick text to the girls and Abby letting them know that she will be in shortly and the plan is Italian. She then sits to eat with her family. When they are all done the kids and Mateo leave for the day and Mary cleans up her small kitchen.

In the main house the kitchen had been remodeled to look more like a kitchen in a restaurant. She now had six huge ovens and two smaller ones. She had a total of twelve burners and plenty of working space. She even had assigned stations for the girls and an area to place all the cooked food before it got brought out to the big table in the dining room. The plates and silver ware now stayed at the table in lovely silver stands.

As Mary entered the kitchen she saw that Abby was busy making the dough for the noodles. Aileen was working the salad station and cutting up heads of lettuce. Beth was boiling tomatoes for the sauce and Skylen was working dough for the garlic bread and rolls in two huge stand mixers. Abby was at the smaller two mixers with the pasta attachments and lastly Sandy was writing out a dessert menu that everyone would work on once they had dinner prepped.

“Well aren’t you all busy bees?” Mary laughed looking at all the girls. They girls had only been in the house about a year now. The previous ones had found their soul-mate after a while and decided to have families. So these four girls now lived in the apartment area downstairs and loved it. They were also paid extremely well by Kaiden and Zoe. These girls after all kept the main areas clean and did all the shopping for everyone. Not to mention that Beth and Aileen were turned Earth Dragons now and helped with the gardens.

“Alright ladies this is the plan.” As Mary recited what they were making the girls all paid attention, especially Abby. “Now any questions before we start?”

“Nope.” The four ladies of the house all said at once while Abby kept staring at Mary.

“Abby dear what’s wrong?” Mary asked concerned

“Dodge is dead. Ben came home on Friday night and told him it was ok to go. He waited until this morning though. Ben leaves tonight after dinner and he is so upset. I don’t know what to do.” Abby burst into tears. The poor girl was only sixteen and didn’t know how to handle emotions like this yet. Her mate being upset shook her to her core.

“Oh honey I am so sorry. Do you need to go be with him? I can take over you know you don’t have to help.” Mary pulled her into a hug.

“No I’ll be ok. I need to be here because well…..Ben just wants to hold me…..and….well..I..umm.” at her admission the ladies all burst into laughter.

“Oh dear…..I remember being sixteen and yes I understand so let’s keep you busy in here instead of busy in a bedroom.” Mary said as she tried to look anywhere but the young girl in her arms. “How is the dough coming? Is it almost ready?”

“Yes it is how much lasagna do we need?” Abby ask with a red face of embarrassment.

“Well four lasagnas at probably forty a pan. Just remember to layer with wax paper because the sauce won’t be ready for a couple hours. Then I need two pans of ziti and lots of spaghetti noodle along with fettuccini noodles. Those ones can wait until the very last though. I am going to get started on the meatballs.” Mary explained

By three p.m. the sauce was done and Aileen and Skylen were putting the four lasagnas together. The salads had all been made and were in the large cooler. Abby was making the baked ziti while Mary and Beth are making desserts and Sandy is shaping the rolls and bread.

“You know we all love Sundays and look forward to it?” Abby asked

“You do?” Mary asked

“We do. Ben always talks about how he misses your food. And well I want to tell you that because of you I am switching my career to culinary and I want to open a restaurant. What I am really asking is if you would like to partner with me?” Abby confesses

“Oh Abby I would love to!

“Yay! I have finally told Ben after months of thinking about it and I was shocked when he wasn’t upset that I wouldn’t be a vet. He says he just wants me to be happy.” Abby tells the girls.

“Of course he does Abby. You see everyone and everything and you don’t see that?” Skylen asked

“Well when it comes to me I don’t see it and it’s hard for me to see Ben because he isn’t in front of me. I can’t actually see his colors over the internet.” Abby snapped back.

“I’m sorry Abby I was not trying to be mean it just shocked me a little that you didn’t realize that because you and Ben have been together for so long.” Skylen apologized

“Oh then I am sorry too. I am just all over the place lately. I want to get it over with and finally be with him. But at the same time I don’t you know. I miss him so much and when I see him I feel like I a raging brat. We fight because I don’t want him to leave then we make up and that leads to me wanting to just throw in the towel you know?” Abby vented to no one and anyone.

“We know honey. You are so young though that you don’t want to push it just yet. Graduate first and then culinary school, at least wait until you are twenty and that is only four years away. Stay busy and you will be good.” Aileen told her

“I will try. But gosh have you seen Ben lately?” Abby asked the girls

“Nope I haven’t seen him in almost two years.” Beth said

“Well take a peek at dinner and you will see what I am talking about.” Abby told the girls with a knowing smile on her face.

At six o’clock families started to pour into the dining room. Morgan had made a smaller long table that matched the larger round ones. It had been placed in the middle of the room with the large round tables surrounding it. This table was for the children five and under that could sit on their own. The babies all sat in special highchairs that Morgan had designed.

What all the parents loved to watch were their children with their mates. Brandon who was only four years old was adamant that he sat next to Thea who was still only four months old and slept through dinner. Still he insisted that he sat at the end nearest Justine who had begun to bring a carrier bassinet with her and just place Thea near Brandon.

Abby watched the girls as they noticed Ben walk into the room and at the looks on their faces they were pretty surprised. Ben was now about six foot two. He was lean but not at all skinny and he was very muscular. He also walked with confidence into any room. Ben wore his black hair longer than he used to and now it was to his shoulder with slight waves in it. It was also layered so the waves were almost curls. Tonight he was dressed in a wool sweater and dark jeans that were slightly baggy. When he noticed Abby his face lit up and Abby heard the girls next to her suck in a breath. She looked right at them and asked “see what I mean. You try to keep it together with his arms around you. I don’t think you would.” Abby laughed as both girls looked at her and shook their heads from side to side.

As everyone made their plates and took their seats and once the children all had a plate Harley stood up. As soon as Abby looked up at him and then at Bristol she saw it happen. A small golden string ran from her belly right to Abby’s belly. As Abby looked down to her belly and then back to Bristol she gasped. Ben looked at her with the question in his eyes. She just shook her head and took a bite of her lasagna holding back the tears she wanted to let flow. She now knew that within the next five years she was going to give birth to a baby girl.

“Everyone I want to share some wonderful news!” Harley yelled out. “Bristol is with child and well if no one else is pregnant I am having a BOY!” Harley said as he began to get teary eyed

Congratulations were yelled out and the kids began to laugh because all the adults were. Zoe loved soaking up how happy her family had become. She watched all the kids in the room and then the adults. When she saw Abby eating like she was starved she looked a little closer. Ben was looking at Abby like he had no idea what was wrong. Zoe tapped Zach on the leg as he always sat next to her she then nodded over to Abby. Zach looked over and threw out his feelers. When Zach looked back at Zoe all he gave her was a smile keeping any information he got to himself.