Carol’s Mate: Chapter Six

Thoroughly sated, Carol straightened her clothes and finished putting on her jewelry, checking to make sure her makeup wasn’t smeared. Before leaving the room, her gaze fell on the family portrait in a prominent position on the dresser. The man sat behind the woman, his hands possessively cradling her bulging stomach. The expression on his face as he gazed at his mate was lovingly intent, as though his entire world began and ended in her.

The woman looked at the camera with a Mona Lisa smile of contentment. Anyone looking at her could see she was well loved and knew it. Staring up at the couple with adoration in her eyes was a little girl with pigtails. Her small hands also rested on the woman’s belly, and there was a sparkle in her eyes as though she knew something no one else did.

Carol remembered the day vividly. She and her parents had posed for pictures to insert into their Christmas mailings. Afterward they were headed to the ice-cream shop, where her father had promised her two scoops of her favorite flavors. A month later, both her parents and her unborn baby brother were gone.

Sighing deeply, Carol kissed her forefinger and touched it to the glass protecting the photo, refusing to give in to the sadness lurking in her heart. Today was a good day. A day of possibilities. Shaking off the past, she went out to greet her former guardians, Mona and Tom. They were seated in the living room and stood when she entered the room. Mona gave her a hug, and the alpha pecked her on the cheek. She could tell how pleased they were to see her.

The move to Arizona had been good for them. When they’d left, Mona’s long, thick, straight black hair had fallen to her waist. Now it was cut in a short, stylish bob that lightly touched her jaw. Her gray eyes had a few more lines around them, from squinting in the bright desert sunshine, Carol was sure. Her olive complexion, which showed her Mediterranean roots, was even more tanned.

Thomas Wolfe was just as handsome and muscular as ever. Though he was in his eighties, you couldn’t tell it by looking at him. His black wavy hair, cut military short, had very little gray in it. His black eyes were just as piercing, and other than his face being more tanned than usual, he didn’t look a day over fifty.

“Look at you. You’re positively glowing,” Mona stated. “I don’t have to ask if Mark’s treating you well. I can see for myself he is. Pregnancy agrees with you.”

Carol smiled a bit nervously now the moment was upon her. She’d told Mark what she intended to do and had his full support. Mark nodded encouragingly and clasped the hand she held out to him, holding it. “That’s what I want to talk to you about.” She motioned for them to be seated as she settled beside Mark on the arm of his chair.

Mona and Tom exchanged glances and then sat as instructed. Mona seemed tense. “Is something wrong with the baby?”

“No, everything’s fine. There have been no complications.”

“Oh. Then what’s this about? The last time you were this nervous is when you told us about Mark.”

“Honey, give her a chance. You keep asking questions, and we’ll never discover what this is about,” Tom said to Mona.

Carol took a deep breath and, with another glance at her mate, began. “First, I want you two to know how much I appreciate all you’ve done for me. The way you took me in and raised me as your own after my parents died—”

“There’s no need to thank us, honey,” Mona interrupted. “We were happy to do so.”

Tom motioned for Mona to be quiet. “Let her finish.”

“When you wanted to adopt me, I refused because I thought letting you claim me as yours would somehow take away from my parents, like you were trying to erase them from my life. I thought accepting your offer would be a betrayal of their memory.”

Mona gasped. “Oh, honey, I had no idea. We would never do such a thing.”

Carol smiled. “I realize that…now. Being pregnant has given me a new perspective of the whole situation. God forbid, if anything were ever to happen to me and Mark, I’d consider my child very fortunate to have someone as loving as you two to raise him. I know it’s too late to agree to that adoption, but my baby—”

“Our,” Mark interjected.

“Our baby needs grandparents, loving grandparents who understand who and what he is, who will be a source of wisdom and encouragement in his life, the way you were in mine. I’d be honored if you’d fill that role.”

Mona and Tom looked at each other again, the silent communication she remembered from childhood taking place. Carol dug her nails into Mark’s shoulder. He gently pried them loose and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping both arms around her. She settled into him, trying to relax as she waited for them to come to a decision.

Mark had told her it was foolish of her to be so nervous, that she was blowing this whole thing way out of proportion. Tom and Mona loved her, considered her their child, and any child she had would automatically be their grandchild, but Carol didn’t want to assume. Not on a matter this important. Not only that, Carol knew in her heart the apology she’d just given them was long overdue.

Tom indicated for Mona to answer for the both of them. “Yes, we’d be honored.”

Carol let out the breath she was holding. Clearing her throat, she added, “Since you’re being so agreeable, is it okay if I call you Mom?”

Mona’s eyes filled, and the tears overflowed. Overcome, she simply nodded rapidly.

“I object,” Tom said firmly.

Carol sucked in a harsh breath, and Mark squeezed her, a silent command for her to be quiet and wait.

“You can’t call my mate Mom unless you agree to call me Dad,” he finished with a smile.

She laid her hand on her heart and let out a sigh of relief. “You scared me. Yes, I’d be happy to call you dad, Dad,” she told him.

Mona rose with arms extended. Carol stood and walked into them. At five-six, Mona was much shorter than her. Despite Mona’s petite stature, she was a fierce little thing, able to make much bigger grown men back down. As teenagers, neither Carol nor Alex had been able to get away with anything. Mona—make that Mom—had somehow always known what they were up to, and she was as protective of them as any mama bear with her cubs.

Carol hoped when her baby was born, she’d be at least half as good and understanding a parent as Mona had been.