Page 16 of Alpha's Secret Baby
Bert raised his glass and drank to that. Shortly after, Fern came in to show off her certificate. But when my daughter started to yawn, I knew it was past her bed time, and with some more hugs all round, Bert took his leave, saying he’d look forward to seeing me in Seattle in a couple of days.
As I tucked Fern in that night, I explained that I was going off on a business trip. Of course, she asked to come, but after explaining that it was a business trip and that there wouldn’t be any pizza parties like tonight, she accepted that she had to stay here for school.
I texted Lara, arranging for our nanny to come stay for a week. As Lara confirmed her availability to stay, I felt the reality grip me. I was really doing this. Going online, I booked flights for tomorrow. My stomach somersaulted as I downloaded my boarding passes onto my phone. I was going back to Seattle. I was going back to Lord Hills and the Starsmoon Pack.
Apprehension roiled through me as I finally finished packing a case, choosing my clothes with thoughts about the various evening engagements I might have to attend. With my carry-on case zipped up and my phone and laptop charging, I started on my cleansing routine as I got ready for bed. I thought about ringing Carl but decided against it. With his unexpected declaration the other night, I didn’t feel as if I had room in my head for any more talk about our relationship. Not tonight, anyway. I’d call him from Seattle instead.
Turning out the light, trepidation roiled through me. My nerves took hold, and sleep eluded me.
Chapter 11 Cherry
In a whirl of airport lounges, queues, and cramped airline seats, I eventually found myself stepping out of the terminal at Tacoma International Airport. Massaging the strain in my neck, I dragged my small trolley bag out of the airport and went to the taxi rank, relieved when it was finally my turn to climb in and collapse in the back seat.
“Horizon View, Lake Forest, please,” I told the driver.
The driver was chatty and asked whether I was here for a holiday or work. “Visiting my dad,” I explained.
“Ah, a local, are ya?” He caught my eye conspiratorially in the rearview mirror.
I smiled. “Used to be. I’ve been living abroad in Berlin for a while.”
The driver soon shared with me his plan to take a sightseeing tour of all the states with his wife when he retired. He asked me about Berlin, and I told him about how the city’s history and architecture were amazing, and I admitted that I missed my home city. Something I was increasingly aware of as the cab took us south and Seattle’s cityscape loomed ahead of us.
We lapsed into a comfortable silence, and I took in the sight of the Space Needle dominating the skyline. I remembered fondly how thrilled I’d felt as a kid first looking out from it across the heights of the city. I remembered the beautiful, arty Chihuly garden and glass exhibition space near it too. I’d been captivated by the colorful hues of its glass exhibitions, and even the memory of them flooded me with warmth as if I still stood beneath their dazzling shades.
Before my mom passed away, we’d spent some of the happiest weekends there, enjoying the glass sculptures and lush gardens illuminated by lights in the dusk. Bittersweet memories of my mom and dad’s smiling faces as they wandered around the place occupied me. Feeling nostalgic, I wondered about revisiting those artworks while I was visiting. Maybe my dad or Bert would be up for coming with me. I wondered if I could use the place as inspiration for a new range of designs next summer. The exhibition’s bright color palette amidst the amber lights had always reminded me of summer blending into fall. I mused about coming back to Seattle for photo shoots with my next clothing line, but my stomach somersaulted.
I remembered the text from Bert I’d received during my stopover in London while waiting for my connecting flight. I scooped my phone out of my handbag and opened his text:
I didn’t want to overwhelm you when I visited you, but I need to give you the heads up before you get to Starsmoon. Dylan’s got a fiancé now. He’s engaged to Lucy, who’s the Bloodmoon Alpha’s daughter. They’re getting married in a few months.
As much as I missed things about Seattle, I didn’t think it was a good idea for me to come back too often. Not since I already felt my stomach knotting at the thought of seeing Dylan with his new mate. At first, I’d been annoyed Bert hadn’t told me in Berlin, but I realized that if I’d known, I’d have struggled even more to come back. My friend knew me well. He’d kept me in the dark to try to protect me from how it would make me feel. I just needed to get through this trip, I reminded myself. That was all.
I glanced at the next text Bert had sent me,
I’ll be over to pick you up this afternoon when you get in. The old Alpha and Luna want to see you this evening. I’ve made up the spare room at my place for you to stay the night. See you soon!
I knew the time frame was tight. With the stopover in London, it had taken me twenty-four hours to get here. At least with Berlin being nine hours ahead, I’d arrived in time for the new Alpha’s Ceremony tomorrow. And I guessed it made sense for me to stay at Bert’s to be around for the ceremony, but my stomach cramped at the thought of staying at Starsmoon again. And at the thought of seeing the old Alpha and Luna.
My dad’s house was near Horizon View Park, and when the cab finally pulled up, I climbed out of the back and gazed at the green space I’d spent so much time in. My chest twanged as I felt Fern’s absence, and imagined sharing the sights and places that had meant so much to me growing up with her.
As the driver deposited my case on the sidewalk, I thanked him and trundled up to the gate of my childhood home. My head was chock-a-block with childhood memories and experiences. As my dad appeared in the doorway of the house, my eyes teared up.
He bounded down the path and cried, “Here’s my baby girl.” Before wrapping me in his arms.
Taking my case from me, he carried it with ease up the garden path. I admired how well he looked, pleased that he seemed as strong as the last time I’d seen him a couple of years ago.
I was majorly jet-lagged and didn’t have time for sleep, so my dad put on a strong pot of coffee instead. I hurriedly freshened up a little in the bathroom, putting on a clean dress, a moonstone-hued midi from my spring range, then dragged a brush through my hair.
With coffee, my dad and I sat outside on the veranda.
“So, how’s work, Darling?” he asked.
I smiled. “It’s good, thanks, Dad. I’m looking forward to getting my fall collection out. With the interns I’ve got helping, I should make Milan’s fashion show.”
My dad nodded, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Of course, you’ll make the show. I always tell my colleagues there ain’t no one with a better work ethic than my little girl.”
I heard the pride in his voice. Yet, I knew he thought I was a workaholic. He’d tried to encourage me over the years to focus on my personal life, but I always steered the conversation away from it. Too anxious about coming close to the topic of…Fern.