Page 22 of Shifting Years (Whispering Hills #5)

The military took my husband—my everything—two weeks ago. I rested a hand over my stomach. Just one month along, but Omegas showed faster. Three times faster.

You're not Todd's by blood, but we'll love you. I'll love you. I just hope we're not alone…

I couldn't finish the thought. Being a single parent meant Todd would be dead in Vietnam, lying in a jungle. We'd be alone, forever.

Shame raced over my face. I wasn't dodging gunfire, and I had people looking out for me. The sheriff drove by randomly, and the townsfolk checked by to see if I needed anything. I had to remember my blessings.

A soft knock came as did a whiff of familiar floral perfume under the door crack.

Tiny ceramic clicks came as I approached.

Penny stood outside in a blue, flowered dress with her blonde, feathered hair blowing slightly in the March breeze.

Resting in her hands was a white casserole dish covered in tin foil.

It was a sweet gesture. We got along, but I was closer to her Alpha.

She worked hard to keep jealousy from creeping in, and I did too.

Mary and I would never sleep together—we just had more in common.

Common sense said there was nothing to worry about, but wolves and humans don't always think with logic.

Her slight Southern twang drew out. "I made that recipe you suggested.

The chicken turned out real nice." She held the smile a bit longer than normal.

I tried hard not to feel sorry for myself, but the town had its struggle.

Pregnancy is a special time for every Omega and a time for their Alpha to take care of them.

Everyone worked to make sure I wasn't down, and sometimes it meant a smiling mask.

I invited her in and offered her the casserole. After a bite, I nodded in approval, then my cheeks puffed out. You didn't need shifter ears to notice my stomach gurgle.

"Oh gosh, stupid me. I should have remembered!" Her Olympic-level reflexes quickly put the lid back on the dish, wrapped everything in a paper bag, and then set it outside in under ten seconds. "Oh, I'm so sorry."

I clamped my mouth shut, forcing the nausea down, and grabbed a cold seltzer from the fridge. Todd bought it before he left. His scent lingered on the handle, faint but there. Can't think about him right now. With shaky hands, I stood over the sink and took slow, careful sips.

I'm a guy who knew he wouldn't have a wife and had no sisters. I never had to think about pregnancy. I knew about morning sickness and that was true, but worse than expected. Throwing up was terrible, but the dry heaves made me feel like I was about to die.

After I stopped drinking, Penny wrapped her slender arms around my bigger stomach. Her breaths slowed as her breasts pressed tight into my back. "You're welcome to stay with us. I don't really mind."

It was a kind gesture, but her Alpha-Omega connection didn't need a third. It would wear on the women, and I couldn't pass on my problems.

I politely refused, telling her I had to be my own man.

"I don't get you men. Why suffer when there's a helping hand?"

I smiled knowingly since I was in the same situation, just in reverse. Even with pregnancy, no insight into women came. A few days earlier, I didn't get why they wouldn't want my advice. I mean, they spent an hour telling me their problems.

"Well, let's get a piping hot casserole and we'll know each other a bit more."

The look said she wasn't sure, but I couldn't be babied. Only one person here needed that, and he grew in me.

Bending over to get the dish was possible, but I appreciated her getting it. With practiced moves, she laid out plates, and glasses like I assumed she did with her Alpha. Taking care of a mate, even a grumpy one like Todd, sounded great.

A blast of cheesy bread smell around baked chicken assaulted my nose.

With massive willpower, I held in a previous meal as she scooped warm casserole onto plates with a careful look.

Bland rice, dry toast, or crackers were my normal meals, but I could do this.

With tiny bites, we ate and made small talk, while ensuring I didn't ruin a nice visit.

If I could do that, I could do the same for Todd.

Just endure bit by bit, until he comes back from war.

He will come back.

He has to…

***

Another day and a truck passed in front of the cabin. From the familiar grease smell, it was the sheriff's, although young Wyatt might be driving. In another life, he might be the kid brother I never had. There was a nice thought.

Looking out for kids.

The sixties didn't turn out quite like I thought, but the lessons were sound. Peace, brotherhood, and stretching your mind. All the things I'd teach our little pup. Todd would add his thoughts, and we'd be better together.

Those two words repeated in my mind while I went out for the mail.

Townsfolk sometimes brought the letters, but if I hurried, I could beat them.

Some things I needed to do myself, especially if outside.

The cabin was decent, and I had a television.

Lidsville had a psychedelic feel, and I watched The Electric Company and Sesame Street for our unborn child because I'm sure he could sense it.

But I couldn't sit inside all day.

The paper scent wafted out from behind semi-rusted metal. It opened with a squeak and something told me Todd would have fixed it, given his 'let me take care of it' nature.

And that was why he left—to protect us.

I looked down and there was something wonderful in my hand. A long sniff told me my man held it. Oh, it mixed with paper pulp and glue, but I couldn't forget his warm musk.

Despite the gift, I don't like letters. One said my father wouldn't come back. Another was taped to our door in LA and implied things about me in high school. Now it was messages during wartime.

The folded paper was addressed to Stacy, a necessary evil so we could share the important things.

Talking about my pregnancy sounded like complaining, but he wanted to know about my symptoms like my itchy skin, waking up at two in the morning, and hearing phantom baby cries.

I supposed he was tired of the day-to-day routine and had to hear about anything, not army life.

I read the subtext. The fear was there from him and his squad, but they expected the war would be over soon. He ended it with love, addressed to a girl who didn't exist, but the feeling was real.

The folded paper stayed against my chest for over a minute while I smiled and let a few tears fall. If Todd could endure a sped-up boot camp and go fight, I could do this.

Then I'll welcome my man back.

I imagined Todd and me at a restaurant. Our restaurant.

White tablecloths, warm lighting, and a little place tucked away where we could be just another couple.

We'd order food like we weren't the ones who made it.

I'd be pregnant again, sipping juice while Todd pulled out my chair like the gentleman he was.

Knowing him, he'll be concerned as I sat down.

I'd drink no wine and be a good Omega, but I'm sure I'll have strange cravings like tuna and chocolate.

He'd have his grocery store, and we'd talk without a mythical 'Stacy' between us.

The visual burst like a soap bubble with images of hot bullets tearing into his flesh. Sometimes in daydreams, he died and bled to death in murky, green water. Other times he was in a small box, and I hoped it wasn't a coffin.

I cradled my stomach as I returned to the cabin, forcing better memories to take hold. One day at a time. Just wait for him, and he'll be back soon.

***

Time passed, as did my scheduled delivery date.

The triple speed meant I was equal to two weeks past if I were female.

People came by constantly, and the phone had a long cord.

If I went into labor, I'd be fine. I think .

Whispering Hills didn't have a permanent doctor, which was incredibly stupid, but some shifters knew how to deliver.

Penny's light-blue Volkswagen Beetle pulled into the driveway, but Mary was behind the wheel. I studied her serious face, looking for anything. Maybe Henry did something since he disappeared and came back with military police. He was evil, but patient.

But he can't overpower two witches, right?

Mary's a tall woman, and it was almost comical when she stepped out of the tiny, curved car. Today, she wore a thin, white sweater, and burgundy flared-out jeans at the bottom.

I waved hello, but she didn't meet my eyes as she reached into my mailbox, pulling out advertisements and a newspaper.

There hadn't been letters from Todd in a while, but other wolves with military experience said it was normal.

I had to believe them. Without a word, she handed me an envelope which didn't come to my cabin.

"This got delivered to the courthouse, under General Delivery," she said softly.

Stacy was the name on the telegram. The tea-colored telegram unfolded in my hands. I scanned the words, but they blurred and came too fast, too wrong.

The Secretary of the Army has asked me to express his deep regret that your husband Private First Class Todd Anderson, died in Vietnam on—

A sound tore from my throat. A howl, raw and broken, followed by sharp stomach cramps.

Mary caught me before I hit the ground and howled sharply three times with her cupped hand. It wasn't long before approaching trucks and a few shifters in wolf form arrived.

As the labor pain continued, I couldn't help but think of Tina and Dawn. There was a cost to everything but did my man have to die for our child to come?

***

Kim stayed silent and had enough tea, sandwiches, and cookies. When he finally spoke, his voice was careful. "Did your pup survive?"

I waited, pushing the memories of the late seventies and early eighties away, if only for a moment. "The short answer is yes, but…"

"Did anything happen to him?"

"Yes and no," I said.

"I don't get it."

"Sometimes you have a child in you longer and you'll be fine. Other times the experience does damage." I waved vaguely to my stomach. "Shifters live longer and generally have several pups. Some don't."

He stared away, possibly feeling sorry for me, which I hoped wasn't the case. If he was smart, then he was thinking about his Alpha and if he could have a litter with him.

His gaze turned to Todd. "What about you? You weren't dead and you escaped. So, you came right to Mike?" He paused. "Please tell me you came right away, sir."

Todd's jaw tightened. "Way after, kid. Too damn long after."

***