Page 25 of True Calling

CHAPTER 10

Garth sat in the back of the large SUV Berk’s father had picked them up in, with Berk at his side. Chance and Micah were in the seats behind him, and Bo was driving the rental with his mate, Nolan and Linus.

“I hope you all are comfortable back there.” Nort said as he continued to drive.

“We’re fine, Dad.” Berk said.

Garth could see the term Berk used had really touched the older man. When they had first arrived and Berk greeted them, Berk had called out, “Mom! Dad!” Then, rushed into their arms for a big hug. It didn’t take Garth’s shifter hearing to notice the deep intake of breath from Berk’s mom or the stunned look from his dad. Both had become misty-eyed and Nort rasped, “Son!” That teary-eyed look hadn’t gone away.

“I got a hold of Carl like you asked, son. He’s expecting us tomorrow at ten in the morning. He said that we’ll have passes at the front gate, and all we need to do is tell them our names. Can you tell me what all this is about?” Nort asked, turning onto another road.

“I will, Dad, when we get home, I have a great deal to explain.” Berk replied nervously.

Nodding, Nort didn’t push, but looked in his rear-view mirror right at Garth, “So, Garth, tell me about yourself. How do seven men come to live together?”

Garth shrugged, “I have a big home and they needed one.”

“Well, that is something. What do you do for a living?” Nort asked.

“Daaad.” Berk groaned.

Nort quickly said, “What? I think I have a right to know what kind of people my son is living with. I have to say my first impression wasn’t all that great.”

“Dad!” Berk huffed.

Garth placed a hand on Berk’s leg, “It’s okay, Berk. Your father has a right to be upset with us.” Looking at Nort in the mirror, Garth said, “There was a misunderstanding that we will be explaining as soon as we get to your home. I want you to know that it was never my, or any of my family’s intention to hurt Berk in any way, and I give you my word that I will do whatever I need to do to always make Berk feel cared for and safe, as long as he will allow me to do such. However, you must know that Berk can be a bit...”

“Stubborn? Pig headed?” Marla said with a laugh. “Oh yes, we do know how our Berk can be. When he sets his mind to something no one and nothing will change it.”

“But, he always has good intentions, even if he doesn’t have the best common sense sometimes.” Nort snorted.

“Hey! I’m sitting right here.” Berk grumbled.

“Yes, dear, we know exactly where you are and you know how much we love you, but truth is truth.” Marla said, turning to give Berk a loving smile.

Berk immediately defended his stand, “What’s wrong with wanting to help someone? If I can do something, I should. Like you and Dad did for me all those years ago. First, by taking me in like you did and putting up with my silence for so long. You gave me a home and all the love a kid could ask for, and you didn’t have to do that.”

“We did it because you were an easy child to care and love, Berk.” Berk’s mom quickly said.

“I don’t know about that, but I do know if you hadn’t been there for me, I don’t know what might have happened. I just want to do for others what you did for me... help. It’s called paying it forward.” Berk muttered.

Marla brought her hand close to Berk and he took it. His mother squeezed it gently, “Baby, listen to me. You have nothing to pay forward, but if there’s a problem your father and I will help in any way we can.”

“I know that Mom. It’s why we’re here. There could be some really bad things happening, and we might be able to help.” Berk said.

“You didn’t answer my question, Garth. What exactly is it you do?” Nort asked, turning into a driveway.

Garth looked at the beautiful two-story home before him and opened his door. “I’m in retrieval, I guess you could say. The rest will be explained soon.”

* * * *

It had taken them a bit to get settled into their rooms. Nort and Marla wouldn’t hear of them getting a hotel and had insisted that everyone stay in their home. It was large enough with six bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms as well as a large attic that was turned into a large suite. That’s where Garth found himself.

Garth currently stood on a large balcony overlooking the back yard facing the ocean. It seemed Berk’s parents lived on a peninsula and the scenery was beautiful.

Sighing, Garth watched as wave after wave rolled and hit the shoreline. Berk had gone up straight to the room he would be using for the duration of their stay, without a word to him. They hadn’t spoken since Garth had growled at the man on the plane, and Berk had gotten up and sat as far from Garth as he could get.

Garth had heard Berk talking to Chance. With his shifter hearing, everyone could hear the man talk, but no one had interrupted or shown that they were eavesdropping on a conversation not meant for them. Well, Linus seemed to have been affected. He had started sniffling and buried himself into his mate as Berk spoke. Garth had a feeling that Linus’s cool demeanor he had with Berk would be changing.