Finding Truth Behind Legends
by Wizardtho
Chapter 28:
Once Zander gives me a thumbs up to let me know everyone is now here and gathered in the backyard, I call out, “If I could please have everyone’s attention for a quick minute.”
After a few moments, the noise around the yard quiets, so I hold Taha’s hand as I say, “Hi. If I didn’t met you personally during the day, my name’s Bella, and I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you. The work you did today -that you will do over the next few days- will be helping not only me, but the tribe as a whole. It will also be helping out representatives from other tribes that will be our guests for a few weeks, because these supplies will be turned into clean and dry places for them to lay their heads at night. Please enjoy the food that has been prepared by Lily, Angie, Melody, and little Kai as a small token of our thanks. If you happen to have -or know someone with- knowledge of electrical, plumbing, or HVAC, please see me after you’ve eaten and relaxed. Thank you again.”
Lily calls attention to let everyone know that the food is ready, and where to start as Brad comes over carrying 2 massive coolers. I chuckle, unable to see his face as he asks, “Where would you like these, Miss Bella?”
When he tells me they are drinks, I say, “Set them in the entry near the round table, please.”
He dashes off, but Hudson grins as he approaches, two polaroid pictures in his waving hand. I smile, “Hi, Hudson. How’s it going?”
He hands me the two polaroids as he grins, “Good, good. We’re ahead of schedule, actually. I was thinking we’d only have 1 complete set and a partial done at this point, but 2 complete bunk sets are done. I have the finished measurements, if you want me to double-check the spaces after dinner.”
I check out the pictures and can’t help but join him in grinning. He has Brad laying on the bottom bunk of each bed, one picture of each style. He fits well, and looks like he’s enjoying helping his dad. “These are incredible, Hudson. Of course, I can show you both lofts after you relax and eat a bit. Enjoy yourself for a little while. You two worked hard today.”
When I turn around to look for Taha, I see him and Zander pulling 2 picnic table sets off my bedroom porch. They set them up out in the yard, so I ask as I near them, “Are we already full inside?”
Zander shakes his head, but says, “Lily told me that your round table was being used for food, so the tables in the dining room will be full soon. With these 2 smaller picnic tables and benches, you should have plenty of seats. If you’re planning on keeping your table in the entry for now, after tonight, we can just use the sideboards and kitchen island for food, and use all the inside tables for sitting at.”
I nod, but offer, “We can still keep these set up as outside options. I don’t mind. Once everything is built, they’ll go back to their original places on the patios and be available there.”
Taha looks at my midsection, which is again making its presence known. With a laugh and a kiss on my lips, he says, “Go. Grab some food. We’ll find your dad and eat with him.”
I nod and return to the house. Though it’s full, it’s not cramped; a lot of people are already seated and eating. It isn’t difficult to find my father, so I smile as I see him near Lily and Kai. “If you guys want, there are a couple of picnic tables set up in the yard. We can eat together out there. I just need to grab plates for Taha and me.”
Kai sounds happy about the picnic, but he’s more worried about making sure Lily gets him a piece of carrot cake before it’s gone. Dad laughs, then promises him in a too-loud whisper, “I don’t generally like cake, so how about I grab a piece for you, just in case your mom forgets?”
It’s a fib, of course. Dad loves cake. He just doesn’t prefer carrot cake. In his mind, his vegetables and his cake shouldn’t cross paths… or become one… even if there is a sweet topping. The look on Kai’s face is priceless, though. He asks, “Yes, please. You really don’t like cake? Do you like cookies? Or ice cream even?”
Dad dramatically licks his lips, then grins, “Oh, I love cookies and ice cream both. I even love Bella’s apple pie.”
Kai lets out a huge breath, then sighs happily, “Oh, okay. As long as you like those.”
Lily laughs at the conversation, then tells Kai to hold on, her arms full of 3 plates as the little boy holds tight to the bottom of his mom’s sundress. She expertly guides him through the crowd and out toward the picnic tables.
Dad sees me watching their exit, then hums as he wraps an arm around my shoulder, “Cute little kid, huh?”
I nod, “He is cute… and polite. Zander and Lily are doing right by him. You, though. Were you practicing your inner Papa skills?”
He gives me a not-so-innocent shrug, then offers, “I heard Jake this morning, Bells. Loud and clear. Plus I can see your mate mark.”
I nod, explaining, “I wasn’t trying to hide that we consummated our mating. What happened wasn’t exactly planned, and we’re letting things happen when they are meant to… but we aren’t in a rush here, Dad.”
He kisses my temple, then whispers in my ear, “A little practice never hurt anyone, and by the way you 2 look at each other, I’m sure I’ll get to be a Papa sooner or later. Though I know he won’t ever leave you, the old-fashioned part of me would like to see him put a ring on your finger before you tell me a baby’s on the way. Just saying.”
I laugh outright and nod, then hear Taha say as he walks up to us, “I’ll get right on that, Chief. We’ll need to figure out if we can even wear them without busting the bands.”
Dad scratches the back of his neck as his brows furrow, then he mumbles, “Yeah… didn’t think about that.”
I pat his shoulder before walking to the plates and utensils, saying, “We’ll figure it all out, even if we have to sacrifice some of my old costume jewelry to the cause. Now... I’m hungry, and this food smells really good.”
Dad heads outside as Taha and I fill our plates, but I catch my mate’s eyes as I reach for the coleslaw spoon. He smiles down at me, but I say softly, “You know I don’t need all that, right? A big wedding with all the pomp and circumstance? That’s not me. I don’t need a ring that costs thousands, or some stupidly expensive dress that’ll only be worn once. You could make me a ring from moss and twigs, and I’d be the happiest woman on the planet. I would honestly be blissful if it was just Dad and whoever can make it from our 2 packs, in our backyard… maybe by the creek? Just them seeing us promise ourselves to each other, then celebrating with us.”
He takes our plates and sets them down on the table, then pulls me into his arms. His eyes are bright and glistening as he promises me, “My little nature lover… moss and twigs, huh? If that’s what will make you happy, then that’s what we’ll do. All I need is you, Isabella, and I will be the happiest man alive.”
His lips touch mine in the sweetest brush. I go to deepen the kiss, but my stomach growls again, ruining our moment. I laugh and shake my head, then hear him mumble something about ‘demanding’ as I pick my plate up again.
Once Zander gives me a thumbs up to let me know everyone is now here and gathered in the backyard, I call out, “If I could please have everyone’s attention for a quick minute.”
After a few moments, the noise around the yard quiets, so I hold Taha’s hand as I say, “Hi. If I didn’t met you personally during the day, my name’s Bella, and I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you. The work you did today -that you will do over the next few days- will be helping not only me, but the tribe as a whole. It will also be helping out representatives from other tribes that will be our guests for a few weeks, because these supplies will be turned into clean and dry places for them to lay their heads at night. Please enjoy the food that has been prepared by Lily, Angie, Melody, and little Kai as a small token of our thanks. If you happen to have -or know someone with- knowledge of electrical, plumbing, or HVAC, please see me after you’ve eaten and relaxed. Thank you again.”
Lily calls attention to let everyone know that the food is ready, and where to start as Brad comes over carrying 2 massive coolers. I chuckle, unable to see his face as he asks, “Where would you like these, Miss Bella?”
When he tells me they are drinks, I say, “Set them in the entry near the round table, please.”
He dashes off, but Hudson grins as he approaches, two polaroid pictures in his waving hand. I smile, “Hi, Hudson. How’s it going?”
He hands me the two polaroids as he grins, “Good, good. We’re ahead of schedule, actually. I was thinking we’d only have 1 complete set and a partial done at this point, but 2 complete bunk sets are done. I have the finished measurements, if you want me to double-check the spaces after dinner.”
I check out the pictures and can’t help but join him in grinning. He has Brad laying on the bottom bunk of each bed, one picture of each style. He fits well, and looks like he’s enjoying helping his dad. “These are incredible, Hudson. Of course, I can show you both lofts after you relax and eat a bit. Enjoy yourself for a little while. You two worked hard today.”
When I turn around to look for Taha, I see him and Zander pulling 2 picnic table sets off my bedroom porch. They set them up out in the yard, so I ask as I near them, “Are we already full inside?”
Zander shakes his head, but says, “Lily told me that your round table was being used for food, so the tables in the dining room will be full soon. With these 2 smaller picnic tables and benches, you should have plenty of seats. If you’re planning on keeping your table in the entry for now, after tonight, we can just use the sideboards and kitchen island for food, and use all the inside tables for sitting at.”
I nod, but offer, “We can still keep these set up as outside options. I don’t mind. Once everything is built, they’ll go back to their original places on the patios and be available there.”
Taha looks at my midsection, which is again making its presence known. With a laugh and a kiss on my lips, he says, “Go. Grab some food. We’ll find your dad and eat with him.”
I nod and return to the house. Though it’s full, it’s not cramped; a lot of people are already seated and eating. It isn’t difficult to find my father, so I smile as I see him near Lily and Kai. “If you guys want, there are a couple of picnic tables set up in the yard. We can eat together out there. I just need to grab plates for Taha and me.”
Kai sounds happy about the picnic, but he’s more worried about making sure Lily gets him a piece of carrot cake before it’s gone. Dad laughs, then promises him in a too-loud whisper, “I don’t generally like cake, so how about I grab a piece for you, just in case your mom forgets?”
It’s a fib, of course. Dad loves cake. He just doesn’t prefer carrot cake. In his mind, his vegetables and his cake shouldn’t cross paths… or become one… even if there is a sweet topping. The look on Kai’s face is priceless, though. He asks, “Yes, please. You really don’t like cake? Do you like cookies? Or ice cream even?”
Dad dramatically licks his lips, then grins, “Oh, I love cookies and ice cream both. I even love Bella’s apple pie.”
Kai lets out a huge breath, then sighs happily, “Oh, okay. As long as you like those.”
Lily laughs at the conversation, then tells Kai to hold on, her arms full of 3 plates as the little boy holds tight to the bottom of his mom’s sundress. She expertly guides him through the crowd and out toward the picnic tables.
Dad sees me watching their exit, then hums as he wraps an arm around my shoulder, “Cute little kid, huh?”
I nod, “He is cute… and polite. Zander and Lily are doing right by him. You, though. Were you practicing your inner Papa skills?”
He gives me a not-so-innocent shrug, then offers, “I heard Jake this morning, Bells. Loud and clear. Plus I can see your mate mark.”
I nod, explaining, “I wasn’t trying to hide that we consummated our mating. What happened wasn’t exactly planned, and we’re letting things happen when they are meant to… but we aren’t in a rush here, Dad.”
He kisses my temple, then whispers in my ear, “A little practice never hurt anyone, and by the way you 2 look at each other, I’m sure I’ll get to be a Papa sooner or later. Though I know he won’t ever leave you, the old-fashioned part of me would like to see him put a ring on your finger before you tell me a baby’s on the way. Just saying.”
I laugh outright and nod, then hear Taha say as he walks up to us, “I’ll get right on that, Chief. We’ll need to figure out if we can even wear them without busting the bands.”
Dad scratches the back of his neck as his brows furrow, then he mumbles, “Yeah… didn’t think about that.”
I pat his shoulder before walking to the plates and utensils, saying, “We’ll figure it all out, even if we have to sacrifice some of my old costume jewelry to the cause. Now... I’m hungry, and this food smells really good.”
Dad heads outside as Taha and I fill our plates, but I catch my mate’s eyes as I reach for the coleslaw spoon. He smiles down at me, but I say softly, “You know I don’t need all that, right? A big wedding with all the pomp and circumstance? That’s not me. I don’t need a ring that costs thousands, or some stupidly expensive dress that’ll only be worn once. You could make me a ring from moss and twigs, and I’d be the happiest woman on the planet. I would honestly be blissful if it was just Dad and whoever can make it from our 2 packs, in our backyard… maybe by the creek? Just them seeing us promise ourselves to each other, then celebrating with us.”
He takes our plates and sets them down on the table, then pulls me into his arms. His eyes are bright and glistening as he promises me, “My little nature lover… moss and twigs, huh? If that’s what will make you happy, then that’s what we’ll do. All I need is you, Isabella, and I will be the happiest man alive.”
His lips touch mine in the sweetest brush. I go to deepen the kiss, but my stomach growls again, ruining our moment. I laugh and shake my head, then hear him mumble something about ‘demanding’ as I pick my plate up again.