Finding Truth Behind Legends
by Wizardtho
Chapter 49:
When Taha and I return from our hunt, I find Sinopa snacking on trail mix from the pantry while talking to Lily. Kai is napping on the loveseat, so I ask Sinopa softly, “What are you really craving right now? Tell me, and we’ll get you and the little one fed properly.”
Sinopa thinks for a second, then hums, “Creamy. Sour. Mmm… Gooey grilled cheese with tomato soup, and a side of dill pickles.”
Just then, I hear Kimbal laughing as he walks into the entry, “Sounds like someone’s truly gotten her appetite back. Taking good care of my girl for me, Bella?”
He reaches the living room as I chuckle in response, “Trying to. Good thing is, she’s been munching all morning, so they are being well-fed.”
It happens almost faster than I can comprehend. Sinopa stands and turns to greet her mate, which catches Kimbal’s attention. His eyes immediately go wide as he gasps, and he’s down on his knees in front of her as he asks, “Really? When? How? I mean…”
He frames her slightly thickening midsection, then places a kiss on her tummy as he looks up at her. Sinopa has tears in her eyes while smiling widely. Her fingers run through his hair as she explains, “The tea is really working. This is proof. I’ve just been wearing my normal stretchy lounge clothes at home, so I didn’t notice. I went to dress this morning, and literally, nothing in my drawers fit. I couldn’t button any of my regular shorts, and my skirts wouldn’t zip.”
I take the opportunity to slip from the room and give them a few minutes, only for Lily to follow me to the kitchen. She smiles as she asks, “Can I help with anything?”
I nod while feeling the cooling pots of filling, “These can actually be moved to storage bowls and placed in the downstairs refrigerator. I’ll get started on Sinopa’s lunch. Would you like some, too?”
She nods, “A grilled cheese sounds pretty good, actually. Thank you. I’ll do without the pickles, though. I’ll grab a few cans of tomato soup from the pantry for you.”
Ten minutes later, I pile Sinopa’s plate with 3 grilled cheese sandwiches cut on the diagonal, and 3 large whole dill pickles. Then I fill a decent-sized bowl with creamy tomato soup. My plate and Kimbal’s are just as full, but Lily insists she only wants 1 grilled cheese and a small bowl of soup.
We carry them into the dining room on trays, and Sinopa practically sings as her food is set in front of her. Kimbal’s eyes are watery as he silently catches my eyes, then gives me a silent ‘thank you’. I grin and nod, pat both their hands, then sit in front of my own food.
Once done with her food, Sinopa sees the dill pickles on her husband’s plate, then grins as she snags one and bites into it. He chuckles, shakes his head, then turns his plate so his pickles are easier for her to access. I happen to finish my 2nd grilled cheese with the last of my soup, then complain as I push my plate toward the middle of the table, “Can’t do it. Between my hunt and what I just ate, I’m full to capacity.”
Sinopa’s face lights up, and she looks at me before her eyes move to the plate. I assure her, “Go for it. No sense in good food being wasted. At least if you and the little one have it, it’s going to be used as growing fuel.”
She nods and pulls the plate in her direction, then gasps, “Oh, I almost forgot!” She unhooks her necklace, pulls my ring from it, then reclasps her necklace before holding my ring out to me in her hand.
I smile and take it, but assure her, “I was going to wait until after you were finished with lunch, but thank you.”
As I place my ring on my finger and sigh happily, Kimbal gives me a curious look, so I explain, “I had a talk with Avory, which got him thinking about things with his parents and Nova. I guess he made the decision to move forward with his mating to Nova, but I didn’t think to warn Nova about that conversation. They had a pretty steamy kiss, but Nova missed that Avory was accepting the mating, since he didn’t know about what went on. Avory ran through the house, so I caught Nova and went to the woods to show him my conversation. I handed Taha my ring, but since Nova was upset and practically growling, Taha gave my ring to Sinopa to hold, knowing it would be safe.”
Kimbal shakes his head, offering, “A lot went on after my shift ended, I guess.”
I chuckle, “To say the least. They’ve made up and talked, which is what’s important. From what Lily told me while I was cooking lunch, Avory is finally putting himself and his relationship with Nova as #1 priority, instead of living in the shadow of his parents’ unacceptance.”
Sinopa nods sadly, “He’s really going to need our support. I don’t see his dad giving an inch, especially if Avory tells them to choose, because he’s chosen Nova as his life partner.”
I make a mental note to keep an eye on Avory, in case he needs extra support, then tell Kimbal, “Let Taha know if you sense Nova’s thoughts leaning in that direction, please.”
We don’t see Avory and Nova again until just before dinner, but when we do, I’m thankful to see that both are blissfully happy. It seems as though neither is letting anything outside the moment worry them, which makes me smile at my mate while thinking, “That’s a really good idea. Time to do a bit of living in the moment myself.”
That night, Taha and I celebrate our engagement with friends and family, then when everyone settles into their places for the night, we take the opportunity to skinny dip in the creek. Once we play in the water for a bit, Taha decides that making love to me on the picnic island is the perfect way to end the night. I have to admit, it was pretty amazing, and I would eagerly agree to have more such evenings.
We finally fall asleep near dawn, naked and entwined in our bed.
When Taha and I return from our hunt, I find Sinopa snacking on trail mix from the pantry while talking to Lily. Kai is napping on the loveseat, so I ask Sinopa softly, “What are you really craving right now? Tell me, and we’ll get you and the little one fed properly.”
Sinopa thinks for a second, then hums, “Creamy. Sour. Mmm… Gooey grilled cheese with tomato soup, and a side of dill pickles.”
Just then, I hear Kimbal laughing as he walks into the entry, “Sounds like someone’s truly gotten her appetite back. Taking good care of my girl for me, Bella?”
He reaches the living room as I chuckle in response, “Trying to. Good thing is, she’s been munching all morning, so they are being well-fed.”
It happens almost faster than I can comprehend. Sinopa stands and turns to greet her mate, which catches Kimbal’s attention. His eyes immediately go wide as he gasps, and he’s down on his knees in front of her as he asks, “Really? When? How? I mean…”
He frames her slightly thickening midsection, then places a kiss on her tummy as he looks up at her. Sinopa has tears in her eyes while smiling widely. Her fingers run through his hair as she explains, “The tea is really working. This is proof. I’ve just been wearing my normal stretchy lounge clothes at home, so I didn’t notice. I went to dress this morning, and literally, nothing in my drawers fit. I couldn’t button any of my regular shorts, and my skirts wouldn’t zip.”
I take the opportunity to slip from the room and give them a few minutes, only for Lily to follow me to the kitchen. She smiles as she asks, “Can I help with anything?”
I nod while feeling the cooling pots of filling, “These can actually be moved to storage bowls and placed in the downstairs refrigerator. I’ll get started on Sinopa’s lunch. Would you like some, too?”
She nods, “A grilled cheese sounds pretty good, actually. Thank you. I’ll do without the pickles, though. I’ll grab a few cans of tomato soup from the pantry for you.”
Ten minutes later, I pile Sinopa’s plate with 3 grilled cheese sandwiches cut on the diagonal, and 3 large whole dill pickles. Then I fill a decent-sized bowl with creamy tomato soup. My plate and Kimbal’s are just as full, but Lily insists she only wants 1 grilled cheese and a small bowl of soup.
We carry them into the dining room on trays, and Sinopa practically sings as her food is set in front of her. Kimbal’s eyes are watery as he silently catches my eyes, then gives me a silent ‘thank you’. I grin and nod, pat both their hands, then sit in front of my own food.
Once done with her food, Sinopa sees the dill pickles on her husband’s plate, then grins as she snags one and bites into it. He chuckles, shakes his head, then turns his plate so his pickles are easier for her to access. I happen to finish my 2nd grilled cheese with the last of my soup, then complain as I push my plate toward the middle of the table, “Can’t do it. Between my hunt and what I just ate, I’m full to capacity.”
Sinopa’s face lights up, and she looks at me before her eyes move to the plate. I assure her, “Go for it. No sense in good food being wasted. At least if you and the little one have it, it’s going to be used as growing fuel.”
She nods and pulls the plate in her direction, then gasps, “Oh, I almost forgot!” She unhooks her necklace, pulls my ring from it, then reclasps her necklace before holding my ring out to me in her hand.
I smile and take it, but assure her, “I was going to wait until after you were finished with lunch, but thank you.”
As I place my ring on my finger and sigh happily, Kimbal gives me a curious look, so I explain, “I had a talk with Avory, which got him thinking about things with his parents and Nova. I guess he made the decision to move forward with his mating to Nova, but I didn’t think to warn Nova about that conversation. They had a pretty steamy kiss, but Nova missed that Avory was accepting the mating, since he didn’t know about what went on. Avory ran through the house, so I caught Nova and went to the woods to show him my conversation. I handed Taha my ring, but since Nova was upset and practically growling, Taha gave my ring to Sinopa to hold, knowing it would be safe.”
Kimbal shakes his head, offering, “A lot went on after my shift ended, I guess.”
I chuckle, “To say the least. They’ve made up and talked, which is what’s important. From what Lily told me while I was cooking lunch, Avory is finally putting himself and his relationship with Nova as #1 priority, instead of living in the shadow of his parents’ unacceptance.”
Sinopa nods sadly, “He’s really going to need our support. I don’t see his dad giving an inch, especially if Avory tells them to choose, because he’s chosen Nova as his life partner.”
I make a mental note to keep an eye on Avory, in case he needs extra support, then tell Kimbal, “Let Taha know if you sense Nova’s thoughts leaning in that direction, please.”
We don’t see Avory and Nova again until just before dinner, but when we do, I’m thankful to see that both are blissfully happy. It seems as though neither is letting anything outside the moment worry them, which makes me smile at my mate while thinking, “That’s a really good idea. Time to do a bit of living in the moment myself.”
That night, Taha and I celebrate our engagement with friends and family, then when everyone settles into their places for the night, we take the opportunity to skinny dip in the creek. Once we play in the water for a bit, Taha decides that making love to me on the picnic island is the perfect way to end the night. I have to admit, it was pretty amazing, and I would eagerly agree to have more such evenings.
We finally fall asleep near dawn, naked and entwined in our bed.