Althena

12. Visiting

I spend the afternoon roaming around the packland. I visit momma again. Then walk by what used to be our home. It seems like that was a lifetime ago.

"It's still yours." Mike suddenly stands beside me. "You left everything. I didn't know what to do. The Omega's dust it once a week. Not much else we could do. Someday, you might need what's in there."

I smile at the little rocking chair on the porch. "Maybe." I don't know how long I stand there staring. It has to be 10 minutes. "The last time I stepped out of that house, I left who I was, in there. I'm not ready to find that person yet."

"It wasn't you that you left there."

"What was it then?"

"Part of your heart. Your mother. Your childhood."

"Part of my heart will always be here."

He smiles. "Yea, it's not going anywhere."

"I had the best childhood. My mothers love. The outdoors. Safety. The pack. The food. The love. I couldn't have asked for anything more. It was perfect. My mom picked the perfect place. She did it right. I want my kids to have that someday."

He starts coughing.

I laugh and pat him on the back. "You alright?"

"Yea, sorry. That was sudden."

"Well, I didn't mean now. I'm still finding my place. Writing my story."

"Yea, you'll figure it out soon enough." He puts his arm around me and leads me away. "My mom wants to show you something. She's behind the packhouse."

"Your mom is a very busy person."

He nods. "She can't stand not doing anything."

I get back there and she's cooking something in a little oven. "I'm not surprised you're cooking."

"This is different. You can't eat it. I heard them talking about you opening a store. I think maybe this would be something. This is like clay." She puts a hand full of clay marbles in my hand. They are the size of pennies. "You work them into shapes. Then you cook them. This one is done."

She hands me a star figureine. "It's glass."

"No. It's clay. Once it cooks, it turns clear. Maybe crystal is a better word. But you could make things in your spare time. It would be something. Mike said the store is empty and in a good spot. You could make a little money. I even have a ball mold."

"Where do you get the clay?"

"Dig it up from beside the river. It doesn't take much. I could send you some if you want to try it out. And any oven would work. I put it in at 250 for 3 hours. It's something."

"Yea, that's something. I'll try it out. But not a lot of clay. And I already have an oven. I'll see if I can make anything out of it. The crystal is pretty."

"It is. Think of the stuff someone could make if they got good at it. They could make a crazy amount of money."

I laugh. "I doubt if I could even make a star. We'll have to see."

"It's trial and error. But you'll get it. Let's go start dinner."

It doesn't take long and I figure out we're making my favorite meal. It's ham with saucy cheesy potatoes. Then a cottage cheese salad that is to die for. Tomatoes and cucumbers go in it. It is perfect in every way. Then homemade rolls with butter. It does not get any better.

I am in heaven all through dinner. Every bite makes me melt.

They start laughing at me eventually.

"There is nothing as good as this. Anywhere." I take another bite and put my head on the table to savor it.

They talk but I don't care. I eat the whole plate then have extras. I think about having another roll.

Conner smirks. "You still alive? Can you move after all that?"

"It's so good. I need more. But it won't fit."

"One more thing." Millie runs out then comes back with a cake. It's got candles on it.

They sing happy birthday to me and I have to keep wiping the tears away.

I wish for everyone I love to be happy this year. Then I blow out the candles. "Thank you so much. This means everything to me." She cuts me a piece and I lay my head down. "It's even chocolate."

She laughs. "You can manage a few bites of your birthday cake."

Conner winks. "I got $10 says she eats the whole piece. That girl can't turn down chocolate."

I shove a bite in his mouth.

"Oh my Moon Goddess. What is this?"

"It's our chocolate." Mike smirks.

"We're putting this in the store. Pack it somehow." Conner gets his own piece. "It melts in my mouth. This is so different."

I laugh and let a bite melt in my mouth too.

Then I hear him say, "I think she ate herself into a food coma."

"It happens." Mike picks me up.

I wake up in the morning and stretch. I guess he put me to bed. I get ready and make my way to the living room. Mike is standing there with his coffee, opening up a box. He pulls out a phone.

Conner smiles. "Good thing. We're going home today. You won't ignore us anymore."

"I wasn't ignoring you. I do need to see what all I missed though."

"Check her messages. Chris did it."

He nearly spits out his coffee. "A bikini, woman?"

"Chris did it. We were on the beach."

"I'll come over there in a few months and take you to the beach again."

"It'll be winter, dumbass." Conner gets comfortable on the couch.

"I'll find a waterpark."

"Breakfast is ready."

"Ugh. I don't know if I can eat again yet." I rub my face.

Millie nods. "There's left over cottage cheese salad."

"I'll make room." I run for the dining room.

They all come in behind me laughing.

I savor every bite of my salad while everyone else eats breakfast food.

"Can we have two delta's?"

Max looks at Millie all confused. "Yes?"

"We should make Miles a delta too." I know she's still thinking about what that lady said. She told Mike not to get too attached to this place.

"The pack can only have one alpha, Millie."

Miles perks up. "I was thinking about starting my own pack."

I smile at Miles. "You'd be good at it. You have good charisma."

"Well, there you have it. He can get some training here first. It'll be good all around."

Max nods. "Yea, it won't hurt anything. You never told us about wanting to start a pack, son."

"It seems weird and hard."

"The knowledge will be good for you. You can decide as you learn. No doubt you'd be able to do it. You're a strong alpha."

Mike smirks. "We could be neighbors."

"Forget that. I'm going to the beach."

Conner nods. "I'll come and visit. But I really need concrete. I never knew I could miss roads."

"You better give me a mark. I love the beach."

He smirks. "Yea, I'll fit one somewhere."

Max nods. "You know you can visit packlands without a mark? It's called visiting."

"Yea, but they won't let me roam around like I own the place. I have to behave on those."

Millie cracks up laughing. "Well, at least she understands that much."

Mike nods. "I try."

A few hours later, we put our stuff in the car. Millie hugs me a million times and cries a bunch. Mike hugs me and tells me he'll visit soon. And he'll answer his phone from now on. Millie threatens to break it if I don't visit again soon. Then we're off to the airport.