“Why do you say that?” asked Ginny.
“Because there was a maple leaf flag in a couple of pictures. People went back and forth all the time before 2001. Especially, where there was more forest than farms,” he finished.
“That’s true. My grammy came from up there. She was born in Alberta,” said Ginny. She finished the last of her toast and pushed her plate forward.
Patrick took both of their plates to the sink. He looked out the window and saw Sam sitting next to Buster as he ate. “She’s gonna miss him when he goes,” he said.
“Yeah. She was up worrying about him just like me,” said Ginny.
“Not worried about me?” Patrick teased.
“No, you can take care of yourself. Buster’s an old wolf. Besides, the bed was too damn empty,” said Ginny.
Patrick smiled and got them some more coffee. “So, how’s the head?” he asked.
“Better. No more ringing in my ears and my nose doesn’t feel like it is going to fall off if I sneeze. The ankle still feels like a wreck and hurts,” she finished up.
Sam came back in with an empty place and after putting it in the sink she pulled apple cinnamon muffins out of the oven. “Nearly forgot about these!” she said.
“That’s what I was smelling,” said Patrick. “Glad they didn’t burn.”
“Nope, and you can have one after it’s cooled,” Sam said popping them out onto a cooling rack. “Buster ate well. He’s sleeping now,” she said as she pulled another pan out of the oven.
“Good. I’m going to take Ginny back up to our room. You need any help?” asked Patrick.
“Nah, don’t forget to take two of those muffins,” said Sam as she popped two new pans of muffins into the oven.
Patrick took the muffins on a place and he and Ginny left the kitchen. When they got to the stairs, he stopped Ginny. After setting aside the crutches and muffins, he picked her up and carried her upstairs.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said as he put her on the bed.
“No, but I wanted to. Back in a second with the crutches and muffins,” he said.
Ginny had barely had time to get comfortable, when Patrick came back into the room. He curled up on the bed with her and they ate their muffins.
*
“Peter, you need to sister that joint,” called George from across the basement.
“I see that, I need to measure it first though,” said Peter. He didn’t mind George supervising, but today he couldn’t move fast enough to please him. Cal was upstairs trimming up broken floor boards.
“Alright. Sorry, I’m just getting anxious. Ginny is due back soon and I want both houses done before she gets back,” said George.
“Do you think she’ll go for the idea?” asked Peter.
“I don’t know. Angie still hasn’t really gone for the idea either. She’s just hmmming and hawing. I’m just afraid that if I ever shift here, that I’ll go through the floor again,” said George.
“Don’t blame you one bit. No way to know that the floor joists were water damaged. Hell, that one over there might have gone with just Angie’s weight,” said Peter pointing to a repair over by the corner of the basement.
“Well, we’ll just have to hold our breaths and hope that both of them go for the idea of switching houses. It’ll give Ginny and Patrick a bit of privacy and I can keep an iron fist on the three pups,” said George.
“Those three are a handful,” Peter said. Sara is a one pup wrecking ball and Joe and Ivan do whatever she tells them too.”
“They sure do,” said George. He handed Peter the piece of lumber he’d just cut to sister the joint.
Angie came down the stairs a few minutes later. “Are you guys breaking for dinner?” she asked.
“Is it 5:30pm already?” asked Peter.
“Nearly 6pm,” said Angie.
“Hell! I’d better go. Lisa will be wondering where I am,” he said as he handed the hammer to George. He was up the stairs and out the door in less than a minute.
Angie watched him go and then turned to George. “What was all that about?” she asked.
“Lisa is more wolf than human. Human features, but the wolf is more in charge. It makes life difficult at times. She doesn’t cook well and if their daughter needs help with her homework, she has to wait for Peter,” he said.
“Oh, never thought of that. I know that Meg mentioned that some don’t survive shifting or never come back after the first time, but I never thought about someone being more wolf than human,” she said.
“It happens. Most of the ones I know have a really strong partner. Shifter too. Never known one that married a human. The ones that don’t, tend to fade back into the forest or the wilderness,” said George.
“Makes sense. Do you want to come up for dinner?” she asked.
“Yes! I’ve been smelling it and trying not to drool on the saw,” said George.
Angie laughed and they headed upstairs.
*
“Luc, I’m going to have to go shopping!” moaned Meg from the bathroom.
“Now? Today? Next week?” he asked as he poked his head in the door.
“I wanted to wait until Ginny got back, but I’m not sure I’m going to manage. I can’t zip any of my trousers or jeans. My bras don’t fit either,” she said as she took off a pair of blue jeans.
“Meg, I don’t care what you wear to work, as long as your comfortable,” said Luc.
Meg turned, and put her hands on her hips. “I appreciate that, but undies just isn’t going to cover it,” she said standing in nothing but bikini panties.
Luc laughed. “How about your black leggings, that teal blue tank top with the built in bra and one of my white linen shirts over the top?” he asked.
Meg thought about it for a moment and smiled. “Thank you!” she said as she went to find the clothes.
Luc smiled. Meg was getting big. Jeff kept reminding her that twins take up twice the room and need twice the nourishment, but it didn’t always sink in. Meg came around the corner wearing the outfit he’d suggested. She looked beautiful.
“Ready to head in?” he asked.