“Hmm, maybe it’s just the whole thing of the dinner,” suggested Ginny. She grabbed cups for coffee and was closing the cupboard when she heard Patrick calling quietly from the hall. Ginny and Meg looked out to see Patrick standing very still while Luc still in wolf form regarded him warily from a doorway.
“Ginny, Meg, someone, please come get the bags,” Patrick said softly.
Meg went to his rescue and handed the bags to Ginny while she stayed beside Patrick. Luc wasn’t growling, but he wasn’t letting Patrick pass either. Meg put her hand out to Luc and placed it on his shoulder. That seemed to settle things a bit and Patrick slid past Meg and into the kitchen.
“Luc, go shift back and quit hassling Ginny’s mate,” Meg said. Looking towards the kitchen, she saw Ysabel hold out a rolled up newspaper to her. She shook her head. However, Luc looked towards Ysabel too and she shook the paper at him. Luc turned and headed back to the bedroom.
“Sorry about that Patrick. Like I said, I’m not sure what’s come over him lately, but when he’s in wolf form he is so protective,” said Meg.
“It’s okay Meg. I’m new to the area, and sort of a double threat I guess. New male and new mate to someone dear to him,” Patrick said.
“Shoulda hit him with the newspaper,” Ysabel said as she grabbed a cup of coffee and a pastry from the bag Patrick had brought in. That made them all laugh.
“Let’s go get the rest of the stuff,” said Ginny and the four of them headed out to the car. Each of them grabbed a couple of bags and headed back into the house. Meg went first, just in case Luc was still prowling. Instead, she was pleasantly surprised to see Luc sitting at the table with a cup of coffee and a pastry.
“About time you decided to join us,” Meg teased.
“Sorry about that. Sorry Patrick,” he added as Patrick came into the kitchen. “I’m not sure what set him off, but damn he’s been possessive lately.”
“Not a problem Luc. Like I told Meg, I’m new and the two wolves haven’t really had a chance to meet nose to tail. Face to face is fine in this form, but you know that our other halves don’t always agree with us,” Patrick said.
“You got that right,” said Ysabel.
Ginny laughed and nodded as she stuffed perishables in the fridge and freezer.
*
Soon the house was buzzing with activity. Patrick and Luc set up the tables and chairs in the living room. They moved furniture and cleaned up anything that had been missed the day before. Meg, Ginny and Ysabel worked on the food. The menu was protein heavy with a beef rib eye roast going in the oven to slow cook. Ginny had coated it with a mixture of horseradish, garlic, salt, and pepper.
Ysabel had filled a crock pot with a veggie mix to steam slowly. That would be turned it on around 2pm. She also set up the rice cooker but didn’t add the water. That would be done closer to dinner time. Then it was time to set up the relish trays. Ginny and Meg helped with those. Pickles, fresh veggies, dips and sauces went onto trays and into small bowls. It was orderly chaos.
“Hey Meg, where do you want this flower arrangement?” asked Patrick. He was standing in the kitchen door holding flowers that had just arrived.
“I, um… I don’t know,” she said and walked out to decide a place. It took a few minutes, but they finally decided to clear the fireplace mantle and set it there. Meg looked at the clock as she went past. Noon. Her stomach was growling.
“Hey Luc, how about you and Patrick go grab us some lunch?” Meg asked. “I’m starving, and I’m sure the rest of you are hungry.”
“Sounds good. Pizza okay?” he asked.
“Sure!” replied Meg. She headed back to the kitchen as Luc and Patrick headed out the door.
*
The women worked on salads until the pizza arrived. Stuffing the last of the cling film covered bowls in the fridge, they all sat down to eat. Soon the only thing left were three empty pizza boxes and a few crusts.
“That hit the spot,” said Ginny.
“Oh yeah. I’ll still have room for supper though,” said Luc. The roast was beginning to smell really good.
“Is there anything else left to do?” asked Patrick.
“No, most of it is last minute stuff, so I guess you can all head home,” said Meg. “The bakery will deliver the cake at 5pm. Be back by 5:30pm and we should be fine. Dinner is set for 6pm.”
“Alright,” said Ginny. “See you then.”
The three of them left to shower, take a break and change clothes. Luc picked up the trash and when he came back in to the living room, Meg was still sitting at the table.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, guess I just ate too fast. My stomach’s a little off,” said Meg.
“Why don’t you go lay down for a bit and I’ll finish setting the tables,” suggested Luc.
“Are you sure?” Meg asked. The thought of a nap sounded wonderful.
“Yes. Go rest. I know how to set a table and I’ll wake you in time to shower,” he said.
“Okay,” said Meg. She kissed him and headed off to lay down. “Maybe it was too much coffee this morning, or just stress,” she thought as she lay down on the bed. She pulled the quilt on the end of the bed up and over her. She was asleep in less than a minute.
*
Luc got the tables set, decorated the sideboard where the food platers were going, checked on the roast and started the rice and veggies. He sat down for a few minutes with a soda and tried to think if there was anything he had forgotten. Looking at the clock, he saw it was 4:15pm. It was time to wake Meg. She’d kill him if he let her sleep any longer.
“Meg. It’s time to wake up,” he said softly.
She blinked owlishly and stretched. “So soon?” she asked.
“It’s nearly 4:30,” he said.
“Oh damn. Did you put the rice on?” she asked as she got up and folded the quilt.
“Yes, and the veggies too. Go shower and I’ll wait for the cake,” he said.