Chapter 6
The days until Thanksgiving flew by and before Rebecca was even ready for it, she was once again packing her duffel. She wasn’t sure how she became so clingy, usually known for being very independent if not cold, but she and Luke had spent every spare minute of their time together. Now that she knew his secret, he would greet her in the habitats in whatever form he happened to be in. Some days she found herself followed by a black wolf and others she was watched by a spotted leopard while he sunned himself on a tree. She found she didn’t mind the company while she worked. She also noted that the animals seemed calmer around her whenever Luke was nearby. There was another reason she felt better knowing Luke was near. She wasn’t sure that Wilson had lost interest like Luke assured her he would. All week long, she had the feeling she was being watched in the sanctuary. She had brought it up to Luke one night while they were laying together, his fingers combing through her hair. But he had been quick to reassure her, “Rebecca, trust me, if Wilson was wandering around the sanctuary I would know. Especially when I shift, I’d be able to scent him.” Rebecca wanted to trust him, to believe him, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching them. She zipped up her duffel after packing a few changes of clothes, gathering her items from the bathroom. Truth be told, she didn’t want to leave Luke. Not even for a few days. It didn’t feel right to leave now after she discovered Luke’s secret. Not to mention that she also feared he was in danger.
Luke wouldn’t hear it though. He told her that she needed to go see her family, that it wasn’t healthy for them to be so dependent on each other. She hadn’t liked the way he said that it would be good for both of them to take a few days apart. She knew he was right, of course, this relationship has been moving faster than any she had ever had before. That didn’t mean she wanted to admit it though. She sighed and lugged her duffel into the kitchen, glancing out the window. She wondered if Luke was going to come so she could say goodbye. She practically flew out the door when she saw his truck pull up her driveway. She stopped herself before she ran over and opened his door. No need to look that desperate, she thought. So she waited patiently, like the adult she was, for him to park his truck and slide out of his seat. When he finally ambled over to her, she wound her arms around his neck, standing on her tiptoes so she could press a kiss to his lips. “I was worried you weren’t going to come.” His arms slid around her waist, holding her close. “Hey, do you really think I would let you go without saying goodbye?” He pressed a kiss to her head. “I’m going to miss you. Even if you are only going to be gone for two days.” She laughed a little. “Don’t worry. I already miss you so much it’s embarrassing.” “Are you going to be alright, honestly? You’re handling all of this really well. Better than I expected.” “I’m fine, Luke. I know it seems odd that I’m so fine with all of this, with you. But really, I’m mostly relieved. I thought I was going crazy, Luke.” He at least looked a little sheepish. “Sorry.” She tilted her head up, kissing him softly. “I’ll see you Friday.” “See you Friday.” He murmured against her lips and helped her load her duffel into her jeep. He kissed her again through the driver’s side window. “Drive careful.” “I will. You be careful too.” She said and looked at him meaningfully. Watching his image get smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror hurt more than she cared to admit but she flicked on the radio and tried to prepare for Thanksgiving with her sister. The drive was just a little over three hours and sooner than she would have liked, Rebecca was pulling up in front of her sister’s white, two-story house. The door was painted red and there was an apple tree she didn’t remember in the corner of her yard. Why doesn’t she put up a white picket fence and be done with it? She thought bitterly. With her duffel slung over her shoulders, she stood in front of the cheery red door, knuckles rapping against the fresh paint. Three identical screams sounded from behind the door before it was thrown open and three pairs of little hands were mauling her clothes, pulling her inside. “Aunt Becca!” They screeched, each one trying to tug her in a different direction. “Aunt Becca, I want to show you my room!” Mary yelled. She was Rebecca’s eldest niece at eight years old and, unfortunately, not the loudest. “No! I want to show her Harry!” Amelia, the middle child, shouted. “That’s my new kitten, Aunt Becca.” She told her. “I will go see your room and I will go look at your kitten.” She told them patiently. “Just let me talk to your mother first.” Isabella, the youngest of her nieces at three, started up her trademark scream. The volume rising the longer she felt she was being ignored. The other two girls started arguing which one should get their aunt’s attention first and Rebecca wondered how her sister was going to handle today now that she couldn’t dip into the wine. The family dog, a middle-aged and slightly neurotic German Sheppard, began to bark as Isabella reached that special pitch that seemed to drive the animals out of their minds. I hope I have boys, she thought. That evening, Rebecca and her sister Nancy were curled up in the lounge together, talking in low voices and daring to hope the girls would stay asleep. Nancy was watching her jealously as she sipped on a glass of wild berry wine, one arm curled around the gentle swell of her pregnant belly. “So tell me about this new guy.” She said. Rebecca hesitated, knowing that she couldn’t tell her about what Luke really was. “He’s great.” She finally answered. “He works at the sanctuary, he’s amazing with the animals, and he’s gorgeous.” She giggled. “You sound really happy.” Nancy said. “And for once you’re not talking about your work so I’m happy.” “I am happy. It’s pretty serious between us and I know it’s fast, but I think he’s the one for me. He wants the same things I do, Nancy, and he’s just as passionate about his work with the animals.” “I’m really happy for you, Becks, just be careful, okay?” She pleaded. “After everything you went through after Ryan, I don’t want to see you like that again.” “Luke is nothing like Ryan, I promise. Our relationship isn’t even the same, it’s a completely different dynamic then it was with Ryan.” “Okay, I just worry about you.” She said. “As much as we fight and no matter how old you get, I’ll always see you as that little twelve-year-old brainiac with her nose stuck in her books.” “Oh shut up.” Rebecca said and shoved her gently on the shoulder.
Rebecca didn’t want to admit it, but Luke was right. Spending the holiday with her family had been refreshing. Although her nieces were loud and energetic, she knew she never got enough time to spend with them. However, when she woke up Friday morning, still feeling the effects of consuming half her body weight in turkey and hearing the shrieks of three little girls who were now awake, she was ready to leave.
The drive back seemed to take twice as long as the journey there, but she breathed a sigh of relief as she finally pulled into the driveway of the little house she began to think of as home. She had been surprised to see a thin blanket of snow covering everything though. Oh well, I knew it would snow eventually. It was nice while it lasted, she thought. After she had unpacked her duffel and turned the heat on high in her freezing house, she debated whether or not she should call Luke.