Page 28 of Doran

“As long as it doesn’t cut off their fun time. No sooner than the morning of the eighth day, and today is the first day.”

I sighed. “Okay.“ I was disappointed. That would put them here only a couple of days earlier than initially planned. It was a disappointment, but I couldn’t be that person who took freaking Disneyland away from them. “I’ll let Doran know so he can coordinate with his parents and Bob can make the final arrangements.” I really hoped they could fly straight out on the eighth day. If not, I might not get to see them until the original date. Which was okay, but my heart had been set on seeing them in only three, maybe four, days tops.

“Where is your dragonii husband anyway?” She asked.

“He’s on the porch talking about bicycles with the sheriff and schoolteacher and their mates.”

“Bicycles?”

“Yes. All the kids are getting bicycles. Don’t tell the kids. Let them be a surprise.”

“I won’t. Are you sure your father and I can’t simply take them to pick out bikes and have them shipped along with us?”

“Please don’t. I think there is going to be some grand reveal to all the kids on New Haven where they’re presented with their bikes.”

She grunted. “I see. Well, I best let you go. Text me the flight information when you have it.”

Then she hung up. I blinked. She’d not even put my kids on. For that matter, where had my kids and father been? I hadn’t seen nor heard hide nor hair of them, nor gotten a good look at their motel room.

“I’m being ridiculous. They probably nagged Dad into taking them straight to the hotel pool.”

I stood up and stretched.

“Hey, Bob?”

“Yes, Sarah?”

Can you please see if the Mylos can pick up my parents and kids from the Disneyland area instead of our hometown? And get their return flights refunded by the airline?’

“I’ll get Xero right on it,” he promised.

“Thanks.” I wandered out from our quarters to find the boys where they’d been left while the super secret bicycle talk happened on our porch, Doran now with them. They were watching an episode of The Flintstones, and I settled down to join them.

“Laura’s asleep in her crib,” Doran told me softly, pulling me into his side. ”How’d the comm go?”

“I’ll tell you later.” Right now I just wanted to soak in the warm comfort his touch brought me and indulge in the nostalgia of the old cartoon.

“Everything alright?” he pressed.

I sighed. “Yeah. Just it will take a little longer than I’d hoped before they get here.”

“Mmm,” he murmured against my hair before pressing a gentle kiss there.

It was sloppy, maybe, but his kiss and side arm hug as we snuggled? It really did make it better. Not completely, but mostly.

“I love you,” I said, and we both froze. I swallowed, realizing I really did mean it, too. ”You don’t have to say it back!” I rushed out. “It’s just… I think I fell for you as soon as I saw your picture. Or at least crushed on you so hard, and it felt like I’ve known you always after meeting and spending time with you, but - oh, god, it’s way too soon for the “L” word’, isn’t it?”

I wanted to hide, but he wasn’t having any of it. He tugged me onto his lap, facing him, instead. “I don’t think feelings get an asterisk timeline. When your kits were born, did it take a long time for you to love them?”

I shook my head. “Of course not! I already had tender feelings towards them, and the mommy hormones finished sealing the deal as soon as I laid eyes on their perfect little bodies.”

He arched an eyebrow. “And you think hormones released upon finding and meeting one’s star given mate are any different?”

“Well, when you put it that way.”

“I do. Put it that way, and I love you too.”

“Gross,” one of the boys said.