The Baynes Legacy - Book 5 - Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Barking Up The Wrong Tree (Chapter 28)

28.

“Addie?” Sarah called from the screen door of the tiny house.

“In here.”

Sarah walked through the door letting it sling shut with clap. In the kitchen Adaline was standing at the counter chopping various vegetables her belly jutting out making her hunch forward to reach the counter properly.

“Need some help?” Sarah asked as she stepped her her foster daughter's side.

“Oh God yes!” Adaline sighed as she laid the knife down on the counter putting her hands on the back of her hips trying to rub the soreness away. “My back is killing me.” She moaned out of pain as she stretched out.

“I can imagine.” Sarah chuckled as she reached out and ran her hand over the taunt belly. “Any day now we'll get to see that baby.”

“The sooner the better.” Adaline grumbled as she walked out of the kitchen making her way to her room. “I'm just going to get a shower, Sarah.”

“Go ahead, sweetie. I've got this covered.”

Adaline shut the door to the bed room by kicking it shut it closed a bit louder than she had planned but shrugged as she started to strip to get into the shower. She knew she was in a rush, but she couldn't bring herself to hustle any faster than what she was already doing. Griffin was expecting her and Sarah to bring all the food out to the construction site so the guys could eat before their big meeting.

Besides building their home, Griffin has been meeting with a lot of the other “strong minded” shifters. With the help of Connor, they had begun to form packs of shifters lead by this strong minded shifters, now seen as Alpha's of their species. The first thing that was taken in affect with the new Alphas that there was going to be an understanding peace between the shifters and werewolves.

Neither Connor or Griffin were delusional in their proclamation, they knew eventually someone or some pack would rebel against the peace treaty, at some point they will have to be re-educated or subdued by other manners.

The hot shower pounded down Adaline's tired body, even though she was physically exhausted she was re-energized by the shower. Once she was clean she dressed in the cutest maternity dress she had, a blue sun dress with a white ribbon that laced under her breasts and just above her swollen belly. She left her brown hair to curl naturally, only pinning back her bangs from her face. After slipping on white flip flops, she waddled back into the kitchen to help Sarah start loading the dishes into the truck.

“Thank you for helping me, Sarah.”

“What do you think a mother is for?” Sarah stated softly as she squeezed Adaline's hand gently. “I know I'm not your real mother, and I could never replace her. But in my heart, since the day you came to live with us, you've been my child.”

“Thank you for loving me, even when I couldn't love myself. But I have a question.”

“What's that sweetie?” Sarah asked as she started the truck up.

“Can my kids call you grandma?” Adaline bit her bottom lip nervous to hear the response. “If you don't-”

Sarah held up her hand and glanced over at her daughter with tears brimming in her eyes, “I would love to be a grandma!” Sarah wiped the tears away as she waved a dismissal hand at herself for her foolish crying. “Oh, I can't wait to hear the baby call me grandma.”

“Now I just can't wait to find out what it is, a boy or a girl.”

“Have you two settled on names?” Sarah asked as she drove the truck around the winding country roads.

“Marilyn Hope for a girl, and Brody Alan for a boy.” Adaline smiled as she looked down at her swollen belly and watched it twitch as the baby within readjusted it's self.

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“Food!” Adaline called once they set everything up on the tail gate of the truck. In an instant men began pouring out of the construction site all looking completely famished and sweating profusely. But Adaline's only took notice of one male in particular.

Griffin sauntered over to his mate, his dirty white t-shirt draped over his shoulder revealing his sweaty, gleaming chest as he stopped short of her. Even now, the very sight of her took his breath away. Especially now, with her belly protruding out hiding his unborn child within.

“Hey baby.” He said in a husky voice as he leaned in to kiss her. “I'd hug you but I don't want to dirty up that pretty dress.” He smirked at her as she sighed just thinking of him taking his time to remove said dress.

“How's it going?” She asked a second later, after shaking herself from her revere.

“Going good, we are just getting the rest of the wiring done now, and others are finishing putting all the duct work up. We are about two weeks ahead of schedule, so that means we'll could be moving a lot sooner.” He grinned up at her as she turned to hand him a bottle of cold water.

“That's good. Too bad it won't be done before this little person gets here.” Addie giggled a she tapped her belly softly. They chatted a few more minutes about the finer details of how the construction was coming along before Adaline pushed Griffin towards the food that was waiting to be devoured.

The men came up to her one by one thanking her graciously for bringing supper to them. And with renewed vigor they returned to their jobs. Adaline packed up the left overs and put them back in the truck before the perched herself to watch them men work diligently on the house.

There were many little teams, each with a special task. Nick's group was hanging siding, as Bryce's team was covering the roof with shingles. Soon the outside would look more like a home than it did in the inside, but no doubt that too would soon morph into the home of Adaline's dreams.

But as the sun set the men began to filter out of the house and leaving to return home to their families. Adaline waited for Griffin to come out as well, who was flanked by Nick. Nick had been staying with them until he could get set up with a home.

He was indebted to Adaline and Nick many times over, and had sworn to protect her and Griffin until the last breath left his body. With this allegiance, Griffin had dubbed him the pack member in charge of protection.

Pack life was new for each of the members of the shifter pack, but with the guidance from Connor, Doyle, and Adaline, they were slowly starting to see the benefits of pack life.

“Ready to go home baby?”

“VERY!” Adaline chirped as she leaned into his side. “I know someone who could really go for a foot massage.”

“Who? Me?” Griffin joked as he nestled his face into the crook of her neck. Adaline swatted at him playfully as she giggled at the feather like kisses he was leaving on her sensitive skin.

“No, ME!” She barked out as she laughed as his touch soon became more ticklish then sensual.

“Oh okay. Well let's get you home then.”

Wrapping his arm around her waist he lead her to the truck and helped her climb in let moved to let Nick climb into the back seat.

“I can't wait until we can call this home.” Adaline sighed as she looked back at the dark outline of the house.

“Soon, my darling, soon.”