The five women worked together in the kitchen all day. It was a nice break from reed gathering, weaving, and laundry, and I decided we needed some diversity in our schedule. When Winifred left on Sunday, I mentioned my idea to Thomas and he agreed.
Monday and Tuesday, the women worked hard to make small pillows. I was good at stuffing them with the fluff and cutting even rectangles, but I left the sewing to Ann and Mary.
Wednesday, we tried our hand at homemade bread. The oven was a little touchy, and the loaves came out dark on the outside and still doughy in the middle. The following batch baked more evenly. It didn’t seem to matter either way. Werewolves weren’t picky eaters, and they devoured all the loaves.
That night, I contentedly fell asleep in Thomas’ arms, and he surprised me by staying in bed until I woke again. His awe and adoration flooded me as I slowly opened my eyes. I smiled sleepily.
“That’s a nice way to wake up,” I said.
He kissed my temple.
“Would you like to spend the day together?”
I nodded. How could I not? I loved having his undivided attention, and whether I wanted to acknowledge the passing time or not, we had less than two weeks until the rest of his pack returned.
“I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” He kissed my temple once more then left me to dress.
When I found him several minutes later, he was waiting beside the outer door with a bundle in his hands.
“What’s that?”
“Lunch,” he said with a grin.
He was learning.
He didn’t ask to carry me, but held out his hand. Together, we walked away from the buildings.
“Are we going anywhere particular?”
“Not really. I’m already where I want to be.”
And I knew he meant with me.
The next morning, I sat at the table eating my last bites of oatmeal. As usual, I was one of the last ones awake. This morning, though, I noticed an unusual number of men still lingering outside. Thomas walked in through the open door and smiled at me.
I waited until he sat next to me to ask about the men.
“The man at the junk yard has no more work for them. He told them to come back in spring. Anton put the cash they’d earned on top of the food storage.”
What would the men do now to keep busy? Thomas seemed to read my mind.
“We’ll take what baskets we have and start picking from the garden,” he said.
I nodded and watched him stand to rejoin the men milling around outside. Besides the Mated men, Thomas always left someone he trusted behind whenever he left, so I wasn’t surprised when Gregory walked in with a grin.
As soon as the men left, Rilla and Ann started washing the dishes while Gregory, Mary, and I fetched the reeds and other supplies we’d need for the day. Then, we worked hard to make more baskets, mats, and small pillows. I mostly ran back and forth fetching whatever supplies they needed.
Twice a man returned with a full basket of vegetables to ask if we had another one complete. Both times, we were able to say yes thanks to Rilla’s amazing skill.
The men returned before dusk, with fish and two more filled baskets. Ann and Mary took the fish. The oven was hot and ready for them. Rice already steamed on the stove, along with a pot of mixed vegetables.
We were just clearing away our work from the tables when someone knocked on the door. Those men who stayed here, no longer knocked. The man closest to the door opened it. Outside I saw, three men, two woman, and two children.
“We heard families are welcome here,” one of the new men said.
“Come in. Please,” I said stepping forward. “I’m Charlene. This is Thomas.” As soon as the door had opened, Thomas had been at my side.
“Welcome,” Thomas said. The two families stepped in.
I smiled at the older kids. “Would you like to see what we’ve done?”
It only took a few minutes to show them around. I did most of the talking. Thomas didn’t mind in the least. When the families selected their rooms, Mary brought the mats and pillows they’d need. I was so happy we had enough so that no one slept directly on the floor.
Saturday, Winifred brought more than just eggs and the usual supplies. She also had books and things to help the children learn to read.
During breakfast, the kitchen was full of chatting women and laughing children. I stood back and enjoyed the moment. Thomas came up behind me and rested his hands on my shoulders, his satisfaction wrapping around me like a hug.
The next week was hectic, but in a good way. Basket’s full of produce from the garden hung from the rafters in the rooms just outside of the common room—the stove kept the room too warm for them to stay good for very long.