Chapter Twenty-Four: Martha

Chapter Twenty-Four – Martha

After the cold of the mountain, Martha welcomed the warm embrace of the kitchen as she stood next to Clint, the comforting scent of a home-cooked meal lingering in the air. Freddy was out helping Curtis with some plumbing over at one of the lodges, leaving them to enjoy a rare moment of solitude together.

“Someone’s coming.” Clint placed the spoon he’d been using to stir a large pot of spaghetti sauce on a plate. At least he tried to, but in his haste, it rattled across the counter, leaving a trail of red on the wooden countertops.

Martha was taken aback by Clint’s sudden reaction. His face had gone pale, his hands trembling ever so slightly as he focused on something outside the window. A chill ran down her spine as she stepped closer and followed his gaze out to the parking lot. But there was no one there.

“Who is it?” Martha asked, her voice barely above a whisper. A sense of dread crept across her chest, tightening like a vice around her heart.

Clint hesitated for a few moments before turning back to her with a grim expression on his face. “Fiona is here,” he said, leaving Martha baffled, although she vaguely recalled hearing the name before. “Who is Fiona?” she asked cautiously, not daring to hope for an answer that would make sense of this confusing situation.

She hadn’t known Clint long. Not long at all, but in the time she’d spent with him, he’d never been troubled by anything.

But he was now.

“Clint.” She touched her hand to his arm, and he jumped as if she’d poked him with a sharp stick. “Clint, you’re scaring me.”

She swallowed hard. What if Freddy wasn’t the only one in trouble?

“I’m sorry.” Clint blinked rapidly and seemed to come back to himself. “Fiona’s from social services. She’s a...”

“Oh!” Martha’s eyes widened. “That’s where I heard her name.” She whirled around and took the sauce off the stove. “Wipe up the spills. We want to make a good impression.”

“I never expected Fiona to just show up unannounced, Martha. There’s something I need to tell you...” Clint fell silent as a car arrived in the parking lot.

“What is it?” Martha ran the hot water and used a damp sponge to wipe up the sauce before placing the spoon in the sink.

“Nothing...” Clint paled again as he went to the door, but he didn’t open it until a knock rang out.

“Fiona.” Clint opened the door, and an enigmatic woman entered the kitchen.

Martha stared at her for a long moment, like a deer caught in the headlights. There was something about her... Something ageless, and ancient, as if she had seen everything that could ever be seen. As if she would crush you under her foot if she so chose.

“Hello, you must be Martha. I’m Fiona,” she said, extending her hand. “As Clint has probably told you, I work for social services.”

Martha slid her hand into Fiona’s. As they shook hands, Martha was left with the feeling of insignificance, although she could not explain why. However, her curiosity was certainly piqued. “Good to meet you.” Although, the jury was out on if that statement was true.

Fiona’s eyes swept over the room before settling back on Martha. “I’m responsible for placing shifter children with shifter families. I’ve heard about your situation with Freddy and want to help you both adopt him.”

“Adopt him.” Martha felt a surge of emotion as Fiona suggested they adopt Freddy. She and Clint had only known each other for a couple of days, so the idea should have sounded ridiculous, yet as Fiona spoke, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world. “Thank you, Fiona. We truly appreciate it.”

Fiona’s expression shifted, a hint of concern etching her features. “There is one problem, though. Freddy’s aunt, Diedre Sulks, is eager to press charges.” At this, Fiona’s eyes flashed amber, and Martha felt the heat of her anger radiating from her as she handed Martha a piece of paper containing Diedre Sulk’s details.

Martha glanced at the address, and after she read it, she read it again. “Diedre Sulks lives in the same city as I do...did.”

“Interesting,” Fiona murmured. Did she think the same as Martha? That it could not be a coincidence?

Summoning her courage, Martha declared, “I’ll visit Diedre and try to get her to be reasonable.”

Fiona scoffed and narrowed her eyes. “That probably won’t work. I don’t know if the woman is capable of sense. If she was, then she would have taken care of her nephew instead of...” She coughed and took a breath as she composed herself.

“So what do you suggest?” Clint asked.

“I’ll go in the capacity of Freddy’s lawyer,” Martha insisted, her voice firm before Fiona had a chance to answer.

Fiona mulled it over for a moment, then she seemed to come to a decision. “Okay,” she said, her voice as tight as a bowstring. “Just be careful.”

“I’m good at what I do,” Martha snapped back, and Fiona’s eyes sparkled with humor, but only briefly before they hardened again. But Martha had seen it—that split second when a smile lit her face. Fiona sure was unlike anyone Martha had ever met.

“Excellent. Keep in touch.” With a nod, Fiona left the kitchen, leaving Martha and Clint alone once more.

Clint leaned against the counter, a proud grin on his face. “You know, Fiona is very hard to impress. But you seemed to do it with ease.”

“Did I impress her?” Martha asked, surprised by the revelation.

“You did,” he assured her.

Martha shouldn’t be surprised, she’d always been confident in her own capabilities. But there was something about Fiona...

Clint slid his arm around Martha’s shoulders and stood staring at the parking lot as Fiona got in her car and started the engine.

“Are you frightened of her?” Martha leaned in and whispered in his ear.

“I am,” he admitted.

Martha inched her head away from his and turned to look at him. “Why?”

He stayed silent until Fiona’s car left the parking lot and disappeared from view. “Because she’s a dragon.”

“Clint.” Martha slapped his chest playfully. “Don’t be rude.”

“No, I mean it. Fiona is a dragon shifter. Older than time, or so the story goes, and I, for one, do not intend to question Fiona about her age.”

“An actual dragon shifter?” Martha squeaked.

“Yes.” Clint kissed Martha’s cheek. “Shall we finish the sauce?”

“I need a moment.” She went to the door and grabbed her coat.

“Are you all right?” Clint followed after her.

“Yes.” She forced a smile. “I just need some air.” Her hand fluttered to her face. “It’s been a wild ride since I got here.” With that, Martha stepped outside, her breath forming small clouds in the chilly air.

She shivered slightly, wrapping her coat tighter around her. Despite the cold, she felt the need to walk and clear her head, to process the unbelievable revelations of the last couple of days.

She’d accepted that Clint was a bear shifter, she’d accepted the mating bond, and that she was destined to spend the rest of her life with Clint.

She’d accepted that she was meant to be a mother to Freddy and give him a home...the ruined shack.

But dragons?

Dragons were real, and Fiona was one of them. The thought seemed too fantastical, but somehow, as she walked, it made sense in the world she now found herself in.

Or was she just going crazy?

She kept on walking, one foot in front of the other. The gentle rustle of leaves and the sound of the wind through the trees brought a sense of calm to her troubled mind. Clint had told her that the trees could communicate with her if she listened closely. And on some level, they seemed to whisper reassurances, telling her she was on the right path.

With each step, she felt more determined to return to her old life, even if only for a short time, to seek justice for Freddy. She couldn’t shake the feeling that his aunt was lying about the alleged assault. But going back meant she would need a place to stay.

Hesitating briefly, she pulled out her phone and dialed her parents’ number. The familiar sound of her mother’s voice greeted her on the other end of the line.

“Hi, Mom,” she said, her voice wavering slightly.

“Oh, Martha, are you all right?” her mother asked, concern lacing her tone. Unsurprising since Martha had only spoken to her mom yesterday.

“I’m okay, Mom. I’ve been caught up in some...unexpected developments. I need to come back to town for a little while. Do you think I could stay with you and Dad?” Martha asked, guessing that her mom would probably think that her daughter had given up on her dream already and was coming home with her tail between her legs.

There was a brief pause before her mother replied warmly, “Of course, sweetheart. You’re always welcome here. We’ll be happy to have you. Just let us know when you’ll be arriving.”

“I was thinking tomorrow if it’s not too short notice,” Martha said, a mixture of gratitude and apprehension coursing through her.

“Tomorrow...” her mom whispered down the phone. “Martha, has something happened? Do you need your father to come get you?”

“No, nothing like that,” Martha quickly reassured her mom. “But something has come up. I’ll tell you all about it when I get there.”

“Martha, you sound...different,” her mom said.

“I guess I am,” Martha responded with a heavy heart, wishing she could tell her mom everything. But she doubted her mother would believe her. She’d more likely assume Martha had gone through some kind of mental breakdown. “I have to go. I love you.”

“We love you, too, Martha. Take care and see you soon,” her mother replied before Martha ended the call, not wanting to answer any more questions over the phone.

Martha took a deep breath, feeling the crisp air fill her lungs. It was surreal to think that she had only left her parents’ home yesterday, and now she was returning to face a battle for Freddy.

When she had met Clint and learned that he was her fated mate, she had envisioned a simple life together, filled with love and tranquility. But fate had other plans.

Her determination to protect Freddy and ensure his happiness only grew stronger. There was no way she was going to let his aunt, Diedre Sulks, ruin his life any further. The conviction in her heart burned brighter than ever, fueled by the need to protect those who could not protect themselves, to give Freddy a voice.

As she walked back toward the house, the wind seemed to whisper encouragement, and the trees seemed to stand tall and resolute, as if mirroring her own resolve.

When she reached the house, she found Clint waiting for her by the door, his eyes filled with love and concern. “Are you all right?” he asked gently, reaching out to brush his fingers across her cheek.

Martha nodded. “You’re right, the trees do talk.”

Clint pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “And what did they say?”

“That you are the most incredible man I have ever met. And that we have a wonderful future together,” she paused.

“But?” Clint asked.

“Before I can fully embrace that future, I must help Freddy. Because he is part of our future, too.”

“That’s what I was afraid they might say,” Clint told her.

“But I’ll come back. I’ll always come back,” Martha promised. “Because my heart belongs to you.”