Authors note: Well goodness gracious have I wrestled with this. I suppose I want it to be perfect so I keep tweaking and I keep thinking of things I want to change or improve. There are still a couple of things I think need attention but all in all I'm feeling positive about it and I hope you enjoy! I've got book 2 well under way and I'll post the first couple chapters of that before too long. Thank you as always for your feedback and encouragement.
*
Rig opened the front door, holding Georgia's hand as they crossed the threshold. He squeezed it reassuringly and headed for the kitchen. There was, as usual, the sound of people gathered in the kitchen. It was the heart of his mother's home. They ate there, argued there and problem solved there.
Georgia looked around as they passed through the house, it was clean and comfortable, unpretentious. It looked like a family home, well kept but lived in. She could hear voices in the kitchen, it sounded like several people were good naturedly arguing about something.
"I've got company!" Rig called as they entered the well lit and spacious kitchen. His mom, Helen and his youngest sister Maria were gathered around the island cookbooks spread out between them. They all looked up in surprise.
"Rig! We didn't expect you, we were just about to make lunch." Claudia stepped forward, hugging him warmly before turning to Georgia, "I'm Claudia, Rig's mom, you must be Georgia?"
George looked a little shocked, glancing at Rig quickly before clearing her throat, "Uh, yes, nice to meet you Claudia." She gave her what she hoped was a warm smile.
"We are a friendly and informal bunch here, may I give you a hug?" She opened her arms and George stepped in to them after the briefest pause. This woman immediately set her at ease, radiating love and hospitality.
Claudia pulled Georgia in for a hug and sniffed her as inconspicuously as possible. Rig had left his scent all over her, causing her to raise her eyebrow at him over Georgia's shoulder. He had the decency to look just a little sheepish, but couldn't contain a satisfied grin. She smiled though at the way their scents mingled and melded, they worked perfectly together.
"These are two of my sisters, Helen and Maria," Rig took her hand and pulled her toward his sisters as soon as his mom released her. They came forward and offered hugs as well, noting the pleasant way their brothers scent blended with Georgia's.
"Georgia it's so nice to meet you! We were worried Rig would hide you away and never bring you out here." Helen teased, linking her arm in George's, moving her away from Rig.
Georgia laughed nervously but allowed herself to be pulled along. "Well we only met yesterday, I'm a bit surprised to be here honestly."
"You are?" Maria looked at George curiously. At 12 she had spent the majority of her life with the pack, other than a trip to town once in awhile. She'd met plenty of humans but hadn't spent any significant time with any one on one.
Helen jumped in before Maria asked any awkward questions, something she was quite talented at. "We were about to make some grilled cheese to go with the left over chicken soup from last night. Have you guys eaten yet?"
"No, but I was thinking we'd pack a lunch and I'd go show Georgia the lake." Rig gave Maria a warning look while trying to sound good natured. His youngest sibling had the potential to make a mess of this.
"Oh that's a great idea!" Helen squeezed George's arm before releasing her and gesturing toward a barstool. "Do you cook much Georgia?"
George sat on the barstool in what she hoped was a lady like manner, she was feeling awkward and lumpy. Rig's sisters were gorgeous and his mom looked remarkable considering she had to be in her 50's or 60's. They all had the same naurally tan complexion that Rig had, it spoke of some kind of ethnic heritage, Spanish more than likely based on their last name. They were all fit and slender, with well defined muscle she'd felt when they hugged her. Even his little sister looked like she must workout regularly.
They chatted at her as Rig packed them a lunch, smiling reassuringly at her now and then. Everyone seemed friendly and welcoming but she couldn't quite silence the nagging voice in her head that was comparing them and finding herself lacking. At least they'd picked a topic she knew something about, Georgia loved to cook
.
Rig watched Georgia while he pulled down a picnic basket and made lunch. She was fidgety, her hands white knuckled in her lap. She looked ill at ease. He admired her bravery as she did her best to be friendly and chat with his family.
Claudia had her finger on a pumpkin bread recipe, "So you've tried this recipe? Great! You can help settle our disagreement." Claudia and Helen leveled mock glares at each other, "I think there's not nearly enough pumpkin, Helen says she's sure it's fine. What was your experience?"
Georgia wrung her hands nervously, she didn't want to make anyone mad by taking their side. Rig stepped to her side and hugged her shoulders, "Don't let them wind you up, they always fight about cooking, but they aren't really upset. You won't make them mad by telling the truth."
She smiled up at him gratefully, "Well I made it exactly according to the recipe the first time," Georgia gestured to the cookbook, "And it's good, but it's more like a spice cake."
"Ha!" Claudia slapped the counter triumphantly, Helen rolled her eyes and groaned.
"So what did you do? You tried it again?" She asked, sticking her tongue out at her mother.
"Yes, I experimented with it quite a few times actually. I can write down my final recipe if you'd like? It's one I've done often enough that I've got it memorized."
They excitedly got her a pen and she noted the changes she'd made to the recipe in the margins of the cookbook.
"If you are done monopolizing my date, could I have her back and feed her before she dies of hunger?" Rig held a hand out to George and pulled her off the barstool. Her face turned a bright pink, feeling like Rig had just put a big spotlight on the fat girl in the room.
"Oh of course!" Claudia waved them away, "We have baking to do anyway, shoo!" She was already trying to gather ingredients while Maria reminded her they hadn't eaten yet. Georgia caught a glimpse of Helen's amused expression as they headed for the front door.
When they heard the front door close Helen peeked around the corner to make sure they'd gone before turning back to her mother, "Holy hell." She shook her head.
"How does a girl that sweet and lovely end up such a mess? I thought she was going to break her own fingers she was twisting them together so hard." Claudia frowned, "Rig has his work cut out for him."
Helen put an arm around her mom's shoulders, "We'll be here to help them."
Maria paused as she pulled food from the refrigerator, "Why was she surprised to meet us? I know I've seen plenty of tv shows and movies about people meeting their boyfriend or girlfriend parents."
"For humans that's usually well into a relationship though, it takes them months or even years to decide they want to include someone in their family." Claudia set a large frying pan on the stove and dropped a pat of butter into it. "They sometimes date many people before they meet someone they feel special enough about to bring home to their parents."
