The door of the residence opened while the family got out of the car. Nate helped Lara free the pups from their belts and carry their things. She was ready for any challenge, so she had packed everything in a big bag.
Nate didn't let her struggle, for he caught Scarlet and the bag, carrying each in one hand. The little girl didn't struggle one bit. If anything, she hugged his neck and stood still. That collaboration didn't escape Samantha's eyes, even though Nate was already used to it. It was one of their secret agreements: Scarlet would allow Nate to carry her so that Lara didn't need to lift heavy pups.
Behind them, Jaden was holding his mommy's hand, his eyes wide open in search of any trace of threat.
Mrs Woods and Samantha were standing in front of the door, waiting for the family to approach them. They didn't want to look too pressing by meeting them halfway.
«Hello,» Nate said, glancing at Samantha with a surprised expression.
His cousin shrugged, signalling her presence wouldn't be a bother. She was a familiar figure for both the pups and Lara, so her aunt had called her for help.
«Hello,» his mother replied, smiling reassuringly at the three new faces. Her eyes turned warmer when she noticed the eye colour of the pup in Nate's arms. It was a girl with dark hair and sapphire eyes. Her small nose was pressed on Nate's cheek, and she was looking at the two women at the entrance in great secret. She would glance and move her eyes away, careful not to be caught.
Her thin lips and round face resembled Nate's from when he was a baby.
«Scarlet, right?» she asked.
The girl hid her face on Nate's neck, suddenly shy and silent.
The man couldn't help but chuckle. He wasn't expecting such a cute reaction from such an energetic thing.
«Yes, and this is Jaden,» he continued, turning to Lara and the second pup.
When his mother's eyes landed on the boy, her smile grew even wider. The pups both resembled Nate! Not that it would have been a problem if it wasn't like that: Lara Clayton was a beauty.
She remembered to greet her future daughter-in-law only after a minute of contemplation of the pups.
«Hello,» she said, offering her hand for a shake. «My name is Melanie Woods. I'm Nathaniel's mother.»
«It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs woods. I'm Lara Clayton.»
«Oh, don't be so formal. You can call me Melanie. Can I call you by name if it's all right with you?»
«Of course!»
The two exchanged a smile, and Nate realised that his mother had made more progress in a couple of sentences than he did in a whole evening when first meeting his mate. Also, the kids seemed all right with their grandmother. They weren't running in her arms yet, but they didn't growl either.
Why were their treatments so different?
«Come inside, please,» Melanie continued, moving aside and showing the way to the inner part.
The hall that welcomed them was large and had a high ceiling. The stairs went up to the upper floor, while a white door opened in the living room. Lunch was ready, but Melanie wanted to get familiar with the three before eating.
«I was looking forward to meeting with you,» she said, looking at the pups who sat one on the right and one on the left of Lara. «I am your grandmother.»
They observed her with wide eyes, one eye confused and one distrusting.
«Greet your grandmother, kids,» Lara said, caressing their heads. Once told, the pups opened their mouths and moaned a lazy «hello» that made Melanie smile.
Nate left the couch for them and chose the armchair. From there, he could observe Lara in silence and wait for the time to go back home. He didn't know what to say, and the atmosphere seemed good enough without his intervention.
«I hope you like sweets,» his mother continued. «I made a cake with my own hands.»
«Cake?» Nate said, suddenly happy. His mother's cuisine was among the best things of his life. Only Lara could bake better, but that was a secret he wouldn't admit so easily.
And he couldn't be sure it wasn't all because they were mates. In the end, she could make him a vegetarian sandwich, and he would eat it without complaints.
«We don't like sweets very much,» Scarlet pointed out.
«Oh, I see. I also have a lot of other things. I was told to prepare enough meat for an army.»
«Who told you?» the little one asked.
Even though Scarlet had been shy, in the beginning, she was the first to talk, and she seemed to have forgotten her initial feelings. That woman seemed fine to her, and she glanced at her mommy with a smile and averted her attention to them in a second. She wasn't after Lara, which meant she wasn't an enemy.
«Samantha.»
«Oh, aunty Sam,» she realised, looking at the blond woman pretending to be distracted with her tea.
The night before, Scarlet hadn't called her aunt, but Jaden had said those words so often that they had found a place in the girl's mind.
«Correct!» Samantha exclaimed, suddenly vigil.
She smiled at Scarlet, happy the girl acknowledged her. She was the happiest aunt in the world with not just one but two cute pups to take care of. And she was happy the pups were going to accept their grandmother sooner or later.
«So, you already know about us from her,» Scarlet continued, tilting her head.
«Just a little,» Melanie explained. «But I'm looking forward to finding out if it's all true what she said. I want to know you better. Is that all right with you?»
Scarlet shrugged, confused. Was her opinion relevant?
Oh, but even Nate had asked her before starting to spend time together. If anything, that family would listen to her needs.. It wasn't something so relevant, but she was glad they wouldn't force their presence on her.
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