Legend Has It Book II ~ Complete

Chapter 5 Chances

PHOEBE

Gen MindLinked me as I was heading to the office and told me I didn’t need to be there until 10. She asked me to relay the message to staff and asked that my parents, brothers, Conrad and Kelli all come at 10 as well for a special surprise.

I decided to head to the Dining Room to see if Chance might be there.

He was so attractive and funny, but also very responsible. Yesterday, we helped Natalie get Dan up to her apartment and on the couch. Coffee and food had calmed Dan down and she wanted to talk to him until he passed out. She also wanted to be able to cure Dan’s inevitable hangover and didn’t want to intrude on Chance’s sleep.

Chance had only been in the packhouse for Gen and Phoenix’s wedding and then Parker’s birthday party so I gave him a tour.

I was sworn off boys, but Chance was so easy to talk to. Even though I was technically entertaining him with the tour, I didn’t feel like I had to force a conversation with Chance like I had with Ethan.

Huh. My heart didn’t hurt even a little at the thought of Ethan finding his Mate.

My heart did jump just a little when I recognized Chance’s cinnamon brown, shaggy hair. His back was to me, but he was wearing the same blue and white flannel shirt as yesterday.

There were a handful of guests and as the King’s sister, it was my duty to give a greeting to those who looked up and made eye contact. Some wouldn’t simply because they were engrossed in conversation or whatever they were reading.

Esther was also trained to scan the crowd—we never wanted to seem unapproachable. She had decades more experience than I and spotted me right away.

“Ah, good morning, my princess.” I tried not to flinch. Esther had always called me a princess, even before my brother was promoted from Alpha to King. Now, however, it rattled me a little, especially since Chance was within earshot.

I didn’t want him to think I was unapproachable!

“Good morning, Esther!” I changed directions to go hug the woman who had been like another grandmother to me.

“Did you get the morning off?” She wanted to know.

“No, I just don’t have to go in until 10. Gen gave us all the morning off until then.”

“Oh!” Esther seemed surprised. She patted her hair. “Does my hair look ok?”

“It’s perfect—Esther, are you expecting a beau?”

My mouth formed an O at Esther’s blush. “Shhh,” she whispered. “Please don’t tell anyone.”

I tugged her around the corner, before pumping for information. “Who?!? Tell me! I’m dying to know!!”

“I—I don’t know if I can. It’s only been ten years since Hank passed.”

In the scheme of things, since we lived longer lives, ten years was a pretty short time. Except when you were lonely.

“Esther Mae! Hank would not have wanted you to be alone this long. I’ll tell you what. You tell me something and I’ll tell you something. Quid Pro Quo. Then lips sealed. Pinky swear!”

Esther might be more than a century older than me, but she was still a female and we took pinky swears seriously!

It was her turn to form an O. “Are you over Ethan already?”

I made a zipper motion over my mouth. “You first!”

“Ok, ok.” She took a deep breath. “Dr. Lockwood!”

I jumped up and down, excited for her. “Oh, Esther! He’s perfect for you!”

“Now your turn!”

“Well, I don’t want to get ahead of myself because he’s eighteen, but I had a really nice evening with Chance after Conrad and Daniel made asses of themselves yesterday.”

“Gamma Leland’s boy? Oh, he’s a very well mannered young man. I agree. Go slow. Don’t rush anything. But it looks like he’s bored out there. Probably waiting for Dan. I’m so happy he found his Mate.”

“Me, too. What should I say when I go over there?”

“I was getting ready to go refill his coffee. Here, take this carafe—and get yourself a cup. Tell him I got busy and sent you. See if he invites you to sit.”

I pecked Esther on the cheek. “Thank you. I love you!”

“Love you, too! Now go, before he leaves! I’ll bring you your usual in just a bit.”

I grabbed a tray so I could also take sugar and creamer and put on my best hostess face.

Before I could get to Chance, Al and Nurse Darla came in from the opposite. Both waved.

“Oh, good,” Al waved. “A friendly face.”

Chance, who was seated with his back to me off to my right, but in between me and Al, turned to see who the doctor was greeting and smiled.

“Do we sit anywhere?” Al asked.

“Anywhere you like. We only do seating arrangements for events.”

“Excellent. Are you helping out?”

“Sort of. Esther asked me to refill my new friend’s cup while she worked on a room service order.” I nodded towards Chance, who was still looking my way.

“Oh, greetings, young man.” Al switched directions. “It was Chance, if I remember correctly?”

“Yes, sir,” Chance rushed to stand and shake hands. “Please, join me. I was just about to invite Miss Phoebe as well.” His eyes turned to me. “I heard you were here to refill my cup.” He winked.

Don’t be suspicious.

“I have a full carafe—”

“But only one extra cup. I don’t want to intrude,” Al insisted. “We will let you two young ‘uns enjoy your time without us old folks ruining it.” He gestured for Darla to choose a table closer to the front. “I’ll probably see you at 10.”

Thank you, Al. You’re so sweet.

“Esther or one of the apprentices will be with you soon. It’s room service hours.”

::Esther! Al and Nurse Darla just arrived. Don’t fret, she’s happily mated.::

::I know, but thanks for thinking of me!::

I turned to Chase who was still standing. He held a chair out for me. What a gentleman!

“Thank you.”

“It’s the least I could do for someone who brings coffee.” He smiled and his green eyes twinkled. “Did you get your paper turned in ok?” He asked and took the tray from me.

He remembered. It was going to be hard not to crush on this one.

“I did, thank you for asking. I presume you’re waiting for Daniel?”

“Uh, no, actually. I was about to leave when I noticed your arrival. I thought it would be rude to jet without saying hello and now, I’m not about to waste coffee.”

I couldn’t tell if he was flirting or merely being polite. I decided to go with polite and not to make an awkward situation. For now, I’d stick to the Hostess role.

“Was your room ok?”

“Perfect. Here, you brought the coffee. The least I can do is pour it.” His eyes glazed. “Excuse me for a moment, my father is MindLinking.”

I prepared my coffee—I couldn’t drink it black—while I waited.

“Ok, sorry about that.” Chance apologized as his eyes unglazed. “So, where were we? Ah yes, coffee. Are you having breakfast? I just ate, so don’t worry about eating in front of me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of worrying,” I teased. “Ok, yes, I would. It goes against the values my father has tried to instill me.”

We both laughed.

“I’m glad I caught you, and I hope you don’t think I’m abusing our new friendship, but I wanted to ask if you know who I would contact about finding my own place. Our little Council has decided to halt building here until they find out if we’re going to evacuate or not.”

“I hadn’t heard that yet.”

“Just voted on the other day. I’m not sure which. I meet myself coming and going sometimes.” Chance laughs. “Morty is planning to have us switch to two week shifts with one week off while we get the Vacation Realm up and going. I thought it’d be nice to have my own spot to relax, you know? I love the guest house Gen has us in, but Alex’s kids are getting big enough, they’d like to have their own room. If I find my own place, Ashlyn could have it.”

“I may be stating the obvious, but I know you travel a lot and may not have gotten the memo. Kelli is who you would see about a room here. It’s actually a perk of being a civil employee since you have to be Active Duty for a suite at the Armory.”

“I’d actually forgotten that. Thanks for the reminder.”

“Do you want me to get you in with her?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m a big boy now—or so mom keeps saying,” he laughed again. “I don’t want to abuse our new friendship. I would, however, accept help in decorating if I get to that point. I don’t know where any shops are here and mom’s going to be assisting Anne Simons. I know they plan to go to Blue Moon to interview some potential Silver Moon descendants who are too elderly to travel. I don’t know what else they plan.”

“I’d be happy to help.”

“Thank you. You know, it kind of sucks being the youngest. By the time parents get to us, they’re over it.”

“So, so true. I’ve always been told that when Phoenix got his first bloody nose, mom freaked. But I got one and she told me not to drip on the carpet.”

“Ouch! I can relate, for sure!”

{~>*•**•*<~}

STELLA

Shortly after the message from Phoebe to meet in the Recovery Room at 10, I received a MindLink from Kelli asking if I could meet with Natalie this morning. Kelli wasn’t one to pry into the personal business of someone she didn’t know well, so I didn’t know if Natalie wanted to meet regarding my son or her new Mate.

::Send her in.::

“Good morning, Natalie,” I greeted when she arrived. “How are you after the shock of yesterday?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Natalie had the deer in the headlights look.

“Come in, sit down. I apologize for my bluntness. Are you ok?”

“I-I think so. There’s something I need to get off my chest, and I’m so far from my own Mother—. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Dan while he was inebriated.” Her voice trailed off. “Um, I had a Mate, but, um—“

“You’re widowed?”

“N-no. Rejected.”

Oh. I took a deep breath. “Well, I won’t give you the ‘you’re worth it’ or ‘what if’ speech. I sense you want to bury that and figure out where to go from here?”

“Yes!” She seemed to release a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. “I don’t want Dan to get all macho or anything nor do I want him to think I’ve lied to him. Second Chance Mates are rare. I never thought I’d be Gifted with this.”

“I’m glad you think this is a Gift and not a burden. Dan is a good man and I believe he will respect your wishes to leave the past alone.”

“Do you really think so? There’s one other little matter, that of an age difference of almost 10 years.”

“Seems trivial to me.”

Natalie blushed. “Drunk Dan didn’t mind. I don’t know what Sober Dan will think.”

“Lucky for you, you’ll see Sober Dan a lot more often. Would you like to get breakfast?”

“Not really—I, uh, I don’t know if he’s left yet. I didn’t sleep well last night after he fell asleep on the couch. I healed his hangover before I left for work and then found out Gen gave us some time off. I-i just need a little t-time to—reconcile the fact that my life isn’t headed in the same direction anymore.”

“I know the perfect place where a girl can sort her thoughts for a while and a discreet way to get there. Come with me, Second Chance winner.”

I led Natalie to my favorite place as a newly Mated woman—a quiet, almost hidden nook in the Library. Fittingly enough, it was very near the section of books we kept on Healing. We took the service elevator to the second floor.

“I don’t want you to feel like you are lying to anyone, so I’m assigning you to a little research. It’s no one’s business if it’s just a little soul searching.” I winked.

“Thank you,” Natalie whispered.