Hedgehog for Hawke by Fel Fern
Hawke/ River
Hawke
“Are you sure you can handle Liz and Meg on your own?” Manny asked me for the third time that morning.
Charlie yawned in his arms. The girls looked at me excitedly. Manny had dressed them in cute, identical yellow sundresses. He even did their hair in matching braids.
Dang. Girls were so adorable. If River and I finally settled down and had babies of our own—whoa. I shouldn’t go there yet.
“We’ll be fine. Promise,” I said with as much confidence as I could muster.
“It’s not the girls we’re worried about, it’s you,” Walker said. My brother finished making his cup of coffee. He walked around the kitchen counter to join us.
“Me?” I scoffed. “Please. Liz and Meg love me. I won’t let anything happen to them.”
Walker and Manny traded worried looks.
“Guys, stop acting like it’s the end of the world. You’re both making me nervous,” I said with a laugh.
“Remember to always be on high alert. I love my girls, but they always run into trouble,” Walker said in an all too serious voice.
I started doubting my decision, but screw it. I was determined to do this. I didn’t tell Walker and Manny about my nefarious plans. They’d think I was using my nieces for nefarious reasons. Well, I supposed that was true.
“Loosen up, bro. Remember, we talked about you being too overprotective when it comes to your mate and kids?” I elbowed Walker in the ribs.
He scowled at me. I had surprised both of them I arrived bright and early at their doorstep. They thought I’d been joking when I told them I wanted to spend the afternoon with the girls.
“So, what are your plans?” Walker demanded, ignoring my earlier statement completely.
“Is this an interrogation?” I joked.
Manny touched Walker’s shoulder. “You three have a good time, okay?”
“The best,” I agreed.
I held out my hands to Liz and Meg. They both took each hand. Walker and Manny, ever the doting parents, followed us all the way to the front door.
Walker still wore a frown on his face. I had a feeling if Manny hadn’t agreed to this, my brother would refuse my request. Good thing Walker couldn’t say no to his Manny.
He might be the boss when it came to running his own company but when it came to Manny? He was a pushover. Watching the couple’s antics was always entertaining.
I decided not to keep my brother waiting in suspense. “No fancy plans. I’m taking them to the park. Maybe buy them ice cream later.”
“Ice cream?” Liz asked excitedly.
“And pie?” Meg pressed.
I shrugged. “Sure. There’s a diner near the park.”
“One each? No sharing?” Meg asked, tugging at my hand.
Aw. These two little angels were so cute and sweet sometimes. There was absolutely no reason for Walker and Manny to be so apprehensive. I could handle my nieces just fine.
“That won’t be a problem,” I agreed.
“Extra cherries and chocolate syrup?” Liz asked.
“We’ll see,” I said. I turned my attention back to Manny and Walker. “See? I’m a natural.”
“Wait until you have kids of your own,” Walker grumbled.
“Has someone caught Hawke’s eye?” Manny asked, looking at Walker expectedly.
“Let’s talk about my love life another time,” I quickly said.
Walker narrowed his eyes at me. I quickly ushered the girls out the front door before Walker could figure out my devious plans. Once I helped the girls into the back seat of my car, I got behind the driver’s wheel.
“Liz, look” I overheard Meg saying.
Oh no. I turned around and snatched the magazine Meg was holding. Had she seen the cover? I started sweating profusely. I should’ve checked my car for any adult material before inviting them inside.
“So, uh, girls. I’d prefer you don’t mention this little incident to your dads,” I said.
Liz and Meg gave each other knowing looks. Dang. I knew the twins were more like me than Manny or Walker.
Growing up, I’d been a terror. I played pranks on my brothers all the time and got into all sorts of trouble. I had a feeling I was about to be blackmailed by a pair of four-year-olds. Luckily, I knew how to handle this sticky situation.
“How about this? You guys can pick any dessert on the menu later,” I said.
There. I made the first move before either of them could take advantage of their poor Uncle Hawke. Hopefully, the prospect of unlimited dessert would help them forget what they just saw.
I was pretty sure neither of them opened the magazine. They only caught a glimpse of it for a few seconds. Did that make me a bad uncle?
“Any?” Liz asked eagerly.
“Within limits,” I said.
“Sneaky,” Meg muttered under her breath.
“Heh. You can’t one-up me, girls. Uncle Hawke’s the best at what he does,” I said, starting the car engine. Walker ran up to the car. He knocked on my window and held up a pink backpack.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“An emergency bag I packed the night before,” Walker said.
Liz and Meg groaned. I opened the door and Walker handed the bag over.
“Forgot anything else?” I asked.
“Nope. You have my number. Meg also has a cell phone and has all our numbers,” Walker said.
“You gave a 4-year-old a cellphone?” I asked, surprised.
“For emergencies. Right, Meg?” Walker asked. Good grief. At this rate, the girls and I would never leave this driveway.
“Yes, dad,” Meg said with a nod.
My brother looked surprised. Then his face turned all soft, and he wore a goofy smile on his face.
“Oh my God, can you let us leave already?” I demanded.
“Take care of my girls, Hawke. If they so much as get a scratch, I’ll rip your throat out,” Walker said in a scary and low voice.
I waved him off. Walker would never do that, would he? Finally, the girls and I were on our way.
“It’s time for Operation Win River’s Heart,” I said out loud.
“Who’s River?” Liz asked.
“An Omega I want to impress.”
“Uncle Hawke’s mate?” Meg asked curiously.
“Not yet,” I said.
Mate. That word frightened me in so many ways. I never pictured myself being tied down by any Omega, but after meeting River? I changed my mind. I knew there was potential between us. River just needed to give me a chance.
* * *
River
I nervously started tapping my foot while Michael and I waited to be called into Principal Walden’s office. Mrs. Talbot, the snooty receptionist who asked us to take our seats and wait, flashed me a look of annoyance.
Michael reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. I stopped what I was doing. What kind of example was I setting for Michael? I should be the one comforting him, telling him this interview would be a breeze—except that would be a lie.
Mrs. Talbot picked up the phone on her desk.
“I understand, sir,” she said. She placed the telephone down and stood up. “Principal Walden will see you now. Please call your partner immediately. Mr. Walden will be meeting three other parents this morning.”
“No partner. It’s just Michael and me,” I said.
Mrs. Talbot adjusted her glasses and looked me up and down, then assessed Michael. Michael gripped my hand hard. I got annoyed.
What was her problem? I sent in all the necessary paperwork. I didn’t lie about being a single parent. While it was tempting to tell her I raised Michael on my own just fine, I kept my mouth shut. I couldn’t afford to screw this opportunity up for my kid.
“This way,” she finally said after a long-suffering sigh. She opened the door to the principal’s office.
“Mr. Harmon and his son here to see you, Mr. Walden,” she announced.
“Come in, Mr. Harmon,” said a papery voice. “Please have a seat.”
Principal Walden turned out to be a gentleman in his late fifties. Despite the sweltering heat, he wore a tweed jacket, a matching tweed waistcoat and wool trousers. Walden nodded to the two armchairs in front of his desk. Michael and I sat.
He drummed his fingers on his desk and seemed to be waiting for something… or someone.
“Will Michael’s Alpha dad not be joining us?” he asked.
Oh no. I had a feeling this interview was about to go from bad to worst. “No. I mentioned in my application that it’s just Michael and me. Michael’s not my son, he’s my nephew.”
Walden licked his lips, then finally looked at the paper in front of him. He put on his glasses and pursed lips. “So you have legal guardianship of Michael? Did something happen to his parents?”
Why didn’t I think this through? Dang it. I just wanted to put Michael in a good preschool. I never expected to be put on the spot like this.
“No, I’m not quite his legal guardian,” I began. Whenever I tried to pin Reece down and discuss Michael’s future, he’d always change the topic. I spent most of this morning trying to get a hold of him but he ignored all my calls. Typical Reece.
“I see,” Walden said with a frown. He stopped reading the paper in front of him and started asking me a series of uncomfortable questions, like how Michael came to my care. “And your brother couldn’t be bothered to attend such an important interview? I’ll have you know, Mr. Harmon, that this is a complete waste of time. There are anxious parents on the waiting list, parents from good families—”
That was the final straw. I stood up and Michael, wide-eyed, did the same.
“Then I won’t waste your time any further,” I said in the most frosty voice I could muster.
I should’ve seen the signs earlier. I blanched after seeing the school fees, but I figured I could make it work. Claws Inc. paid me a decent salary. If I scrimped hard enough, Michael could go to this prestigious school.
According to my research, students here would go on to promising schools. Regret filled me. I wished I hadn’t subjected Michael and myself to this torturous interview.
Holding Michael’s hand, we stormed out of Walden’s office.
“Over so quickly?” Mrs. Talbot asked in a sweet and poisonous voice.
“Screw you and your pretentious school,” I said shortly.
She gave me a shocked look as Michael and I left the school. It was a big and old colonial building with some history attached to it, according to the school’s website. I could breathe a little easier once we were in the parking lot.
“Uncle River… angry?” Michael asked.
I took a deep breath and realized I was staring at my car for a few seconds.
“It got a little heated in there, didn’t it? I’m so sorry you had to see me lose my temper,” I said. “It won’t happen again.”
Michael shook his head. “Don’t like that school.”
I smiled. No matter what happened, I could always rely on Michael to take my side. “Listen, I think I could use some fresh air. Maybe let’s take a walk in the park like we originally planned?” I asked him.
“Ice cream?” Michael asked me.
“Oh yeah, I think we both deserve some comfort food,” I agreed.
I loosened the tie I wore for the interview. Heck. I spent an hour getting dressed. I really wanted to give Principal Walden good first impression. In the end, Walden didn’t even bother giving us a chance. At the very least, one good thing came out of that interview.
I really needed to have a serious talk with Reece. It would be a difficult and long conversation, but I needed to know what his future plans for Michael were.