Chapter 5 New Shop

“Mum! Mum!” A loud, familiar scream interrupted me, and I smiled. I looked up from my sewing machine to see my daughter running towards me, a frown on her face.

“What’s wrong, my love?” I asked, picking her up. It was probably another squabble with her brother. I placed her gently on the sewing machine. I pinched her cheeks jokingly, trying to make her smile.

“Timothy hit me!” She grumbled, and I tried to hold in my laughter, but I failed.

I laughed; you would think two children who spent nine months together in the belly would be more friendly with each other. Sarah and Timothy were almost always at each other's necks, which was adorable.

Sometimes.

“Call him for me.” I put her on the floor. She ran to call her twin brother. I would warn him, and they would probably be back to playing with each other, but in the next ten minutes, the same process would repeat itself. I am used to it at this point.

They both waddled in a few minutes later, arguing with all their might. I watched in amusement as they tried to be louder than the others while proving their point.

“I didn’t hit you intentionally, It was a mistake!” Timothy yelled, his frustration evident on his face.

“It’s not a mistake, you’re lying!” Sarah countered back. I rolled my eyes, it was time to step in as the adult.

“Okay, that’s enough from both of you,” I said firmly, standing up.

“Any more words from the both of you, and you’d end up in the naughty corner.”

“But–” Sarah started, but she went mute as soon as she saw my face.

“Your brother said it was a mistake. Tim, did you apologize?” I turned to Timothy. Judging by the way he fiddled with his tiny fingers, he didn’t apologize to her. Hence the escalation of the argument.

“When you hit people even as a mistake, you apologize to them. It’s basic courtesy. Now apologize to your sister.” I scolded him, and he turned to Sarah before apologizing. Sarah hugged him tight, and he did the same.

I smiled, watching them scurry out of the room, they were off to play while I finished this dress I was making.

Watching them always brought me joy, especially knowing how much I have been through for their sake. Life after leaving the pack was difficult for a while, a long while, actually. Even worse when I’d found out I was pregnant for Alpha Jackson. Things went downhill from the point I found out I was pregnant.

I had no support, and worse, I was on my own in a new place with no family members. Pregnancy wasn’t on my bucket list. I was just trying to survive after my own mate threw me out to the cold.

“Congratulations!” The nurse announced, giving me a bright smile, and I felt the air get knocked out of me. I stared at her like she had just suddenly grown two heads, and I wanted to understand this cruel joke.

“Wha-what!?” I asked, taken aback. I had just decided to come there because I’d been feeling nauseous and very sick. I thought I was coming down with the flu, and pregnancy wasn’t even on the bucket list.

“You’re pregnant!” She handed me the details of the test; I scanned through it. I could feel bile rising up my throat, and I was struggling to keep my anxiety at bay. I was just starting life afresh, but the goddess sent me Rick, my own form of answered prayers.

It had been difficult to get through, especially the birth; I gave birth to my children in a dingy hospital. My boyfriend was there every step of the way. We weren’t even dating at then but he managed to be there for me.

He was a rogue wolf like me, too, he had run away from his pack to start life fresh in the human world, and we kicked it off. We both have found our mates and have been rejected by them, and it only made sense to be together plus the twins needed a father figure in their life.

I am just grateful for where I am, with Rick and the kids and our little family. I love this little life of ours.

****

A loud knock on the door interrupted my sewing session and I got up before making my way to the door. Sarah and Tim have gone quiet and I’m guessing they probably slept off already. I will check on them later when I finish work.

“Amanda!” A familiar voice shouted from the door before knocking loudly. It was Sadie, my friend. I walked to the door before pushing it open gently and Sadie stood there looking at me.

Her bright green eyes complimented her features and I returned her smile as I closed the door after me. Sadie was human, one of the few people I related to within the neighbourhood.

“Good morning, Amanda! I have amazing news.” She bobbed on her feet, I could tell too. She was struggling to keep the excitement at bay.

“Alright, spit it out, love.” I leaned against the door, looking at her expectantly.

“Papa has found a shop for you! For a good price too!” She said excitedly.

I stood up straight. “Really? Are you sure?”

She nodded excitedly, becknoning me. “Come see it, it’s the old Rina shop.”

I started to step out of the door but then remembered my kids. “Hold a second please.” I told Sadie.

I walked back into the house, calling for Sarah and Timothy.

“Sarah! Timothy!” Where were they!

Timothy walked into the room, holding one of my shirts. “Here mama.” He mumbled, holding up his hands for me to carry him.

I smiled and carried him. “Where’s your sister?” I asked him.

He pointed to the room, where I could see a glimpse of the horror they had caused. It was a mess and it would take quite some time to get it back to the ol

A few of my clothes lay outside the door. I hurried walked towards the room and saw her rifling through my wardrobe, throwing stuff to the floor.

“Sarah!” I scolded. She straighzted, immediately looking guilty.

“What on earth are you doing?” I asked.

She mumbled something but I didn’t hear.

“We’re going out, loves. Papa Sadie has found mama a shop!” I said to them.

They both smiled.

I carried Timothy on my arm, walking straight to the front door.

Sadie rushed forward to carry Sarah, she picked her up from the floor effortlessly. The kids love sadie too, almost everyone in the neighborhood loves sadie actually, she’s very nice to everyone.

I smiled my thanks and we both started off to her father's house. Smithson Town had welcomed me into their fold so warmly.

Of course, none of them knew I was a wolf, they might not have welcomed me as closely. I guarded my pups closely, making sure I didn’t let them out of my sight for too long.

If they were anything like me, it wouldn’t be for a while yet. The town was hustling and bubbling, people marching to and from work.

“Hi Sadie, I really loved the gown you made for my birthday, Lisa’s daughter will be coming over to make hers!” Mena shouted from across the street.

“Okay Mena,” I yelled back. The little reviews from people like her help keep me in business.

I’d discovered a passion for fashion designing a sewing a few years ago, it helped me make better than a decent living in this town, I’d been looking for a shop since I couldn’t continue using my home as a work base.

Thankfully, the place Sadie’s father found for me is about to be a lifesaver. The twins will be able to go to school while I fully focus on fashion design. Rick and I are planning on expanding the family and getting married.

I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn’t notice when I bumped into someone. I looked up to see Rick staring back at me, I didn’t even realize that he was out of work already. Rick worked as a doctor in the town’s hospital.

I smiled immediately.

“Rick, I thought you were working!” I exclaimed but he just smiled as he pulled me close to me and kissed my forehead. He ruffled the twins head. He nodded a Hello to Sadie, who waved back with a smile.

“I wanted to take a walk and grab a coffee. I was going to stop by home too.” He said.

I smiled at him. He was always so sweet.

“I take it the new doctor must be good enough to leave.”

“Yup.” He nodded. “She’s almost as good as me, she can manage the hospital for now.”

I smiled, and we waved him bye as we continued to

Sadie’s Father greeted us with a gruff laugh, and a big hug. Sadie inherited his niceness. He ushered us out of the house and into the new shop.

My mouth dropped open. “It’s already been set up?!”

The shop itself was a light beige, with a waiting area and empty wracks to be filled up with my clothing. There were dressing rooms at the back and there was a receptionist desk.

“When did you do all of this?” I turned to ask him.

“I had Mana do it.” He gave a small smile. “The money you gave me covered it all, and you still have about a little left”

I smiled at him and was about to speak when Rick’s call came in.

“Hello, my love. It wasn’t much of an emergency. How do you like the shop?”

I giggled. “Oh my goddess, I love it! I love it so much.” I twirled, moving deeper into the shop. I stopped by the large window overseeing the roadside and I was looking outside. This place was really a place of my dreams.

“It’s like the shop of my Dre-” the words dried in my throat as I watched a very familiar figure stepped out of a vehicle.

“Jackson?” I muttered in disbelief.

“Who?” Andy asked over the line but I couldn’t reply to him. All that mattered was getting the hell out of here and not being spotted by him.

He wasn’t alone, and they started to make their way towards me.

shit!