Chapter 143
A few hours later, we’re finally back in the camper. The last of the barbecue has been packed away, the fire doused, the children full and sleepy, even though Finn insists he’s wide awake even as he rubs his eyes.
My shoulders ache from the tension I’ve been carrying, but I check the solar panel as the kids flop onto the couches in the living room, relieved by the cool, air-conditioned air.
“The battery’s low,” I mutter, checking the display panel. The numbers flicker between 10% and 11% in a way that makes my stomach knot. Something’s still not right, even though the storm has passed and everything looks normal.
“I’ll start the generator,” Asher says, already heading for the door.
“Thank you,” I call after him, but he’s already gone.
When he returns, the roaring of the generator accompanies his re-entry.
The battery’s already gone back to 11% and is now steady, as if all the strange flickering never happened. Relief washes through me for all of three seconds before Asher launches into action.
“All of you, go wash up,” he orders the kids, who groan from their positions on the couch. Pip looks around at each of them, then mimics the groan.
“We don’t have much water p>
“We’ll sponge-bathe,” he corrects himself. “We need to conserve p>
“I already washed my hands,” Finn protests, but Asher gives him a Look.
The boy scurries into the bathroom, followed by Lily. Immediately, there’s a spat of squawking.
“Get out of my way p>
“Stop elbowing me, Jeridiot! Go stand in the shower p>
“But we aren’t even using it p>
“So? At least your ugly face won’t be next to me p>
Maddox sighs and gets up, but Asher waves him down. “I’ve got it p>
The older kid blinks and looks at me, and I shrug. The man’s in Daddy mode again; I have no explanation for him.
Asher wades into the fray of Finn and Lily’s constant squabbling. “Take turns. Finn, wash in the shower, just don’t keep the water on. Wet this washcloth with some soap and scrub yourself down p>
Lily squeezes out of the bathroom, her face a little white from being too close to Asher again, and jumps onto the couch beside Maddox, whispering, “I think he’s fattening Finn up to eat him later p>
Maddox shakes his head and pats hers. “He’s not going to eat us. Get over it, already p>
“He is,” she hisses. “Didn’t you see how mad he was when he first came back p>
“He wasn’t mad. He was concerned. There’s a difference p>
She grunts. “Concerned his dinner might have run away p>
My lips quirk. “Lily p>
“Lily,” Asher interrupts, popping his head out of the bathroom. “I’ll have you wait until Finn and Maddox are done, since you’re a girl p>
The color drains out of her face as Maddox heads to the bathroom. “Yes, Sir p>
Asher frowns. “You don’t have to call me ‘sir’, Lily. Just Asher is acceptable p>
“Right, Sir p>
While the kids take their turns in the bathroom—Asher even brings them their backpacks so they can get dressed in something clean—I’m ushered into a couch to sit and relax.
Pip is dragged to the kitchen sink, where Asher wipes her down on the counter and she does her best to make music with various utensils and the countertop. She’s surprisingly well-behaved for the wipe-down.
By the time she’s done, Maddox is back, and he takes Pip as Asher wipes down the counters. Then he goes around straightening cushions and folding the blanket on the daybed that Finn had disturbed with his bouncing earlier. He looks like some kind of deranged househusband, moving with military precision through domestic tasks.
Pip whines from her spot in Maddox’s lap, making grabby hands at nothing in particular. Maddox’s trying to work the TV to play one of her favorite cartoons.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I move toward her, but Asher is there in an instant, scooping her up.
“She’s thirsty,” he announces, as if he’s suddenly fluent in toddler. He grabs a sippy cup from the cabinet, fills it with water, and hands it to her without missing a beat.
Even Maddox looks surprised, his eyebrows raised as he turns on some show about a blue dog.
Finn groans. “Not this again p>
“Pip likes it, and we left her tablet behind. So either watch it or don’t p>
“Fine. But I want to choose what we watch when she goes to bed p>
“You’ll be going to bed at the same time,” the Lycan King says, not even glancing up to see the disappointment on his face.
“Aw, man p>
The older girl creeps out of the bathroom, trying to avoid Asher as she goes to squeeze onto the couch beside Maddox.
Thankfully, between this couch, the loveseat, and the daybed, there are enough places for all of us to sit. Finn, for example, has sprawled all over the daybed Asher just finished fixing. The comforter’s already a mess as he rolls around in boredom.
“Lily,” Asher says, and the girl freezes. “Come play a card game with me. I found one in the closet. Finn, you too p>
“Ca ga?” Pip asks, shaking her sippy cup.
“You can play, too,” he says seriously, taking her with him as he grabs a strange box out of the closet.
I squint at it. “I don’t think this is appropriate for a toddler p>
He frowns at the box. “It says it’s for humanity. How bad can it be p>
“It’s probably not appropriate for me, either,” Finn says, but he looks excited. “I’ve heard about this game. It’ll be fun p>
Lily hesitates, glancing at me before reluctantly joining Asher at the dinette. Finn’s a lot more enthused, and Pip just wants to grab anything within reach, demolishing every card at her fingertips.
Asher reads through the instructions, then explains the rules to the children like he’s some sort of expert.
Finn suddenly slides out of the dinette and comes running at me. “Violet, come play with us! It’s more fun with more people p>
Before he can launch himself at me, Asher’s got him by the back of the shirt.
“Violet is tired,” he says, redirecting Finn to the dinette. “Why don’t you help me with Pip’s hair after this? It’s all tangled p>