UnleashingtheAnimal by J L Taft Page B

haven’t been answering your phone,” her
mother said as she gave Shane a once-over, shock coating her words.
    “I was going to call you,” Blair said as a vain hope to
please her.
    “Well, you didn’t and I have been worried sick about you!”
It was the same voice she had used when Blair had been twelve.
    Blair quickly decided she was done with this. “I am an adult
and I am sorry if I worried you but I need the space to live my own life.” Her
hands clenched into fists. “So if you can’t give me that space then I can no
longer be a part of yours.”
    Her mother blinked back at her, surprised at her outburst. “Is
that really how you feel, Blair?”
    “Yes. It is.”
    “All you had to do was say so. Contrary to what you may
think, I do love you and just want you to be happy.”
    “Really?” It was Blair’s turn to be surprised.
    “Yes, of course. That’s all any mother wants.”
    Blair hugged her mother without warning and after a
surprised second her mother hugged her back.
    Pulling back, Blair motioned Shane over to them.
    “Mom, I want you to meet Shane,” Blair said as he came to
stand next to her.
    “Mrs. Sanford,” he said he stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet
you.”
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Shane,” she said as she
shook his hand gingerly.
    There was an awkward silence until her mother noticed the
boxes on the porch. “Blair, are you moving?”
    “I, umm…” Blair stumbled.
    Shane put his arm around her, making her feel stronger just
by being close. “Yeah, I am moving in with Shane, Mom. He lives in the next
cabin over.”
    If Shane was surprised he didn’t show it but his face broke
out into a grin.
    “Blair, do you think that’s wise? You haven’t known him for
very long and you know how your father and I feel about living together out of
wedlock.”
    “Mom, really, no one believes in that anymore.”
    “Actually, Mrs. Sanford…” Shane cut in, “I can try to take
care of that for you right now.” He dug in his pocket and pulled out a ring.
Blair felt the color drain from her face.
    He dropped to one knee before her and took her hand. “Blair,
I love you and I know we are meant to be together. You are the one I have been
waiting for all this time. Please, marry me and invade my space for the rest of
my life.”
    Blair stared down at him in shock. Was he asking just to
ease her mother’s mind? Or was he asking because he thought he should, because
of the whole mate thing?
    He just looked at her with that little smirk on his face as
if he was waiting for her to say something and she wasn’t going to disappoint
him.
    “I’ll not be a pushover and say yes just because you think I
should. You might think it’s fate and all that but I want the real thing! If
you are asking me because you think you have to then forget it!” She was
spitting mad now and she meant every word.
    “There’s that feistiness I was waiting for.” He said it
quietly but Blair and her mother both heard him. “I mean it, Blair, I want you
for you and for nothing else, now, tomorrow and all the days after that.
Please, marry me.”
    “Fine, but you better keep your word.”
    He slid a platinum ring on her finger and she realized he
had already planned this out. He stood and she threw herself in his arms, tears
of happiness running down her face. She kissed his cheeks and his nose and his
ears, whatever skin she could reach she lavished kisses on.
    She had forgotten all about her mother until she said,
“Well, it looks like you have everything under control, Blair.” Tears were
softly falling down her cheeks.
    Shane released her and she went to her mom, hugging her
again. “I really will call you, Mom.”
    “I know, honey. All right then. I’m off. Take care of my
daughter, Shane.”
    “I will, ma’am.”
    They watched from the porch as she drove away and Blair knew
that she had really gotten what she wanted. To have a fresh start and the
chance at a different life. It might not