Aednat and the Wolf

Chapter 34 Lake Hendersen

      August 15, 1958

Both couples walked hand in hand to the lodge. "Your Mom and Dad should be here later today," Aednat said.

"I'm so happy we came," Rosemary said, "Bertha said she'll fly your Mom and Dad here in a couple of days"

"Why did you ask for one of the larger cabins Aediy?" David asked.

"More room to party," Aednat responded then giggled, "Greta is unpacking her stuff now and the other three are moving in now."

"We're going to be overrun with red haired ruffians," Eric teased. "What will your Mom say about us being married?"

"I'm eighteen, much older than what Aediy was," Rosemary said airily. "And they both said I could."

"I'm really looking forward to driving again," David said, "That's the one thing I miss living in Avalon." They walked into the lodge and Aednat and Rosemary ran to Ted to give him a hug.

"I did manage to get that panel van for you girls. I bought it at the police auction."

"Did you paint it?" Aednat asked.

"Candy apple red," Ted responded.

"YES!" Aednat and Rosemary said together.

"Will Iron Mountain be safe with those two driving? Don't get caught your permits expire soon. They don't take well to delinquent hooligans in the U.P." David teased.

"I'll take my road test while we're up here, Rosie too,"

The rest of the large Hendersen clan arrived during the day and Aednat and Rosemary helped with the meal preparation. Rosemary said, "Mom and Dad just pulled in," then she screamed, "JOEY, JOEY, OH MY GOD, J-O-E-E-E-Y?" David looked as a very tall emaciated young man stepped out of the car. Rosemary was in tears as she ran to him. David was also close to tears as he approached his younger brother. Rosemary jumped to him and Joseph held her as she wept and he swung her around.

"I've missed you Butterball!"

David also hugged his brother, "Dam you look ghastly bro!"

"I'm just happy to be home," Joseph said.

"Joe was a POW," his father said. "We just heard that he was going to be released a week ago. We didn't know he was alive."

"Mom's going to do her best to fatten me up," Joseph teased.

Aednat whispered in David's ear, "You called him little Joe...he's taller than you!"

David laughed, "This is my wife Aediy, Joe." Then smiling said to Aednat, "I was always taller."

"Until you took that summer job as a fire lookout in Detour," Joseph said.

"Yup, came home to find you suddenly taller."

"Joey, this is my husband Eric," Rosemary said.

"When did you..."

"Just after my birthday," Rosemary said, "We eloped."

"I was hoping to be a grandmother by now," Ruth teased.

"We've been laying down on the job," Rosemary teased. "Right Aediy?"

"How's the bakery?" William asked.

"We're doing great Dad," David said, "Eric and Rosie are full partners, and we are adding a pizza shop. It opens when we get back."

"You'll have to come see it!" Rosemary said excitedly, "We live in apartments above the shop. It has a roof garden. It so beautiful, you'll love the flowers."

"Our donuts are very popular," David added, "We hope the pizza will be too. The espresso machine was a real hit. There is nothing like our shop in Fata Morgana." The chaos surrounding the arrivals continued until late that night.

The next morning Greta stood on the dock by the lake. She was blushing as Aednat called the Skinny Dip Polar Bear Club to order and watched as the five others discarded their towels and jumped naked into the lake.

"Jump in Greta!" Aednat shouted encouragingly. Looking about to ensure they were indeed alone Greta dropped her towel and joined the others in the lake. Another larger splash followed.

"Ulfy! You made it," Aednat shouted as she climbed onto the wolf's back and Rosemary grabbed onto the tail.

"And miss the second annual Polar Bear Club," Siofra said.

"Did Leman come too?" Aednat asked.

"He's putting our stuff into a cabin now. I'll shift back into human form like Leman after we swim."

"I never had a chance to tell you how sorry I am about losing Loki," Aednat whispered.

"I told Leman this some time ago, life does not begin with birth, nor ends with death. All of us are eternal beings. Love also is eternal and those relationships too are eternal."

"I believe that too," Rosemary said. They continued swimming for several minutes.

"I hear others coming," Siofra said.

"Quick grab the towels!" Stacey said as they clamored out of the lake and wrapped in towels. All of them were giggling and dripping wet as they ran to their cabin.