“Teri.” She shook Leah’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Yes, I’m so happy to finally get the chance. I kept meaning to come by the Park and say hello, but, well.” She hefted Emily in one arm. “Somehow life keeps getting in the way. So I’m really glad you’re having this party.”
“Me, too.” Another woman appeared behind Leah. Where Leah was dressed smartly but sensibly, in a sweater and nice jeans, this woman was wearing a gorgeous cocktail dress and strappy heels, with dramatic makeup that showed off her large eyes and full mouth. Teri barely kept her own mouth from dropping open.
“I’m Alethia,” the beautiful woman said, holding out a hand. “Hi! Leah and I are so happy to have another girl around to help hold the fort against all these men.”
“This is the first I’m hearing of this,” said Jeff, the cheerful young ranger who was Leah’s fiancé.
“I respect it,” said Grey, Alethia’s mate, coming up behind Jeff. His voice was quiet but deep, the kind you automatically wanted to listen to. “They need a pack just like we do.”
“So,” Zach’s voice drifted in from the hallway, “we’re going to let them chat while we take our manly selves into the kitchen and take care of the food.”
“What are you cooking?” Jeff made an immediate about-face and went to follow Zach, and Grey sighed and trailed behind him.
Leah shook her head, looking after Jeff with a fond smile. “That man really loves to cook.”
“Adadada!” said Emily, waving her arms.
“That’s right, dada,” Leah told her, transferring her fond smile to her daughter. “That’s dada.”
“Sit down,” Teri managed, realizing that she’d forgotten her manners in the sudden flurry of people. “I think we’re all here. Joel begged off because of other commitments,” which really meant that he’d rather spend the night in the mountains, but Zach had just sighed and shook his head and told her not to insist, “and we invited Cal, but...”
“But Cal thinks hanging out with people just for fun is a waste of time,” Alethia finished, with a bell-like laugh. “That’s okay. One day we’ll drag him out somewhere.”
“Good luck,” Teri couldn’t help but say.
Alethia smiled conspiratorially. “Trust me. I’ll make it happen someday.”
“I wouldn’t put it past her,” Leah said, as she settled herself and Emily on the couch. “You want a cracker? I’m sorry, there’ll be crumbs,” she told Teri.
“Don’t worry about it,” Teri assured her. “We’ve got a vacuum. Here, can I give it to her?”
“Of course.”
Teri took a cracker from the plate and held it out to Emily, holding her breath. She really didn’t have any experience with babies, and she hoped Emily didn’t start to cry or anything.
She shouldn’t have worried. Emily grabbed the cracker immediately and focused all her attention on cramming it into her mouth.
“You like that, huh,” Teri observed.
“Food is a big win for her these days,” said Leah. “I’m enjoying it while I can, because I know the I Only Want Chicken Nuggets phase is coming for me.”
Alethia was looking wistfully at the baby, and Teri wondered if she and Grey wanted children too. Probably too rude to ask. Instead, she tried, “So, you guys didn’t grow up around here, did you?”
They both shook their heads. “But I love it,” Alethia said. “The Park is so beautiful. I’m so much more outdoorsy since I moved here.”
Leah nodded. “I’m not as much of a hiker as she is, but she drags me out enough, and it’s great for Emily. I’m really happy she’s going to grow up somewhere so beautiful.”
Teri eyed Alethia’s perfectly-styled, gorgeously clothed, precariously-shoed form and decided that she should stop making assumptions about people’s habits based on how they looked. It was hard to picture her hiking, but she wasn’t wearing hiking boots right now, was she?
She took the plunge. “I want to be a ranger myself someday,” she confessed.
Alethia’s eyes went wide. “Oh wow, that is awesome.”
Leah nodded. “That’s really great. I’ve been thinking—it’s too bad, that Emily will grow up here and be running around the Park all of her childhood, but would only see men being rangers. I want her to know that she can be whatever she wants.”
Teri felt a smile spreading across her face. “What about you guys, then?” she asked, settling back into her seat. “Do you have big dreams?”