*Translations for any Dutch at bottom of page.

Chapter 47

"Don't worry, they'll love you." Kaase whispered, grabbing my hand across the center cup rests in his truck. I smiled weakly. Kaase adapted to my family so easily, surely I could adapt to his human family.

We strolled up the side walk hand in hand and walked through the open door without knocking. I was greeted by dozens of wonderful smells, chicken, potatoes, some kind of vegetable and something that smelled like cinnamon apple pie. "Mmmm." Kaase murmured.

An older woman of medium height came from the other room, wiping her hands on a blue apron. "Kaase!" She ran up and hugged him around the waist, breaking the grip I had on him.

"Hey ma." He laughed. "Let me introduce you to Leah." He pulled back and put an arm around me.

She paused for a second appraising me with Kaase's crystal blue eyes, if I didn't have the eyes of a wolf I probably would have missed it. A fake smile plastered over her face. "Oh, it's so nice to meet you!" She grasped my hand in both of hers, shaking it gently. Kaase's dimples imprinted her face. "You can just call me ma. Kaase talks about you so much it's like you're a member of the family!"

"Oh thank you." I replied politely, keeping my grip light and feminine. I smiled, matching her brightness. "Whatever you're cooking smells very good!"

"Oh, thank you." She laughed, pulling her hands back and blushing slightly.

A man came from the other room wearing dirty faded jeans, a flannel shirt and black suspenders over his rounded stomach. His face looked like an older version of Kaase's they both had the same straight nose and jaw. His eyes, like Kaase's and his mom's, were a sparkling blue and his hair was the same honey blonde but his roots were hinted silver. A small smile spread across his face when he saw me and I felt somewhat at ease.

"You must be Leah." His deep voice was gruff, he reached a hand out and I shook it. His hand was large and boxy like Kaase's but his were rougher with scars and calluses. "You can call me pa."

I swallowed hard,. "It's so nice to meet you." I said, keeping my voice light.

Three kids ran through the room at that instant, screaming and tackling each other. Kaase's mom spoke in a stern voice to them in Dutch. "He He! Genoeg, oke! Hebben gezelschap!"

The children, two boys and a girl, stopped to stare at me with wide grins. All three of them had the same sparkling blue eyes. The two boys had blonde hair but the girl who looked the youngest had hair the color of deep mahogany which was in two braids on either side of her head. "Oostinjevaarder" They giggled then raced into the kitchen.

I looked up at Kaase for a translation but he was frowning, his brow furrowed. He yelled after the children, "He! je zal haar behandelen met achting, kinderen!"

Kaase Sr. laughed. "Don't mind them." He patted my arm then eyed his son. "Kalmeren." He followed after the three musketeers, speaking to them in Dutch.

Kaase seemed to have calmed a bit. "Sorry I didn't know they'd be here." He apologized.

"Well you brought her to meet the family! So I invited the family!" Mom laughed. "You haven't been able to think straight lately son."

"Oh I don't mind." I laughed, stroking the top of his hand with my thumb.

"Not the whole family right? No cousins?" He asked urgently worried.

"No, there's Christmas for that." She smiled then returned to the kitchen.

A younger woman came in from a different room. When she saw me she pursed her lips slightly, eyeing me with liquid blue eyes. Her hair was the same color of the little girls but her's was up in a high pony tail. She held a small child at her hip. Another woman came in and bumped into her, not realizing she'd stopped. She appraised me with the same expression, blue eyes hardening. Her hair was the same honey blonde. "You must be Leah." She spoke with a surprising lightness.

"Yes I am." I smiled brightly.

"Well don't make her stand here in the doorway all night, brother!" The red haired woman scolded. "Bring her in!" Her hardened expression softened then she said to me, "I'm Deborah." She stuck her free hand out and I shook it delicately. "And I'm sure he's told you about Isaac."

I smiled at the little child, "Of course." I looked up at Kaase, "You're right, he's so much cuter in person." They laughed but Isaac ducked his head into his mom's shoulder shyly, hiding surprising green eyes.

"And I'm Sarah. It's so nice to finally meet you." I shook her hand too but instead of releasing it she pulled me after her into the kitchen. I looked hesitantly back at Kaase but he just smiled. "Kinderen!" She spoke. The three musketeers clamored to her, they eyed me with suspicion.

"This is Matthew, Micah, and Michelle." She patted each of the children on the head, naming them.

"Hallo." The oldest, Matthew nodded. He looked around six or seven years old.

"Hello." I replied. They giggled then darted off. Kaase came up and put an arm around me.

"Oh let her be, go watch the game with the men." Deborah scolded again; I was beginning to see her personality. "Or would you rather stay in the kitchen with the woman?" Sarah, Ma, and the children gigged.

He squeezed me hand then retreated into the family room where I heard the dull roar of the television. I looked around, Deborah had placed Isaac in a play pen and her and Sarah were helping ma with the cooking. "Is there something I can do?" I asked timidly.

"If you want to help you can pour the glasses of water, the dinner is almost ready." Ma replied without looking up from her work. She tapped a cabinet next to her, "The cups are in here, just get water from the tap."

So I went to work filling the glasses and putting one at each placemat on the large table spreading across the back of the kitchen. There were thirteen places and one high chair around the table. I found it amazing that they had so many matching chairs.

"Dinners ready!" Ma called into the family room. I heard the TV turn off and six bodies stumble too their feet. Kaase was the first through the door, he walked quickly to my side and led me to a spot at the table, pulling my chair out.

"Hello Leah, I'm Eric." A man who looked about Seth's age reached across the table and shook my hand. He had green eyes and Kaase's honey blonde hair.

"I'm Bill." Said a voice on the other side of me. Bill sat down next to me, he had the same mahogany hair and blue eyes that Deborah had.

The men seemed to be a lot more easy going than the women in this family. I didn't see any sourness in their eyes. I also met Deborah's husband John and Sarah's husband David.

We held an easy conversation during dinner. The food was amazingly good. The conversations seemed to revolve around me since I was the shiny new object. They asked me about my family, my old home and what I was studying in school. By the end of desert, apple pie, I was feeling completely at home here. I could see how someone could get used to all the excitement of a large family. Kaase had an arm on the back of my chair. I looked up at him and he was looking down at me with bright eyes and a crooked smile. He bent down and whispered in my ear, "I told you they'd love you."

I smiled back and nodded. His family seemed to be accepting me despite my background. For that I was extremely grateful.

He He! Genoeg, oke! Hebben gezelschap - Hey hey enough already we have company

Oostinjevaarder - Indian

He! je zal haar behandelen met achting, kinderen - Hey you will treat her with respect children

Kalmeren - calm down