Chapter 3: Wolf and Azima

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Magnus was still laughing at something that Mike had said when he reached the beach chairs where Wolf was sitting with their brother Lakota. Wolf's mother and sister had insisted that Azima and the female half of the guests join them at the local spa, leaving the guys to supervise the children and make dinner. Danny and Rick were engaged in a seriously competitive game of tag with the older three children, while Russ sat with Rick's younger daughter in his lap. While the rest of them kept the kids busy, Mike and Tom agreed to handle dinner, which likely meant that everything would be burnt. It occurred to Wolf that he hadn't seen either Clay or Ashley, who declined the spa trip on the grounds that she needed to get some work on her dissertation done, but decided that they were old enough to take care of themselves.

Flopping down between Wolf and Lakota, Magnus leaned over to take a beer from the esky on the middle of the table. "Your friends are growing on me, Wolf. And Azima's an improvement on the last girl you brought around."

Val. For a brief moment, Wolf thought about what it would be like if Val were the woman here visiting his family rather than Azima. Val certainly wouldn't have agreed to a spa day, refusing in a way that was bound to offend Wolf's sister Skye. Val most likely would have managed to offend his brothers as well, making some offhand yet cutting comment that would have them all wondering what-the-hell Wolf saw in the crazy American conspiracy theorists. Frankly, the only person here who likely wouldn't have been upset by Val was Wolf's mum, who only ever seemed to see the good side in people. Or, perhaps more accurately, brought out the good side of everyone. But, of course, none of his family ever met Val, their relationship over almost before it began, her death so soon after they found each other a hit to the gut. Magnus must be referring to some pre-pandemic girlfriend, her name lost in a haze of before memories that now blurred together.

Wolf wondered how often Azima thought about her deceased husband. Reth, also a member of the Kenyan Navy, died in the early days, having had the misfortune of being assigned to a hospital ship. Oddly, Wolf suspected that Azima thought about Reth far less than Wolf thought about Val, and not because she hadn't loved Reth. For Azima, the past was simply the past. It wasn't that she was unfeeling, not exactly, she simply saw no benefit to the question of what if. It was one of the things that attracted Wolf to her initially, the way Azima managed to shake off whatever was thrown in her direction and keep putting one foot in front of the other. She had an inner strength that reminded Wolf of his mum. The two women handled their losses very differently, yet both managed to find a way not only to survive tragedy, but to thrive.

Lakota was the one who picked up on Wolf's mood. "How many years since the last time we were together for Christmas? Seven or eight?"

"Eight," Wolf confirmed, waiting for the trickle of guilt. Not that he regretted his decision to return to the United States, not after what happened in Asia. But knowing that he was doing the right thing, first by staying with the crew and then, ultimately, joining Delta, didn't seem to eliminate that little part of him that wished he could be in two places at once. Here and with the team, at the same time. He lifted his beer to Magnus. "Not that Magnus would know. He spent that year in prison."

"You went to jail?" Frankie demanded, eyes wide as he gazed at Magnus.

Magnus turned, smiling and ruffling Frankie's hair. For all that he claimed to never want a family of his own, Magnus was good with kids. "I spent six months on a sub, which is basically the same thing."

Frankie started laughing. "Danny said bubbleheads are tiny and wimpy, but you don't look tiny or wimpy."

"Tell that wanker to get his ar..behind over here and tell me that to my face," Magnus replied, raising his voice to make certain that Danny heard.

Mark under one arm, Danny waved a hand. "Eh, not worth my time, Bubblehead."

Magnus stood, heading in that direction, Frankie trailing behind, Magnus calling out mostly child-friendly insults to Danny, who responded in kind. Wolf leaned his head back, enjoying the sun. Although Melbourne could be miserably hot in December, they had managed to arrive while the heat was still manageable, and there was none of the humidity that Wolf had come to detest during his years in Florida.

"They all came to Australia," Lakota said, his voice quiet. Wolf used to find that fascinating, how Magnus was so very loud and Lakota so very quiet. He tried to recall if Tyee was more like Magnus or Lakota, but no memories surfaced. Wolf supposed that was bound to happen, given that his third brother died more than thirty years ago, when Wolf himself was merely a child. Yet, despite everything he had lived through since, losing Tyee still ranked as the worst event of Wolf's life — worse, even, than losing Val or Ravit. The events of that day changing the course of Wolf's life. But Lakota was still talking, and Wolf forced himself to focus. "Layla complained about the drive, but your friends flew halfway around the world for you."

Personally, Wolf found Layla's constant complaints annoying, but he wasn't the one married to the woman. "There was plenty of complaining," Wolf noted, recalling with amusement the way Tom bitched about little Mark screaming until Ashley shut him up with a mention of grandchildren. Still, that wasn't Lakota's point. He glanced at his brother. "They're my family now. Not different than you and Skye and Magnus."

Lakota considered the words, before nodding. "You made the right choice, going back to help them. And Magnus will never admit it, but he agrees. Mum has Skye and Magnus will always come back during his leaves. They don't need you. None of us need you, not the way they do."

Wolf had known that, understood that, for years. Yet hearing the words from Lakota eased something within him. Across the yard, Tricia jumped onto Magnus's back, her tiny fist hitting at him in an effort to stop him from catching her sister. Wolf noticed that Lakota was watching them as well. "You and Layla going to pop out any ankle biters?"

"We've been considering it," Lakota said after a pause. "Mum would be happy. She's given up hope that either you or Magnus will settle down and make her a nanna. Although Azima might change your mind."

Magnus never would, his decision made long ago, his own reaction to the sight of their younger brother dying in front of them. For many years, Wolf felt the same. Recently, however, as he watched Danny and Eric build their families, Wolf sometimes questioned that choice.

Wolf's attention was caught as the door to the back of the house opened and Azima strolled out, her gaze skipping across the yard until she located him, smile stretching as she headed in their direction. Not wanting to lose the moment, Wolf leaned out to touch Lakota's shoulder. "You'll be a bonza dad, Lakota. I'm happy for you. And glad that you found Layla."

Recognizing that brother time was over, Lakota stood, offering Azima his chair. "I'll go find Layla."

Azima reached over to take Wolf's beer, and he grabbed a new one, popping the top. "How was sheila day? Any mud-wrestling?"

"Your sister was correct," Azima replied, ignoring his deliberate attempt to rile her up. "The spa was excellent. I'm quite rejuvenated."

The smile she shot in Wolf's direction told him exactly what that meant, as if he had been in any doubt. Wolf reached out his hand. "Do you think now is a good time to tell them?"

Now that surprised her, and Azima's head shot around. She raised an eyebrow. "I thought that you wished to wait for Christmas Day."

"I changed my mind." Standing, Wolf reached down a hand to pull Azima to her feet. Using his other hand, he gave a sharp whistle, one loud enough to make sure that everyone was looking. He gazed around, taking in the curious expressions on the faces of those he loved. His family. "Thought we should let you know that the missus and I decided to get hitched."

Azima frowned at him, before clarifying. "We were married in Hawaii one month ago."

As pandemonium exploded, everyone talking over each other as they offered congratulations or expressed shock, but Wolf's gaze focused on his mother. Wionna stood, tears flowing down her cheeks, beaming. She reached them, her head barely higher than Wolf's stomach, before pulling both of them into a tight hug. "Congratulations, my son and new daughter. Congratulations."