"Get whatever you want I never get charged," Kainen told her quietly once the were standing in the long line leading to the register. "Nor do I get charged at any bakery owned by my family."
"I would think this place would lose a ton of money and have to close if they don't charge you for what you get," Tabitha said just quietly.
The two of them were nearly whispering as they didn't want any of the other patrons to overhear what they were discussing.
"It's an old family rule, going all the way back to the first bakery owner Jazzlyn Lincoln," Kainen explained keeping his voice quiet. "These bakeries have been around for a very long time and those that got the talent to bake often open a new one at a new location and sometimes when a city doesn't have one they open one. None of the bakeries owned by my aunt ever charge either the Rossis or the Hotchners, for whatever they decide to get whenever they patronize any of the establishments. I patronized the one in Oklahoma City quite frequently when I lived there and I was never charged a single penny for anything I decide on for dessert or just a snack."
"I'm amazed that none of those bakeries have gone out of business because you have mentioned that your family is quite large and with prices being so high for anything someone buys, as we were just talking about in the car, I'm amazed that any of them are still in business if you count the Rossis, the family that owns the bakeries getting their sweets for free," Tabitha said, shaking her head in astonishment.
"They make quite a bit off other people, so they have no trouble staying in business," Kainen said.
"But I'm not family," Tabitha said, "so why should they give me whatever I choose for free?"
"Because you're with me and I am family," Kainen said simply.
Tabitha looked amazed at Kainen's answer, but she did not argue farther, as she didn't want to cause a scene and people were beginning to look in their direction, as their voices had risen a little as they had forgotten to keep quiet as they talked.
"I'll pay for my own snack," Tabitha told Kainen quietly and he shook his head in denial.
"No, you won't and there's no point of arguing against the policy,- since it comes down from the first owner," Kainen said firmly.
Tabitha simply sighed and rolled her eyes, but said nothing else as she knew that there was no point of saying anything else, as she wouldn't change Kainen's mind. If there was one thing she had discovered was that Kainen could be quite obstinate and determined to get his way, and once he had made up his mind, it was nearly impossible to change it so arguing was useless.
"What can I get you today?" asked the young man behind the register once Tabitha and Kainen reached the counter.
"Hey Amos," Kainen greeted his brother.
"Hey Kain," Amos said smiling.
"Amos, this is Tabitha and I want whatever she gets put on my tab," Kainen said.
Amos looked at Tabitha then nodded knowing what Kainen meant. He had heard all the rumors on the family grapevine about his brother meeting his mate, and since Amos was a smart man, he knew that this Tabitha was it. He was very happy for his brother Kainen, who was not really his cousin at all, when introduced to his mate. Tabitha didn't know yet that the two were brothers not cousins just of different generations. Tabitha was bound to notice the similarities in their looks, which is why Kainen had introduced him, as his cousin, since his mate wasn't in the know on the family secret as yet.
"Nice to meet you Amos," Tabitha said, as she looked at the cases trying to decide what she wanted while there were multiple people standing behind her, at least a dozen.
"It's certainly nice to meet you Tabitha," Amos said. "Choose whatever you like."
"Just Tabbi will do, as I rarely use my full name. This is a busy place," Tabitha observed.
"Yes, it is. We like it that way," Amos said smiling giving Kainen a wink
"My cousin Rose will also tell you she likes it that way," Kainen added in complete agreement.
"Rosamond is the owner of Magical Treats, but she goes by Rose," Amos added.
"I'll take that one with chocolate and caramel," Tabitha finally decided, "and a large coffee."
"And I'll take the chocolate chip brownie just like normal," Kainen said.
The chocolate chip brownie was butterscotch and chocolate brownie with chocolate chips embedded in them. They were absolutely scrumptious, and got sold out quickly.
"Along with your usual large coffee," Amos said and Kainen nodded in agreement.
Kainen and Tabitha moved out of the way so the next customer who had been not so patiently waiting could come forward and Tabbi looked at someone who had become her boyfriend over the last several weeks.
Tabitha had found in those weeks that she and Kainen had quite a bit in common not just that they were both artists. She could easily fall in love with one Kainen Hotchner, and only hoped that he returned her developing feelings, though he showed her every day that he adored her, so that was an indication that he did indeed feel the same way she did.
"So your cousin works here," Tabitha said quietly, as she waited for their order to be ready.
"Yes he does, but it's only a temporary job for the summer," Kainen explained. "He's on summer break and he hates being inactive so he works here. All the bakeries owned by my family pay above minimum wage so he makes a quite a bit of extra cash and he isn't just sitting at home watching the vid screen or reading a book."
"So what does he do that he gets the whole summer off," Tabitha inquired.
"He's a teacher at the local college and he never teaches the summer classes as he doesn't need the money," Kainen explained.
"If he doesn't need the money why isn't he relaxing on the beach somewhere or taking a trip to some foreign country," Tabitha asked curiously.
"He just doesn't want to have to deal with students who are too lazy to study in the summer and who barely study during the school year," Kainen said. "Working at his cousin's bakery is much more up his alley and he doesn't have to deal with students in a teacher/student capacity."
"Yeah, I know what you mean as a lot of students just want to party or hang out with their friends rather than study to get good grades, even when college was in session," Tabitha said shaking her head. "I don't know why parents bother to waste thousands of dollars on sending their children to college if they aren't going to study and learn."
"Yeah, a good college isn't cheap and not everybody gets a scholarship if their parents can't afford to send them," Kainen agreed. "I, for one, studied and didn't party, but a lot of teenagers don't do that."
The two cut their quiet discussion off when the number for their order was called, and Kainen went to the counter to pick it up before he and Tabitha headed for their car, as there was no available seats, because the bakery was packed to the capacity, and every table was taken.
"Well, your cousin's bakery was really packed," Tabitha commented once they had gotten into the car and the doors had automatically closed.
"Yes it was," Kainen agreed. "Now you see how the Rossis can afford to give family their treats for free as every bakery I've ever been in is always super busy, so I'm sure you now understand why they're in no danger of going out of business."
"If their that busy all the time, yes, I do understand why they haven't gone out of business, even if they do give family their sweets for free, though I'm sure you keep that on the down-low, as it wouldn't exactly please the regular customers," Tabitha commented.
"Yeah, they do," Kainen said smiling. "Why don't you eat your snack before we get going.
"Sounds good to me, as it really does look scrumptious and I would hate for my coffee to get cold," Tabitha said smiling, as she took a sip of the steaming hot liquid.
Within minutes, both Kainen and Tabitha were enjoying their snacks before Kainen started his car and took off into the sky lanes.
~~~Kainen and Tabitha~~~
A couple of months later
"Kainen what's the reason for this rather surprise visit? We haven't seen you since Thanksgiving three years ago, as you didn't make it to any of the holiday events in the last few years," Shonda inquired of her son, as Kainen entered the home of his parents currently. It was not the house he had grown up in as that had been in New York and right now they were living in Bar Harbor Maine.
"Yes, I'm sorry about that, Mom," Kainen apologized sincerely. "I was just busy completing projects for clients on all those holidays."
"Well, at least you're here now," Shonda said grudgingly. "I hope you can at least stay for lunch before you have to get back. You owe your father and me considering we haven't seen you in over two years."
"Of course Mom, I'll be happy to stay for lunch and get caught up with all the gossip and everything," Kainen agreed without arguing, because he probably did owe his parents for not being there for the last few holidays, though not quite three years was really nothing to an immortal. It was more like two years and four months technically.
"Good we can discuss why you came to visit during. I already suspect why you thought it was time to visit us and Aaron will too," Shonda said looking rather pleased that her son hadn't even argued with her about staying to share a meal.
"I'm sure you do," Kainen told her knowing his parents were far from stupid. The two of them walked down the hall towards what would be the family room if his parents had any children, but was more of a den type room, though it wasn't exactly that either.
"You know you're glowing," Kainen said, studying his mother, suddenly noticing that she was glowing figuratively.
Shonda didn't answer, as they finally reached the family room. "Aaron, look who has finally come to visit us," Shonda told her husband.
"Kain," Aaron said, as he greeted his son with a manly one armed hug. "What's the reason for this rather surprise visit considering you haven't been to any of the holiday celebrations in the last few years."
"I'm surprised you noticed I was missing at all considering how crowded it is during the holiday. What between the Hotchners and the Rossis..." Kainen told his parents with a mischievous expression. "I mean there are so many people that I'm surprised you noticed I wasn't there."
"We might not have noticed if you had only missed one holiday," Shonda told her son giving him a look, "but you have missed Thanksgiving for two years and Christmas for three so of course we noticed."
"Eventually," Aaron said with a smile.
"Yes, eventually," Shonda agreed with a laugh.
"I'll try not to get any big projects around the holidays in the future," Kainen promised, "so I can be here for at least a day or two."
"We're always happy to see you whether it's the holiday or not," Shonda told him. "We understand if you're busy one year on the holidays, but three years running is a bit much and you weren't at Dave's and Jazz's anniversary party either and they noticed your absence, as Jazz mentioned it to me."
"Yes, they were rather disappointed that you weren't there, though you weren't the only one that was absent so it wasn't that big a deal," Aaron said.
The Rossis didn't have an anniversary party every year, as it could get rather staid and boring if they did, but every few years they celebrated their anniversary with a big party instead of just taking a trip by themselves or buying each other presents.
The important thing was to at least acknowledge the day and it didn't matter how either one did so, just that they prove they hadn't forgotten such an important day.
"I'm actually really sorry I missed it," Kainen said sincerely. "I'll have to try to make the next one they have, which I know won't be for a few years."
"So are you gonna tell us the reason you came all this way since I know you're living in San Francisco right now," Shonda inquired. "It's a long way from there to Bar Harbor, even if I know, shuttles are much faster than they used to be."
"I already know you suspect why I came," Kainen offered.
"You met your mate," Aaron said looking at his son and Kainen nodded.
"Yes, I did and it was totally unexpected, though I'm well aware that's the way it always happens," Kainen said.
"This is great news," Shonda said enthusiastically getting off the couch where she was sitting beside Aaron and throwing her arms around her son.
"Yes, it is, but don't squeeze our son to death," Aaron gently teased her, even while he smiled at his son. "We don't want his mate to suddenly discover him missing and call the police because he disappeared."
"I'm just so happy for you Kain," Shonda said, as she finally released her son from her overenthusiastic hug.
"So what's your name?" Aaron inquired.
"Tabitha Appleyard. She works in an art gallery in Union Square and is something of an artist herself, though not very well known, at least not yet."
"Well, there's one thing you have in common," Shonda said. "So how long ago did you meet her?"
"Oh, a couple of months ago now," Kainen said. "We have much more in common other then we're both artists, even if that's in different mediums."
"We can't wait to meet her," Aaron said, as he put an arm around his mate's shoulders.
"I'm nowhere near ready to tell her about immortality and magic yet, as that's months away at least," said Kaine.
"You just let us know when you're ready to tell her," Shonda told her son and he nodded.
"I will," Kainen promised, as he rose from where he was sitting and kissed his mother's cheek.
"Before we go have lunch," Shonda told Kainen causing him to pause, "You are the first of your siblings to hear the news, but I'm pregnant."
"That's great news. I wondered why you were glowing now I know, and I should've figured it out for myself. After all, they always say a pregnant woman glows, but it didn't occur to me that could be why you were glowing," Kainen said enthusiastically, even as he hugged his mother and kissed her cheek again. "I know it's been awhile since I've had a new sibling. Hearing your news makes me anxious for my own kids, and hopefully, that day is fast approaching. Congratulations to both of you and I'm looking forward to getting to know my new sibling. I suppose you don't know the sex yet."
"It's much too early for that," Aaron said grinning from ear to ear, and Kainen didn't blame his father at all for being so excited at the news, even though his parents had had multiple children over the centuries, but really, there was so little to get excited about when you were immortal and having a child was one of those things no matter how many you'd had.
"You let me know the sex as soon as you do," Kainen requested.
"We will," Aaron agreed smiling, even as he patted his son on the back.
"I suppose it was about time you had a new generation of Hotchners, as it's been a few decades since the last batch," said Kainen
"About 100 years more less," agreed Shonda.
"That long?" Kainen asked with a raised eyebrow, which perfectly mimicked his father on occasion.
"That long, as we usually try not to have anymore for at least 100 years, as that would be considered a new generation, even if I know that what is considered a generation has lengthened considerably over the centuries. Sometimes it's more like 150 or sometimes in between those two numbers before we have children, but not this time," Aaron agreed.
"Does that mean Uncle Dave and Aunt Jazz are having another child as well?" Kainen asked, as he knew very well that his aunt and uncle always had some children around the same time as his own parents, even if there was a year or two between the children from the two families.
"How very astute of you Kain," Shonda told him with a brilliant smile. "Yes, your Aunt Jazz is indeed pregnant and farther along then I am."
"Then why haven't I heard about this if she's that far along," Kaine said. "News like that usually goes through the family grapevine at superspeed."
"They haven't told anyone yet, as she's only four months," Aaron answered, "while Shonda is only three months along, so the two babies will be born close together, but not at the same time, as there will only be a month or so between them."
"Still, I know that Mom and Aunt Jazz do it that way on purpose so that their children can be friends and that's always the way it turns out," said Kainen.
"Yes, we do it that way on purpose, though sometimes their farther apart like two or three years, but not in this case," Shonda agreed.
"Now it's time for lunch before you head back to San Francisco and to your mate."
"That would be good," Kainen agreed, even as his stomach rumbled hungrily. "I have time, as Tabbi is busy working at the art galley so won't even know I'm gone. I'll be back more than likely before she gets off."
"If transportation wasn't so fast nowadays, you would never be back before she got off work," Shonda told him. "Flights on the old airplane used to take many hours depending on where you were going. At least, Jazz and I were born back when airplanes had been perfected and were common."
"I was born long before airplanes were even a concept, much less reality," Aaron added, as the little family walked into the kitchen where they would be sharing lunch together before Kainen headed home to his mate. "I know the concepts were around and had been since Leonardo da Vinci's time and that he's the one that came up with the concepts for the modern airplane, but nobody managed to put that into practice until the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk."
"True," Shonda said. "Why don't we order lunch for once?"
"Oh, we do that quite often," Aaron said smiling, "but it's OK with me."
"It's just that fixing something will take longer than just ordering out and since Kain is here, it's just easier," Shonda said. "We weren't expecting company, but it's always welcome. Since you didn't call ahead and tell us you were coming I don't have anything prepared for more than Aaron and I. As for dessert, I have one of Jazz's that she bought over the other day."
"Yum, I would stay just for dessert alone," Kainen said now looking forward to dessert after lunch.
"There is a bakery in San Francisco. We all lived there centuries ago, so it's not like you can't go by and get yourself something for free," Aaron told his son smiling.
"Oh, I do go by on a normal basis and Tabitha just loves the desserts from there, but so does everybody else, so it's not like her opinion is unusual."
"Definitely not," Shonda agreed before asking everyone where they wanted food from giving both her men a list of choices of places that were close by and would have things delivered in just a few minutes.
The three of them spent a quiet lunch once it arrived, just talking in low tones, enjoying the food as well as spending time together as they all caught up on what had been happening to each other ever since the last time they had gotten together.
~~~Kainen and Tabitha~~