“Oh, thank god.”
They chuckle and continue to unload.
I see they forgot something important, so I point out the double stroller. “Can you please pull that out? I use it all the time. It’s important. I brought that with us checked on the airplane.”
Kelt shakes his head. “Some of this furniture and supplies you won’t need.”
“I need all of this. Especially my Keurig.”
“Cure-ig? What’s that?”
“It’s the best coffee maker ever invented.”
“Wait for the rest of it until you see the cabin. Then you will know better what you need or don’t need. We can always return later to bring more from the SUV.”
“Okay,” I huff, certain we will be coming back immediately. Whelan lives in a tiny bachelor cabin in the middle of nowhere and I’ve already learned he hunts a lot. I’ll probably need to travel back to town in the next few days to purchase more supplies. I love the idea of trying to build a relationship with this orc, but I also refuse to live without my morning cups of dark roast. “Can I please have my coffee maker?”
Kelt laughs and puts my brand-new silver Keurig in the cart.
The suitcases, Halloween bags and the most important baby items and supplies are in the back. I double-check that my all-important backpack with my MacBook and tech equipment is with us too. And they bring along the box for the crib. The rest is left behind for now.
I close the SUV and lock it up. My purse is on my shoulder, and I still hold Owen in my arms. I take the back seat of the golf cart. Rogan slides in beside me, still holding Bran. Urdan takes the driver seat and Kelt sits next to him up front.
My cooing babies still seem completely content. “You know they’re never like this,” I try to explain. “The boys are deceptively cute right now. Normally Owen would be reasonably happy because he’s in my arms, but Bran would be screaming.”
“They know they’re home,” Rogan agrees. “They can scent us, and it fills their lungs and brings peace.”
The cart starts and we’re soon leaving behind the garage.
“Another reason I left behind my life in California,” I admit, “was because of all the stares and looks of horror at my green, horned babies. Most of the people in that part of the country had never seen an orc in real life before. People always tried to act as if the babies were cute, and they meant well, but it was as if my boys were darling stuffed animals and not sentient beings to be treated as equals.” Tears spring up in my eyes as I bend down to kiss Owen’s precious forehead. This is the first time I’ve been able to admit this feeling to anyone, especially to someone who I feel can truly commiserate.
Rogan’s arms tighten around Bran. “You did the right thing, coming here,” he agrees.
After a quick pause to lock up, we’re soon on the road, passing the guard station. The front gate opens again, and we drive inside along a well-kept path. I gasp with surprise because I feel like I’m driving into a nice mountain resort which isn’t at all what I expected. Cabins are far enough apart from each other, allowing each orc to live in privacy, but still have community. Everything appears rough-hewn, as if built from hand, but this makes it all quaint. There’s a large communal lodge with an enormous fire pit in a center square. “It’s beautiful,” I exclaim.
“Yes, we spend a lot of time keeping our commune up to date and in good working order.”
We drive down a wide gravel path to our left. Male orcs of all shapes and sizes, young and old, walk alongside the path, going about their daily life, sometimes yelling out greetings. It never ceases to amaze me how there are only male orcs and how they must mate with human women to procreate. A whole species that is entirely male.
Rogan’s chest puffs with pride as we drive through the community with his grandson in his arms. Orcs yell out in greeting and give me strange looks, probably wondering what I’m doing here.
A few different groups of human women, of all ages and ethnicities, turn and wave and smile at me as we pass by. It comforts me, seeing them dressed entirely “normal,” as if we were out in the regular world. They look pleased to see me. I wave at them in return, happy to see other women freely choosing to live here.
“If you decide to stay, I’m certain the females will quickly come by to greet you,” Rogan offers. “They are a tight group with deep friendships.”
I nod, loving the idea of having a group of women who also have orc husbands and children to hang out with and commiserate. It would be lovely to talk with women who are going through the exact same thing I’m going through.
Now we reach a part of the commune where the cabins seem farther apart with less people around. Tall, thin trees and greenery abound everywhere. I can’t get over how green and lush Maine is compared to California.
We turn and start on a wide path that seems to lead into the forest again. “Where are we going?”
“My son lives on the outskirts of the community. He prefers more privacy because of his wild instincts.”
I look around and notice that it’s true that there aren’t any neighbors in this section. “This area looks empty, like we’re just in the surrounding forest again. The fence is still out there?”
“Yes, it’s just too far away to see.”
“That’s a lot of fencing.”
“We’ve built it up over centuries because in old times we needed safety from human mobs. But now that Brides in this commune are here with their own consent, we are left alone.”
“Oh, that’s good… You really did kidnap women against their will and drag them off to your lair and keep them against their will?”
“Sadly, yes. Ancient Orcs considered this part of orc culture and the only way to mate. Humans and orcs used to never communicate except through warfare. The kidnapping often turned violent with many humans killed during kidnappings, especially in the dark of winter, and the female traumatized. In the past, no one ever thought human females would freely want to remain with an orc and it was considered the way to find a mate. But that hasn’t happened within this commune in centuries. We have changed our ways and you are safe here. Remember, the three of us didn’t want you to stay. You are here of your own free will, accepting the risk.”
I nod in agreement.
“But we will still do our best to keep you safe,” Urdan shouts from up front.
And then he parks in front of a cabin that stands all by itself and I’m pleasantly surprised. I’d been expecting something one step above a lean-to or an older RV and instead it’s a small log home with large glass windows and an expansive porch. It’s almost nicer than any of the other cabins in the center of the community.
“Wow, this is nice,” I comment.
“It should be,” Kelt grunts. “He’s been fixing his cabin up for you since the moment he returned from his mission in Bangor.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really, female.”
All three orcs exit the vehicle. Urdan strides forward, up the front steps, onto the porch and boldly opens the front door without knocking or using a key.
Oh wow.
I follow behind the orcs and step inside behind them, still amazed at how much I like this little cabin. I spin circles with Bran in my arms. There’s a little kitchen with an actual oven and stovetop and even a small fridge. The chairs and couches look bigger than normal for huge orc bodies. The ceilings are tall I’m sure to accommodate their horns. But everything is very tidy, and the cabin smells good. I see the perfect spot to set up my coffee maker. In the front living space is a new-looking flat screen TV. “Oh my gosh, I can watch Netflix here?”
“Yes,” Kelt laughs.
I stride down the short hallway because I’m nosy. And that’s when I see the nursery. I walk in. There’s a crib and a changing table and…and… Tears instantly form behind my eyes. I stumble into the room and wander around, more tears falling. “Did he build this crib?”