Jean let out a sharp giggle as the baby jumped into her lap. He spun around until he fell over and exposed his belly to her, tiny paws waving in the air in an obvious begging for a tummy rub.
"My goodness," she replied. "I didn't think you could become any cuter, but..." She stroked the fur, earning a happy squeal.
A larger, older otter scampered out of the bathroom and moved to the center of the room. He stood up on his hind legs and waved at Jean.
"Alec," she said. It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes." Cassie said, comfortable with the admission. "He left before he knew I was pregnant with Michael; left to find a way I could be with him, be like him."
"Did he? Find a way?" Jean stared at her, the gentle smile soothing away all of Cass's worries.
"Yes."
"Wonderful." She drew a deep breath and nodded. "Why don't you show me?"
Jean kept playing with the baby otter in her lap as Cassie went into the bathroom and shifted, joining Alec on the carpet. He chirped and curled around her, hugging her as they watched Jean play with their son.
The uneasiness Cass felt all day fell away, seeing her aunt's response.
Jean studied the two of them. "You two look perfect together." She nudged the baby otter in her lap. "But no one's cuter than you are, right?"
Michael changed back, letting out a hungry wail as he curled into his great aunt's arms.
"I think he's hungry." She cradled the baby. "And he definitely needs a diaper now." Jean stroked the tiny pelt covering his lower half. "Don't think this'll do the job."
***
Fifteen minutes later, Michael sat in the rocking chair with Alec, happily taking a bottle. Cassie sat on the couch with Jean.
"So—" She started. "I wasn't sure how you were going to take this, how you would even begin to understand. But..."
Cass paused as Jean raised her hand, silencing her.
The older woman closed her eyes, various emotions flitting across her face as her forehead furrowed. The deep sigh came from down inside her, a weary sort of groan Cassie hadn't heard before.
"I've seen and heard a lot of things in my time. This is the strangest, I'll admit that." The senior opened her eyes and stared at her. "Can't deny what I've seen with my own eyes. Not going to." She drew a deep breath. "This is what you were talking about, where you were planning to go when you left, then." She nodded toward the fireplace and the man sitting in the chair. "With him. And Michael. To go wherever he went to, wherever his kind go."
"I'd like to," Cassie said. "I love him and you know how much I love Michael."
"You should. You do." Jean nodded, blinking away tears. "I don't want to lose him. Or you. Or Alec."
"You won't." Cassie grabbed her hands. "I just... we want to go visit his world for a bit, be with his people. His family."
Jean nodded. "As you should." She looked over at Alec. "I'm sorry for insinuating you were a bad father—or that you'd put them in any danger."
"No need to apologize." Alec put the bottle down, shifting the sleepy baby in his arms. "You were doing what you thought was right, protecting your family. I can't blame you for that." He smiled. "Shows me where Cass got it from."
She gave a shake of her head. "I never thought... Nick was a good man, a great father. Patricia, the same—your mother loved you so much." Her attention returned to Cassie. "I think they'd be happy for you. A good son, a good husband." She drew a deep breath. "So, what can I do to help make this happen?"
"First... celebrate the New Year with us." Cassie smiled. "I've got some fine liquor in the kitchen, and Alec made some delicious snacks. As soon as Michael goes down, we'll settle in to have a nice evening together and talk things over."
"And tomorrow..." Jean prompted.
"Tomorrow is a new year. A new day." Cass took her hand and squeezed it lightly. "A new life."
***
It was New Year's Day, early in the morning—when everyone would still be asleep or too drunk to sleep, making every and anything seen open to interpretation.
Jean stood on the river bank, arms filled with the plastic bags of clothing. She'd carefully diverted her eyes when Alec and Cassie stripped down, her attention on Michael who had already shifted and was busy scurrying around her feet, rolling and playing in the snow.
"I'll see you in three months, exactly to the day," she said as Michael ran over to Cassie, letting out excited chirps. "Don't worry—I'll lock up the house and tell everyone you're on a trip, going off the grid. It won't be a lie, after all. I'll come back and open things up at the start of April, be waiting for you right here with your clothing. Danny'll keep an eye on your place, along with Veronica. Nothing'll happen while you're gone."
She leaned down and wagged a finger at Alec. "I'm trusting you to bring my niece and your son back home safe and sound. Don't make me come after you."
Alec rose up on his hind legs and kissed her cheek, the whiskers brushing against her skin.
Jean giggled and pulled back. "If you have an older uncle, maybe send him my way?" She grinned. "I don't mind moving closer to the water. Arizona was getting boring anyway."
Alec ran to the edge of the river, Michael close behind.
Cassie paused, a quiver of fear running through her body. Her paws dug into the soft soil, clutching at the cold dirt.
Jean knelt down beside her. "Listen. I know you're a bit scared. Can't blame you—this is one hell of an adventure you're about to go on. But you've got too much inside you to spend it here. Years ago, you found love right here, on this river bank—and now you've got a chance to follow it home." She patted Cassie's head. "I'll be here when you come back. Go now... and have a marvelous time."
Cassie kissed Jean's cheek before running to the edge of the river. Alec had already slipped into the water and was busy playing with Michael.
"See you soon." Jean waved with one hand, clutching the bags of clothing in the other. "Just be careful. Don't eat any bad oysters!"
Cassie took a deep breath and dove under the water, love filling her heart as she swam over to Alec and Michael.
"I love you," Alec said, rolling onto his back and stretching out his paw. "I can't wait to show you everything."
She took it, copying him move for move. Michael swam around them, letting out cheerful chirps and barks as her and Alec bobbed in the water.
The current pulled them out into the center of the river, giving her a view of the snow-covered trees along the riverbank. Jean got smaller and smaller as they floated down the river, until they rounded a bend, and she vanished from sight.
"Whenever you're ready." Alec squeezed her paw. "Just say the word."
She took a deep breath, letting the new smells and sensations wash over her again. This was what love had brought her—what had started years ago, almost to the day.
Michael leaped into the air and landed close to the couple, splashing them both.
Cassie laughed, releasing Alec's paw and turning over. "All right, all right. Let's go."