Shifting Seasons by Sheryl Nantus

Author:Sheryl Nantus [Nantus, Sheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-01-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Michael let out a laugh and flailed around, reaching toward the tub.

"You always did like your baths." She undressed the baby, undoing the snaps to pull him out of his outfit and stripping off his diaper.

She leaned over and sat him down in the inch-high water, keeping a firm grip on his waist.

If he fell over—

Alec came closer, sniffing at Michael's face. The baby reached out and for a fast, horrible second, Cassie feared he was going to grab and strangle his father.

But he didn't.

Instead, the baby stroked the otter's fur, burbling happily to himself as Alec curled around the tiny body.

It happened in an instant—she was holding a baby one second, the next... a tiny otter splashed happily in the water, holding onto the larger one for support. He slipped out of her hands with ease, embracing Alec.

"Oh, shit." Cassie fell back, onto her butt. The hardness of the tiled floor helped make it real, make it all real.

Her chest tightened, a small degree of panic slipping in past her amazement.

He can... he is...

The excited squeaks brought her back to the edge of the tub, where the baby otter continued to play in the shallow water, gently guided by the larger animal.

She couldn't help laughing as Michael let out a chirp of glee, splashing away. He stayed close to Alec, tiny paws moving up and down as he became accustomed to his new form.

The two otters swam around the tub, at times walking more than swimming—Alec always keeping close to Michael, even pulling him onto his belly to move him out of the water when the baby seemed tired.

She couldn't stop watching them. It was hypnotizing, Alec's gentleness with the eager youngster tamping down her fear. The nervous knot in her chest began to untangle as they continued to play.

Still, Cassie remained vigilant—one hand on the side of the tub, the other in the cool water, in case Michael gave any sign of distress. She wasn't sure what she could do, but she wasn't going to leave him.

After about a half hour, Alec propped himself up at one end of the tub, staring at the baby. He lifted his hands, prompting Michael to do the same. The tiny otter moved up onto Alec's lap, keeping eye contact as he mimicked his father and raised his paws.

Alec touched his forehead, his nose, then his heart—his son following suit, never breaking eye contact.

She gasped and fell back again on the floor as the pair began to shift and change, regaining their human shapes. A few seconds later, Alec carefully climbed out of the tub with Michael in his arms. The otter pelt hung around his hips, as she'd first seen him so many years ago.

Michael was no longer fully naked, but also had the same furry accessory hanging from his tiny, chubby hips, his fur a slightly lighter shade of brown than his father's.

She reached out for him, relief washing over her. "I was afraid—" She shook her head as she cradled Michael in her arms.

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