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  “Nope, what’s he been up to since he was put back together?”

  It only seemed like yesterday that Bear and Charlotte had patched him up after he’d been shot.

  “He and Ava drove to Vegas and got hitched in one of those wedding chapels. An Elvis Presley impersonator married them. He hadn’t said anything and I don’t think he was going to until I spotted his gold wedding band.”

  Bear laughed at the thought of Nick being married by a guy with a wig and a white sequined suit. “Shame he ran off because I guessed when he tied the knot it was going to be one hell of a bachelor party.”

  “He told me they’re having a reception at The Lodge in a few weeks’ time and everyone’s invited. Maybe that will make up for it, although the strippers are probably not invited.”

  “You do know that you’ll have to find a babysitter when you go out on the town now,” Bear reminded him.

  “Holy shit, we will,” said Aiden. “Charlotte’s father said he could always look after the baby once Charlotte goes back to work so maybe that will extend to evening sitting too.”

  “Does he know about…?”

  “Us, sure he does. Charlotte broke the news to him after she found out she was pregnant. He’s such an easy going sort of guy I don’t think he would have cared if his daughter had married a guy with two heads just as long as that man loves her and always makes her happy.”

  They turned the corner and the parking lot came back into view. They’d run hard and finished the complete lap of the lake in record time. Since they’d been running someone else had pulled into the parking lot. It was Liam Ahern. He’d seen him last month at the star gazing get together. Bear had heard through the grapevine that the guy could be trouble when he wanted to be. Rumor was he had issues with Aiden and hoped for everyone’s sake he wasn’t here to cause any trouble. As they headed across the lot, Liam leaned against the hood of his car with his arms crossed.

  “I was wondering when he was going to show up. Nick warned me he was gunning for me. I don’t think I can tolerate him this early in the morning,” Aiden whispered. “Morning, Liam. You going running?”

  “No, I’m here to see you.”

  “Have you met Dr. Bear McWilliams?” asked Aiden.

  “I’ve seen him around, but we haven’t met formally,” said Liam. He put his hand out to Bear who shook it. The guy had an iron like grip. When Bear pulled away he hoped Liam didn’t see him pulling a face where his fingers felt like they’d been put through a mangle. That was one strong bear, even for a Grizzly.

  “So what did you need to see me about,” Aiden asked him.

  “You’ve been ignoring my phone calls and I need to know when we’re going to call a meeting to discuss elections to appoint the new leader of our group.”

  Bear sensed tension brewing. He thought about leaving but somehow knew Aiden would need an ally here because things could turn ugly fast.

  “As far as I’m aware we’re not taking a vote. I think most people are happy with the way things are being run.”

  Liam took one step closer to Aiden. “Happy, do you think people are happy with that woman who was sniffing around and asking questions?”

  Bear knew he was referring to Ava and that Liam probably hadn’t heard the news that she’d married Nick in Vegas.

  “That was a close call and that trouble started with you.”

  “With me? How many times have I warned others to be careful, to think before they speak?” asked Aiden.

  “It has everything to do with it. It all started with you and that doctor woman.”

  It was Aiden’s turn to take a step closer to Liam.

  “Her name is Charlotte not that doctor woman.”

  “You married her and now as the leader, your brother and the others think it’s okay to date and marry humans. You are a bad example for the group, Aiden Renner,” said Liam.

  “Am I really?”

  “And that baby your wife’s carrying, the baby that Dane’s wife’s got in her belly, well someone’s going to catch on because those babies are going to be freaks. We’re all at risk because you couldn’t resist fucking a human.”

  Bear could see that Liam had worked himself up into such a frenzy his eyes were changing color and he was on the verge of shifting. If he or Aiden didn’t calm him down and soon, things were going to get out of hand and right here in public.

  “Not here okay,” said Bear pushing him backwards.

  “And why ever not? Come on. The three of us will shift and let the best bear win,” said Liam.

  “Are you fucking crazy or what? There are humans around and that’s the reason me and Aiden didn’t shift for our run. You shift now and someone’s going to see you and that will be our downfall,” said Bear.

  He kept his hands on Liam’s chest. The grizzly’s heart beat against his palms. It felt like he was pressed against a brick wall and if Liam did start getting physical it would probably take both him and Aiden to fight him.

  “Okay, maybe not here, not now, but you better call a vote and soon because I’ll do what I have to keep myself and the others safe. You haven’t heard the last of this,” said Liam.

  He turned, got in his car, and drove off, smoke coming from all four tires.

  “Has he always been this obnoxious?” asked Bear.

  “He and his brother, Danny always had quick tempers. Danny was killed while he was driving his motorcycle about seven years ago and I think that made Liam more bitter because they were very, very close. Danny was pretty wild, loved the ladies, and made my brother Christopher look like a choir boy.”

  “Shame his brother couldn’t find a good woman like Christopher has.”

  “Yeah, I guess, but the accident wasn’t his fault. Danny was killed by a drunk driver traveling down the road the wrong way. Hit Danny’s head on. Drunk driver was human so it didn’t do anything to help Liam’s hatred of them. In fact, we had to stop him from killing the guy when the case went to trial.”

  “So you think he’ll let this voting thing peter out or what?” asked Bear.

  “Probably not, but I have Charlotte and the baby to focus on, so Liam’s the least of my worries for now.”

  Bear hoped Liam had a short memory or that something else would also occupy his time. He looked at his watch. “I have to get to the hospital. Say hi to Charlotte for me.”

  ****

  Hannah watched as the school bus turned the corner. She’d enrolled Sam in the special education program at the local school. He’d screamed and cried the first day and hung onto her like she was saying goodbye to him forever. She’d had to pry his hands off her sweater and she’d almost weakened thinking that maybe she could homeschool him. However, she knew he needed expert help, she had the café to run, and deep in her heart she knew it was for the best. She’d hoped attending a new school and having other kids with special needs around him would somehow snap him out of whatever he had wrong with him. It hadn’t but she was still holding out for a miracle. Everyone should do that, right?

  The bus slowed up close to the stop and she saw Sam already standing with his bag slung over his shoulder in his usual hurry to get to the door so he could be the first one off. That was his ritual, first one to exit the bus.

  “Bye, Sam,” said the driver.

  “Can you say goodbye?” asked Hannah.

  He ignored her request and instead hugged her and buried his face into her belly. Hannah raised her hand and waved to the driver. “Thank you.”

  She put her arm around Sam’s shoulders as they walked back to toward the café. “Did you have a good day?” He shook his head as she opened the door to their apartment and they both went inside. She hoped one day when she asked him that question she’d see a nod and not a shake of his head. Sam stopped and took something from his bag and handed it to her.

  It was a charcoal drawing and if she wasn’t mistaken it was Bear and Sam standing by a river both holding fishing rods. She wasn’t aware he could sketch so well. Usually whe
n she’d given him paper and crayons he’d lost his temper and frantically drawn lines all over the page and sometimes on the table too. But this was identifiable and it was good.

  “Is this for Bear?”

  Sam nodded. “Sam, it’s great. I know he’s going to love it.”

  Without warning, he made a mad dash to his room. Hannah was prepared to hear the door slam shut as it often did, but instead her son came out carrying his coloring book and crayons. He sat himself down at the kitchen table and began drawing. Hannah stood over him as his hand glided furiously over the paper.

  It was another sketch of Bear. This time he was standing alongside a woman who she was sure was her. Sam looked up at her and then pointed to the paper.

  Maybe she was getting her hopes up too early, but at last she actually saw a human being inside of her son. He looked up at her again. Finally a little boy was looking back at her.

  Chapter Five

  Bear had only been in his office ten minutes when Mia knocked on the door and then stepped inside. He looked up from the brochure he’d been reading about a medical convention taking place in Billings next month and wondering whether it was worth the drive to attend.

  “Dr. McWilliams, Trent Burgreess has brought his wife in the clinic as she’s not feeling so good. He wondered if you could take a look at her.”

  Bear looked up. Emily was human so he didn’t know why Trent hadn’t taken her to a regular hospital. Nevertheless he’d be more than happy to be her doctor.

  “Okay, tell them I’ll be right with her.”

  He took a sip of his coffee which was already cold, stood, and headed out of the office and down the corridor to the outpatient section of the hospital.

  “I’ve put them in examination room two,” said Mia. “And I’ve given Emily a bowl because she’s throwing up constantly.”

  That didn’t sound very promising. He knew there was a stomach bug still making the rounds from the winter flu season. Maybe Emily had been unfortunate enough to catch the tail end of it. If he remembered correctly, she was an elementary school teacher which meant she came in contact with kids and their germs on a daily basis.

  He tapped on the door and then went inside to see Emily sitting on the side of the examination table. Trent was dressed in his policeman’s uniform and holding a silver bowl as his wife leaned over and retched. Trent glanced Bear’s way.

  “Hi, Dr. McWilliams, or is it okay to call you Bear even though this is a professional visit?”

  “Bear’s always fine with me. And you do know it’s okay to take Emily to a regular doctor. I won’t get offended.”

  Emily retched again and threw up what looked like the entire contents of her stomach.

  “I thought about it, but I think she needs to come here because she took a pregnancy test two days ago and we’re having a baby.”

  Bear agreed that bringing her to the clinic had been a smart move just in case anything was strange about the pregnancy and made a doctor curious enough to run tests. “Hi, Emily. I know you’re not in the best shape to say anything, but do you think it’s morning sickness or a bug you’ve picked up?”

  Before she could respond, Emily threw up again and flopped back on the examining table. Bear washed his hands and then ran a washcloth under the tap. He handed it to Emily, who wiped her mouth.

  “I think it’s morning sickness. I haven’t been near anyone with a bug, none of the kids at school have been sick. Well, not that I know of.”

  Bear took another wet washcloth and placed it on Emily’s forehead as Trent held her hand.

  “So how far along do you think you are?” asked Bear.

  “I’m guessing about six weeks,” said Emily.

  She looked pale and tired.

  “How long have you been throwing up?” asked Bear.

  “About a week, but the last couple of days it’s been like this, really bad and I can’t keep anything down.”

  “Can you give her anything?” asked Trent.

  “I can but first I’d like to keep her in the hospital for a day or two and put her on a drip so she doesn’t get dehydrated,” said Bear.

  “Hospitals aren’t my favorite places,” said Emily.

  “This one’s fun,” said Bear. “I’ll get Mia to bring you in a robe and once you’ve changed into that we’ll get you into a bed. Then I’ll start the IV and we’ll take it from there.”

  “Can I stay with her?” asked Trent.

  “I think that would be a great idea,” said Bear.

  Bear walked out into the reception area to look for Mia. Another half human, half shifter baby on its way. Trent and Emily’s would be number three. He hoped he wasn’t going to be too busy with work, because he had a certain lady who he was planning to spend some time with.

  ****

  Hannah hoped that business picked up soon so she could hire another person to help out in the kitchen. So far she had the cook, Simon, and his wife who assisted him, but they really needed a third person so Hannah could concentrate on the actual dining room duties. She had two college students who’d be working weekends which was going to help somewhat.

  She folded the last of the napkins and placed them in the basket by the reception desk. She looked out and saw that it was raining again. Sam was out back and sometimes he didn’t come inside even when he was getting drenched. Hannah went through the side door and peeked outside to see him sitting on the ground with his jacket over his head, the rain pelting down on him.

  “Sam, honey, come in and you can go back out when it stops raining.”

  He shook his head.

  “Fishing,” he said.

  “That’s not until the weekend.”

  “Fishing,” he said.

  She’d have to go get him or he’d be drenched.

  “Sam, get inside.”

  “Fishing.”

  She pulled on his arm, something she knew he didn’t like, but it was either that or leaving him outside in the downpour.

  She pulled on his arm again. Sam screamed bloody blue murder, making Hannah go cold. He’d done this so many times. Once while they were grocery shopping. The store had fallen silent and everyone in the aisle had had turned to look at her like she was the worst mother in the world. They’d then hurried away like they didn’t want to get involved or were somehow scared she’d ask them for help.

  Hannah had never done that before and her pride was strong enough that she never would. She’d dealt with Sam’s problems all by herself, but sometimes that wasn’t easy. However, he was her problem and hers alone so she’d battled on. Sam screamed louder, sliding back down onto the grass. Hannah’s hair clung to her face as the rain picked up intensity.

  Having help would be nice, someone by her side so she could lift the weight off her shoulders and put it on theirs for a few hours every day.

  “Sam, you have to come inside.”

  She tugged on his arm again, but he was stubborn. She wondered where he’d gotten that quality from; always thinking it was something to do with the man who’d fathered him. The truth and shame of it was she didn’t know anything about the man who’d gotten her pregnant besides his first name and that he lived in Kalispell. She’d often wondered if he’d had something wrong with him and had passed on some faulty genes to Sam. It was the reason she’d come to live and work in the area. She knew it was crazy because she guessed he was long gone by now, but in the back of her mind she’d had this strange feeling about running into him again. He’d know what was wrong with Sam and have all the answers plus the cure. Life would suddenly be wonderful.

  A tear joined the rain on her face. She guessed her mascara was running down her cheeks, making her look like Alice Cooper or one of the guys from Kiss.

  Truth was Sam’s stubbornness didn’t come from his father. It came from her. She’d always thought she knew best and looked where it had landed her.

  “Please, Sam, just this once, do as Mommy tells you.”

  How many times had she heard that f
rom her own parents? How many times had she been stubborn and purposely done the opposite of what they’d asked of her?

  Frustration and desperation set in and she grabbed both of Sam’s wrists and began dragging him along the grass. He dug his feet into the ground, tearing up the sod as they moved toward the door of the back of the café.

  “No. No!” He screamed, kicking the ground the more she pulled him. “Hurt me, hurt me.”

  She finally got him to the door, pushed it open with her foot, and dragged him the rest of the way inside. She let go of him and tried to get her breath back.

  “Bad momma, bad.” He pointed at her, shaking his finger in much the same way her mother had done when she’d scolded Hannah. She brushed her wet hair away from her face. She wanted to cry but had to keep her composure.

  Sam turned and pounded on the wall with both his fists. The back of both his pants and t-shirt were soaked in mud and grass.

  “Stop that because you’re going break your hand. Remember when you hurt yourself before and you needed to go to the hospital?”

  He smacked the wall again, so Hannah grabbed his hands and tried to hold him still, but now he was older and bigger. She hadn’t realized just how strong and powerful he’d become. She couldn’t hold him back and he smashed her hand against the wall.

  It was her turn to cry out. She pulled away from him, slumped to the floor, and sobbed.

  “Bad momma,” said Sam as he ran up the stairs to their apartment. She held her hand and cried as she heard her son slam the bedroom door. So much for thinking he was on the road to being normal.

  Chapter Six

  Bear’s stomach rumbled. Out of the blue, one of his patients, Tina, a cougar shifter, had gone into labor. She wasn’t due for another two weeks so it looked like she’d be the first one to give birth in the new hospital, and not Charlotte.

  He glanced through the window at Tina and her husband Mickey, who sat on the bed beside her rubbing her back and talking to her. Mia was perched on a chair. Mia and Tina had gone to school together, were best friends, and no one was more excited to hear that her friend who after fifteen years of marriage and trying to have a baby, was finally pregnant. Bear knew Tina was coming close to the end of her mating cycle years, so this baby would be her one and only.