Bear With Me Read online

  Bear jotted down his e-mail and hit the icon button at the top of the screen.

  Dear Dr. Whitehall,

  Not sure if you remember me, but we met at a medical conference in Surrey in 2013. I’m hoping you can help me as I’ve recently become acquainted with a seven year old boy (not a patient) who’s been diagnosed with autism but instinct tells me it’s something else. I’m wondering if we can talk and then perhaps I can bring the boy to meet with you for a proper diagnosis.

  Look forward to hearing from you.

  Sincerely,

  Dr. Bear McWilliams.

  Bear hit the send button, picked up his glass, and downed the rest of the milk before leaning back on the chair. Hopefully Whitehall would respond to it tomorrow, and they could get the ball rolling to helping out Sam and Hannah. It was a first step and sometimes that’s all it needed.

  ****

  Bear held Ross as Tina and Mickey got her bag packed and ready to head home. Now that the shifters had a place of their own mothers and babies could spend the night in the hospital as precautionary measure. However, Tina and Ross were doing okay and Bear had given them the go ahead to go home.

  “You mind if I take Ross to show Emily Burgrees? She’s pregnant and having a hard time with morning sickness. I thought seeing this cute little baby might cheer her up,” said Bear.

  “Emily’s pregnant, really? I’m so excited for her and Trent. And sure go ahead. We’ll be waiting by the exit door,” said Tina.

  Bear headed out of the room, cradling Ross and feeling his warm body snuggle next to his chest. He walked across the hallway and tapped on Emily’s door. She’d had another bad bout of sickness this morning. Bear had upped her meds and told her to stay in hospital another few days so he could monitor her. Trent had to head to work so he knew a visitor would cheer her up.

  “Hi, Emily, you want to meet someone?”

  She smiled when she saw the baby. “Absolutely, and who do we have here?”

  “This is Ross and he’s almost a day old.”

  Bear laid him in Emily’s arms.

  “Hi, Ross, welcome to the world,” she said. “He’s beautiful.”

  “The sickness might seem terrible, but look what you get for it,” said Bear.

  “That is very true.”

  Ross made a gurgling sound that made Emily laugh.

  “We can’t stay too long because Tina and Mickey are waiting to take him home.”

  Emily handed him the baby. “That’s so exciting for them.”

  “Anything you need?” asked Bear, cradling Ross in his arms again.

  “Nope, I’m feeling better already, and my dad said he’d stop by and visit with me this afternoon. He’s very excited about being a granddad.”

  “Dr. McWilliams, there’s a call for you from a Dr. Whitehall. Shall I tell him you’ll call him back?” asked Mia, peeking in the room.

  “Nope, I’ll be right with him and could you take the baby to Tina for me?”

  ****

  Hannah’s hand didn’t throb anymore. She wasn’t sure if it was the impact of hitting the wall finally wearing off or Bear’s expert care. She ran her hand over the bandage he’d put on it. So gentle, and his touch was so soft. Not like some doctors she’d known in the past that gave you a shot like they were throwing a dart, and didn’t have time to hear about your ailments.

  Bear had phoned to say he’d be by around noon to pick her and Sam up to go fishing. She’d debated about letting him take Sam by himself but wasn’t sure how her son would act alone with someone he’d only met a few times. The two college students she’d hired had arrived so everything at the café was under control, which meant one less thing to worry about.

  “Sam, you want to get ready because Bear will be here very soon?”

  “Fish,” said Sam who still had his PJs on and had been watching cartoons all morning. Well at least she thought that’s what he did. Sometimes he just sat looking at the screen, blinking rapidly for what seemed like hours on end.

  “Can you go and put on the shorts and t-shirt I’ve left on your bed for you?”

  He walked by her. He was actually getting better at dressing himself.

  Now what would she wear? Probably jeans and a t-shirt would be a good pick for her too.

  She headed to her room and pulled out the navy blue shorts and the white t-shirt with the blue trim. She stripped off her jeans and blouse and replaced them with the shorts combo.

  Hearing someone pulling up at the back of the building, she glanced outside and saw Bear getting out of a truck. He too wore shorts and a t-shirt today. Both pulled across this body, showing off his muscles…the bulge in the front of the shorts.

  Maybe she should let Sam go on his own. Bear was far too tempting. She could let her guard down and the next thing she’d know they be doing the wild thing. She’d promised never to be that girl again, but this guy was like the most luscious bar of chocolate or the decadent cake with whipped cream. She could only be good for so long and that’s what scared her.

  Bear had disappeared out of sight and soon she heard someone knocking on the apartment door and guessed it was him. She hurried along to Sam’s room where he was sitting just looking at his shoes in front of his feet.

  “Stay there while I go see Bear and I’ll be back to help you, okay?”

  She raced down the stairs, opening the door and almost ran straight into Bear’s chest. She put her hands up to stop herself. Muscles pushed back against her palm. She envisioned herself running her hands over his bare skin, making her way down over his navel and under the belt on his pants. Stop it.

  “You guys ready?”

  His question stopped her mind from continuing on and just in time before she got completely lost in her fantasy.

  “I’m just going to help Sam put on his shoes and we’re all set.”

  “Great. I’ll be waiting in the truck.”

  “You need us to bring anything, food, drink, anything?”

  “Got everything we need.”

  She turned and went back up the stairs to find Sam had one sneaker already on.

  “Fish with Bear,” he said.

  “Yep, that’s what we’re doing. Are you excited about it?” she asked him. She knelt in front of him and pushed his right foot down into the sneaker.

  “I go fishing with Bear,” he said again.

  “Okay, you’re all set so let’s hurry because Bear’s waiting for us.”

  She grabbed their jackets off the peg by the door just in case the sun went in and it got cold by the water. She locked the door and before she could say anything, Sam was running toward Bear’s truck.

  “Hi, buddy. Wow, you look like you’re dressed to fish.”

  “Let’s go, hurry,” said Sam, pulling on Bear’s arm.

  Hannah smiled as she approached Bear. She’d never seen her son so animated before. This was a good thing. A very good thing.

  “Okay, in you get,” said Bear, opening the back of the truck for Sam. “Can you find the seatbelt?”

  Bear reached in and secured in over Sam’s lap and then held the passenger door open for Hannah, who climbed up and put her seat belt on.

  Bear walked to the driver’s side of the truck, jumped up, and soon they were heading out on the road.

  “Just to explain the rules. The person who catches the fish doesn’t have to clean or cook it. And I should warn both of you that I’m very good at fishing,” he said.

  “Oh no, that’s doesn’t sound too promising for us. What do you think, Sam? You think we’d know how to clean a fish?” Hannah turned around to look at Sam.

  “Fishing with Bear, Fishing with Bear, Fishing with Bear…”

  Hannah closed her eyes, after the twentieth time her son had said those three words she was pretty sure Bear would start thinking he was crazy for getting himself involved.

  “Sam, that’s enough of that sentence,” said Hannah.

  Bear’s hand quickly went on top of hers. “It’s okay, Hann
ah, no problem at all. It probably makes him feel safe,” he whispered.

  After another five of the fishing with Bear mantras, Sam finally stopped and when Hannah looked around again he seemed fixated on the view outside the window. Flathead Lake. He did his rapid blinking thing again.

  “Home,” he said. “Water.” He pointed out of the window.

  “Yep, lots of water and we’ll be arriving at our fishing spot any minute,” said Bear.

  Bear turned the truck to the right and they traveled down a dirt track until they came to a parking area and a spot close to the lake.

  “I happen to think this is the perfect place for some fishing,” said Bear. “You guys what to help me get the stuff out of the back? Sam maybe you can carry our picnic lunch.”

  “Food and fishing with Bear,” said Sam.

  Both she and Sam stood by the truck as Bear handed Sam an insulated tote, and her, a tackle box while he grabbed three fishing rods. He obviously intended for her to fish too.

  “Let’s head over that way, because there’s a nice little cove-like area should the wind start to pick up off the lake,” said Bear, pointing to the left.

  Just as a precaution, Hannah took hold of Sam’s hand as they neared the edge of the lake.

  She knew he liked water. She’d never taught him how to swim or taken him for lessons so she wasn’t sure if he’d try to get into the water or be too scared of it.

  Bear set everything down and opened up the tote to reveal a huge blanket. He put it on the ground.

  “Let’s eat first shall we?” he asked.

  “Sounds good to me,” said Hannah.

  Sam sat in between the two of them as Bear pulled out boxes of sandwiches.

  “These are tuna salad, these are ham, and the ones in this container are cheese.”

  “Did you make these yourself?” Hannah asked him. They all looked so delicious.

  “Well, I had some help from Mia, my assistant. Sandwiches are her specialty. And she also threw in some bags of chips and soda.”

  He set the rest of the items in front of them.

  Hannah reached for the lemon lime soda and a tuna salad sandwich. Sam’s hand hovered over all three containers, passing back and forth.

  “How about a cheese sandwich? You like cheese a lot,” said Hannah. She knew he’d spend more time choosing than he would eating if she didn’t make a quick decision for him.

  He nodded and took it from her.

  “So how many fish you think we’ll catch for supper?” asked Bear.

  Sam held up four fingers.

  “Four, wow, your mom will be able to serve them in the café.”

  “Fishing with Bear,” said Sam.

  Hannah hoped he wasn’t going to start that again.

  “So you fish here often?” Hannah asked Bear.

  “Only done it a couple of times since I moved here.”

  “It’s really beautiful.”

  “Sure is. How are the sandwiches?”’

  “They’re great. Please thank Mia.”

  “I’ll do that. So Sam do you think you’re ready to do some fishing?”

  ****

  “Fish, fish, fish.”

  Bear smiled as he sat beside Sam. They hadn’t caught one yet, but with Sam’s chanting he knew the fish would be biting soon.

  He glanced at Hannah; she’d fished for about thirty minutes and then given up. She was now sunning herself farther up on the bank of the lake. She looked so glorious and invited lying there with the rays beaming down on her perfect skin. Since he’d picked her and Sam up at the café this afternoon, he’d been tempted to kiss her, feel those plump ruby red lips on his own.

  Something began pulling on Bear’s line, jarring him from his train of thought.

  “Hey, Sam, I think we got one.”

  He’d never seen a kid sit up and take notice as much as Sam did when he saw the line waving about in the water.

  “You want to give me a hand?” asked Bear.

  “Fish, fish caught by a Bear.”

  He didn’t know how true that last statement was. However, fishing as a bear was so much easier than using a line. Sam tugged with Bear and together they pulled the line out of the water to find a good size fish on the hook.

  “Momma,” said Sam.

  Bear glanced over at Hannah as she sat up and shielded her eyes with her hand.

  “Wow, did you catch that or did Bear?”

  “We caught it together,” said Bear.

  “Shall we take it home to eat or you want to throw it back?” asked Bear.

  “Sam eat it.”

  “Okay then, let’s get it off the hook and I’ll put it in the container.”

  Bear stood up and walked back to the truck with the fish.

  “Sam, no!” Hannah shouted.

  Bear looked up to see Sam heading into the water. He ran toward it, but Hannah already had the matter under control and was in the water lifting Sam up before he could venture out any farther.

  “You are not to do that,” she said.

  “Can he swim?” asked Bear as she lifted Sam up and walked out of the lake.

  “No.”

  “Then I think he should learn. What you think, buddy, you want me to teach you how to swim?”

  Sam shrugged his shoulders.

  “Are you sure you want to take on such a task?” asked Hannah.

  Bear looked at her t-shirt. It was wet from where she’d held her son against it. White, white bra underneath, both transparent, and her nipples pushed against the material giving him a clear view of her areoles. Dusky pink and gorgeous.

  Bear couldn’t help but lick his lips. What he wouldn’t give to have his lips around those babies. His cock twitched then turned hard, making his shorts seem suddenly way too tight for comfort.

  “No problem at all. In fact, Downward Facing Wolf the yoga studio has just added a swimming pool, so I think that’s the perfect place to start. Then we’ll venture out into the lakes.”

  “That would be great for him.”

  Bear had heard of special needs children doing especially well in swim programs so he thought it would be good therapy for Sam.

  “Fishing,” said Sam.

  “You want to try and catch another one?” asked Bear.

  Sam nodded his head.

  “Okay, let’s see what we can do.” Bear picked up Sam, winked at Hannah, and headed down to the edge of the lake again.

  ****

  It would be all too easy to get used to having a man around, someone to help her with Sam. She knew Bear was a sweet guy and was doing some of this out of the goodness of his heart, but she also sensed there was an attraction on his part like there was on hers. Sooner or later he’d want more than them being buddies who went on fishing trips. He’d want sex and she couldn’t blame him. She wanted that too, but if she gave in, then she’d let herself down. She would once again be the person she’d worked so hard not to be, and the whole cycle would be set in motion once more.

  She watched as he stood at the stove and turned the fish in the cast iron skillet. Thank goodness he’d only been joking when he said the person who caught it got out of cleaning it. She didn’t know the first thing about outdoorsy stuff. He clearly did.

  Sam stood by his side. In fact, Sam had stood by his side and not left it since they’d arrived back home.

  “You think that’s done enough?” Bear asked him.

  Sam nodded and grabbed a plate. She could tell her son loved being with Bear. He wasn’t so guarded like he was around other people.

  “Okay let’s sit and eat this before it gets cold.”

  Hannah pulled out the tossed salad she’d made and grabbed some of the nine grain rolls she’d ordered for the restaurant. They sat at the table, Sam watching as Bear cut off a piece of the fish and set it on his plate.

  “Did you always want to be a doctor?” she asked him, putting some salad onto Sam’s plate.

  “No, I wanted to be a pilot first, then a fireman, an
d only after that did I want to be a doctor.”

  “Wow, quite a choice there.”

  “Glad I settled on being a doctor, helping people makes you feel good in here,” he said, tapping his chest.

  She guessed it did. “So Sam what do you think of the fish?”

  “Good,” he said, nodding.

  “This salad dressing’s great. The one the other night was too. Another one of your creations?” asked Bear.

  “Sure is.”

  “You ever thought of selling them in the stores?”

  Hannah shrugged. “I’m guessing it would take a lot of money to get a venture like that launched.”

  “You could start with the farmer’s market. That’s opening up for the season next month.”

  She smiled. He was so positive. “I’ll definitely think about it.”

  “TV,” said Sam.

  Hannah looked at her watch and Sam looked up at the clock on the wall.

  “Okay, but take your supper with you. I want to see a clean plate.”

  Sam got up and carried the plate with him into the other room. Soon the sound of the TV filled the air.

  “He likes routine and he watches the same show without fail every Saturday at six.”

  “I’ve been known not to miss my favorite show either, and this is perfect because we can finally spend some time alone.”

  Hannah swallowed as his hand went on top of hers.

  “I spoke to a doctor I know. He’s up in Vancouver and specializes in autism. I’ve asked if he can take a look at Sam and what he recommends.”

  “Vancouver, BC?”

  Bear nodded. “He’s coming to the US to Seattle in June, and I thought if we can manage it maybe we can take Sam there.”

  Her and Bear and Sam going to Seattle. She bit her lip. It might be the best thing to happen to her son. A doctor who would recommend the best course of treatment for him.

  “That would be great, Bear. However, not that I’m not appreciative of all you’re doing for him, but do you really want to spend this much time? I mean the fishing, swimming…surely you have a social life, women who you want to date.”

  “There is one I have my eye on.”