Healing the Bear

by Vanessa Devereaux

  “Is there somewhere to put the gifts?” asked Dane.

  “Sure is, but it’s inside the marquee so maybe you’d like to hang onto it until after the ceremony.” She looked at her watch. “Which begins in about ten minutes if you want to take your seats.”

  “Yep, I bet my wife’s wondering where I got to. Talk to you later, Charlotte, and you too, Dane.”

  Dane nodded. “Where’s Aiden?” he asked.

  “He and Christopher should be here any minute. You’ve probably guessed Aiden’s Christopher’s best man.”

  They’d always been close. Something that Dane never experienced, being an only child.

  “I have to get to my seat, but I’m sure we’ll see you again at the reception,” said Charlotte.

  Dane nodded, turned, and saw the seats filling up. A few fellow bear shifters waved to him. He waved back. He glanced around hoping to find the ideal spot where a man sitting all by himself wouldn’t be so noticeable. Second to back row on the end. He took the program off the chair and sat, accidently knocking a few of the petals off the roses that hung on the end of each row. He put them in his hand.

  Lucinda had loved flowers, especially roses. He’d sometimes pick them and before they were completely dead, he would sprinkle them in water when she was bathing. He rubbed his fingers across them, allowing them to release their scent. He bit his lip, fighting back the tears because it reminded him so much of her. He put them in his pocket, not wanting to torture himself, but thinking it would be like having a piece of his wife with him here today. She wouldn’t let him feel alone and sad.

  He looked up, catching sight of Christopher and Aiden arriving from the side of the property, both dressed in dark suits, white shirts, and blue ties. He hadn’t realized until now how much alike they were. Both had the same color hair and were about the same height. Even from this distance, there was no mistaking they resembled their late father.

  Christopher turned around and waved to everyone. Dane had to admit he looked the happiest he’d ever seen him. A man who was obviously going to officiate the wedding joined them and stood in front of them as violins and cello music rang through the air. A trio of musicians was now seated to the left.

  Laughter and clapping from everyone made Dane turned around to see what they was looking at. It was a dog, a Pomeranian, walking down the aisle wearing a bowtie. He stopped and sniffed at a few chairs.

  “Barney no,” Christopher said. He whistled to him. The dog looked up and then ran toward Christopher, who picked him up and kissed the top of his head before putting him down next to Aiden.

  “My second best man,” Christopher shouted.

  The next reaction from the guests were oohs and aahs as a little girl wearing a pink dress and tiny pink flowers in her hair began heading down the aisle. She had to be the bride’s daughter. She passed by him and threw some rose petals by his feet. She was adorable. Lucinda had said she hoped their baby was a girl so she could dress her up in pretty things. He never got to know if her wish would have come true. He swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in his throat. The trio began playing the Wedding March and everyone stood as Dane turned and saw the bride heading down the aisle.

  The little girl resembled her mother, so much it was as if she’d been cloned. She beamed and smiled at everyone as she headed toward Christopher who he could see was actually crying. Maybe he shouldn’t hold back his tears either. Of course his were for a different reason. Sadness and not happiness. There was a huge difference. One type made your heart light, the other heavy and weak.

  Christopher got hold of the little girl’s hand, lifted her up, and kissed her. She kissed his cheek. His bride reached him and the three of them hugged before Christopher put the little girl down and put his arm around his soon to be wife. He so wanted this to be him and Lucinda. The gift to travel back in time, marry her all over again. Not take her for a run in the woods that fateful day.

  “We’re here today to join two lives. Two lives who will soon become one.”

  A tear slid down Dane’s cheek. He and Lucinda had been one. He saw the bullet hit her again and again, played out the scene where she slumped to the ground. He lifted up the petals the little girl had dropped and put them under his nose, almost coughing and choking on their overwhelming scent.

  Please help me, Lucinda. Be here with me. Help to get me through this. I think I’ll have to skip the reception.

  “I’m right here, Dane.”

  He looked around, positive she was somewhere close by because he’d heard her voice as clearly as if she was sitting next to him.

  “And don’t you dare walk out on that reception. Think of all that great food you’ll be missing.”

  He laughed. A few people sitting on the opposite side of the aisle looked over and knitted their eyebrows together as he did so.

  Lucinda knew him well and that he loved his food. What grizzly didn’t?

  “And I think mixing with lots of people might be just what you need. You’re going to find happiness again, Dane. I know you will. Someone who you’ll love as much as you loved me.”

  “No,” Dane said, not realizing he’d spoken out loud until the people sitting one row in front turned to look at him.

  You’re wrong, Lucinda. You’re the only woman I can ever love and I have to go.

  Dane rose from his seat, feeling a sense of dread washing over him. He ran down the rest of the aisle. People turned to look at him, their whispers not hard to overhear.

  “Poor, Dane. I didn’t think what he must be going through. We should have asked him to sit with us.” It was a cacophony that was making him dizzy.

  He felt sick and he needed to get away. He lost his orientation and couldn’t remember where the young man had parked his car. Never mind that for now, he had to take cover someplace. He ran toward a building to his left. He put his hand on his mouth, thinking he was going to throw up. He went inside, thinking maybe he could get a drink of water, but clearly he’d entered the back entrance of the main kitchen because people were putting food on plates.

  A beautiful woman with dark wavy hair was placing tiny flowers in bowls of what looked like soup. Lucinda. It was her. She was back. He hadn’t been imagining things. She had been with him today.

  Dane ran over to her. She jumped, knocking over three of the bowls, causing them to fall to the floor. Soup began seeping across the floor. She looked horrified, like she was going to scream.

  Up close, he realized it wasn’t Lucinda but just his wife residing in this young woman’s body. That had to be true because he felt the same thing about this woman as he had the first time he’d set eyes on Lucinda.

  “I know who you really are,” he said.

  With that, it looked like every piece of blood had drained from her face. She was going to pass out. She’d hit her head and he couldn’t allow that to happen to her.

  Chapter Three

  They’d said they wouldn’t make the same mistake they had with Mike. They said she’d be safe, but they’d lied. They’d found her and they’d sent this man to kill her. She’d attempted to fight him as he’d grabbed her but holy shit, he was strong. She guessed that was why a hitman was paid top dollar. She’d thought of kicking him in the balls, gouging his eyes like they’d taught her, but he did nothing further in an attempt to hurt her. His eyes were those of a kind man. He had pain written across his face like he was hurting in much the same way she was.

  “I’m sorry I scared you like that. You’re shaking. I think you should sit down and rest for a bit so you can get some color back into those pretty cheeks of yours.”

  It didn’t sound like the sort of thing someone said to you before they killed you.

  “I’m sorry to…I mean I thought you were…”

  He looked at her with beautiful blue eyes. Paul Newman eyes. Her mother always had a thing for the late actor so Melanie had grown up watching his movies. This man’s eyes were almost the same shade of blue. He had a strong jawline too and right no
w there was a tiny pulse beating on the side of it.

  He let her slide out of his arms until her feet were back on the ground. He smiled. Maybe she’d misheard what he’d said. She’d been overreacting. She really did need to spend more time away from the job, but she was scared.

  “I’m sorry for startling you like that. It’s just you reminded me of my late wife and…”

  A tear ran down his cheek. She went from suddenly fearing this man to wanting to wrap her arms around him and hug him. A true man always cries, her mother had always said. Mike cried at soppy old movies. This man was crying over his late wife.

  “Please don’t cry,” she said. She dug around in her apron pocket for her tissue, found it, and offered it to him.

  He took it, their fingers brushing each other. Melanie felt something. She wasn’t sure what it was, but she felt like she was coming to life again after being numb for so, so long.

  Should she tell him that she knew how he felt because she’d also lost her husband? It could still be a trap and the agent had told her not to let her guard down to anyone. Remember the mantra. Melanie Partridge wasn’t a widow. Melanie Partridge had never married. Remember that and you’ll stay alive.

  “Are you here for the Banks-Renner wedding?”

  He nodded.

  “Yeah, sometimes seeing happy couples sets off memories of…”

  She still was hopeless at this new persona and life. Sometimes words slipped over her tongue before she could censor them. “I mean, my friend’s a widow and she hates going to weddings so I know how tough it must be for you.”

  “I guess I had a panic attack. I thought I heard my wife’s voice and then when I saw you with your long dark hair. It’s pretty like my wife’s.”

  She placed her hand on top of his, sensing that he was genuine in his pain. “No harm done.”

  “Would you at least let me help you clean this mess up?”

  “Nope, you’re here as a wedding guest so that’s my job. How about I walk you back to the party? I’m sure the actual ceremony’s over by now and I think that’s the tough part to get through. I mean when you’ve lost someone.”

  “You really don’t have to. I’m thinking of heading home.”

  “Don’t you dare. There’s all sorts of great food about to be served.”

  He smiled. She did too. “My name’s Melanie Partridge.”

  Not matter how many times she said that she still didn’t buy the lie.

  “Nice to meet you. My name’s Dane Reynolds.”

  They shook hands and then she took him through the front entrance and opened back the door to the patio where some of the guests were starting to gather.

  “We’ll be serving the meal in about thirty minutes.”

  “Everything smelled great, especially the salmon.”

  “Wow, how did you know salmon’s on the menu? It was in the other area. You must have a great sense of smell.”

  “Often do some fishing myself so I guess that helps.”

  “I should try that. I mean for relaxation.”

  They walked back across the lawn to the marquee where the reception was being held.

  “Why don’t I walk you inside and we can find your table and seat.”

  “You really don’t have to,” said Dane.

  She wanted to. The poor guy. Fleeing the ceremony and then thinking she was his dead wife. Guess it was true what they said about finding someone who was worse off than yourself. She hadn’t thought she could, but here was living proof.

  Melanie walked him to the marquee and they went inside. “In fact, let’s take a look at the chart here,” she said lifting her clipboard. “Dane Reynolds. Table ten. Christopher thought you’d like to sit with some of your old buddies.”

  She led him over to a table to the left. “Here you are and the wait staff will be around with drinks any minute now.”

  “Thanks and thanks for being so understanding about my situation.”

  “Sure, any time. Nice meeting you, Dane. I hope the rest of the celebration is easier for you, but if you need someone to chat with again I’ll be where you found me the first time.”

  She shook his hand again and left, hoping in her own selfish way he would need her help again and that he would come calling a second time.

  ****

  Dane watched her walk away. What had he been thinking? Clearly scaring her like he had and then of all things, thinking she was a reincarnation of Lucinda. Dane looked up, seeing Melanie finally go out of sight.

  She’d been sweet and kind and gave him the benefit of the doubt which was more than he’d deserved. He sensed that she’d lost someone close to her too, but that she was keeping it a guarded secret for whatever reason. He’d smelled her fear and then sensed her hesitation to go into any detail about how she knew what he was going through. Dane heard the other guests beginning to mill into the marquee. Mick waved to him but headed over to another table. He nodded, hoping no one would ask why he ran out during the ceremony.

  Sloan and David’s names were placed on his table. Also, Alex and Cassidy, Marcus and Joy. Bear shifters like himself but all with partners. He took a deep breath. He’d eat because he was, in fact, starving and hated the idea of cooking just for himself, but then he’d make his excuses for wanting to get home.

  He couldn’t help but smile when he saw the flower girl heading in holding her new step-dad’s hand with Lilly following close behind with Aiden and Charlotte. Dane felt someone slapping him on the back and turned around to see Trent.

  “Hi, buddy. Aiden said you were home and coming to the wedding.”

  “Good to see you. How’s police work?”

  “I’m still enjoying it and you probably heard that I got married?”

  Dane nodded.

  “Honey, come and met one of my old buddies,” Trent called to a pretty woman with long hair.

  “Dane, my wife Emily. Emily, this is an old bear buddy of mine.”

  Dane put out his hand and shook hers.

  “Nice to meet you,” she said.

  “Same here.”

  “Well, look who is on our table.”

  Dane felt suddenly overwhelmed when he saw Alex and Cassidy heading over to the table.

  “Long time no see,” said Alex, slapping him on the arm.

  “We’ll catch you later and let’s have a drink after the meal,” said Trent.

  “Sure,” said Dane, not wanting to tell him that’s when he’d be leaving.

  “You have to tell us where you’ve been. We were all wondering why you left so suddenly,” said Cassidy, sitting down beside him.

  Oh boy, everyone sounded like they were talking at once. He needed a drink and he needed to find Melanie because for some strange reason she calmed his soul.

  ****

  Melanie checked all the plates before the wait staff headed out with them to begin serving the guests. Everything looked perfect and she was slowing getting the hang of this business. She leaned against the brick wall in the kitchen and took two long gulps of water. She missed teaching. Maybe, just maybe, she’d be able to go back to her true profession one day in the distant future. Her skills might be rusty by then and she’d probably have to go back to school, but it would be worth it to stand in front of a classroom again. Nothing compared to the sense of joy knowing you were educating another generation. Walking over to the window, she looked out over the patio, spotting the opening of the marquee. Maybe she should go and check if everything was running smoothly.

  She smiled. She wasn’t doing it for professional reasons. She wanted to see Dane again. It was the first time she was thinking about another man since Mike had died. Why did that make her feel so guilty?

  Mike was dead. Mike was never coming back despite how she hoped and prayed that it was all some awful nightmare. A tear slid down her face. He was dead and she should have also died that morning. No matter how many years went by she’d never forgot that. Never stop blaming herself for forgetting a student’s book. And now
she was thinking about another man, which made her feel like the most horrible person in the world.

  The agent in charge of her case had told her to get on with her life, put the past behind her because in doing so she had the best chance of surviving. Living to see another day. Hidden deep in the heart of Montana where they were least likely to come looking for her and finish the job.

  However, this was the first time she’d been attracted to a man and it brought up the whole issue of dating. She hated secrets and the fact that she’d have to keep one - a huge whopper of a lie from any man she got involved with - didn’t sit well with her. She turned back to look at the marquee again. What the hell, she was going over there to see him again. What harm could looking do?

  Melanie opened the door, pushed her hair back, and secured it in her ponytail as she made her way across the patio and onto the grass. The sound of chatter and laughter drifted her way. Sounded like everyone was having fun.

  She stepped inside, spotting him immediately. He was breaking off a piece of salmon with the edge of his fork. He was so handsome. He almost looked like he was made to be someone’s bodyguard. Why on earth had she thought of that? She knew why, she needed protecting and was thinking of the perfect excuse to hang out with him.

  Dane looked up as if he knew she was watching him and only him. He waved. She waved back. Oh what the hell, I’ll go over there and pretend I’m checking that everything’s okay.

  She smiled at some of the guests as she walked over to the other side of the marquee before finally arriving at his table.

  “Hi again,” he said.

  “Hi, just wondering how everything is tasting?” she asked, purposely looking at the other guests sitting at the table so he didn’t think she’d just stopped by his table.

  “Best salmon I’ve tasted ever,” said one man. They all nodded in agreement.

  “The soup was great too,” said Dane.

  “Wait till you taste the huckleberry ice cream,” said Melanie.

  “Huckleberry, you hear that guys?” asked one of the ladies.