Mending the Bear

by Vanessa Devereaux

  “You okay, Ned?” a lady asked, pushing a cart.

  “Fine, really, it’s worse than it looks,” he said.

  “I saw that biker guy coming through here like he was going to tear up the whole place,” the lady said.

  “Biker?” Eve asked. “Did he have a bear on the back of his leather jacket?”

  “That’s the one,” she said.

  “He’s sort of got a beef with my brother, that’s all. And I can assure you this has never happened before and won’t ever happen again,” Ned said.

  “Are you sure we can’t call an ambulance or something?” the lady said, pointing to his nose.

  “No, no, that’s fine. I just hope this young lady’s okay,” he said, nodding toward Eve.

  “I’m fine really.” Her ankle was throbbing now, but it looked like he had enough trouble to deal with. And if she did need medical treatment, it should be the biker who’d pay her bill, not the supermarket.

  “Please, would you accept a $100 gift card for your inconvenience?” he said.

  “It’s not your fault really, it isn’t.”

  “Please, I’d feel happier if you’d accept it and I hope this incident won’t stop you from doing your grocery shopping here. Goodsen’s supermarket aims for the highest level of customer service.”

  The place looked great. It was close to her practice and townhouse so yeah, maybe this would be the place she’d do her shopping. “Sure, I’d be happy to accept the card and do my shopping here.”

  “I’m glad to hear that, and was there anything I can help you find?”

  “Yes, in fact, I was looking for some hairspray,” Eve said.

  “Aisle three. I’ll take you to it, and, no charge.”

  “No, let me pay, really this wasn’t anything to do with you. It was that crazy biker guy. In fact, I’d make him come in here and clean up the place.”

  “You know, that’s a great idea. Maybe I’ll suggest just that.”

  Eve followed behind him. Sounded like he was going to report the incident to the police and she couldn’t blame him. Maybe she should tell them about him covering her with mud and what a reckless asshole he’d been.

  ****

  Ian turned his bike into Liam’s driveway. Music made its way out of the main garage and Ian guessed, as was normally true, Liam was in there fixing a car. He parked the bike and headed that way. A puppy began barking long before he got to the door and then ran out to greet him. He leaned over to pet the buff-colored lab, and then the dog followed close on his heels as he made his way inside to see Liam working under the hood of a truck. He glanced up when he saw Ian.

  “Hey buddy, good to see you,” he said, wiping his hands. “Have you met the newest member of the family?” he asked, pointing to the puppy. “His name’s Shane.”

  As if the dog already knew his name, he barked again, ran around in circles a few times, and then dragged a squeaky toy over to Ian and dropped it at his feet.

  “By the look of those paws, he’s going to be a big dog,” Ian said.

  “I know, but I insisted that Lucy not adopt anything small and yappy. This one’s going to make a great running companion.”

  Lucy, the human. The normally sensible Liam had even gone over to the dark side.

  “We thought we’d get used to babying a dog before we start a family,” Liam said.

  Family. Joanne had said she wanted one, but he couldn’t remember her ever bringing up the topic. Had she? Or had he not paid enough attention to her?

  “Sam fell in love with Shane the minute he saw him, and it just so happened that Shane had a sister that was looking for a home so I bought her for Sam for Christmas. I don’t think I’m too popular with Bear and Hannah, but my nephew loves me even more.”

  Sam, his former best buddy’s son and also let’s not forget half-human. What had the Ahern boys been thinking?

  “I haven’t seen you since the holidays. How does Joanne like her new job at the shifter hospital?” Liam asked.

  Joanne. For a few seconds he’d made himself believe that he’d been dreaming, having a nightmare about walking in on her like he had, but Liam’s question had made him realize, no, he was wide awake and he had lost his mate.

  “She’s…”

  Shit, he couldn’t even bring himself to tell Liam and that was the reason he’d come here. He couldn’t talk it out with Danny, so his buddy’s big brother was the next best thing.

  “Something wrong? She’s not sick is she?” asked Liam, closing down the lid of the truck.

  “Yeah, sick of me I guess.”

  “You two have an argument?” Liam asked while wiping some grease off his face.

  “That and a whole lot more. I thought I’d surprise her on her thirtieth birthday so I went over to her place, but it’s me who got the surprise. She was in bed fucking Max Goodsen.”

  “Max! You’ve got to be kidding me,” Liam said.

  “Only wish I was. And it gets even worse, they were mating.” How he’d managed to get those last three words out he wasn’t sure. He felt sick yet again.

  “Geez, I’m so sorry.” Liam walked over to him and slung his arm round his shoulders.

  “I know women sometimes hint at how they’d like to settle down, but I thought she’d wait until I was ready. That’s what mates do, right?”

  “Ian, if you’re weren’t ready and the two of you got married then it would have been a disaster. If you didn’t feel in your heart that marrying her was the thing to do, which is what it sounds like, then I’d say she wasn’t your true mate.”

  Ian didn’t believe that. They’d been together since they were five years old. It was destiny that they’d be together forever. Only he was supposed to be the father of her offspring, not some cougar. After all, she was the only woman who’d he’d ever allow to bear his children.

  “Now I’ve lost her. I’m never going to get married. Never going to date or even so much as look at another female for as long as I live.”

  Liam burst out laughing. “Are you aware just how many guys have said that very same thing?”

  “Hundreds, thousands, maybe, but I’m the one who means it.”

  Liam slapped him on the back. “I have Trent’s car to see to next, and then I have to see what’s wrong with Dane’s truck, but after that how about we go for a drink and a run? Or even better, won’t don’t you stick around and have dinner with me and Lucy?”

  The last thing he needed was to be around a happily married couple.

  “In fact, I won’t take no for an answer,” Liam said.

  ****

  Eve couldn’t believe how nice all the other chamber members were. In fact, so nice, not one of them had stared at her mud-splattered coat or the ruined hairdo. Just about every business was represented there and she got to meet two sisters who ran a craft store and gave her brochures on their upcoming art and craft night. The introduction to art seemed like something that might be fun. Eve tucked the information into her purse as she saw Hannah McWilliams heading her way. She’d found out that she ran the café next to the craft store and was the current president of the Chamber. Eve smiled at her.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” asked Hannah as they headed out of the chamber meeting. She’d been the first person who’d greeted Eve when she’d arrived and had quickly noticed that Eve was limping slightly.

  Eve looked down at her ankle. She had to admit, it did feel sore, plus it was being to swell now, too.

  “My husband’s a doctor and I can get him to take a look at it for you,” Hannah said.

  “I’m sure it will be fine,” Eve said. “In fact, I’m going over to my office and I’ll sit and rest while I do some paperwork.”

  “How about I give him a call and he can stop by on his way home just to make sure it’s okay? Better to be safe than sorry.”

  It was clear she wasn’t going to take no for an answer and as a vet, Eve knew that little injuries could sometimes not seem so bad but turn into something worse later
on.

  “Okay, as long as it’s no trouble or takes him out of his journey home.”

  “Nope, he has to pass this way to get to our house. I’ll just go call him.” Eve waited while Hannah pulled out her cell phone walked away for a few minutes and then came back.

  “He’s in the middle of his afternoon clinic, but his cousin, Ash, said he’d be happy to drop by on his way home in about an hour’s time.”

  “Are you sure? This isn’t too much trouble?

  Hannah shook her head. “He said he’d be happy to stop by, so just go and rest up and he’ll stop by.”

  Maybe her day was going to end better than she’d thought.

  ****

  “Have you heard the hot news of the day? Ian Mallory went crazy in Goodsen’s supermarket.”

  Ian saw Liam signaling to Dane to not say another word as he stepped inside Liam’s garage to collect his vehicle. If he’d heard about it then probably every other shifter had, too. That should give every single one of them something to discuss over dinner tonight.

  Dane knitted his eyebrows together, obviously not understanding what Liam was trying to tell him, but turned, saw Ian, and smiled that big grin that only Dane could produce. “How you doing?” he asked.

  “No longer wrecking supermarkets,” he said, drinking the rest of his beer. “Did you hear why I went crazy in there?”

  “No, I can’t say that I did,” Dane said, now turning red.

  “Max Goodsen stole my mate.”

  Dane glanced over at Liam. His two fellow bear shifters looked at one another, but didn’t say a word. Didn’t they agree with him that running off with a cougar was the lowest thing a bear could do?

  “Stole my fucking mate,” Ian said. He was on his third beer and his words were beginning to get slurred and he almost slipped off the bench he’d chosen to sit on while he’d watched Liam working.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” said Dane.

  “I told him there’ll be the perfect mate who’ll come along for him and very soon,” Liam said.

  “That’s right. When Lucinda died I thought I’d never love anyone else, and then I met Melanie and I fell in love all over again. In fact, Melanie has a friend who’s suddenly single if you’d like us to…”

  “I’m not so desperate that I’m going out with a fucking human,” Ian said. He didn’t care if he offended either of his buddies. That was how things were.

  “Well, if my truck’s ready, I suppose I should be on my way,” Dane said, fishing out his wallet from his back pocket. Dane had never been the confrontational type, but Ian could tell he’d pissed him off with his snarky remarks.

  “Sure is. Needed a new fan belt and I’ve changed the oil and put in a clean filter, too,” Liam said.

  Ian took another beer from the cooler and popped open the top.

  “See you at the next stargazing gathering,” Dane said, taking his keys from Liam.

  That was one thing he wouldn’t ever attend again. The thought of seeing Joanne and someone else, snuggling together looking up at the sky like they once had. The thought made him sick to his stomach and he downed the beer to two big gulps, suddenly feeling like total shit.

  “You okay?” Liam asked when he got back from walking Dane to his truck.

  “Just a bit woozy, that’s all.”

  “Let’s get you inside the house and you can sleep it off for an hour or so before we eat.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Let me be the judge of that,” Liam said, getting him to his feet.

  “Oh shit, I think I’m going to throw up.”

  ****

  “Do I smell salmon?” asked the doctor who’d introduced himself as Ash McWilliams just a few minutes ago. He stepped inside Eve’s office and put his nose in the air.

  Her raincoat was hanging on the back of the door and she’d forgotten that not only was it covered in mud, but she’d also been wearing it when she’d fallen in the supermarket. She couldn’t detect any odor, but now she hoped no one at the chamber meeting had detected it. If they had, how embarrassing for her.

  “Yes, it’s actually some salmon fillets that I slipped on. Is it that obvious?”

  Ash shook his head. “I have a really sharp sense of smell. You want to take a seat so I can look at your ankle?” he said.

  Eve pulled out her office chair and sat. Ash knelt in front of her.

  He pressed her ankle and then put his thumb on the bony outgrowth, and she realized things were worse than she’d thought. “Ouch,” Eve said.

  “Guess I don’t have to ask you if that hurts or not. It’s not broken, but you probably gave it a bad twist when you fell. I’ll bandage it up and I suggest you get some rest for a day or two and put an ice pack on it.”

  “I don’t think that’s possible because I have to start interviewing people for the receptionist job. I’ve already run the ad.”

  “Receptionist job. I mean, there’s an opening?”

  “Sure is. The former receptionist can only work two days now so I’m looking for someone to work the other three days,” Eve said.

  Ash opened his bag and pulled out a bandage and some tape. “My wife Chloe is going to be a vet. She’s taking a couple of classes at the local college and then taking some online. She’s really motivated and I think this would be a good fit for her to gain some experience and see how things run. Would you be willing to interview her?”

  “I certainly would. In fact, I’ll give you an application for her to fill in. Can she stop by tomorrow?”

  “Sure, that shouldn’t be a problem.” Ash secured the bandage with some tape. “How does that feel?” he asked.

  “Much better already.”

  “Great, and even if you can’t keep off your feet for a few days, at least take some over-the-counter painkillers and elevate your foot all night.”

  “Don’t worry. After I’m done here I’m going straight home after the day I’ve had. What do I owe you?”

  Ash waved his hand. “I wouldn’t think of charging for such a quick doctor’s visit. This one’s on the house.”

  “Really?”

  “You were referred by Hannah who’s actually my cousin-in-law, so you qualify for the family freebie.”

  Eve liked living in Kalispell already. Everyone was so nice to her, well apart from the asshole on the motorbike. Maybe he was from out of town and had just been passing through.

  Eve stood and gingerly put her foot to the ground as she made her way over to the file cabinet, opened the top drawer, and pulled out a folder. “Here’s the job application form and if she could stop by around 10 a.m. that would be great.”

  Ash put the paper under his arm. “That shouldn’t be a problem for Chloe. So when does the practice formally open again?”

  “Monday at 8 a.m.” Eve was about to see Ash out when he stopped her and pointed to the chair.

  “Sit. That’s doctor’s orders and I can see myself out. If the ankle gives you any more trouble or the swelling gets worse, just give me a call,” he said, handing her his card.

  “Okay, and tell your wife I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

  “I will and hope your evening’s better than your afternoon’s been.”

  Eve hoped so, too.

  ****

  Ian woke up, not by choice, but a woman’s voice had startled him.

  “I thought I’d pick up some salmon for dinner. I went into Goodsen’s and you’ll never guess what?”

  It was Lucy, Liam’s wife’s voice streaming in from their kitchen. “The place was a total mess and Ned told me that Ian Mallory had been in there and thrown stuff from the shelves and also thrown every piece of salmon onto the floor, so sorry, honey, it’s off the menu tonight.”

  Geez, would this get on the evening news or what? And salmon, where had his brain been at, wasting good salmon just to make his point. He probably should have gone to the pet food aisle and thrown some kitty food around.

  Ian made his way to the kitchen as Lucy
continued to rattle on about the incident. Once again he saw Liam signaling that Ian was in the next room, or so he thought. Both of them turned to see Ian leaning again the door jamb.

  “I had no idea you were here,” Lucy said.

  “Sounds like it,” Ian said.

  At least she was being honest, which was more than he could say about some people.

  “Ian’s staying for supper,” Liam said.

  “No, really, you don’t have to go to any trouble on my account, and it sounds like you won’t be serving salmon,” Ian said. Had that sounded just a tad too sarcastic?

  “Sit yourself down because you’re staying to eat with us,” Liam said. “You need something to soak up all that beer.”

  Lucy glanced at Liam and then lifted some grocery bags up onto the countertop. The name Goodsen’s was splashed over the front of every single one of them, but he was going to keep his cool.

  “How about I start by making us a salad?” said Liam, getting the lettuce from the fridge.

  The puppy ran over to Ian. He wasn’t feeling very social, but he patted its head.

  “It’s probably best if you tell Lucy why you did all that damage in Goodsen’s,” Liam said as he began slicing tomatoes.

  “My mate betrayed me,” Ian said.

  “Joanne, no, I can’t believe she’d do that to you,” Lucy said, setting two packets of chicken breasts down on the counter.

  “Believe it, because I caught her red-handed with Max Goodsen,” Ian said. He so wanted another beer, but he’d already paid for his overindulgence earlier that day. Maybe he’d just stick to soda for the rest of the night.

  “I guess that explains why you chose the supermarket,” Lucy said.

  “I told him his true mate is out there somewhere,” Liam said, waving the paring knife around.

  “I keep telling my brother the same thing. Speaking of which, Hannah tells me there’s a new female vet who’s just taken over Ally’s husband’s practice and Hannah thinks she might be perfect for him.”

  Ian quickly spotted Liam rolling his eyes as he poured the dressing onto the salad.

  “And don’t think I didn’t see that,” said Lucy.