"Sort of. A great-great nephew really, I think. Mom's family tree is a little shaggy. Roman's a good guy and he said he'd come and distract Uncle Vanya." He laughed. "Better him than me."
Maddie thought. "I could ask Leeann to take my classes," she said out loud. "I'll take a look at the schedule and see if I can move people around. No promises. Glorious She is my living and I can't just waltz off and expect it to keep running."
Doug stood up and grabbed the salad bowl. "Tell me about your business while we clean up."
He listened attentively while she explained how she had been let go by her ad agency after the sub-prime meltdown. "I took my severance, and added it to my divorce settlement, and found a gym that was in foreclosure. Bought it lock, stock and barrel. And more to the point, towels and staff. It took a while, but I was sure that there was opportunity for a gym that made big women feel comfortable in their own skins. And I was right."
"Glorious She just has women members?" Doug was busy returning the kitchen table to the nook and aligning the chairs for inspection.
"Uh huh. We focus on making plus-sized women feel empowered and strong, and not on losing weight and dropping a dress size. We have members who drive across the city three times a week so they can use our facilities without being shamed." She warmed to her theme, and her hazel eyes sparkled as she explained her plans for expansion.
Doug loaded the dishwasher and admired the view. Maddie looked like a walking bear fantasy. Her rump was even more seductive in a dress. His mouth watered and his palms itched. He had never assumed that her abundant flesh meant she was weak. Not with the examples of the strong females in his family and in the army. Lots of women were round and strong, and that was what his bear preferred too. Abruptly he felt disloyal to Cherry's memory. The memory of his tall and slender bride doused his growing erection.
Maddie went on about her plans for expansion. "I'm looking around for another gym in another suburb. See if we can attract women who don't have time to for a destination gym."
Doug asked a few questions and Maddie bubbled over with her enthusiastic and well thought out plans. It seemed she was a savvy and committed businesswoman. He had been thinking of her as a sort of personal trainer, but she was running a successful business and overseeing a large staff. Gorgeous and intelligent was a powerful combination.
"Think that your success with Glorious She has anything to do with your ex harassing you?"
"Well, duh. Eric dumped me for a lawyer. She dumped him when he lost his job. He's selling cars—expensive cars—but still it's a major comedown. I think he wants on my gravy train. But his charm doesn't work on me anymore."
"You think he wants you back?"
"Or a loan, but he is so out of luck. The scales fell from my eyes long ago. Only person Eric is in love with is himself." Maddie gave the sink a last polish with the dishtowel in her hand. "Which reminds me, what did you do with Eric's flowers."
"I put them in the garage."
"I'll drop them at the nursing home on my way to the gym tomorrow." She balled up the damp dishtowel and left the kitchen. "Let me dump these in the wash, and fire up my laptop."
CHAPTER THREE
Doug looked sideways at Maddie. He was thinking about sex again. He wasn't sure if he approved of his burgeoning interest in this woman. She was too young for an old bear like him. He discounted her state of arousal around him. He was used to having that effect on females.
When he had been mated to Cherry, he had not been interested, and after her death the women he encountered were usually other ranks. Officers did not hit on their subordinates. Period. Besides he wasn't interested.
Somehow this woman was different. She was beautiful, strong, accomplished, kind. And she hummed with low level arousal that occasionally flared up into a whole symphony of hot pheromones. He was getting used to his almost constant state of heightened excitement. Almost. But for sure he couldn't hit on Maddie when he had invited her to be his purely platonic guest. What the hell had he been thinking?
Maddie was looking out the window of Doug's rental and wondering if she was brave enough to try to seduce Doug. Sometimes she thought she could, but she always drew back at the last second, afraid to try her luck. He's still grieving for his wife, she chided herself. Seven years is long enough. Rural Wisconsin slipped past and still Maddie was no closer to a decision.
"There must be some mistake," Doug said evenly to the older woman at the motel counter. "I'm supposed to be in a cabin." He pulled out his cell and checked his mother's email. "Bayberry," he said.
Mrs. George shook her grey head regretfully. "Mrs. Enright put the Malcoms in there. Room six is a nice room." She pushed the ledger at him. "Only room we have left." Her black eyes twinkled. "There isn't a room for twenty miles," she said with satisfaction.
Douglas knew when his mother had outfoxed him. He signed his name without another word, took the keys and thanked Mrs. George politely. "Do you know where my mom and dad are staying?" he asked.
"Number nine." She passed him a printed list. "Your mother said to give everyone one of these."
How in blazes was he to explain this to Maddie? She was standing outside of the rental talking to his mother. Katrina Enright was in full loquacious flow.
"Tonight you meet all the family. Thank you for coming to help celebrate our happiness." Katrina broke off as she saw Doug walking toward them. She held out her arms and he gave her a hug that lifted her off her feet.
"You put me down," she scolded him delightedly. She kissed him heartily on both cheeks.
"You gave away my cabin, Mom," Doug said as he set her on her feet again.
Katrina sighed sorrowfully. "Yes, is so." She turned to Maddie. "Hannah's clan they bring all five children. I put in Douglas's cabin and give you their room. Is wonderful Hannah's whole clan is here for her wedding, no?" Her tone dared them to argue.
"Wonderful. Let's get settled," Doug told Maddie.
Maddie looked around the motel room interestedly. There was one queen sized bed and a narrow daybed. A bar fridge with a tiny microwave and even tinier coffee maker sat beside the single dresser. She took a look at the bathroom. It was just a hotel bathroom, clean and adequate.
"I'm sorry," Doug said. "I truly had no idea."
"It's okay. If the bride's family can't bump you, who can?"
"They're not her family, just her clan," he corrected her absently as he unpacked his dress uniform and hung it in the closet. Crap. He had brought Maddie to a shifter wedding. He had been treating her as if she was cool with his bear.
"Her clan?" Maddie was pulling out a dress swathed in dry cleaning bags and shaking it out. She put it in the closet beside his uniform.
"Hannah's a bear. Her family is from around here, but she was adopted by another shifter family." He fixed his blue eyes hard on her puzzled face. "This is also a secret."
"Yes, sir," Maddie said smartly. Inside she was crestfallen. Well no wonder he wasn't interested. He needed a she-bear.
Doug looked into Maddie's suddenly wary face. "I guess I took a lot for granted." His cheekbones blazed. "You seemed pretty cool about my taking bear form."
"Um. Well, I better get my unpacking done." She whisked away and started to stow her things in one of the dresser drawers. She put a pair of runners and a red sack on the closet floor. Then she disappeared into the bathroom with a flowered bag.
Now what? Doug consulted his list. Uncle Vanya was right next door. No connecting door. Good. There was a meal in an hour at the Community Center. Should he attempt some more explanations or take Maddie to meet his brothers?
Maddie started looking in drawers and in the closet. She accumulated a stack of cotton blankets which she took over to the couch under the window. She pulled at the cushions and announced, "It's made up with sheets. One of these is a bed pillow."
Doug swallowed and manned up. "I'll take that bed," he said.
Maddie gurgled. "It's a bit short for you. You get the bed, I'll be fine here.
" She arranged the daybed so that she could just go to sleep if they were late back. She was still pondering the fact of partying with a bunch of bears. Weird and weirder.
"Does your mother know I'm not a bear?" she blurted.
"Well, sure."
"Did you tell her?"
"No need. She could tell."
"How?"
"Smell."
"Oh."
"Yeah, real primitive, that's us." Doug felt a door closing and couldn't figure out how to open it.
* * *
The gathering at the Community Center was surprisingly fun. The locals were all happy and excited to meet Hannah and Martha's in-laws. There was a vat of red punch that was sweeter than Maddie cared for but lots of hearty congratulations came with every styrofoam cup.
The meal was served cafeteria style by an earnest crew of young people in white jackets and pants who were overseen by a large and capable older woman. It was anything but fancy food, but it was hearty and tasty and there was lots of it.
Maddie and Doug sat at a table with the police chief and his wife and another police officer and his wife. They were all very friendly and at pains to tell Will's brother how happy they were that Martha had found a good man. Maddie wondered at the back story, but held her tongue.
When the catering crew started to bring around trays of brownies topped with ice cream, the whole room hushed as a very old man got up and made his way to the microphone and lectern stationed under a basketball hoop. Sam Deer introduced himself and named his clan and that of his forbears.
Mr. Deer welcomed the Enrights, and the Zhadanovs, and the Malcoms. He told a story about Martha and expounded on the general happiness amongst the Menominee that she and Robert had found their sister Hannah after so many years. He expressed a wish that all these new friends would always feel welcome in Wesheno. He sat down to thunderous applause.
The meal was over. People started to help clear coffee cups and remove tablecloths prior to folding them. The chairs were set around the edges of the room and Martha and Hannah were placed in the center. Around them a circle of women gathered and began to chant and sway.
Doug pulled Maddie into a seat beside him and they watched as the sisters were celebrated. A tall young man was brought to join them and they stood back to back holding hands. Men joined the women dancers and there was more singing as drums began to beat.
It wasn't a performance. It was clearly far more serious than that. Since the entire thing was conducted in Menominee, they couldn't figure it out. But eventually Will and Jack were brought forward and Hannah and Martha and the young man retired.
It was late when the rituals were concluded. And then the caterers set up tables of cakes and cookies and more food was served. After which pop music blared as the elders took their leave. The middle aged and the young and even the very young, took to the dance floor enthusiastically.
* * *
Maddie sat between Doug's sisters-in-law, Millie and Lucy, who were a pair of blonde women with the zaftig shape of her gym regulars. Lucy was enormously pregnant and kept rubbing her tummy. They looked so much alike that Maddie wondered if marrying sisters was an Enright custom.
Millie laughed delightedly. "We're not related at all. We didn't even know each other until Sam and Tom brought us to Hanover. But you could say the Enright's run true to form." She looked approvingly at Maddie's own voluptuous curves.
"Not Doug," blurted Maddie. "His wife wasn't full figured."
Lucy and Millie exchanged glances. "No," Lucy said after a pause. "Cherry was tall and slender. But she was military too."
"Both Lucy and I were in the Army Reserves," Millie confirmed, but not the same units. How did you meet Doug?"
"He's a friend of my older brother Adam's."
"Adam St. Clair? He's your brother? He's good people," said Millie enthusiastically.
"But I thought Doug was helping you fix up your new house?" Lucy rubbed her belly again.
"Are you okay?" Millie interrupted.
"I'm just tired. It's been a long day. And these guys are turning somersaults." She grinned at Maddie. "Just you wait, the Enrights always have multiples. Doctor swears that I'm having another set of twins, but no guarantees."
"That's what he told me with both sets of trips," said Millie cheerfully, she looked at Maddie and nodded judiciously. "Good thing you're built for bear." She and Lucy chortled again.
Maddie held up her hands in protest. "Doug and I aren't at that stage. We only met last week. Besides, I'm not a bear."
The sisters-in-law smiled at each other in perfect understanding. "Neither are we," said Millie.
Oh? She needed to think about that. Maddie changed the subject. "Doug said you brought all your kids, where are they?"
Millie beamed. "Shelly has them all organized in the day care room. The littlest ones are bedded down, and the others are listening to stories and playing with Shelly's dog."
"Which one is Shelly?"
"She's Martha and Hannah's cousin."
"Is she the one Will calls the Little Bear?" Will had been walking around earlier with a voluble teenager with Down syndrome.
"That's her," said Lucy. "I'm looking forward to having her in the compound. I foresee a lot of onsite babysitting. Shelly loves kids and she's really good with them."
"She's going to go with Martha?"
"Yeah, that's the deal. Will says Martha and Shelly come as a set. But Will has a big house, and the Enrights take care of family. But he's had to promise that he would bring them both to Wesheno often so they can see their clan."
CHAPTER FOUR
Doug and Maddie slipped out with his parents around two am. Ed Enright had made Maddie's acquaintance much earlier. "Quite a shindig," he said with satisfaction. "I was a bit worried that Hannah would get left out, but everyone seems happy to have a new member of the clan."
"Is so," said his wife, leaning on his arm. "But I am tired now. And this wedding is tomorrow. There is much to do at the church."
"Katy dear," Ed said. "Let them make their own arrangements. They have perfectly good traditions of their own. You use your energy to keep your Uncle Vanya under control."
"Where is Uncle Van?" Doug asked in alarm. "I forgot all about him."
"He is in his room with Roman," Katrina said.
"I don't think so. Roman was dancing with the oldest Malcom girl, what's her name?"
"Gabriella," Katrina said. "Was he dancing? He was supposed to stay with Vanya." She increased her pace.
The others caught her alarm and almost ran back to the motel. There was a light outside of most of the rooms. A few curtains glowed. Room seven was dark.
"You think he sleeps now?" Katrina whispered hopefully.
Ed and Doug shook their heads. "Probably not," Ed said regretfully. He put his nose to the door and shook his head. Doug sniffed too.
"Roman's car is gone," said Doug. "Where'd you think he's gone?"
"You can drink at the casino," said Ed. "That's where we'll look."
"It's okay, Pop," Doug put a hand on his father's shoulder. "You and Mom get some sleep. I'll go get the old reprobate."
"Is no way to speak of our Little Father," Katrina said automatically, but she turned to her door with relief.
"You go on to bed," Doug said to Maddie.
"I'll come if you don't mind."
The Menominee Casino was a large space filled with hundreds of flashing and clattering slot machines. Even at three am it was filled with people. Doug put an arm around Maddie's waist and drew her close to his side when a clump of half-drunk youngsters shoved past them. He glared down at the offenders and there was a sheepish chorus of Sorry and Excuse me.
Doug kept her clamped against him even when the kids had moved off. Couldn't be too careful. He scanned the room for the bar and steered her toward it. "We'll start over by the bar and then look for a poker table. Uncle Van is a fiend for poker."
They found Uncle Vanya with a glass of vodka and a pile of chips i
n front of him. He acknowledged Doug with a grin. When he had played his hand, he turned to his nephew and complained, "They won't let me buy a bottle. Just a dribble at a time."
"Let's cash you out, Uncle Van," Doug said. "Will and Jack will need you in the morning."
Maddie had not expected the elderly man to come with them so easily. But he got up and bowed to Maddie. "This one is the right size," he told Doug in what he fondly believed was an undertone.
"She has red hair like my third wife." He leered at Maddie. "She was a countess and very passionate," he told her confidentially. "But of course Vladlena was a good citizen of the Soviet." He belched politely.
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