“Hank found his mate,” Emily filled in quickly.
“Wow, you did? Who is it?” Thor asked eagerly. A little too eagerly.
Hank sighed and picked up the tray to take out into the dining room. “Since I am not going to be able to work in peace until I tell you...” He turned around, walking back into the door. “It’s...” He gave them a wink and then the doors closed behind him.
“Hank.” Julius’s voice carried out of the kitchen, then his body followed.
“I don’t want everyone to know. Not yet. Not until...”
“Are you Elise’s mate?” Jason’s voice carried across the dining room. Fortunately, it was early and there were few guests seated.
“Elise? Frankie’s Elise?” Julius closed his eyes. “I mean the older Elise, not the younger.”
“That is correct. I didn’t want everyone to know if she wanted to keep it quiet.” Hank placed the tray down on the table next to Jenny, Jason, and Ruth, who was texting on her phone.
“Frankie told me,” Ruth pressed send and then slipped her phone into her pocket, which instantly beeped as it received a message in return.
“I have to go and deal with some guests. Congratulations, Hank.” Julius shook Hank’s hand, turned on his heel and walked away to deal with his guests.
“I’m so happy for you. And Elise, goodness knows she deserves happiness,” Ruth said as she reminded Jason to sit properly.
“I hope to make her very happy,” Hank replied, keeping his usual smile fixed on his face. They’d been so focused on Hank and his past that they hadn’t spoken about Elise’s life. Yet he’d read the sadness there, and tonight, after he picked her up from Frankie’s house, he would take Elise home and they could talk until he knew everything about her.
Okay, well not everything, but the most important stuff.
“You’ll be part of the family,” Jenny told him brightly.
“Elise isn’t part of our family,” Jason told his sister.
Jenny frowned. “Yes, she is. Aunty Frankie has Delia’s heart and Delia was Elise’s sister. That makes her part of our family, doesn’t it, Mom?”
Ruth looked perplexed and frowned. “Kind of. I suppose you are both right,” she answered diplomatically. “These cakes look delicious.”
“You are an expert, Ruth,” Hank said with a wink as he left them to eat.
“I’ve been a teacher long enough to know all the tricks.” Ruth caught hold of his hand. “Jason is right, you and Elise are part of our family.”
“Thanks. Now, I have to get to work.” Hank walked back to the kitchen, mulling over Jenny’s words. He knew Frankie had a heart transplant, but he didn’t know Elise’s sister was the donor. So that was the sadness in her eyes. The loss of a sister must be incredibly difficult to deal with.
“Are you okay, Thor?” Hank asked the young man, who seemed to be loitering in the kitchen as if looking for someone. Or waiting for someone. Hank’s gaze swept the room. The patisserie chef was busy baking, and the other wait staff were attending to their tables as the restaurant filled with people who had spent the morning hiking over the mountains and now needed to restore their energy. “Is there a problem?”
Thor looked guilty and looked down at the phone in his hand. “No. Nothing. I was checking my messages. I have to go and meet Julius.”
“You seem a little on edge,” Hank said quietly.
Thor frowned. “I’m fine. Just busy.” He pressed his lips together and his brow creased as he turned and banged his hip on the stainless-steel counter. The dishes rattle ominously, but nothing fell.
Hank cornered him. “Okay, what’s wrong? I have a few minutes spare, spill.”
“Nothing.” Thor put his hands up as if warning Hank off.
“Okay, if you’re sure?” Hank asked, backing away. He couldn’t be happy about meeting his mate if Thor was so miserable. “But I’m here if you want to talk.” Hank liked Thor, a lot. He reminded Hank of himself at that age, except Hank already had muscles. But the awkwardness, that was something he could relate to. Going on stage to perform had always made him puke his guts up for an hour before. He never really belonged to that life. Or so he’d persuaded himself over the years.
Thor sighed. “It’s nothing, honestly. At least nothing you would understand.”
“Try me,” Hank offered.
“I have to go. I have another appointment.” Thor left Hank, who didn’t buy the angsty routine Thor was putting on. He was a good kid, who’d gotten good grades at school and had a family that loved and supported him. He worked hard and would go far in life, unless this new attitude continued. But Hank remembered those days only too well. When the weight of the world rested on whether a girl would go out with you or not.
Until his world changed and his career took off, and then every girl wanted to go out with him. Which was even scarier to a nineteen-year-old boy, who was not yet a man in his own eyes.
Was that Thor’s issue, a girl?
Hank got back to work. When Thor was ready, he’d talk. Until then, Hank was not going to pressure him.
“How are you doing?” Hank was back at the table where Ruth and the children were finishing their afternoon tea.
“Great!” Jason replied.
“Are you going to get married at the hotel, like Frankie and Adam did?” Jenny asked.
Hank smiled, he had never given much thought to marriage. “I don’t know. It depends on what Elise wants. It’s her special day.”
“And yours,” Jenny said firmly. “Although, when I get married, I’d like to choose all the things I like.”
“Hank and Elise have lots of time to plan their wedding,” Ruth told the children. “They’ve only just met.”
“But shifters marry so quickly,” Jenny hissed. “Just look at Frankie and Adam.”
“That was a whirlwind romance, but not every couple wants to get married that fast.” Ruth gave Hank an apologetic look. “We’ll see you soon, Hank. Don’t forget, you are family now.”
“Thank, Ruth. Once Elise and I get to know each other a little, we’ll come over and say hello.” He began clearing the plates away, while Ruth rounded up the children and made sure they hadn’t forgotten anything.
“Bye.” The family left, and Hank took the dirty dishes out to the kitchen. Lauren, who had worked at the hotel for around eight months, was helping make sandwiches. Hardworking, Lauren was always willing to help with a smile and a kind word.
But today, her mood matched Thor’s. The pieces began to come together.
“Everyone’s happy you’ve met your mate.” Lauren’s remark was almost accusatory.
Hank stacked the dishes on the counter. “Jealous?” he asked lightly.
Lauren paused and then her face cleared. “No. It’s great. Congratulations. You deserve it, Hank.”
“Your turn will come, Lauren, then your mate will sweep you off your feet.” Hank looked wistfully out of the window. “You’ll have a beautiful wedding and your mate will look adoringly into your eyes, knowing what a wonderful woman you are.”
“That’s not going to happen, not to me.” Lauren’s words tumbled out of his mouth. “I’m not the marrying type.”
“Why not?” Hank asked. Lauren was a shifter, had she dated Thor, who was not a shifter? It was common for shifters to date other people before they met their mate. Had Thor fallen hard for Lauren? Had he forced her to let him down gently and walked away? Of course, Thor would be heartbroken, but better now than later when his feelings for her might deepen. Being a shifter without a mate was a lonely life at times.
Lauren shook her head. “It’s just not for me.”
“Can I help?” Hank asked. “I’m a good listener.”
You’re beginning to sound like one of those advice columnists, his bear told him. Let the young people be.
“Thanks, Hank, but I can deal with it.” Lauren turned her attention back to her sandwiches, while Hank loaded the dishwasher.
His bear was right, someti
mes you just had to let fate play out the way it intended. There was no way to push a square peg into a round hole. Although, when he got a chance, he would at least try to cheer Thor up.
No one wants to feel the God of Thunder’s wrath.
His bear chuckled. We spent far too much time in Scandinavia.
I don’t know, the horned Viking helmet suited me, Hank said in return.
We would have made a formidable Berserker, his bear sighed. It appeared they all had their own dreams. But for Hank, only one dream remained. Claiming his mate and making her his own. Forever.
Chapter Five – Elise
After Frankie and Adam left for their date, Elise managed to put the twins to bed, and get them off to sleep. After cleaning the already spotless kitchen, Elise went outside and inhaled the scent of pine trees. The summer sun was setting behind the mountains, and the stars were coming out. It was a fine night. The kind of night to walk hand in hand with the man of your dreams.
Elise remembered the romantic walks Delia and Terence had taken. Strolls along the beach. Along the edge of deep lakes, and through forests. Delia used to come home and tell her sister all about it. The sights, the scents, the feelings she had for her mate. Elise wished her sister was here, so she could share her own newfound love with her.
The small things, brief moments she would have shared with Delia, a joke, a view, a book, that she missed. Now she had Hank. He would never take Delia’s place, but he would help fill the hole in Elise’s heart.
The sound of a baby crying brought Elise back to her duties as babysitter. She turned away from the forest and went inside, climbing the stairs to the room the two girls shared. “What is it, Elise?” The baby hiccupped and stopped crying as she gazed up at her namesake. “What do you need?”
Elise slid her hands under the baby and held her close, rocking her slowly. Once she quietened, Elise put the baby over her shoulder and rubbed her small back. Baby Elise often got colic, and this soothed her. In her crib, which was pushed up against Elise’s, Delia opened her eyes but didn’t cry. Instead, she watched Elise swaying, singing a soft song, “Winter Moon,” one of Hank’s album tracks which had never been released as a single.
She was a walking, talking encyclopedia for Hank Rivera. But those facts only scratched the surface of the man. Elise needed to get under his skin, and into his heart, to help him deal with a past that still haunted him. They were similar in a lot of ways. Each holding on tightly to their own sadness. But Hank didn’t realize this. When he’d spoken of his father, he’d been shocked that old memories could still hurt him.
“Perhaps together, we can let them go,” Elise told the two girls. “Just as together, you have helped me.” She kissed Elise’s cheek and placed her down in her crib. “Go to sleep, my precious girls.”
She sang softly as the two babies drifted off to sleep, safe and content. “I wish you both long and happy lives.”
Then she slipped out of the room and tiptoed downstairs. Boiling the kettle, she made herself a cup of chamomile tea and took it to the living room. Sitting down in the darkened room, she curled her legs up under her body and leaned on the side of the chair, letting memories of the past sweep over her. The more she let Delia in, the less the memories hurt. Elise had gone over them, and over them, like watching an old movie. Some of the more vivid memories would trigger obscure snapshot images of events that hadn’t meant much at the time but now were treasured like a precious jewel.
Hank was right, some jewels were too small to see, unless you looked deeper in the knowledge that they were there.
Elise sipped her tea and listened to the hoot of an owl calling its mate. Outside the window, deer gathered to eat the grass on the new lawn Frankie had laid. The world moved on.
An hour later, the sound of car wheels on gravel alerted Elise to Frankie and Adam’s return. She got up and went to the kitchen, setting the kettle to boil. “Tea?” she asked as they entered the kitchen.
“Yes, please. How were they?” Frankie asked quickly as she took off her wrap and looped it over her arm.
“Absolutely fine. Elise woke once, a bit of colic, she soon went back to sleep,” Elise reassured her.
“Thanks for looking after them.” Adam produced a bouquet of flowers. “These are for you.”
“You didn’t have to, looking after the girls is a joy. A treat.” She smiled happily and took the flowers, kissing Adam and then Frankie.
“We wanted to get you something. Today isn’t just about us, it’s about you, too. You and Hank.” Frankie itched to go upstairs and check on her babies, but she resisted the urge and they all sat around the kitchen table, drinking tea.
“How was your evening? Did you go to the hotel?” Elise asked.
“Do you mean, did we see Hank?” Frankie asked lightly.
“No.” Elise shook her head. “Although if you did see him...”
“We didn’t. Frankie insisted we go somewhere else. So, I didn’t talk shop with Julius.” Adam avoided the glare of his wife.
“Instead, we went to Antonio’s in Bear Bluff, so Adam could check out the competition,” Frankie said tartly.
“I didn’t,” he protested.
“I was joking,” Frankie told him. “Although their menu is more adventurous than The Catherine.”
“I thought that, too,” Adam replied absently. “But it didn’t have the attention to detail...”
“There, you were comparing,” Frankie said triumphantly.
“It’s a habit.” Adam drained his cup. “You don’t have your car, Elise. Shall I take you home?”
“No,” Elise said quickly. “I have a ride.” She looked at her watch. “He’ll be here in ten minutes or so.”
“Hank is coming here?” Frankie asked. “Can we say hi?”
“You sound like my parents,” Elise told her.
“She’s getting in practice for when Elise and Delia have boyfriends.” Adam ducked as Frankie swiped playfully at him.
“And what will you do?” Frankie asked. “Challenge them to a bear fight?”
“That’s a good idea. Their dates will have to beat me in a fair fight before they are allowed to leave the house. What? I have to know if their dates can protect my precious girls.”
“In my view, our girls have to learn to protect themselves.” Frankie nodded at Adam. “They are not damsels in distress. Delia and Elise are going to hold their own in whatever they choose to do.”
Elise watched Frankie and Adam as they sparred. “I believe those two girls are going to know exactly how to look after themselves, and how to wind their mom and dad around their little fingers.” She held up her pinkie finger, which sent a flashback memory to the front of her mind.
They were ten years old, Elise and Delia had been to the fair. Delia had won an enormous teddy bear, it was bigger than either of them. Elise was jealous, she’d tried several times to win the bear herself but failed.
After an hour of Elise sulking, Delia had set the teddy bear down next to Elise and said, “He’s yours.”
“Really?!” Elise jumped on him and gave him a bear hug. But as she stroked his plush fur she realized why Delia had given her the bear. Setting him back down, Elise told Delia, “We can share him. Nothing will ever come between us. Pinkie swear.”
“Pinkie swear,” Delia had replied as they hooked their little fingers around each other.
“Elise. We lost you for a moment,” Frankie said, touching her arm gently.
“I was remembering Delia.” Elise wiped a tear from her eye. “A good memory.” She stood up and collected the cups. “I’ll wash these while you go and check on the girls.”
“Thanks.” Frankie slipped out of the kitchen.
“We had a great time,” Adam said as he got up and grabbed the towel to dry the cups. “It was good to see Frankie out of the house.”
“She’s doing okay, isn’t she?” Elise half turned, a tightness in her chest as worry filled her.
“She’s fine. Everything is
fine. Frankie and the girls continue to amaze the doctors.” Adam put the cups away. “I can’t believe how happy I am. And I hope you and Hank are blessed, too.”
“We’re older and wiser. Although he makes me feel young again. When he sings I’m a teenager once more, filled with hope and optimism.” Elise smiled wistfully. “Who would have thought?”
“You must miss Delia more at times like these.” Adam leaned back against the countertop.
“I wish I could share this with her. She’d be so happy for me.”
“When I look at the girls, how close they are, I can’t imagine what it would be like for them to be apart.”
“I hope they never find out.” Elise picked up her flowers. “I’m going to stroll down the trail and meet Hank. I’d like a few moments alone.”
“I’ve upset you, I’m sorry.”
“I’m not upset.” Elise tilted her head to one side. “These last few months have dredged up so many memories. I’m trying to find a way to deal with them without simply reburying them. I want to remember Delia, the highs, and the lows. And meeting Hank has been...wonderful, but it also fills me with sorrow.”
“Because he’ll never meet Delia. And she’ll never meet Hank.” Adam’s expression conveyed his understanding.
“The two most important people in my lives will never meet, never have the chance to say hello.” Elise walked to the front door. “I just need a few minutes alone.”
“Is it too difficult?” Adam asked directly.
“Is what too difficult?” Elise responded.
“Looking after the girls. Did we make a mistake asking you to be involved?” Adam’s voice was low and gentle.
“Goodness, no.” Elise shook her head furiously. “Those little girls mean the world to me. I love them already. They give me hope.”
Adam’s smile was soft, full of sympathy. “Then, if it’s okay, I’d like to ask you to babysit once a month, so I can take Frankie out. She loves being a mother, but I want to remind her she’s her own person, too.”
“Good idea. Let me know when you want me to babysit again, and I will.” Elise looked at her watch. “Hank will be here any minute, I’ll see you soon, Adam. Tell Frankie goodbye and that I’ll call her tomorrow.”
Song Bear_A Shifters in Love Fun & Flirty Romance Page 3
