When she moved in with Max, she would have three bear shifters to protect her if she ever needed protecting.
“I have to tell him. I have to explain everything to Max before I become part of his life,” Josephine told Milly as she parked the car on the short driveway leading to her two-bedroom house. Milly stared back at her with her intense blue eyes that pierced Josephine’s soul. “Maybe you would all be safer without me in your lives.”
Milly gurgled, which Josephine interpreted as get over yourself. And the small child had a point. There was no way Vincent Branston could find her. No way in hell. A name change and three moves, crisscrossing the country, must be enough to make herself invisible.
“What shall we have for lunch?” Josephine asked Milly as she carried her into the house that still didn’t feel like a home. “How about some mashed banana? Have you tried banana yet?”
Milly replied with a raspberry and a small grizzly cry.
“Let’s get your diaper changed first, shall we?” Josephine shut and locked the front door behind her, double-checking that the chain across the door was secure before she set her purse and keys down on the hall table. Switching Milly to her other arm, she carried baby and diaper bag upstairs to the pretty nursery and sat her down on the changing table.
A couple of minutes later, Milly was all clean and fresh and ready for lunch.
“So do you feel like an outing this afternoon?” Josephine asked Milly as she ate her mashed banana and rice cereal. “I can’t tell what your answer is since you have more food on your face than went into your mouth.”
A smile slid across Josephine’s face as she spooned the food into Milly’s open mouth. Feeding babies was a skill she’d never managed to master, perhaps because each baby she’d fostered had its own charming way of eating or avoiding eating.
Milly was no exception. She might open her mouth for her food, but she had a habit of clamping her mouth shut too soon. “I don’t think you’ve had enough practice. Shall we try again?”
Twenty minutes later, Milly was fed and clean once more. “Babies, if one end doesn’t need cleaning, the other does. Yes, it does.”
Josephine caught sight of the time. If they were going to make it to the museum in time for Max’s talk, they needed to get going now. Quickly gathering up her purse and Milly’s diaper bag, she grabbed Milly, sat her securely in her stroller, and headed out of the door. As she shut it behind her, she pushed it twice to make sure it was locked and then hurried down the driveway.
Bile rose in her throat as she looked around the quiet neighborhood. She hated feeling tense and scared. If she didn’t shake it off, Vincent Branston would win and would continue to win if she let him affect her life and her happiness.
She wanted a future filled with love, not fear.
And Max offered her that. She might have only met him today and she didn’t know him at all, but in some ways, she already knew him better than any other person she’d ever met. A part of her was connected to him, she could feel it as if they were tethered together and now that they’d met, they would always be able to find each other no matter where in the world they were.
Josephine took one last look at her neat little house before hurried down the street. He couldn’t find her. Here in Bear Creek she was safe from Vincent Branston.
It was a short walk to the museum and as she walked along the main street through town, she began to relax. She felt safe here, the people were friendly and most seemed happy. With the local store, situated on the main road running through Bear Creek, she had everything she needed. There was a chance that once she was settled, she might never have to leave the town. Ever.
Was that Vincent Branston winning once more? Or had she always wished to be a hermit?
With such a great selection of stores, together with internet shopping, she imagined lots of Bear Creek residents never left town. It was what people did these days. She was not trying to hide.
A groan escaped her, and Milly jumped before staring up at Josephine as if she were an alien from another planet. “Sorry, sweetheart. Let’s go see Max. When you are older, we can go and explore the museum from top to bottom. I used to love the museum and the library when I was a young girl. It’s a place you can escape to. But then you won’t need those kinds of escapes, you are going to have the happiest childhood any child could ask for.”
Fifteen minutes later, Josephine arrived at the museum. The talk was about to start, and she didn’t want to be late, so she hurried across the parking lot. Luckily, a newly installed ramp leading up to the entrance of the museum gave easy access for the disabled and parents with strollers. Josephine raced up the ramp and through the large ornate doors which stood open, although she paused for a moment to stare up at the striking gargoyles mounted on the high stone walls.
“Impressive.” Josephine pushed the stroller across the museum foyer, glancing at the poster announcing a talk about Mountain Rescue through History, given by Maxwell Harrison.
“Good afternoon, are you here for the talk?” An older man with silvery hair approached, his eyes drawn to Milly as they approached. “Start them young, that’s what I always say.”
Josephine brushed her hand over Milly’s short dark curls. “You’re never too young to learn.”
“Or too old.” He smiled and his eyes crinkled up at the corners. “I’m George. I volunteer at the museum. And you must be Josephine and this little one is Milly.”
Her brow wrinkled as she studied George. “How do you know?”
“Max told me you were coming.” George leaned in closer and added in a hushed voice, “And since you are the only woman who has arrived with a baby, I deduced it was you.”
Josephine couldn’t hide her smile which spread across her face. “How very Sherlock Holmes of you.”
“That is my job, although mostly I figure out clues left in the past that help us understand our ancestors and the legacy they left behind.” George led her out of the foyer and into a large marble-floored room filled with exhibits.
“This place is amazing. So much history for a small town.” Josephine turned her head and saw an exhibit retelling the founding of Bear Creek.
“You should come and visit sometime, and I’ll give you the grand tour,” George told her as he indicated a door leading off the main room. “Max’s talk is in here.”
“I’d like that,” Josephine replied. “I’ve always loved history, but I’ve never set down roots.” She stroked her hand across Milly’s head. “But I think it’s time.”
“Well, you are part of the town now.” George’s hand rested on the door handle behind which Max’s voice rumbled on about the first mountain rangers.
“Max told you about us?” she asked, although she already knew the answer. News certainly traveled fast in Bear Creek.
“He did. He’s happy. I think after the loss of Sally, which has hit them all hard, he sees you and Milly as a new beginning.” George winked. “Don’t be too hard on him for telling me his secret.”
“I won’t. And it’s not really a secret. We don’t have anything to hide.” Color rose in her cheeks as she spoke. In a way she had a lot to hide.
But not from Max. Their relationship had to have trust at its foundations, so that would mean her telling him all about her past. She only hoped it didn’t damage her future.
Chapter Seven – Max
“That was so interesting.” Josephine had waited until he’d answered everyone’s questions before she approached him with Milly in the stroller. His heart raced at the sight of her. Would he get used to that or would the effect she had on him diminish over time?
“You don’t have to say that.” He smiled all the same, pleased she’d come.
“I mean it. I had no idea my grandfather lived such a dangerous life.” Josephine glanced around the room. “You had a big audience.”
“They just came for the free coffee and cake,” Max joked as he walked her over to the right side of the room where refreshments were
being served.
“Don’t do that,” Josephine told him a little too sharply. She softened her remark with a smile. “Don’t sell yourself short. You and the other members of the mountain rescue team are incredibly brave.”
“It’s my life,” Max admitted. “Until now.”
“And don’t do that either. I am not expecting you to give anything up for me. We have to get to know each other and understand each other. Once we do that, we work hard at making sure the other has what they need.” She looked sideways at him as she guided the stroller through the people gathered around the table where coffee, tea, sandwiches and cakes were laid out. “Sorry, I’m being bossy.”
“Nothing wrong with airing your opinion, and I agree. We both have a lot to learn about each other and ourselves. I don’t know about you, but since I figured I was going to be alone for the rest of my life, I’ve become more set in my ways. Less flexible.” Max pointed to the cups. “Coffee or tea?”
“Cake, please!” She eyed the cake hungrily ignoring the non-alcoholic beverages.
“Lemon or chocolate?” Max asked.
“No! I shouldn’t. Another problem with getting older is the pounds tend to stay on my hips longer than they should.” She dragged her eyes away from the lemon cake.
“Come on, this is a celebration. You and me finding each other. That has to be worth a piece of cake. And if it makes you feel better, I’ll help you work off the extra pounds.” He glanced down at her curved hips and sighed. “Although I don’t see a problem with them at all.”
His mate blushed, the color rising in her cheeks. “I see you don’t have a problem with extra pounds. You must work out a lot.”
“It’s a perk of being a bear shifter. High metabolism.” He helped himself to a piece of lemon drizzle cake and offered it to Josephine. “This is the one you wanted, right?”
“You’re a mind reader.” She licked her lips and a small smile played across her face. “You are a bad influence on me.”
“I hope so.” He grinned, feeling like a teenager again, instead of a man past his prime according to society. Narrowing his eyes, he placed his fingers on his temples and crossed his eyes. “And you’d like tea.”
She raised her eyebrows. “I’m impressed.”
He shrugged. “One of my many gifts.” He poured her a cup of tea and added milk. “Sugar?”
She screwed her face up. “I’m beaming the answer from my brain to yours.”
“No sugar.” He waited for her answer, his eyes fixed on her lips. He didn’t care if he’d gotten the answer right or wrong, all he wanted to do was lean forward and…
Give her some sugar, his bear finished helpfully.
She’s sweet enough, Max answered.
“No sugar.” Josephine reached out for the cup as she balanced the plate with the lemon drizzle cake on the stroller canopy.
Max grabbed a coffee and a piece of chocolate cake and indicated a row of chairs where the audience had sat. “Shall we go and sit down?”
“That would be easier.” Josephine expertly guided the stroller to the row of chairs, and they sat down, a seat apart. The spare seat was soon used as a table as they ate cake, while the hum of voices around them grew. His talk had been well received and Josephine had found it interesting. He’d call that a success.
“Hi, Max, sorry to interrupt. Could I get your photo for the paper?” Cynthia asked, her eyes sweeping over Josephine before coming back to rest on Max. “Local history is not usually my thing, but I’ve been writing a story on mountain rescue. You guys deserve more credit than you get.”
“I agree. You are the unsung heroes of the mountains,” Josephine agreed.
“Just doing our job.” Max stood up and wiped crumbs off his blue shirt which was tucked into a pair of blue hiking pants. His standard uniform for everyday life, not just his time on the mountain.
Perhaps it’s time to get some new clothes, his bear joked.
Perhaps. But Josephine seems to be the kind of woman more interested on what is on the inside, not the outside. Max liked that about his mate. But then he liked everything about his mate.
“Max,” Josephine prompted gently.
He’d been staring at her as if she were the only person in the room. “Right, photo.” Max took a couple of steps away from the chairs and struck a natural pose as Cynthia took the photo.
“Can I get a picture, too?” one of the men from the audience asked. Max couldn’t remember his name, it was Harry, or Henry. His memory must be failing as the guy had introduced himself earlier when he asked a question about rope knots. “I’m a member of a mountain rescue Facebook group. I said I’d do a write-up about your talk today, if that’s okay?”
“Sure. I like to encourage sharing of knowledge, particularly of the past so we don’t forget those who have come before.” Max smiled more informally as the guy held up his phone and tapped the screen. One brief flash later and it was done. “Thanks for coming.”
“It was an interesting talk. My father used to be part of the Bear Creek mountain rescue team thirty years ago. He used to tell me stories of the rescues, but your talk really helped show what little equipment they had compared to today. No GPS.” Harry or Henry was about to launch into a long monologue. Max could read the signs.
Great, this guy is going to drone on forever and our mate is going to get bored and leave, his bear said a little unkindly. Normally they were happy to talk to about the topic of mountain rescue for hours.
But that was before they met their mate. Now, all they wanted to do was bask in her gaze. After all, they’d waited a long time for her.
And boy, was she worth the wait.
“Hey, Harry. Why don’t you give me an exclusive?” Cynthia asked, beckoning Harry toward her. “We could sit over there.” She pointed to a row of seats across the room.
“Thanks,” Max mouthed as Harry eagerly walked toward the seats Cynthia indicated.
“I spoke to Tad earlier. I’m writing a series of articles about local artists. Which is timely since Bear Creek Craft Barn will be opening in a couple of months.” Cynthia hung back as Harry settled himself down in a chair well away from Max and Josephine. “While I was there, he told me about you both. Off the record, of course.” She winked and Max grinned.
“News sure does travel fast,” Max said. “Pun intended.”
“It’s nice that it’s good news traveling fast for a change. Congratulations.” Cynthia turned away and crossed the room to join Harry, who began talking before the reporter had even sat down.
“He’s right. Bad news always travels fast, it’s great to be the person responsible for good news,” Max said as he sat back down next to Josephine.
“I like that your friends are so interested and happy for you.”
“They are happy for both of us,” Max replied. “You are part of this town now.”
“That’s what George said.” She glanced down at Milly. She was avoiding his gaze.
“Is everything all right? I should have kept the news private, I’m sorry.” Max reached out and placed his hand over hers. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?” If he’d screwed this up or made Josephine feel awkward about being his mate, he’d never forgive himself. Or get over it.
Living without your mate because you hadn’t met her yet was bad enough, but living without her when you’d seen her face and knew she was out there in the world, but not by your side was another. He didn’t want to be that guy. Last year, the rescue team was called out when a guest didn’t return to the local hotel, The Catherine. The hotel owner, Julius, had recently been reunited with his mate after first seeing her decades ago. He was a changed man, full of hope and warmth and love. The Julius before his mate came back into his life had always had a haunted look to him, as if a part of him was missing, which to a shifter, it was.
“It’s fine. Honestly. I wanted to meet lots of people in town, now I’m getting my wish.” She drained her tea and stretched. “Want to get out of here?�
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“Oh, I was supposed to ask you to dinner.”
She shook her head. “I don’t have a babysitter for Milly. And even if I did, I don’t want her to think I’m abandoning her. I want her to feel settled and secure. Which is why I’d like to help her settle with you all once you adopt her.”
“You’ll be part of her life I hope, Josephine, since you are part of my life.” Max stared at her a little too long as he tried to fathom out this beautiful woman in front of him. With a soft round face and eyes that flashed with emotion, she was the most attractive woman he’d ever met. Even if she wasn’t his mate, she would turn his head when she walked into a room.
Josephine got up and placed her hands on Milly’s stroller. “I don’t want you to agree to adopt Milly because you think I’ll be there.”
“That’s not why we agreed to adopt her.” Max stood up and took a step closer to his mate. There was something bothering her, but as she pressed her lips together and looked away from him, her eyes fixed on Milly instead, he sensed he was losing her. The closeness between them was gone. “Josephine.”
She smiled brightly, too brightly as she turned to face him once more. “I don’t want our relationship to get in the way.”
“In the way of what?” Max asked, confused and suddenly scared. “Did something change?”
“No. Not really. I just don’t want to be a problem.” She shrugged. “Come on, let’s go.”
“And dinner? I wasn’t asking you to leave Milly. I should have been clearer. Tad is cooking, and we’d like you and Milly to join us.” He leaned down and stroked Milly’s chin. “We need a couple of lessons on how to get food into a baby’s mouth. I think we’ve all seen those videos of babies with food all over their faces.” He grinned, trying to lighten the mood.
“You’ll all do fine. Every new parent has the same fears.” She touched Milly’s hand. “And honestly I don’t think Milly had the best start in life. She’s learning to trust and to feel secure.” Josephine looked lovingly at the small child. “She has all sorts of things to learn and as long as she is loved, she’ll cope just fine.”
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