Chapter Three
Three Acadian French women standing in front of the feminine products gabbed as if they were in the local donut shop, and Mike all but growled as he wheeled his squeaky shopping cart past them with the intent to return when he’d gotten everything else. Life was slow here. People were friendly and never in a hurry. That was the way of Eastern Canada. He knew there was no point in getting annoyed about it, his life was no rush either – hell, it was mostly his edginess today that aggravated him. He wanted to get back to Avery. He hated being away from her on a normal day, but with Rocky being weird and her odd behaviour lately, he was extra anxious. His plan had unnerved him as well. It was time though. Time to let go of that part of his past like he had the rest. Avery deserved a Christmas. She deserved every joy life could offer. Guilt poked at him for waiting this long, but this cross was heavier than most to bear.
He tossed several bottles of shampoo and conditioner in his cart and a large value pack of unscented soap. He didn’t want to have to come back out to town for months – preferably not until spring! ‘Santa Baby’ played through the speakers and Mike clenched his jaw. If they played ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’, he swore he’d walk out.
The small town of Bathurst, New Brunswick, was truly bilingual and everyone spoke both languages with ease—mostly everyone. Avery had been spending time at the library online learning French, but he’d only ever picked up a few words, mostly merci and bonjour from the tellers saying it before they realized with his gruff ‘hello’ that he was one of the few who only spoke English.
He headed for the holiday aisle, looking for a wreath Avery might like, but something about the innocuous decorations had his brain reeling and his heart pounding. His mind went back to that Christmas Eve years before when he was barely eighteen. It had been the first Christmas of what would become his disastrous first marriage, but at the time he hadn’t known that. He and Ella had found out that she was pregnant in high school and had quickly gotten married, and Mike had been determined to make the holiday as special as possible for his new little family.
And then Ella had miscarried just before Christmas.
A clerk’s voice yanked Mike from his nightmarish reverie. “Can I help you find something?”
“Huh?” Mike looked up, slightly confused at the lady in the smock standing next to him. He glared at her flashing Christmas tree earrings and his gut churned with emotion.
“You’ve been staring at the wreaths for quite a while. I thought you might need some help.”
“No, no, I’m fine.” Mike grabbed a wreath and put it in his cart, rushing to get away. He tried to shake the haunting feeling brought on by the memories, but they only continued. The nights he’d spent sitting awake staring at their tree-lit apartment, the way he’d thrown away every blasted decoration because they didn’t deserve to exist in a world where his future had been so brutally ripped away.
He stopped in front of the Christmas lights and found some colourful ones. He spent an hour getting everything he needed and, while he did, he imagined the new ones he’d have with Avery – her sweet smile, her excitement at the colourfully decorated packages, and her naughtiness as she shook them and guessed what they were, or peeked while he wrapped.
Once his cart was filled with all he’d need to have their cabin completely decorated, he went through the department store and bought gifts for under the tree. New pajamas, socks, slippers, and few board games landed in the cart, as he bought everything he figured she’d missed out on getting while growing up with her cold, uncaring grandparents. He even bought a couple of sleds and some ice skates. That tree would be overflowing with gifts for his little girl. The more he put in the cart and imagined her face as she opened it, the more his chest loosened and his heart swelled. But the best gift he found was in the book section - a copy of Anne of Green Gables. This was her favourite growing up, and he knew she’d cherish it.
“Bon Noel,” the cashier said.
“Merry Christmas,” he returned and realized those words came with ease and a big smile he couldn’t even hide with his beard. Maybe he was finally ready to let go of the grief he’d held so long.
* * *
He carried everything to one of the abandoned hunting cabins up the mountain to hide it, until Christmas Eve. Annie was having her family over for her annual Christmas party and he and Avery had been invited. Annie knew his past and that he always politely declined the invitation, but she always sent a plate of food for him anyway. Though he’d eye it ungraciously, his conviction to not let food go to waste, and his growling stomach forced him to eat it. He’d pretend not to enjoy it, but Annie was quite a cook.
Avery jumped at the chance to go and he’d encouraged her to. This year while they were enjoying their dinner, he’d make their little cabin as festive as possible and then he’d surprise her even more by showing up at the party for dessert. Mike was still smiling over his plan as he pulled into Annie’s driveway.
“You ladies behave while I was gone?” he asked as he knocked his snowy boots on the stoop and eyed Rocky lying outside the door. He heard laughter from the kitchen and followed it after hanging his coat, hat, and gloves.
“Mike!” As he walked into the warm kitchen, he noticed Avery looked flushed, but so did everyone else, so he relaxed a little. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him like he’d been gone a week. He pulled her tightly against him, aware they were being watched but not caring, and patted her rear.
“You’ve been good?” he growled in her ear.
She kissed his jaw and nodded before releasing him to get him a slice of apple pie. Hal was just finishing his.
“Hal was telling us stories of how Annie’s geese keep biting him in the ass when he fills the water troughs in their barn.”
“That so? In the ass, you say?” Mike smiled at her nervous expression and clapped Hal on the back. “Old timer here just doesn’t have my charm with the ladies.” Mike was the only one Annie’s geese liked and liked was putting it mildly. The leader of the gaggle adored Mike so much, she followed him around everywhere he went on the farm, bumping him for attention and preening her feathers for him.
Annie snorted and glared at Hal. “This old geezer doesn’t even know what charm is. Bet he can’t even spell it.”
“Watch it, little Annie, or I’ll charm you with that big ol’ decorative wooden spoon on your wall.”
Annie’s cheeks reddened, but she huffed indignantly to hide it, and Mike bellowed a laugh.
“Annie, are you blushing?” Mike clapped Hal again. “I never thought I’d see the day!”
“Listen, Yukon,” Annie groused. “You watch yourself or next time I’ll put a cow pie in with your blueberry cobbler.”
“Annie!” Hal’s stern tone made her cheeks turn a deeper shade and her brow furrow to match her scowl.
“Your pie is finished. Get on out, back to the barn or head on home. I’ve had enough of entertainin’ the hired help. Git!”
“Thank you kindly for the pie, little Annie. I’ve got work to finish before I git. It was nice chatting with you, Avery.” Hal got up and gave Avery a peck on the cheek. “Mike, you take care of that one there. She’s an angel.”
Mike nodded, giving Avery a smouldering look. “You better believe I’ll take care of her.” There was a hint of threat in his tone and Avery’s cheeks were starting to match Annie’s.
Hal stopped at the large wooden knife, fork and spoon decorations adorning Annie’s kitchen wall. He pulled down the spoon, slung it over his shoulder and started whistling as he walked out.
“I’ll see you later, Annie girl.”
“For Pete’s sake, you put that spoon back, old man!” Annie started chasing Hal down the hall, shaking a fist, and Avery giggled.
“You seem better? The spanking and girl time helped?”
“Yes.” She yawned. “And so did the two pieces of Annie’s apple pie.”
“Annie,” Mike hollered. “I’m taking this pie to go. My girl here needs a rest. You wore her out.”
“Ah go on. I’ve had enough with men today anyhow!” Annie came back in the kitchen looking grumpy. “You come back here tomorrow, Jill, there’s something I need help with.” She looked at Mike with narrowed eyes. “And I don’t want you men interrupting us.”
“Alright. I’ll bring her tomorrow.” He turned to his wife, tipped her chin up with his callused finger and looked her deeply in the eyes. “Did you ask Annie to have a look at you?”
“She’s not sick, Yukon.” Annie barked, clearing Hal’s plate from the table and dumping Mike’s pie into a faded plastic container that once housed margarine, probably before Avery was born. “Leave the poor girl alone and keep your hands off her backside, you lumberjack oaf.”
His brows rose and she shoved the container in his hand.
“Annie, you seemed to have changed your tune a bit lately.” Avery giggled. “I distinctly remember you favouring the idea of me getting spanked. Threatened to give Yukon a wooden spoon to take home a time or two.”
“Girlie, you ain’t too big to put over my knee! And I bet my swing has more bite than Yukon’s!”
Avery held up her hands. “Okay, okay.”
Mike watched his girl with a smirk as she turned back to smile over her shoulder while heading towards the door.
“Say bye to Hal for me,” Avery called.
He shook his head as she giggled and Annie stuck her tongue out. “Women!” But he chuckled himself. Annie had a boyfriend.
“Rocky found you here?” Mike looked at the bear, frowning as Rocky followed them to the car.
“Yeah, Hal was going to shoot him!” She bent down and rubbed the top of his tan muzzle. “You hear that, bear? You’re getting into trouble, just like me now.” Rocky chuffed, and nudged her toward the car. “Don’t think you’re getting in my Yaris, Guardian. I’ll never get the stink out.”
“Now, now. Be nice to him. He’s been protecting your butt today, remember?”
“He didn’t completely save it now, did he? But he’s a very good boy, aren’t you, Rocky?” Mike held the door open for Avery, and Rocky took off, his butt jiggling as he disappeared into the forest. “I think he’s racing us home.”
“He probably wants to be at the door before us so I can’t lock him out.” Mike chuckled, giving her a sidelong glance. “And since I want to ravish you again when we get home, I’d say he’s a smart bear.”
“So go!” she said, rushing to grab her seatbelt.
“Little girl, have you learned nothing? Do you think I’d speed, especially in this snow, and risk your life to get home first?”
She swallowed hard. “Um, no?”
He started the ignition and looked at her sternly. “And if I caught you doing it, you wouldn’t sit for a month.” His jaw ticked. “Maybe you don’t remember your accident two and a half years ago, but I do. I remember you broken in my arms and I remember the spanking I gave you for it when you finally healed, too.”
“Yes, Daddy.” She squirmed in her seat. “I remember very well.”
“Good.”
Rocky was indeed sitting on the porch when they walked up the mountainside.
“He looks proud of himself, doesn’t he?”
“I thought it was just me.” She laughed. “I swear he’s reincarnated from a human.” Rocky jogged to them and circled Avery, snuffling her.
“One that’s got a crush on my wife, apparently.” Mike gave the bear a sour expression as he wedged himself between them. “Paws off, big guy!” Rocky leaned closer to Avery forcing them apart so he could get between them.
“Maybe my Mountain Man Daddy needs some healthy competition.”
Mike shook his head. “If my competition is a bear, I’m doing something wrong in the bedroom.” He gave her a smirk and wiggled his brow. “Practice makes perfect though.”
“Trust me, you don’t need practice. You’re already perfect.”
“Suck up.”
“I suck both up and down.” Avery’s suggestive purr was interrupted when she yawned.
“Aww, baby, you’re so cute when you flirt and yawn at the same time.” Mike walked behind Rocky and got on Avery’s other side, putting an arm over her shoulder. “Come here, little girl.” He tugged her close and as they walked, she set her head against his chest.
* * *
Mike looked down at Avery, wrapped around him like a silky ribbon, and his chest swelled with love. The problem with allowing himself to feel the Christmas spirit again was the nostalgia that filled him. His beautiful wife curled beside him deserved so much more than he’d given her. He thought of his family and his childhood Christmases - the loud, rambunctious meals, playing with his cousins, and the pure joy and innocence of those times. His babygirl had never had any of that - at least none of it she remembered. All this time she’d been with him, she could have had it though. He had an amazing family – one that had become hers when they’d gotten married - and yet he’d never taken her to see them. His parents knew about Avery, since he emailed them at least once a month, but they’d never met her. He knew he should’ve taken a trip home and introduced her, but a trip to town was hellish enough – he couldn’t imagine being trapped in a plane for hours, let alone a car. And he’d never wanted to share her or leave their haven before. Now he felt the importance of that. He pushed one of the smooth curls from her forehead and kissed her gently there.
He unwound her from his body and rose. Rocky’s head lifted from the floor at the end of the bed. One eye opened and then shut and he laid his muzzle back down, groaning out a sigh. Mike padded to the kitchen to start the coffee and oatmeal, his mind lingering between wanting to get Christmas presents for all the important people in his life, including Annie and her family, and buying plane tickets for him and Avery so he could take her to meet his family. He was plenty occupied with worrying, too. They still hadn’t solved the issue of why Rocky was being so overprotective. He’d need to go back into town to complete his shopping, but leaving her when something wasn’t right made him edgy. He wasn’t even comfortable leaving her to go on a hunt.
Nightmarish memories of her being kidnapped by the serial killer he’d chased for years before leaving the RCMP still haunted him. Even thinking about it made sweat break out on his neck.
He clicked the coffee maker on, deciding he’d stop and check on the status of his former arrests while he was in town. He was on good terms with the local police department and RCMP, and even occasionally assisted in behavioural analysis when they requested his help. He could easily check the system to make sure Rocky hadn’t sensed danger from some vengeful ex-con. He’d do a sweep of the mountain for prints too. The recent snow would give away any lurkers.
Avery was going to Annie’s, so she’d be safe, especially if Rocky was keeping guard as well. Annie was good with a shotgun, that much he knew. And Hal would be around. He smiled at that thought. Hal and Annie were brewing something, and he was happy about that. Annie’s husband had been gone a long time, and she still had so much life in her. Hal too. They were a good match.
Avery, looking bedraggled, her face lined from the bed sheets, came and sat on his lap at the kitchen table.
“Morning, baby.”
“Morning,” she answered with an adorable sleepy smile.
“Want some coffee? Oatmeal?”
She shook her head. “Tea and eggs, please.” She stood and walked to the kettle. He steepled his fingers and watched her.
“Better hurry. I’m taking you to Annie’s soon. I have some hunting to do.” He did have some hunting to do, but he’d do that after Christmas. He’d get them a turkey for Christmas dinner from the grocery store. Annie was serving ham, but his family had always had turkey. He hadn’t bought meat from the grocery store in a long time, but there weren’t any wild turkeys in New Brunswick and grouse wouldn’t do for her their first time celebrating Christmas, so a store-bought bird would have to do.
“Okay, no tea then, and I’ll just have some toast.”
“No, you get ready, and I’ll get your eggs scrambled. We’ll save time that way.”
She smiled at him sweetly and he wanted to follow her back to the bedroom and rumple her further. Mind on your tasks, Mike, he told himself. Presents for Annie and her family, plane tickets to see his parents, and a stop at the RCMP headquarters in Bathurst would take up the morning. Then he’d walk the mountain looking for prints before picking his girl up.
The eggs and tea were on the table when she walked out, and he stopped washing the frying pan to look at her. She looked radiant. Her hair was shiny and pulled back in a ponytail and her skin was even more beautiful with twin blush spots on her cheeks. He wasn’t sure if she was any different or if it was just his decision to celebrate the season. He’d been in a lighter mood ever since and was more excited than he’d been in a long time. And though he thought it was impossible to love her even more, he did.
“Eat up, little one.” He pulled the chair out for her and kissed the top of her head when she sat and instantly started eating. “My little girl’s hungry again.” He chuckled and went to get his coat on.
“I’m heading down to warm up the car. I’ll be back in five minutes. Do not leave this cabin.” His stern look made her adjust herself in her chair, probably still feeling the spanking he’d given her the day before.
He’d never made a driveway up to the cabin, so he had to walk halfway down the mountain before the key would start the car. He sniffed at the air. More snow was coming.
* * *
Annie was peeking through the window when they pulled up, and Avery waved. Mike gave her a sideways glance.
“She sure is eager for your arrival. Are you two up to no good?”
Avery donned an injured look. “Of course not, Daddy. Like Annie would help me do anything naughty.” She grinned toothily at him before leaning over and kissing his bearded cheek.
“See ya later, mountain man.” He gave her bottom a swat as she got out of the car and she rubbed it quickly with a mittened hand before pulling her hood up to block the bitter wind and jogging to the house. Annie waved at Mike and dragged Avery in.
“You have an appointment,” Annie said straight away.
“Already?”
“Doc Clarke squeezed you in and we have no ride. My daughter was going to take us but her car wouldn’t start. Too damn cold here!” Avery bit her lip and Annie swatted the air with her hand as if she could wave away Avery’s concern. “No worries, Jilly. We’re smart and I have a plan.”
Avery swallowed hard at Annie’s wiggling grey brows, reminding herself whatever trouble they got into, it was for a good cause. She was carrying Mike’s baby and they were on their way, however deviously, to see the doctor and get what she needed to surprise Mike.
“What are we going to do?”
“I’m going to convince Hal to lend me his truck.” Annie’s eyes twinkled with mischief.
Avery’s eyes narrowed. “You haven’t been to town in years and now suddenly you’re going and you’re going to drive? Do you even have a license, Annie?”
The old woman huffed indignantly, looking grumpy with her forehead wrinkled and her thin lips creased in a frown. “Just because I choose not to drive doesn’t mean I don’t know how.” She turned and walked toward the back door. “Good Lord, girly, you think I survived all these years alone being stupid?” Her murmured words trailed after her as she put on her coat and heavy oversized boots and clomped out the door. “Don’t get undressed, we’re leaving right away!”
Avery watched Rocky lumbering up the driveway and smiled. That bear was going to wear himself out chasing her all over.
The door slammed and Avery turned to see Annie jingling the keys above her head.
“Let’s fly, Yukon Jill.” Avery didn’t fail to notice Annie looking at the empty spot on the wall where the big decorative wooden spoon had hung previously, and her stomach dipped. She also noticed Hal waving a fist in the air and running down the driveway as they sprayed frozen gravel behind then.
Hal’s truck was old, bumpy, and stank like grease, lumber and hay. It made Avery’s stomach churn. It was also standard, and by Annie’s cursing and the truck’s lurching, not easy to drive.
“Can you drive standard?”
“Standard was all there was in my day, girlie. I’m just outta practice is all.”
“Does Hal know you’re burning out his clutch?”
“You let me worry about Hal.”
“He didn’t seem very happy about the way we peeled out of the driveway like maniacs either.”
Annie just patted her thigh and winked.