Chapter Four – Hank

“Someone sounds happy,” Julius commented as he entered the kitchen, where Hank was preparing a cake stand ready for table three. He was taking special care with the order because it was for his favorite two children, Jenny and Jason, who were regular visitors. Once a month, either Frankie or Ruth would bring them to the hotel where they indulged in small, delicate, sandwiches and delicious cakes. It had become a tradition, ever since they were adopted by Ruth and Michael.

“I’m always happy,” Hank replied, adding another fresh cream donut, Jason’s favorite, before turning his attention to the hot chocolate.

“True, but this is...different.” Julius studied Hank closer. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you had experienced a life-changing event.”

“Would you?” Hank whistled a tune under his breath as the milk frothed into the cups.

“You’ve met a special someone.” Julius was good at reading people, it was his job. As the owner of The Catherine Hotel, he made it his duty to ensure everyone enjoyed their stay, which often meant he had to figure out what his guests wanted, even when they didn’t know themselves. “You met your mate?”

“There must be something in the water,” Emily said, coming into the kitchen. “Or maybe we have a special seat.”

“A special seat?” Hank asked Emily, who was a thoroughly efficient woman, newly appointed to help run the hotel. She took her job very seriously and had legendary organizational skills.

“Yes, you know. Like some bars have a special seat where if a woman sits down they get pregnant.” She waved her pencil at him. “Now that would make a good marketing slogan. Visit The Catherine Hotel, where fate will find your mate.”

“It needs work,” Julius said with a smile.

“Thor has finished updating the computer system,” Emily told Julius.

“I’ll be there as soon as Hank spills the beans. And I don’t mean the coffee beans.” Julius walked toward the door leading out of the kitchen. “Come on, you know I hate keeping people waiting.”

Hank set the hot chocolates down on the tray and added whipped cream. “You really aren’t leaving until you know?”

“Know what?” asked Thor, entering the kitchen. He looked around suspiciously, as though he’d caught them talking about him. “What’s the big secret?”

Thor worked for the local tech company and was at the hotel to install an upgrade in their reservations system. It was the most unfortunate name for the eighteen-year-old young man because puberty had not worked its magic and Thor remained a slim kid, who wore glasses. Nerd was the first word that came to mind, rather than God of Thunder. But his heart was in the right place, he was always patient and helpful, and had a genuine ability to make people smile.

“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, sometimes 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.