Chapter Twelve
Little Bear, Little Bear, Where are You?
Adrian snuggled into Justin, keeping his eyes closed trying to recapture his sleep—only to be startled awake when he realized he was snuggling against a pillow, no Justin to be found. Reaching out, he felt the coldness in the other spot. He had been gone a while.
Peering at his clock, he saw it was near ten. He never slept past seven, but with the long day he’d had, it was no surprise. Goodness, he had grand plans for when they went to bed, but they fell asleep before he could enact his plan of naked fun.
Bang.
Someone was cooking, or attempting to cook, in the kitchen.
Bang.
Adrian decided he might as well get up and wiped the sleep from his eyes. No sense staying in bed if he was alone. He popped out of bed and dressed quickly before padding down to the bathroom. As he closed his door, he was greeted by a bouncy and very energetic Kit.
“Mama’s making breakfast.” The little girl hugged him. “She’s all better now. Thank you.”
Adrian bent down and scooped the girl up, twirling her around as he did. “I’m so happy your mama is better.” He placed Kit on the floor and pointed to the bathroom. “I’ll be right back to help Mama out with breakfast.”
“She doesn’t need help. Mama can do anything.” With her hands on her hips, Kit was spunky to be sure.
“I’m sure she can.” Adrian leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, “I was just being polite.” He was met by mass giggles. It was nice to have the house filled by more than just memories and clutter.
When Adrian finally joined them in the kitchen, he was amazed. Not only did the aroma of pancakes greet him, but also empty counters and a cleared table.
“It’s so…clean.”
“I woke early and thought it was the least I could do. I saw your file boxes and kind of went to town. I can show you what I did a bit later and can change it if you don’t like it.” Mariah was avoiding eye contact as she spoke.
“I’m impressed.”
Mariah looked up, now sporting a huge smile.
“I’ve been trying to figure out how to get this all done for far too long. Thank you.”
“Can I eat now, Mama?” Kit was practically bouncing in front of her mom.
“Sure. Adrian, how many would you like?”
“Three, please.”
They smelled delicious, but Adrian’s mind was really focused elsewhere. “Where did Justin go?”
“Uncle Justin said it was a surprise and to distract you with food.”
Justin opened the front door and walked in just as Kit finished her sentence. “Shh, don’t give away all my tactics, little one,” Justin teased as he went and hugged his new niece. “Now I’ll need to come up with a new means of distracting Adrian in the future,” he faux whispered.
He is going to be a great dad one day.
Adrian looked around to see a wink from Mariah. She was very powerful if she could communicate that clearly from across the room.
“So, where were you that you needed to distract me with pancakes?” Adrian was sure his face was bright red from the father comment. Not that Mariah was wrong; Justin really would be.
“I was checking out your motorcycle. It’s actually a pretty good machine. I can have it fixed with only a few parts.” Justin smiled at Adrian’s expression—his mouth was hanging open, like a fool.
“You fix motorcycles?”
Justin closed the gap between them and brought his lips to Adrian’s ear. “I’m full of surprises.” Darn man had him thinking inappropriate thoughts in a place where he should not.
“Mama says secrets are bad.”
Adrian burst out laughing and was immediately joined by Justin and Mariah.
“Your mama’s right, little one. No more secrets.” He rubbed her head before grabbing two proffered plates of pancakes. “Let’s eat. There’s much to decide.”
The pancakes were delicious. It felt so right having the four of them squeezed at the table that had only ever held two. Adrian knew Justin was going to ask them to stay, and he really hoped they would.
Justin began telling their story from the evening before, leaving out details not meant for young ears. From the glint in Mariah’s eyes, she knew very well what was left out. After Kit left to draw and color on the front porch, Justin jumped in with both feet.
“So, what I said to them about you moving here, what do you think?” Justin asked point-blank.
“Are you asking us to stay?” Mariah was hesitant in her question, and Adrian grabbed her hand to comfort the young witch.
“We would love it if you stayed.” It was amazing to hear Justin saying we.
“What would I do for your business?”
“Honestly,” he began, “nothing.”
Mariah’s smile fell. “I need to do my share if I’m going to stay.”
Adrian could see where Kit got her posturing. “I actually was hoping you would help with my business.” Justin winked as Adrian offered. That had been his plan all along.
“Healing?” Mariah seemed to be trying it out for size. “I don’t know much about it. Just what I learned growing up.”
“Did you see what you did in a few hours this morning?” Adrian gestured around the room. “You got things back on track faster than I could have. If we work together, I’ll bet we can make enough money at this to add an addition to the cabin so you and Kit can have more room.” As he talked, a plan just fell into place and out of his mouth. It felt so right.
“Actually,” Justin interrupted. “I had a different plan in mind.”
“And that plan would be?” Adrian thought he had Justin’s end game worked out.
“I would like to build a second cabin for you two.”
Nope. Adrian was wrong. He’d had zero clues as to what Justin was working toward. “And I want to add onto this one. We need a better bathroom.” Darn man winked at him. Not that he was wrong. They really did.
“Or…” Mariah pulled Adrian from his thoughts—which was good because they were quickly spiraling to the realm of naughtydom, and this was not the time.
“Or?” Justin encouraged.
“Or you can build a new cabin for you and your bear and can add a second kitchen in there for the business.” Adrian could almost see the wheels turning in Mariah’s mind. He was going to jump into this with both feet. “Then you wouldn’t have to remodel this place.”
“I like that idea.” Justin seemed to really be pleased by the new plan. He gathered the dirty plates as if it were a done deal.
“That will cost more money.”
Justin set the plates down again. “How about this…” He pulled out a paper from his back pocket and unfolded it. “This is the deed to the property. I already signed it over to you.” When had he done that? “Town hall opens early—” He smirked at Adrian. What time did he get up to look at his motorcycle and sign over property?
“Can they just do that?” It sounded fishy to Adrian, but what did he know about property transactions?
“No, not really, but I started the process.” He slid it over. “Now, let me finish, man.”
Mariah grabbed the stacked plates and chuckled as she deposited them into the kitchen.
“What I was trying to say was, go with my plan,” Justin continued. “If you find it isn’t working for you, you can either sell me your land and this house or kick us out.” Adrian knew he would never do either, but it felt so fast that it was nice to be offered an out. “It’s what Rosemary would’ve wanted.” Justin had gone in for the kill. Adrian loved Rosemary more than his own family; of course he would want to honor her wishes.
“Doesn’t change the fact it would cost a lot more money.” He was being stubborn, but so be it.
“It would probably cost less,” Mariah offered before pushing in her chair. “I need to go check on Kit.” As she reached the door, she turned to add, “We are staying by the way. I have plans for this business. Big plans.” She closed the door behind herself.
“I think you created a monster,” Justin joked. “Seriously, though, I have money.”
“I know.” Adrian scooted his seat closer to Justin, but finding it not close enough, opted to sit on his lap instead. “It just feels like a huge move to make with someone you met only a day ago.” He laid his head on Justin’s shoulder.
“It feels right, though.” Justin pulled him in even closer.
“It does.” Nothing had felt more right in his life.
“So we’re in agreement?”
“We are.” Before he could elaborate and add in all the monetary conditions he wanted to put into place, Justin began kissing and nibbling his neck, and all thoughts were lost. “Not playing fair,” he groaned between kisses.
“Not playing. Kissing.” He took Adrian’s lips only to be interrupted almost immediately by a running Kit.
“Sorry, I have to go potty.” She was at the bathroom quick as a whip.
“Sorry, guys, she really had to go.”
“No worries. We’re done negotiating.” He climbed back into his seat as Justin spoke. “We’ll be following your plan. Having a kitchen just for the business with office space attached seems like the best plan.”
“Your bear is going to be happy,” Kit sang as he came in.
“What are you singing?” Justin asked what Adrian was thinking.
“Oh, I was just singing about Uncle Adrian’s bear. He’s going to be happy. He’s been hiding for so many years and wants to come out.” Kit just spoke as if she were saying what everyone else already knew.
“She knows things.” Mariah took her daughter’s hand. “But she knows better than to let everyone else know about it, though. Don’t you, Kit?”
“Mama, that’s why I was singing, and then people think it’s a song.”
“We’ve been over this.” Mariah exhaled exasperatedly. “People think it’s creepy, not a song.”
“Sorry, Mama.”
“Don’t be sorry. We’re all family.” Justin gave her a warm smile and nod as Adrian spoke. “But your mama’s right. Best to only do that here.”
“What else do you know about my mate’s bear?” Justin added.
“Mate?” Adrian liked the taste of the word, as unexpected as it was.
“Soon-to-be mate?” Justin’s shy tone didn’t fool anyone. He had already decided Adrian was his, and that suited him just fine. Who cared what the rest of the world thought about it?
When you know, you know.
“Fair enough.” Adrian wasn’t going to argue since everyone there knew it to be true, as crazy as it was. “Even if ‘mate’ is an antiquated term.”
“What can I say? I’m an old-fashioned guy.” Justin shrugged before turning back to the young girl and kneeling to be eye level with her. “So, back to the question at hand. Kit, do you know anything else about his bear?”
Kit looked to her mother, who gave her a nod of approval. “He was told to hide when Adrian was a baby. The witch told him Adrian needed to be alone for a while.” Adrian’s head was spinning. If it had been an adult throwing this at him, he would have been interrogating the daylights out of her, but the child was five; Adrian knew enough about kids to know that she would shut down if he pushed too hard.
“Do you know why?” Justin seemed to get kids, too. Mariah was right, he would be an amazing dad one day.
“It doesn’t make sense, Mama.” Kit looked back to her mom for support and was met with a warm smile.
“That’s okay, honey. Say it anyway,” Mariah encouraged.
“Adrian needed to be alone to learn his true gift.” Kit shrugged her shoulders.
“Thanks, Kit. I’m glad you told me.” The naïve girl looked far too worried for a person so young. Whatever her gift was, it was powerful. “I was thinking I was broken,” Adrian confessed, opening his arms to invite her in for a hug.
“Not broken,” Kit confirmed as she entered the embrace. “He’s happy now and will come out to play more. He just is shy from hiding for so long.”
Adrian could feel the truth to these words.
“Mama, can I go back outside?” Kit was done with grown-up time, and who could blame her?
“Absolutely, sweetheart. In a little bit we will do something fun. Deal?”
“Deal, Mama.” And the child scampered off.
“So, now you see what I have been hiding.” Mariah fell to the floor with her back against the cabinet. “She is very powerful and can communicate even better than I can.”
“You mean the way you speak in my head?” If Justin was shocked by Adrian’s statement, he was schooling himself well.
“Yes, she can do that, but oh, so much more.” Mariah examined their faces, and Adrian joined them on the floor. What a sight it would be to see the three of them all sitting on there looking so serious. “I can only communicate that way with shifters and other witches and wizards, and they have to be very powerful to even do that. Kit. Well, Kit can communicate with a shifters’ animal if they take animal form. She can also talk to humans.” He mumbled the last part.
“She’s never accidentally shared with me,” Justin offered. “I bet she can control it much better than any other five-year-old would be able to.”
“She really is amazing.” Mariah sat a little higher as she spoke. “We’ll probably never know for sure which witch bound your bear, but maybe if you tell me where you are from I could give a guess.”
“No need. I think I already know.” Adrian had not thought of his “aunt” in many years. “My mom had a very powerful witch as a best friend almost all of my childhood. I would venture it was her. When my mom used to get all worried about fixing me, it was Aunt Ruby who talked her down. In hindsight, it all makes sense.”
“Should we call her?” Mariah seemed to want answers as much as he did.
She passed when I was a teen.” He still thought of the woman often, and if she told his bear to back down, the reason was legit. He couldn’t even bring himself to be angry. “If she felt it needed to happen this way, she had a reason. Look at all it brought me.”
Adrian looked to the two people sitting on the floor beside him and quickly glanced at the door.
“A sexy new beau?”
“Well, there is that.” He scooted closer to Justin, grabbing his hand. “But it brought me so much more. I have a calling to heal, a new business partner, a family.” Mariah reached out and touched his knee at the word family. “And yeah, you’re not a too shabby part of the deal.” Adrian leaned into Justin, who in return kissed her head.
“So we’re really going to do this,” Mariah said as she rose. “In that case I’d best tell Kit. She just asked me if we had to move again. Poor thing thought you would freak out about her abilities.”
“Hey, Kit!” Justin shouted to the door.
“Yes, Uncle Justin.” The girl bounced in, a smile on her face.
“What color do you want your room?”
Kit barreled into both Adrian and Justin in reply.