Chapter Thirteen – Fern

They arrived at the hospital a little later than planned, to find Walt waiting, his bags packed. “Sorry, Dad,” Theo said, grabbing the bag, and offering his father his hand.

“I can manage,” Walt said. “I was getting worried you had left town and I would have to go home with your sister.”

“How is Cathy?” Theo asked.

“She’ll get over it,” Walt said. “I know she means well, but I can’t go and live with her.” He hesitated before he walked to the door. “She’s right though, if you don’t intend to stay around, you have to tell me.”

“He’s staying,” Fern told Walt, and hooked her arm through his. “Come on, I’ll help you.”

“Oh, I can manage,” Walt said, and then lowered his voice conspiratorially. “If the docs don’t think I can walk out of here, they might revoke permission.”

“Let’s not let them.” She let go of his arm, but walked by his side, while Theo followed behind.

“You look different,” Walt announced as they stood waiting for the elevator.

“Do I?” Fern asked, blushing.

“Yes.” Walt leaned back and assessed her closely. “Happier.”

“See, that is what I’m here for,” Theo said. “To make everyone happier.”

“Except your sister,” Walt reminded his son.

“Except my sister,” Theo conceded.

“I hope you have better luck with your own children.” Walt said to Fern.

“We’re not rushing into a family,” Theo said quickly.

“Oh, pity. I’d like to have a couple of kids underfoot, I do love Cathy’s kids.”

Fern looked guiltily at Theo, who winked. “Maybe one day. First we have to extend the house.”

They got in the elevator, and Fern pressed the button for the ground floor. Walt turned his attention to his son’s last sentence. “Extend the house?”

“Yes, we can’t all live there with it as it is. And you can’t live there alone.”

Walt nodded thoughtfully. “OK, we can get some plans drawn up.”

“I didn’t think you would go for it, Dad. I know you like that old house just the way it is.”

“Times are a-changing,” he said happily. “You know, with Carter taking on this brewery business, it made me see that change is good. Expanding the town is good. And extending this family is even better.” Walt smiled at Fern, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

As they rode the elevator down to the ground floor, Fern was caught up in thought. It meant so much to both Theo and Walt that she agreed to children. Was she being selfish putting it off? When she finished school, she had always dreamed of becoming a counselor, and helping children like her. But maybe having a family should come first; it would give her experience, and perspective, something it was difficult to learn through textbooks and exams.

“Are you coming?” Theo asked.

Fern looked up to see him offering her his hand; the elevator doors were open and he and Walt were waiting on the other side. She looked at his hand and placed hers into it, the warmth of his skin enveloping her hand.

“Yes,” she answered simply and then stepped out of the elevator. “And maybe I might be persuaded to have children.”

“You could?” Theo asked surprised.

“Yes.” She nodded. “On one condition.”

“Name it?” Theo asked eagerly.

“When they are grown enough, I’d like to go back to school.”

“Back to school?” Theo asked. They were walking toward the hospital exit.

“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Walt said. “Have your kids when you are young, then enjoy your lives together when they are all grown up.”

“That is backwards,” Theo said.

“I don’t know, look at your sister, she’s as happy as a pig in mud.”

“Don’t let Cathy hear you say that,” Theo said.

“Are you talking about me again?” A young woman who didn’t look much older than Fern was walking toward them. Fern didn’t need introductions: Cathy and Theo might not be alike in personality, but their looks were incredibly similar. The same brown almond-shaped eyes, under chocolaty brown hair, but Theo’s features were softer.

“Dad was saying how happy you are,” Theo said, covering up for his dad.

“Was he?” Cathy smiled, her expression softening. “I love my family, if that is what you mean. And they love you, Dad.” She kissed Walt on the cheek.

“We all love you, Dad,” Theo said, and Fern immediately saw the sibling rivalry in full swing.

“I just want you to know my offer still stands,” Cathy said.

“Cathy,” Theo said sharply. “I want you to meet Fern, my mate.”

“Fern,” Cathy said warmly. “I have been wondering who my brother managed to ensnare.”

Theo’s mouth twitched upward at the corners, but if he planned a sarcastic retort, he kept it to himself.

“Hi, Cathy.” Fern held her hand out. “It’s good to meet you.” The two women shook hands, but neither of them knew what to say to the other.

“Let’s get you in the car, Dad,” Theo said, breaking the awkward silence.

“Good idea,” Fern agreed, scooting on ahead to open the car. “Are you coming too, Cathy?”

“In that?” Cathy asked. “Dad, I really think you would be better to wait until Doug gets here, he’s hiring a car. Or we could get a taxi. They do still run a cab service in Bear Creek, don’t they?”

“This car has never let Fern down,” Theo said loyally, making Fern hope this was not going to be the day it did. The old Ford struggled with two passengers; four might just finish it off.

“Come on, Cathy. Live a little,” Walt said, climbing in the back. “At least if more of us take a ride, there will be more of us to push if it breaks down.”

“You will not be pushing anything,” Cathy said hotly. “Your heart, remember?”

“Still ticking.” Walt held the door open. “Get in.”

Cathy huffed, but got in all the same. Fern wasn’t sure if she only agreed to join them so that she could be proved right about the car breaking down. “Don’t let me down,” Fern said, kissing her fingers and then placing them on the hood of the car.

“It’ll be fine,” Theo said encouragingly as he shut her door, before going around to the passenger side and getting in. “If not, we can walk. Or give Will a call. He can send someone over.”

“I have my cell if we need to call him,” Fern said brightly, hoping she was not going to need it.

“Great. We can sit in a hot car for an hour and wait for the cavalry,” Cathy said, rolling down the window, which did not want to move. “Lovely.”

“You could walk, Cathy,” Theo called.

Fern put her hand on his thigh and opened her eyes wide, giving him what she hoped was a look, the kind that would tell him to shut up, without actually saying it. The look worked, and Theo turned around, rolled down his own window, and sat with his elbow on it as Fern started the car. First time, what a gem! Fern cheered silently and drove out of the hospital parking lot, keeping to a steady pace, trying to warm the car up for the steep climb ahead of it.

“Fresh air,” Walt said, taking a deep breath. “I appreciate what the docs did, but I am glad to be out.”

“You make it sound like a prison,” Cathy said.

“Felt like one,” Walt agreed. “I missed the sound of the bees.”

“They’ll be glad to see you,” Theo said. “They’ve had to make do with me, and I found I was a little rusty.”

“They’re bees,” Cathy said. “It’s not like they are a cat or a dog.”

“Tell that to the bees,” Theo said.

“He’s right, they get to know a person, Cathy.” Walt turned to his daughter. “I remember when you used to enjoy all the wonders of the outdoors.”

“That was before I left. The city has so much to offer, Dad. Libraries, museums.”

“I know. But this is where my heart is,” Walt said as they drove through Bear Creek. “What time are Doug and the boys arriving?”

Walt, being his usual diplomatic self, turned the conversation onto Cathy, and kept her talking as they began the steep climb up to the house. Seeing the family together had taught Fern a lot about them. Walt must have spent most of Theo and Cathy’s childhood being peacekeeper. As brothers and sisters went, Fern figured they must be two of the worst. Everything one of them said, the other contradicted, especially where Walt was concerned.

They turned a sharp corner, and the road immediately inclined steeply, afterward. Fern had to turn her attention back to the journey, and her prayers that they would reach their destination safely. It would be awful if Cathy were proved right about trusting the old Ford. It would be disloyal to Theo’s support.

A smile flittered across her lips. It was only a car; it wasn’t as if the vehicle had a mind of its own. It kept going because its engine kept running, and its wheels kept turning. And keep turning they did. Slowly, they neared the house, although Fern had to drop the speed significantly until they were crawling along. But forward motion, was forward motion.

“There she is,” Walt said, leaning out of his window as the house came into view. “What’s this, a welcoming committee?”

Theo ducked his head and looked out of the front windshield. “Did you know about this?” he asked Fern.

“No,” she answered. “I bet Teagan arranged it.”

As they drove up to the house, they could all make out a handful of vehicles squeezed into the small parking area in front of the house. She could make out Will’s truck, and Teagan’s car, and a couple of others that she didn’t recognize.

“This way,” Teagan said, appearing around the side of the house. “We brought food, and beer.” She came up to Walt and hugged him. “Welcome home, Walt. The buzzing bees told me they missed you.”

“You are crazy, Teagan,” Walt said with a happy grin.

“Always has been, since as long as I’ve known her,” Fiona stated, coming out to meet them.

“Theo, this is Fiona,” Fern said.

“Fiona, I’ve heard so much about you,” Theo said, saluting her.

“I bet you have, and it’s all true.” She hooked her arm around Walt’s. “Teagan asked me to come and give you a talking-to. About doing as you are told.”

Walt looked at them for help, but they stood together and let Fiona lead him away. Theo slipped his arm around Fern’s shoulders. “You know, it already feels like I’m coming home.”

Cathy sighed audibly. “I still don’t think the novelty will last long.”

“Come on, Cathy. Let’s get you something to eat and you can try the beer. Theo, do you have any of those brownies left, too?” Fern asked, leading Cathy around back to meet everyone. Surely Theo’s sister had to lighten up at some point? But by the look on her sour face, it might not be anytime soon.