Chapter Four – Theo

“I’m more nervous than when I set off from the last base camp to scale Everest,” Theo said as they got out of the car. Fern walked around to him, her presence giving him comfort. He only had to breathe in her scent to feel calmer, as if he could conquer more than a mountain peak. With her by his side he could conquer the world.

Although right now he would settle for conquering the sick feeling in his stomach at the thought of his father hooked up to machines.

“Come on. I texted Teagan, and she said Walt looks better today.” Fern cocked her head and urged him forward. “First step is the hardest.”

“So true.” He flashed her a smile. “Thank you again. Not just for picking me up from the airport, but for everything you’ve done. For my dad.”

“People, especially your dad, have been kind to me since I moved here, so I’m paying it forward.”

“You haven’t lived here long?” Theo asked. They were entering the hospital, the bright lights and clinical smell unnatural after the wide-open spaces he was used to. He longed to be there, or anywhere other than here in the place his mom had lost her will to live.

“No. Only a few months.” She led him to the elevator.

“What made you move here?”

She entered the elevator when the doors opened and turned to press the button for the second floor. Standing just in front of him, he could not see her face. He got the intense feeling that was what she wanted. Fern didn’t know him well enough to share her past with him, which meant her past had not been happy.

His heart ached for her, his arms itched to pull her to him and hold her tight, and tell her it was going to be OK, that he was here, and nothing would ever hurt her again. He also knew that words like those might be enough to send her running into the mountains to escape him. She wasn’t a shifter, and from the way she’d questioned him when he used the term bear cubs, he was almost certain she had no idea about shifters.

“I left school and needed a fresh start,” she replied simply.

“Bear Creek is a good place to live,” he agreed.

“Which is why you left?” she questioned.

“I left because I thought I needed to spread my wings.”

“And did you… spread your wings?”

“I did. I spread them and soared,” Theo said, his voice filled with joy and wonder. “There are so many incredible places to see. So much to do.”

“It’s good you came back, though, for Walt,” Fern said as the elevator doors opened. She stepped out and after a moment’s hesitation, Theo followed.

“He’s my dad…” Theo stood looking into the room where an old man lay attached to wires, which fed machines with his vital signs. Next to his bedside was a young woman who was reading to him.

“Teagan’s still here,” Fern said and opened the door, raising her eyebrows as she inclined her head toward the room where his sick dad lay on a hospital bed. “Come on.”

Theo felt like a coward, but the memories of seeing his mom in the same position were almost too much. He thought he had gotten over it. But obviously he hadn’t. “Hi, dad.”

Walt opened his eyes and looked up, then he pushed his hands down on the bed and lifted himself up to a sitting position. “Theo, you came.”

“Of course I did,” Theo said brusquely, trying to cover his emotions.

His dad held his hand out to him, and Theo took it, feeling the bones sticking out through his thin pale flesh. “How was Everest?”

“High,” Theo said, sitting in a chair Fern fetched for him. “Thanks.” She blushed a little, which he liked, a lot.

His dad chuckled weakly, but gripped Theo’s hand tighter. “I didn’t ruin your assignment, did I?”

“Of course not. I was back when I got Fern’s messages.” Theo looked up at the two women standing around his dad’s bed. “I hope I’m not cramping your style? It looks as if you have two angels looking after you.”

Teagan snorted. “I see you inherited your dad’s way with words.”

“He did. He’s one of the most sought-after travel writers in the world,” Walt said proudly.

“You are?” Teagan said, sounding impressed. “Maybe I could come see you … for advice.”

“Teagan is trying to break into journalism,” Walt said.

“Trying?” Fern started. “She’s done amazingly well.”

“Thanks, Fern,” Teagan said, blushing a little. “You know you helped.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Fern said.

“Nonsense, that story about you and Carter…” Fern shot her a warning look and Teagan stopped mid-sentence.

Theo caught everything; he had a mind for the small details people gave away about themselves, but he wasn’t going to push for details. Not now. But he stored away the knowledge that Fern had been involved with Carter Eden too. It seemed that man had a lot to answer for.

“Sure, if there is anything I can do to repay you for being here for my dad,” Theo said with a wide smile. “Either of you?” His eyes flicked up to Fern, who had gone quiet. She was watching the conversation, but not joining in. Theo frowned. It was as if she were standing in the shade of Teagan’s sun. Teagan was bright, outgoing, and talked a lot. While Fern was more introverted and quiet—the kind of woman you would take to the top of a mountain and look up at the stars with, no need to for words.

Fern turned her head and glanced at him; their eyes locked for one split second. And in that second, he saw her pain, her insecurity, before the shutters came back up and she looked away.

“We don’t expect anything in return,” Teagan said. “Walt here is a part of Bear Creek, and as two newcomers, we’ve appreciated him being so welcoming. Isn’t that right, Fern?”

“It is,” Fern replied, casting an affectionate smile over the old man.

“Ah, Fern. I can’t thank you enough for looking after my property while I’ve been in here. The bees are still a buzzin’, I hope?”

“They are. I never knew how therapeutic the buzzing of bees could be,” Fern told Walt.

“They have seen me through some rough times,” Walt said, looking at Theo. “When Theo’s mom died, they kept me sane.”

“Most people get a cat or a dog, my dad got extra bees,” Theo explained.

“Bees are useful for more than a pet on the head,” Walt said. “And they give a bear honey.”

Teagan shuffled nervously, and gave Fern a sidelong look. “They also help give us Bear Creek Honey Beer.”

“What?” Theo asked, now certain that Fern had no idea about shifters, which meant she had no idea about bonded mates. He’d hidden his need for her well, but his bear was stirring and soon he was going to have to declare his intentions, before someone else snapped her up. She was the prettiest thing he had ever seen, curves in all the right places, long brown hair, tinged with red where the sun had worked its magic, and hazel eyes, set into a face that was pale, but glowed as she spoke. He got the feeling she had no idea how delicious she was. To this bear, at least.

“Bear Creek Honey Beer. Your dad supplies the honey.”

“Or did. I feel bad I’ve let Carter down while he’s away filming,” Walt said.

“Filming?” Theo’s ears pricked up with interest.

“Carter Eden, the movie star,” Teagan said and glanced at Fern as her left hand twitched, and gripped her right wrist. Was this Carter Eden behind Fern’s wariness? If so, what had he done to her? And how could Theo make it better?

“I know who he is,” Theo said. “I also know what he did to you, Dad, tearing your job away from you.”

“Oh, that’s all in the past,” Walt said. “We’re good friends now, and he’s given me a new lease on life.”

“And is that new lease on life the reason you are lying in a hospital bed?” Theo asked, not covering his feelings for Carter.

“No, if anything, being back in the garden has helped me to no end. And the beer, well, you have to taste it, Theo,” Walt said.

“I see, Carter Eden is the hero now,” Theo stated.

“He is, isn’t he, Fern?” Teagan asked, giving Fern a knowing smile.

“You could say that,” Fern said.

“At least he came down off that damn mountain. What a grown man had to run away from, I have no idea. I expect he went up there to find himself.” Theo didn’t know why he was so annoyed, but he was. Not just because of the way his dad had been treated, but because of the way Fern’s face flushed pink every time Carter’s name was mentioned, and the way her hand went to her wrist, to stroke the scars she hid there. Yes, he’d spotted them, her sleeve had risen up while she gripped the steering wheel. There could be no mistaking they were a result of self-harm. Was Carter Eden responsible for hurting her too? In a worse way.

This was not the time for any further discussion about Carter Eden. He would quiz his dad when they were alone later, if he was feeling up to it.

“You can’t help being ill, Dad,” Theo said, tearing his eyes from Fern; he hadn’t realized he was staring at her. Instead, he turned his gaze on his dad who was lifting himself up. “Don’t even think about it.”

“I don’t belong in a hospital bed,” Walt insisted, trying to swing his legs over the side of the bed, but the wires attached to him made his progress difficult. “Damn machines.”

“Those machines are keeping an eye on you,” Teagan said, “Goodness knows someone has to.”

Fern stepped forward to help Walt get comfy as he gave in and slid his feet back under the sheets. “If you don’t behave I’ll send Fiona in to give you a telling-off.”

“That old dragon doesn’t scare me,” Walt said, but his face said otherwise.

“Is Fiona one of the nurses?” Theo asked.

“No, she works for social services, but lives locally,” Teagan said. “Everyone, except Walt, is afraid of her.”

“She’s not that bad,” Fern said, sticking up for Fiona.

“No, she’s not, if you do as you are told,” Teagan warned Walt.

“Listen, we should go and let you two have some time alone together,” Fern said.

“Yes.” Teagan kissed Walt on the forehead and said, “I’ll come by tomorrow with an update on how things are going at the brewery.”

“OK, I feel bad that you have had to run it all by yourself, Teagan,” Walt said.

“It’s good experience, and Will has loaned some manpower,” Teagan said. “Maybe I’ll write some articles on the merit of locally grown hops!”

“You should,” Walt said. “Enough words come out of your mouth, you have them to spare.”

“Dad,” Theo chastised.

“It’s OK,” Teagan said, laughing. “Walt and I have this special kind of relationship.”

“We do,” Walt said with a wink. “Take care of yourself. You too, Fern.”

“I’m glad to see you looking so much better,” Fern told Walt, giving him a hug.

The two women were about to leave when Theo spoke, “Fern, if you have some free time later, maybe you could come by the house?” Did that sound as awkward as it felt?

She looked at him as if she were trying to figure out a puzzle. If she asked him why, he would have floundered for words. But she didn’t, she simply nodded and said, “Sure. I have to go to work, but I can meet you around six.”

“Great,” Theo said with a nod, and watched as they left the room. Teagan leaned over and said something to Fern that he couldn’t hear. Then the door shut behind them and he turned back to Walt, to be met with an enquiring expression.

“What’s going on? I don’t want you upsetting that girl, she’s had a rough time of it before she came here and she’s just settling in, getting a bit of confidence behind her, and I would guess she is about to bloom.”

“And I want to help her bloom,” Theo said.

“Help her how?” Walt said, and then his eyes grew wide and the machine started to beep faster.

“Calm down, Dad,” Theo urged.

“She’s the one?” Walt asked. “You’ve finally found your mate?”

“I have.”

“Well, I’ll be… At least something good has come out of this,” Walt said, nodding.

“Am I right to think I need to take it slow?” Theo asked.

“You would be, son, you would be. I think someone tried to crush her spirit once, but I know you, and you are just the person to put her back together again.”

“Did Carter Eden try to crush her spirit?” Theo asked, his voice harsh.

“No, my boy, you are barking up the wrong tree there. Wrong tree completely. I know I went on about the man when I lost my job, but he’s brought the fight back into me. And as for Fern, he pays her rent.”

“Out of guilt?” Theo asked.

“Not in the way you think. She should be the one to tell you all the details, Theo. But don’t be too hard on Carter, he was a victim too.”

Theo mulled over his dad’s words as they talked over what the doctors had to say about Walt’s health. By the time he left the hospital it was five o’clock. He had a long walk in front of him, but he had clean air in his lungs and a chocolate bar in his hand. The walk would allow him to let go of some of the tension in his body.

Tension brought on by the knowledge of his mate, and also because he was going home, to his family home. This would be the first time he had gone back there to find neither of his parents at home. His mind was dredging old memories up, and he wasn’t sure how to deal with them, except by putting one foot in front of the other.