Chapter Six – Theo

It was hard to be mad with Teagan, who had no idea what she had interrupted, but his disappointment at not sharing his first kiss with Fern made his smile strained as he walked down the steps to help carry in the groceries Teagan had brought. The cherry pie was left to turn cold while he emptied the groceries out onto the counter and began to put them away. Most of them were not needed; Walt seemed to have been storing up enough food to survive an apocalypse.

“Wow, I think Walt must have been buying groceries as though you all still lived at home,” Teagan exclaimed as she tried to cram more beans onto an already overstuffed shelf in the kitchen.

“I’d agree with you there,” Theo said, pulling out a box of what used to be his favorite cookies. They were way out of date. “I think I’ve found my first chore. Clear out the kitchen.”

“Oh no, buster. Your first job has to be the harvesting of honey. I need it for the next batch of beer.” Teagan stood with her hands on her hips. “You do know how to harvest the honey, don’t you?”

“I do,” Theo said, placing the box of cookies down on the counter. “You mean now?”

“No time like the present,” Teagan said chirpily.

“I’ll put the coffee pot on,” Fern said.

“Thanks.” Theo’s eyes caressed her as she moved; he couldn’t pull his gaze from her, something Teagan noticed. When he finally took a step toward the door, Teagan gave him a look that told him she had guessed exactly what was going through his head. And his body.

“Shall we go?” Teagan said, walking backwards out of the door, her expression full of concern as she watched Fern.

“Sure.” He followed her outside, hating to leave Fern behind. The strand of energy that connected them felt stretched, but he knew it would not break. They were bonded together.

“Fern is your mate?” Teagan hissed loudly when they were outside.

“Yes,” he confided, guilt sweeping over him. Fern should be the first to know, not Teagan, and yet Teagan could possibly offer him the answers to the questions Walt had hinted at.

“OK.” Teagan stopped in her tracks, and turned to face him, her expression fierce. “I am going to say this once, and only once, you had better not break her heart.” She put her hands on her hips and thrust her body forward. “I mean it.”

“Hey,” Theo started. “Yes, she is my mate. You should know I have no intention of breaking her heart. It’s the last thing I would ever do.”

Teagan narrowed her eyes, and studied him. “Good.” She let her hands drop to her sides and then turned around to walk to where Walt had positioned the hives. “I’m sorry, I know it’s none of my business, but I have this protective streak a mile wide when it comes to Fern.” She slowed and fell into step within him. “It’s more like a hundred miles wide.”

Teagan cast him an apologetic smile, and he tried to set her at ease. “I like that. I especially like that you are looking out for my mate.”

“Fern and I have a lot in common. We ended up in the system.”

“The system… You mean in foster care?” Theo could not imagine what it must be like not to have a family to depend on.

“Yes.” She shook her head. “I’m not going to say anymore. Not about Fern at least.”

“I agree.” Theo thought back to the panicked look on Fern’s face as she struggled for breath. “She had it bad, though. Can you at least tell me that?”

“She’s never told me the whole story. I didn’t know her back then, we met a few months back when I interviewed her and Carter. And don’t ask me about that either. It’s her story to tell.” Teagan conceded. “But from what I do know, yes, it was bad.”

He didn’t ask Teagan about the scars on Fern’s wrists. When she was ready … if she ever was ready, then she could tell him. Until then, he was going to respect her privacy. All he would do was make sure she knew she could trust him, and that he would be there for her no matter what. Past, present, future, they were a couple now. She just didn’t know it yet.

The soothing sound of the bees reached his ears, and he stood for a moment watching them work. Walt had always kept bees. Long before he had met his mate, and settled down with her here on top of the mountain, he had kept a couple of hives. When they were kids, they would come out here, Theo and Cathy, shift into their bears, and Walt would let them lick the fresh honey off the combs.

“You are drooling,” Teagan said, slapping him playfully across the stomach. “I need this for the beer. So don’t you go and eat it all.”

“I won’t.” He laughed as she watched him go to the small shed where Walt kept all the gear. “You are a hard taskmaster.”

“I feel responsible. Carter and Caroline left me in charge of the house. Walt was in charge of the brewery. With Walt out of action, I’ve taken on all of it.” Teagan’s voice carried into the shed, where he was rummaging around for the suit Walt used and the hat and veil. His dad didn’t usually bother with it all, he used to say the bees knew him. But Theo was a stranger to them, and he did not intend to get stung.

“If you need a hand, just give me a shout.”

“Do you know anything about making beer?” Teagan called.

“Some, I wrote an article about a start-up in Peru. They were working as a community to build a business.”

“Are you OK in there?” Teagan said, coming closer as Theo tipped over a box of fuel for the smoker.

“Got it.” He held the overalls up triumphantly.

“You are never going to fit in those,” Teagan announced.

“Want to bet?”

“Yes.” She laughed as he put he put his foot in the leg of the suit and pulled it up. “Snug.”

He wriggled into the suit, with the help of Teagan—well, as much as she could help since she found the whole thing hysterical. “Maybe I should just go in as a bear.”

“Maybe you should. Although I’m sure they will still sting your snout. And I don’t think they make beekeeper’s hats for bear heads.”

“Does Fern know?”

“About…?” Teagan’s eyes widened. “You mean about us being…” She mouthed the words bears.

“Yes. About us.” Theo was sure he knew the answer, but wanted to be sure. The last thing he wanted to do was earn Fern’s trust and then spring the shifter surprise on her.

“No. Do you want me to tell her?” Teagan asked.

“She’s going to have to know at some point.” The shed was stuffy, and he couldn’t wait to get outside. All he had to do was put the hat on, and his gloves.

“She sure is going to need to know. And she needs to be told gently. It’s going to come as a surprise.”

“To say the least,” Theo agreed. “Whichever one of us gets the opportunity, we tell her, OK?”

“Sounds good,” Teagan said. “There, you look suitably alien-like.”

“Thank you.” He walked stiffly out of the shed, the too-tight clothing making him feel like a turkey trussed up for Thanksgiving.

“Coffee?” Fern asked. He turned to see her standing to the right side of the shed, a tray of coffee set down on a tree stump.

“Thanks. I’ll drink it when I’m through. If I don’t get stung too much.”

“You’re not allergic, are you?” Teagan asked, joining Fern.

“Nope. At least, I never used to be, and I don’t intend to test that theory now.” He moved closer to the hives, and began to work. First he prepared the smoker, all the times he had watched Walt harvest the honey coming back to him. “Right, I’m going in,” he announced.

“Good luck,” Teagan said.

Theo tried to push all thoughts of Fern from his head. He had to concentrate or he would upset the bees. Walt always said they could pick up on a person’s emotions. Well, he did not want these bees to read his emotions, or his thoughts about Fern. However, as he settled into the job, he began to understand what Walt liked about bees: they were soothing.

***

“Thank you,” Teagan said, looking at the honey Theo had collected. “Walt’s bees are the best. I just wish he had more of them. He was planning on expanding the hives, but now with his health, I don’t think he should.”

“Not unless he has help,” Fern agreed.

“I might stick around and help expand the business,” Theo said.

“Really?” Teagan asked, her face brightening. “That would be amazing, since I know Walt talked earlier about having to give them up if the docs can’t make him better.”

“Can’t let that happen,” Theo said, sipping his lukewarm coffee.

“He does love his bees,” Fern said absently.

“He does,” Theo murmured, watching Fern’s face. She seemed distant, avoiding looking at Theo or Teagan as much as possible. If she had the chance, he was sure she would have bolted to her car and hightailed it out of there.

“Of course, there are other reasons for you to stay…” Teagan teased.

He shot her a warning look, which she intercepted and understood, mouthing sorry to him. “Shall I come over to the brewery tomorrow?” Theo asked, trying to get the conversation back onto neutral ground.

“Sure. I have an assignment I have to type up, but I’ll be free after noon.” Teagan held the honey up and studied its golden glow. Theo could sense her bear just on the surface, longing to break free and help herself to the honey

“Perfect,” Theo said, and then sighed. “You’ve reminded me I have to start on mine today.”

“What does a person write about Everest?” Teagan asked, doing all the talking.

“That it’s cold,” Theo said lightly.

“Very cold. We’re you scared at all?” Teagan drained her coffee cup while she waited for him to answer.

Not as scared as I am at the thought of losing Fern, he thought. But how do you lose something you don’t already have?

“There are a lot of things in this world that scare me,” he answered, catching Fern looking at him and smiling gently. “But Everest wasn’t one of them. Scary to me is losing people you care about.”

“You are lucky to have people to care about,” Fern said cryptically, then covered her words by adding, “Like your dad. He cares about you a lot.”

“Enough to tell me to pack my bags and go and live my life,” Theo agreed. “I learned a lot from him, he could have encouraged Cathy and me to stay here, but he didn’t. I learned that it’s true, if you love someone you have to set them free.”

“That is so true,” Teagan said. “Not that I really know. I don’t know if I’ve ever loved anyone.”

Fern switched her gaze to Teagan, her eyes narrowing, leaving Theo with a sense he’d missed something. “Never?” Fern asked her friend.

“Nope. At least not in any real way. I always thought I loved my mom, but I think that was because I knew I was supposed to love her. Which is different than voluntarily loving a person.” She shrugged, casting off her melancholy mood. But it was still there, hidden beneath the smile and chatter.

“Well, you can both share my dad with me,” Theo said with a grin. “That man has enough love inside him for us all.”

“Yeah, good old Walt.” Teagan looked at her watch. “Which reminds me, I have to go and do brewery stuff.” She looked at Fern and then at Theo. “I’ll leave you two kids to get to know each other.”

“No!” Fern said sharply, before adding, “I need to get some stuff done too.”

“Are you sure?” Theo asked, disappointed. “I can warm the pie up.”

“No, really, I should go,” Fern said. “Let you get on with your article so that you can visit … the brewery tomorrow.”

“OK.” He nodded. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

“It’s OK,” Fern said quickly. “You need to put everything away.” She pointed at him and he realized he was still dressed in the stupidly snug beekeeping getup.

“Won’t take a moment to strip it off,” Theo said, wrestling his way out of the coveralls.

“Take your time,” Fern said. “I’ll drop by in a day or two, unless you think you can manage. I don’t want to interfere.”

“Interfere away,” Theo said, and Teagan smothered a snigger. “I mean, you are welcome anytime. I think Walt will rest easier knowing someone is keeping an eye on me.”

“A couple of days, then…” Fern turned and walked away, leaving Teagan standing before him with her eyebrows raised.

“Did I miss something?” Teagan asked.

“If you did, then so did I,” Theo said.

“Let me go talk to her while you put all this stuff away.” Teagan scooped up the big jar that contained the honey Theo had collected. “Thanks for this.”

“Do I get paid?” Theo asked pointedly. “Or should I say, does my dad get paid?” He momentarily forgot his concern over Fern. He had to protect his dad. Despite what everyone else thought of him, Theo was not sure he trusted Carter Eden, movie star.

“Sure. Walt has a contract with the brewery. Carter pays him a salary.” Her expression cleared and her eyes widened. “Oh, don’t worry, Carter doesn’t take advantage of Walt. In fact, I shouldn’t say it but I think Carter pays Walt handsomely.”

“Handsomely,” Theo repeated, trying to read between the lines. “He overpays him?”

“Guilt money,” Teagan said.

“Guilt money.” Now he was sure he didn’t like Carter Eden.

“No. Carter feels bad, but he did nothing malicious.”

“Poor Carter,” Theo said acidly.

“Play nice, Carter is not the villain here. He’s a good guy,” Teagan warned.

“Really?” Theo asked. “You aren’t all just being taken in by the movie star treatment?”

Teagan burst out laughing. “Oh, goodness, no.” She approached Theo and wagged her finger at him. “Get over it. You, my man, are jealous because he’s been around lately and you haven’t.”

“You might have a point,” Theo conceded.

“OK, I’m going to catch up with Fern, I’ll let you know what I find out.”

“Thanks,” Theo said, stripping the last of the beekeeper’s clothing off. He put it all away neatly in the shed and then shut the door, heading toward the house. He could see Teagan talking to Fern, and he longed to know what they were saying, but he hated putting any more pressure on Fern. He wanted her, more than anything else in the world.

But just like the perfect view in a fragile landscape, if you pushed too hard it was gone, never to be repeated. He had time; he wasn’t going anywhere. Unless Walt wanted the place to himself, of course.

He only hoped that Fern wasn’t planning on going anywhere either.