Chapter Twelve – Michael

Michael woke to the sound of birdsong. The forest was alive with the sound of animals raising their young, and if Michael had his way, he’d be soon raising his own young, too. Okay, so technically they wouldn’t be his own, but who cared?

Jason and Jenny belonged here, along with his beautiful, smart, funny mate, Ruth.

Swinging his legs off the bed, Michael got up and hit the shower. He needed to be alert and awake for the day ahead. His plan was to talk with Fiona, off the record. A little bird, well, a big bear, actually, had told him Fiona usually grabbed a coffee to go from Momma Bear’s Café every morning on her way into the office. No surprise, since the owner, Betsy, made the best coffee this side of Wolf Valley.

Half an hour later, Michael drove his truck into town. Usually, at this time in the morning, he would eat breakfast on the porch, with the birds singing and the wind rustling through the leaves. Yep, his routine had completely evaporated like the morning mist. He was not complaining one bit. Instead, a sense of adventure took him over. Maybe from the thought of a new family to share his life with, or maybe the thought of coming face to face with the infamous dragon shifter, Fiona.

She was a formidable woman, from what he’d been told. However, he wasn’t going to be beaten down by a fire-breathing reptile. Michael wanted Jason and Jenny to be part of his life, almost as much as he wanted Ruth. Nothing could beat the need for a mate. But, the need for those two cubs to be his to raise, and protect, was nearly as strong.

As he sang along to the radio with the window rolled down, Michael figured fate might move in more than one mysterious way. Perhaps he was on to something. If fate could choose your mate, maybe it could choose your kids, too.

Parking his truck in Bear Creek, he ran across the road and into Momma Bear’s, a full five minutes ahead of Fiona’s schedule. If she was sticking to it. Michael put his trust in his lucky bear’s good fortune holding out.

“Hi there, Michael. What brings you in here this early in the morning?” Betsy fetched a cup and placed it down on the counter. “You smell my coffee?”

“Something like that.” He turned to look out of the window. “It’s a beautiful day and I thought I’d make the most of it.”

“By driving into town?” Betsy studied him for a moment. “You haven’t been out all night, have you?”

“No.” Michael sipped his coffee. “Boy, this is good.”

“I know.” Betsy placed a menu on the counter. “Why don’t you order some food to soak up the coffee? You look as if you need fattening up. And I might be persuaded to volunteer for the job.”

“What?” Michael shook his head. “I have a mate.”

“Pity.” Betsy arched her eyebrow at him and then laughed. “I’m just kidding you, Michael. I heard you hooked up with the new teacher in town. Congratulations.”

“Thanks, Betsy.” He smiled through his confusion. It surely was too early in the morning.

“Hi there, Fiona. The usual?” Betsy’s voice called out as she moved away.

“Yes, please.” Fiona came to stand next to Michael while she waited for Betsy to pour her coffee.

“Fiona?” Michael asked.

She frowned. “That depends on who is asking, and why.” Her voice was formal, she wasn’t joking.

“I’m Michael. Michael Finnian.” He held out his hand, and she looked at it, but didn’t shake it.

“Am I supposed to know you?” she asked.

“No.” He shook his head. There was something about Fiona that made him nervous. Perhaps it was her fire-breathing capabilities, which simmered below the surface of her cool exterior.

“What do you want, Michael?” Fiona asked warily.

“I wanted a quick talk with you. Privately.” He smiled, trying to put her at ease—as if he wasn’t the one at unease.

“About what?” Fiona asked as Betsy gave her a coffee to-go. “Thanks.” Fiona paid for her coffee. “You have one minute before I leave. Make it snappy.” Did smoke come out of her ears? A chuckle from Betsy told him it probably did.

“Dean and Elizabeth are fostering a couple of kids. Jason and Jenny.”

“I know them.” Fiona sipped her coffee, which was piping hot.

“I wondered what it would take to adopt them. For me to adopt them. I’m a friend of Dean’s.”

That got Fiona’s attention. “Oh, that Michael.” She slipped into the seat next to him. “You would have to go through all the usual background checks and home visits.”

“How do I apply? Is there a waiting list?” Michael asked.

“Shifter children can be hard to find adoptive parents for. So you have that in your favor.” Fiona studied him for a moment. “You don’t wear a wedding band. Do you live alone?”

“I do. Right now. I’ve just met my mate. Ruth Bishop, the new schoolteacher.”

Fiona’s eyes lit up as if she’d just spotted dinner. “Excellent! Make an appointment to see me.” She placed a card on the counter in front of him. “I’ll help in any way I can.”

“They are free to be adopted? There’s no way their father will take them back? Only I don’t want to put any of us through unnecessary trauma.”

Fiona shook her head sadly. “No, the father is a lost cause. At least for now. He signed the papers, giving up custody of them both. I’ve seen people affected by grief before, but never to such an extent. Which is why I took the case on. I want Jason and Jenny to have a fresh start, a secure start.”

“I believe Ruth and I can give them that,” Michael assured her.

“I believe you can. Call my office, make an appointment.” Fiona got up and walked from the cafe without a backward glance.

But Michael had gotten all the information he needed. For now.