Chapter Nineteen – Suzie

“Do you want to go back to the hospital?” Louise asked. She was seated in the back of Suzie’s car with Storm in the car seat next to her.

“No, we are going to get you and Storm settled in. I called Dean, and he is expecting us.” Suzie glanced at the rearview mirror and caught Louise’s nervous expression. “I hear Dean is one of a kind.”

“I’m not so sure this is the right thing for me and Storm,” Louise admitted.

“I know it must seems strange, but why not meet him and see what you think? From what I’ve heard he is a good man and he’s a good listener.” Suzie looked at Louise once more. “He is a trained therapist. He might be able to help you through this.”

“I don’t need a shrink,” Louise said hotly.

“No, but you might need someone to talk to who isn’t there to judge you.” Suzie steered the car through the streets of Bear Creek. Most had been plowed and salted, making the journey easier than she thought. “You have been through an ordeal, Louise. Don’t bottle it up inside you.”

“I won’t.” She looked down at Storm. “Do you think Storm will remember that I left her at the hospital?”

“No, and if you don’t want to, you never have to tell her. This is a fresh start, a good start for you both. You have a chance to build a life here, Louise.” Suzie indicated to turn left along a narrow road that was still covered in snow. Crawling along, she was thankful when she saw the name of the house where Dean lived.

“Sunnyside,” Louise said as she read it. “Is that him?”

There was a man clearing the snow off the driveway. He looked middle aged, but it was hard to tell since he was dressed in warm clothing. “Let’s go and find out.”

Suzie pulled up onto the driveway, and got out. “Dean?”

“Ms. McLeish,” Dean said with a smile as he pushed his hood down. He was younger than she thought, maybe mid to late forties. “Good to meet you.”

“And you.” Suzie held out her hand to him and Dean enveloped it in his own strong hand.

“And this must be Louise.” Dean walked toward the car, and held the door open as Louise struggled out. “And baby Storm.”

“Hi,” Louise said awkwardly.

“Good to meet you both. Come on in, I made brownies.” He winked at Suzie. “No one can resist them.”

“That sounds great,” Suzie said, glancing at Louise, who was trying to get Storm out of the car.

“Here, I can help with that,” Dean said.

“No, I can do it,” Louise insisted, angling her body so she was between Dean and the car.

“I’m here to help you both, Louise,” Dean said. “Not to take over.”

Louise straightened up and gave Dean hard stare. “I need to look after my daughter.”

Dean set his hand on her arm. “It’s not a weakness to accept help.”

Louise’s shoulders slumped forward. “I can do it.” She leaned forward into the car, and Dean took a step back, and let Louise get on with it. “See, I did it,” Louise said triumphantly.

Louise stood up, with the car seat in her hands. “You did,” Dean said. “Perhaps I can carry your bags in?”

Louise nodded. “Thank you.”

“Come on, coffee and brownies. I know I earned mine clearing this driveway.” Dean led the way, and Louise followed behind.

“So?” Suzie asked, fell in step with Louise. “What do you think? First impressions.”

“I guess he’s OK,” Louise admitted. “Not as old as I thought. And he makes brownies.”

Suzie took out her card and tucked it in Louise’s pocket. “That has my number on it. You call anytime, day or night. Even if you just need someone to talk to.”

“Thanks.” Louise stopped, and turned to Suzie. “I’m not used to people caring. So I’m not good at accepting help.”

“I understand. But you can learn to get used to it. Give people a chance, give Dean a chance. You won’t regret it.”

“I’ll try,” Louise said.

“That’s all anyone can ask of you,” Suzie said.

Dean welcomed them into his house, where he made fresh coffee and offered them warm brownies, made from his own special recipe. “These are so good,” Louise said, eating her third one.

“I only make them when I have company,” Dean admitted. “Cooking for one is no fun.”

“You sound like Kit,” Suzie said, draining her cup.

“Young Dr. Malvern? I have met him a few times. Good man,” Dean said.

“Suzie would know,” Louise said, looking happy and relaxed. She stood with Storm cradled in one arm, but she had allowed Dean to hold her while she drank her coffee. For Suzie it was an encouraging sign. Louise and Dean would get along great. Dean was a patient and caring man, and Louise simply needed someone to trust, someone to give her stability.

“You and the doctor are mates?” Dean asked, fixing his attention on Suzie.

“Yes, we are. Although we have only just met,” Suzie said, blushing.

“Well, I wish you all the best luck in the world. Not that you need it now that you are together,” Dean said wistfully.

“Have you never married?” Louise asked.

“I’ve never met the right woman,” Dean told her.

“You are a shifter too?” Louise asked.

“A big old bear,” Dean laughed. “When your little one is old enough, I have a reputation for giving the best bear rides.”

“She’d like that, wouldn’t you, Storm.” Louise stroked her cheek. “I just want her to be happy.”

“That’s what I want for all the young people that come through my door,” Dean said. Clapping his hands together, he said gruffly, “Let’s get you settled in your room.”

“I am going to go, if that’s OK,” Suzie said, picking up her purse and her briefcase. The papers were all signed, and Louise was officially in Dean’s care.

“Of course, you want to check on Fiona,” Louise said.

“Fiona, is she having that baby at last?” Dean asked.

“She is, but that isn’t the reason I have to go. A young girl in the hospital has a birthday today and her parents are stuck in Cougar Ridge. I promised to get her a cake and a gift.”

“You go,” Dean said. “Louise and I will be just fine. We can get you settled and then tomorrow we can go into Bear Creek and get anything you need for Storm.”

“You don’t have to…” Louise started.

“You are traveling mighty light,” Dean said, nodding at the bags he’d carried in. “You need what you need. And we are going to get it.”

“Don’t worry, Louise, there is some grant money reserved for situations like these,” Suzie said.

“OK, then,” Louise agreed. “I just don’t want to be a charity case.”

Dean laughed. “We all need charity sometimes. The good thing is you have the rest of your life to pay it forward.”

“Pay it forward?” Louise asked.

“Yes, I help you, but instead of you helping me back, since I’m old and don’t need a darn thing, you pay it forward to someone who does need help. And they pay it forward, and so on.” He smiled at Louise, reassuringly. “Now, that doesn’t sound like charity, does it?”

“No. It doesn’t.”

Suzie left Louise and Storm with Dean, knowing they were in the best possible hands. Dean was one of the good guys, and part of Suzie wished she’d been lucky enough to have a male role model like him when she was growing up. But she would not trade her mom for anything.

“Speaking of moms,” Suzie said as she backed her car out of Dean’s driveway. She tried Kit’s cell number, but got his voicemail. She’d have to be patient and wait until she got to the hospital for news on Fiona.

The drive into town was less treacherous than Suzie had imagined. But the temperatures would drop again overnight, and the melted snow would freeze. Suzie planned to get back to Bear Bluff Hospital as soon as she could. Leaving her car at the hospital for one more night might be the most sensible idea. However, tomorrow, she planned to go and see her mom, even if she had to catch a ride on a dragon.

Parking on the side of the road, Suzie got out of the car and made her way, very carefully through the snow, to the cake shop. It was late afternoon, but there might be a fancy cake with butter frosting she could buy for Neave. It must stink to have to spend your thirteenth birthday away from your family.

“Hello,” Suzie said as she went inside.

“Hello, it’s been a quiet day, so it’s nice to have a customer,” the woman behind the counter greeted her.

“I need a special birthday cake, do you have something suitable?” Suzie asked, looking at the cakes on display.

“Who is it for, and I’ll let you know what I have.” The cake lady pointed out toward the back room. “I have a few more cakes out back.”

“I need a birthday cake for a thirteen-year-old girl. Something pretty with frosting. Do you have anything like that?” Suzie asked hopefully.

“I don’t,” she answered. “Wait, before you look all glum. What I do have is some undecorated sponge cakes that I can cover in frosting.”

“Could you?” Suzie asked hopefully.

“As long as you don’t need anything too intricate, I can have something ready in half an hour.”

“I have a couple of gifts to buy. I’ll be back in half an hour. Thank you so much, and I’ll leave the design up to you. Whatever you can manage will be perfect.” Suzie left the shop, grateful to have crossed one of her tasks off her list.

Now all she had to do was find a gift or two. Suzie stopped and looked around, trying to remember which shops were where. She came to Bear Creek often enough, but not usually to shop. Which way to go? The sidewalk was slippery, and she didn’t want to walk too far.

Turning right, Suzie made her way past a general store, and a hardware store, before she reached a gift shop. It catered to tourists, with lots of bear key rings and plush toys, along with maps of the mountain. It would have to do.

Pushing open the door, she went inside. There was no one around, and so she began to look through the shelves of gadgets and toys. A particularly cute plush bear caught her eye, he was soft and squishy with big eyes. Kit’s advice came back to her, about giving baby Storm a gift she could keep. This would be perfect. As she picked it off the shelf, a green fluffy dragon dropped onto the floor. Suzie picked it up. Neave was a little old for this kind of toy, but she might like it.

Taking a quick look around the store, she also picked out a mood ring, and a keyring. Then she took her purchases to the counter. There was still no one around, so she leaned over the counter and called, “Hello. Is there anyone there?”

A banging noise from above the store told Suzie she had been heard. Footsteps came closer as someone came down the stairs. “Hello, sorry, I was watching TV, the one down here had broken, and it’s a long day out of season.” The owner of the shop was an old man with spectacles, which he shoved back up his nose as he spoke.

“I don’t blame you, the weather has been bad. Could I have these, please?” Suzie placed the gifts on the counter.

“Sure, do you want them gift wrapped?”

“Yes, please.” Suzie waited patiently while the gifts were wrapped, and then the store owner put them in a pretty paper bag. Pleased with herself, she said goodbye and left the store, going back to her car and putting the packages inside, before she went to collect the cake.

“This is the best I could do in such short time,” the cake lady said.

Suzie looked at the fabulous creation before her, there were flowers and butterflies all over it. “That is amazing. Thank you.”

“My pleasure, I love creating cakes like this. I hope she likes it.”

“I am sure she will,” Suzie said, picking up the cake, which had been carefully placed in a box.

“Here, I’ll get the door for you.”

“Thanks again,” Suzie said and walked gingerly along the sidewalk to her car. Placing the box on the back seat, she shut the door and then went around to the driver’s side and climbed in. Quickly putting on her seat belt, Suzie started the engine, glad when the heater warmed up the car interior. It was late afternoon, the sun was beginning to set, and the roads would soon freeze.

Checking her phone, she was disappointed not to have an update from Kit other than a—Are you OK xox.

Yes. On my way back to the hospital now. Any news on Fiona? xox

Suzie put her phone down and then carefully maneuvered her car onto the street and took the road heading out of Bear Creek. A text message from Kit told her there was no news from anyone about Fiona and the baby.

“Let’s hope her labor doesn’t last as long as the pregnancy,” Suzie said out loud as she followed the road to Bear Bluff.

The journey back was uneventful, given the conditions. Suzie parked her car and got out. She was going to have to be very careful carrying the cake and gifts across to the hospital. The ground underfoot was starting to freeze, making the parking lot surface like a skating rink.

Maybe that would be Kit’s idea for entertaining his patients tomorrow. Suzie smiled to herself as she recalled the excited faces of the children as they threw snowballs at each other.

Reaching the hospital, she backed into the doors, the gifts and cake secure in her hands. So far so good. Suzie headed to the reception desk to say hello to Cindy and ask where she could find Kit.

“Hello, how did it go?” Cindy asked when she saw Suzie.

“Good, Louise and her daughter should settle in quickly.” Suzie set the cake box down. “Dean seems to be a good guy.”

“Oh, he is the best. A number of kids he’s had in his care were ones that other foster parents wouldn’t even consider. The man likes a challenge, that is for sure.” Cindy smiled. “How is your Dr. Malvern?”

“He’s good, thanks.” Suzie patted the cake box. “This is for one of his patients. Do you know where he is?”

Cindy checked on her computer. “He is on the ward still. Do you know the way?”

“I do, thanks.” Suzie lifted the cake box into her arms and then asked, “I don’t suppose you have any news on Fiona?”

Cindy shook her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t give out that information. Hospital policy, you understand.”

“Of course,” Suzie said.

“But I’m sure Dr. Malvern will know more, if there is anything to know.”

“Thank you, Cindy, I’ll go and find him.” Suzie headed for the elevator.

As she got in, she hoped that there would be good news about Fiona. Suzie could not wait to see Fiona’s baby, and see the happy faces of her family. Just as one day, she would be surrounded by happy faces when she and Kit had a child of their own.