Chapter 25 #2
While they waited to check out, Aiden shared a few items that were procured elsewhere, such as the Red Barn or at specialty shops in town, as well as their preferred takeout restaurants.
Cora also asked Griffin and Fort what they liked to eat so she could avoid disappointing the boys.
All in all, they appeared to be an easy family to cook for, though she’d have to learn a few new dishes that weren’t part of her repertoire.
Back at the house, they helped her unload and then left for home to do the same.
She was to report for work tomorrow at seven a.m., meeting with Dash to be given the specifics of her duties.
It was past suppertime when Cora finished putting things away to her liking, and she made something simple to eat and then relaxed in the oversized tub before calling it a day.
Having an entire three-bedroom home to herself was more space than she was used to, but it was a much appreciated gift at this transition stage of her life.
Cora looked forward to working for the sweet, generous family, and finding her place in Bear Creek.
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Tuesday, March 25 th
Spring brought several changes to Shady Lane Orchard, and the first one was the end of ice skating.
Gruff had covered the ‘Open For Skating’ sign two weeks ago when the ice started to melt, and today he’d removed it until next winter.
In its place, he put up a ‘change of hours’ notice—back to Monday through Saturday for the Red Barn and its staff.
While they were anticipating a slower pace, Gruff’s days would be filled with machine maintenance and outside chores such as trimming, fertilizing, and expanding the orchard, adding new berry bushes, and preparing the pumpkin patch for planting in May.
Malcom Nesbitt had arrived this morning to check his hives after a long winter and provided Gruff with a quick report.
“Looks like only a few problems this year, Gruff. I treated all the hives for mites, and one colony didn’t make it through the winter.
There are several that need to be split, so you’ll actually end up with more hives this year.
I’ll bring the boxes next week and set them up in the west quarter.
I still need to ask Dustin what kind of honey supply he’ll need, but I have quite a bit reserved for him from last year.
Let me know if you spot any problems as you work around the orchard. ”
While Gruff was out by the road, he picked up the mail and noticed a thick envelope from the Bureau of Shifter Affairs—Adoption Services .
He wanted to open it right then and there, but if this was what they’d been expecting, his mate had to be present.
Since it was near closing time, Dustin would most likely be in his office taking care of paperwork.
Gruff grabbed his tools and the unneeded sign, left them at his workbench, and made his way to the Red Barn.
Jillian had already gone home for the day, so he waved at the part-timer holding down the cashier station and went directly to the office.
The door had been left open a crack, and he found his sweet mate tapping away on the computer, still dressed in his forest green apron and cap.
Dustin looked up as Gruff entered and spotted the manilla envelope in his hand right away.
“Is that…”
“Yep. I didn’t want to open it without you.”
Dustin located the cover letter first, skipped the preliminaries, and began reading.
“Congratulations! Your application for adoption has been approved and finalized as of the above date. Please present Form A-176, included with this letter, to Orrin Crosby at the Bear Creek Cub House to finalize the adoption process. As requested, the child’s name is now legally recorded as Zuzu Cunningham, and official state documents are included in this packet. ”
Dustin jumped from his chair to hug Gruff, tears spilling from his flushed cheeks.
“She’s ours! We’re parents! When can we bring her home?”
Gruff’s happy purr vibrated between them, and he wiped the tears from Dustin’s face with the pad of his thumb.
“I don’t know, love. Let’s call Orrin and find out.”
Dustin dialed and waited impatiently for Orrin to pick up.
“Hi, Dustin. What can I do for you?”
“We just got the paperwork, and Zuzu is ours now. Can we come and get her tonight?”
Orrin loved this part of the process and growled on the other end of the line.
“Hold on, Dustin. I know you’re excited, but it might be too much of a shock to take her home without a little preparation.
Let me talk to her first, and then inform the other children in the morning.
I’ll have her ready to go right after breakfast, around seven-thirty.
For tonight, I want you and Gruff to read over all the forms and information they sent, and then bring the entire packet with you tomorrow. ”
Dustin was disappointed by the delay, but he understood why it was necessary.
“All right, Orrin, but I’m not going to get much sleep tonight. Is there anything else we should do?”
There was, and Orrin gladly shared a tried and true welcome home suggestion.
“Yes. Plan a party for her with cake and gifts, and have someone take group pictures. Be sure to invite all the family you can muster, and make her the center of attention.”
Dustin looked up at Gruff, who growled and nodded.
“We can do that. I better go and start making calls. We have a party to plan!”