13. Serena
13
SERENA
S erena's light sweater billowed in the spring breeze as she walked to meet Julie for lunch. Her best friend had texted her early that morning, demanding details about the sanctuary situation. The cobblestone sidewalks of Main Street brought back memories of countless other lunch dates here.
The lunch crowd at The Salty Dog Café spilled out onto the sidewalk patio, their chatter mixing with seagull cries and the distant crash of waves.
Julie waved from their usual table outside. "I ordered your usual turkey club. Now tell me the details. Your texts haven’t been exactly easy to follow these past few days."
"It's really not that exciting," Serena said as she slid into the wrought iron chair. "I've just been helping Logan with the animals and some protective potions for his fence."
"So let me get this straight," Julie said, leaning forward. "You're basically the sanctuary's resident witch-vet now?"
"I wouldn't go that far." Serena adjusted her glasses on her face.
"You made protective potions that you said kept a massive bear shifter from destroying the place last night." Julie's eyes sparkled with amusement. "That's not nothing, Ser."
"The headache/shock potion barely slowed him down." Serena picked up her sandwich. "And the reinforcement spell only worked after I turned half the fence into a flower garden."
"Which I still need pictures of, by the way." Julie grinned. "But seriously, you prevented another attack. That's huge."
The breeze rustled the umbrella above them. Serena watched a paper napkin dance across the patio. "Maybe. I just wish Logan would get some real help with this Silas situation."
"Men." Julie rolled her eyes. "Especially bear shifter men. They think they have to handle everything alone."
"Tell me about it." Serena bit into her sandwich. "It's like talking to a brick wall sometimes," she said in between chewing.
"Just be careful, okay?" Julie's voice softened. "Silas sounds dangerous. I remember when he got arrested - it wasn't pretty."
"I will be." Serena's hand drifted to her potions bag beside her chair. She'd started carrying extra defensive brews, just in case. "Besides, I'm mostly there for the animals."
"Right." Julie dragged out the word. "The animals."
Julie stirred her water with her straw, creating a small whirlpool. "So, how is it? Being around Logan every day?"
"He's still stubborn as a mule. We argued for twenty minutes yesterday about the proper way to administer medicine to the raccoon."
"Some things never change."
"But he has matured," Serena said, surprising herself with how quickly she defended him. "He's actually really great to work with. You should see the sanctuary, Julie. He's got this red-tailed hawk with a broken wing that's healing beautifully. And there's this family of foxes that follow him around like he's their personal chef."
Her sandwich lay forgotten as she continued, "Yesterday, I watched him bottle feed this orphaned bear cub. He was so gentle with it, singing this ridiculous made-up song about honey and salmon. The cub kept trying to climb up his arm while drinking."
Julie's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Sounds like someone's impressed."
"It's just..." Serena waved her hands, trying to capture the right words. "He built this whole place from nothing. Every enclosure is perfectly designed for each species. He works from sunrise to sunset, and still finds time to play with each animal. Did you know he hand-feeds the elderly wolf that can't see well anymore?"
"I didn't."
"And when the owl needs its bandages changed, he wraps it in this special blanket he ordered that keeps it calm. He remembers every animal's quirks and preferences." Serena realized she was rambling and took a sip of water. "It's just nice to see someone so dedicated to animal welfare."
"Sounds like he's grown up quite a bit from the guy who used to think wrestling bears was an acceptable weekend activity."
Serena laughed, remembering those days. "Oh, he still does that sometimes. But now it's to help rehabilitate injured bears. He's channeled all that energy into something meaningful."
Julie's eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned across the table. "So, speaking of Logan being all grown up and responsible now..."
"Don't." Serena recognized that tone. It was the same one Julie had used in high school before setting her up on blind dates.
"What? I'm just saying, you two seem to be getting along really well."
"We're working together. That's all." Serena busied herself with reorganizing her sandwich, pushing a wayward piece of lettuce back between the bread slices.
"Uh-huh. And that's why you just spent ten minutes gushing about how amazing he is with animals?"
Heat rose up Serena's neck. "I was not gushing. I was making professional observations about his sanctuary management skills."
"Professional observations about his gentle hands and singing voice?"
"That was relevant context!" The ice in Serena's glass clinked as she took a hasty sip.
"Look," Julie said, her tone softening. "If you're not interested in him that way anymore, that's totally fine. But if you are..." She paused, raising an eyebrow. "Maybe it's worth exploring?"
Serena's stomach did a small flip at the suggestion. The truth was, working with Logan these past few days had awakened something she thought long buried. The way his eyes sparkled when he smiled at her successful potions, how his hands moved so confidently yet gently with the animals, even the familiar scent of pine and earth that always seemed to surround him...
"I can't think about that right now," Serena said, pushing those thoughts aside. "There's too much going on with Silas and the sanctuary."
"Since when has life ever given us perfect timing?" Julie grinned. "Besides, you're practically glowing when you talk about him."
"I am not!" Serena protested, though she could feel her cheeks warming.
Serena traced the condensation on her water glass, watching the droplets merge and race down the side. "I just don't trust my judgment anymore, Julie. I mean, look at my track record. I thought Richard and I would last forever, and that crashed and burned spectacularly."
"Richard was a jerk who didn't appreciate you," Julie said, waving her fork dismissively. "That's on him, not your judgment."
"And Logan and I already failed once." The words caught in Serena's throat. "What if we try again and it's worse? What if I'm just... broken when it comes to relationships?"
"Sweetie." Julie reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "The only thing broken is your confidence. The Serena I know would never let one failed marriage stop her from living her life."
Serena fixed her glasses, buying time to collect her thoughts. "It's not just the marriage. When Logan and I were together before, we were so young, so sure of everything. Now..." She gestured vaguely at herself. "I can barely decide what to have for breakfast without second-guessing it."
"So start small," Julie suggested, her eyes twinkling. "Maybe don't jump straight to planning your wedding. Just... see where things go?"
"Julie!" Serena's cheeks burned. "Nobody said anything about weddings."
"The point is," Julie continued, grinning, "you're allowed to be happy. And from what I've seen, working at that sanctuary makes you happy. Logan makes you happy."
The truth of those words settled in Serena's chest. She thought about how great it felt working alongside Logan, the way they'd fallen right back into their old rhythm. How his smile still made her stomach flip, even after all this time.
"Besides," Julie added, "the Serena who turned Logan's fence into a musical flower garden sounds pretty fun to me."
Serena couldn't help but laugh. "That was an accident!"
"But you fixed it. Just like I know you'll figure this out too." Julie's voice softened. "Don't let fear of the past keep you from something that could be pretty amazing in the present."
Serena traced the rim of her water glass. "You're right. I need to stop letting fear run my life."
"That's my girl." Julie beamed.
Serena's phone buzzed. She glanced at the message from Logan: 'Heading your way now. Need your help with another injured owl.'
"And speaking of your ruggedly handsome bear shifter..." Julie wiggled her eyebrows.
"He's not my anything." Serena gathered her potions bag, fighting a smile. "He just needs help with an owl."
"Sure, sure. Go save woodland creatures with your not-anything."
They hugged goodbye and Serena started her walk home. Her mind soon drifted to Logan. The spring breeze carried the scent of blooming dogwood trees, reminding her of those walks they used to take in the woods together.
As she rounded the corner onto Maple Street, her heart skipped a little. Logan's blue pickup was parked in front of her house, and there he was, leaning against the driver's side door. His dark hair ruffled in the wind, and his worn leather jacket stretched across his broad shoulders as he crossed his arms. He hadn't noticed her yet, his attention focused on a cardinal hopping along her fence.
Serena slowed her pace, taking in the sight. The afternoon sun caught the gold flecks in his eyes, and that familiar warmth spread through her chest. He had a smudge of dirt on his jaw, probably from working with the animals, and his boots were muddy from the morning's rain.
Julie's words echoed in her mind: 'Don't let fear of the past keep you from something that could be pretty amazing in the present.'
Looking at Logan now, bathed in spring sunlight and unconsciously humming what she recognized as his ridiculous honey-and-salmon bear cub song, Serena felt something shift inside her. That wall she'd built around her heart developed a tiny crack, letting in a ray of possibility.
She touched her messy bun self-consciously, wishing she'd worn her hair down today. Then she caught herself and smiled. The old Logan had seen her covered in mud after falling into a creek, wearing his oversized flannel shirt, and sporting a spectacular case of poison ivy. A messy bun was hardly going to scare him off.