Chapter Twelve – Henry
“This is the best day ever,” Lewis announced as they got out of Henry’s truck at the wildlife center a full two hours before Samantha was due to meet Mabel.
It is, his bear said, happy that Samantha had accepted Henry’s invitation to join them and have some time alone with Mabel. She could focus on discussing her job and plans for fundraising without the added stress of watching over the children.
I thought Samantha might protest, Henry admitted. But she seemed keen on the idea.
Hopefully, because she enjoys spending time with you and can sense the mating bond, rather than because you make an excellent babysitter, his bear said.
I’m hoping it’s a little of both since it’s important for Samantha to trust us with the children, Henry said.
Us, his bear snorted. She does not know about me. And that is something that needs rectifying, soon.
When it’s time, Henry said.
And when will that time be? His bear was eager to meet their mate, to feel her fingers in his thick fur. To rub his massive head against her and feel the connection they shared for himself.
“Shall we go meet the animals?” Samantha said as they headed for the entrance to the sanctuary.
“Do they have bears here?” Lewis asked.
“No,” Henry answered.
His bear chuckled to himself. They do, just not the bears Lewis is thinking of.
“Henry’s right. There are no bears. They don’t have large predators here,” Samantha explained, ruffling Lewis’s hair affectionately. “But there are plenty of other exciting creatures to see.”
Lewis’s face fell for a moment, but his enthusiasm quickly returned as he spotted a herd of deer grazing. “Okay! What about those? They are funny-looking deer.” Lewis pointed excitedly at the deer in an enclosure close to the entrance, his disappointment over the lack of bears already forgotten.
Henry smiled, watching as Lewis’s eyes widened with wonder. “Those are mule deer. See how their ears are bigger than a regular deer’s? That’s why they’re called mule deer,” Henry explained, crouching down next to Lewis to get on his eye level.
“You mean like a donkey?” Lewis asked, his brow furrowing in concentration as he tried to make the connection.
Henry chuckled. “Exactly like a donkey. Good thinking, buddy.”
“Wow, they’re so cool!” Lewis exclaimed, his eyes darting between the graceful animals. “Can we get closer?”
“Once we are inside the sanctuary.” Samantha held out her hand and Lewis took it. “What animals do you want to see, Tilly?”
“Otters,” Tilly said. “Or a fox, like Captain in The Secret Garden .” She fell into step next to Henry. “What about you, Henry?”
“I like all the animals,” Henry replied. He’d never really thought about a favorite.
Because I am your favorite, his bear said.
“I like that they live here in their natural habitats,” Henry continued.
“That’s what makes this sanctuary so special,” Tilly agreed. “The animals have plenty of space to roam and live as they would in the wild.”
They entered the wildlife sanctuary, like any other paying visitors. Samantha insisted she wanted to see the sanctuary as other people saw it, with no special treatment or tours.
As they meandered around the enclosures, looking at the animals, Henry felt a genuine sense of pride. This sanctuary was one of the projects he’d helped fundraise for, along with his fire crew over the last few years as they fought to upgrade and expand the enclosures.
They’d washed cars, held bake sales, and even organized a charity calendar featuring the firefighters. Henry remembered posing shirtless with an axe for the July spread, feeling a bit silly but knowing it was for a good cause. The memory brought a smile to his face.
It might bring more than a smile to Samantha’s face, his bear said.
I don’t think showing her my Mr. July shirtless pose will impress her, Henry replied.
I wasn’t thinking it would impress her, his bear said. I was thinking it might give her a good laugh.
It was for a good cause, Henry said. And she might be impressed with how much money we raised.
Still, maybe show her the calendar after you have won her heart and persuaded her. We are mates for eternity. His bear settled down to snooze as they continued the tour of the sanctuary.
“What is that?” Lewis asked, turning his head as he looked at a small, furry creature scurrying across a fallen log.
Henry followed Lewis’s gaze, a smile tugging at his lips. “That’s a black-footed ferret,” he explained. “They’re quick and agile, and they’re excellent climbers.”
Lewis’s eyes widened with fascination. “Wow! It moves so fast!”
“I’ve seen a picture of them in a wildlife book.” Tilly leaned in, her curiosity piqued. “Are they endangered?”
Henry nodded, impressed by her question. “They were actually once thought to be extinct in the wild,” he explained. “But thanks to conservation efforts like this sanctuary, they’re making a comeback.”
“Is that what you are helping to fundraise for?” Tilly asked her mom.
“Partly,” Samantha said. “My job is to help fundraise for the sanctuary and to help promote sustainable tourism in the area.”
“We love our town and our mountains.” Henry looked toward the tall peaks towering above them. “And while things move forward, we want to preserve what makes this place special.”
Samantha nodded, her eyes following Henry’s gaze to the majestic mountains. “That’s exactly it.”
“And from what Mabel has told everyone, your mom is very good at her job,” Henry said. “And we’re all looking forward to hearing her ideas.”
“It’s a delicate balance,” Samantha said with modesty. “Preserving the natural beauty while also allowing people to experience it. That’s why I was so excited about this job opportunity.”
Samantha’s passion for her work and her appreciation for the land resonated deeply with him. It was another sign that she belonged here, with him and his community.
“Look!” Lewis suddenly exclaimed, pointing toward a small pond. “Are those the otters Tilly wanted to see?”
They all turned to look. Sure enough, a family of river otters was playing in the pond. Their sleek, brown bodies glided effortlessly through the water, diving and resurfacing with playful grace.
Tilly’s face lit up with delight. “Yes! They’re so cute!” She rushed to the viewing area, pressing her hands against the glass barrier separating visitors from the enclosure.
The group moved closer to the otter enclosure, watching as the animals frolicked in the water and on the rocky shore. One particularly adventurous otter was rolling around on its back, using a small stone to crack open a clam on its belly.
“Did you see that?” Samantha asked, her voice filled with wonder.
“It’s using a tool!” Tilly exclaimed, her eyes wide with fascination. “I read about this in a book, but I’ve never seen it in real life before.”
Henry nodded. “That’s right. Otters are incredibly intelligent animals. They’re one of the few species known to use tools in the wild.”
This bear is good with tools, Henry’s bear said dryly.
I don’t think you count since you are not a typical wild bear, Henry answered.
But I bet if Tilly is impressed with the otter, she will be impressed by me, his bear said happily.
I’m sure she will, Henry said. Maybe you should show them your trumpet playing.
That was a one-time thing, and only because Klein dared me, his bear said grumpily.
Didn’t he get it on camera? Henry asked.
Henry’s bear did not answer as he put his head down on his paws and closed his eyes.
Lewis pressed his face against the glass, trying to get a closer look. “Can we get an otter as a pet?” he asked excitedly.
“No,” Samantha said quickly. “They are not pets.”
“Does that mean we can get a puppy or a kitten?” Lewis asked hopefully. “Or a fox. Tilly still hasn’t seen any foxes.”
“We are not getting any pets until we have a house to call our own,” Samantha told her son firmly.
Henry wished they knew his house was their home. At least if he had his way. And if they wanted a pet, he’d be fine with that.
“Ice cream,” Samantha said, expertly drawing attention away from the discussion about pets. “We shall get one, and then I need to go and meet Mabel.”
“Ice cream!” Lewis called out excitedly and ran toward the small cafe near the timber lodge that dominated this section of the sanctuary. The lodge contained a small hospital wing, and animal food stores along with offices.
Tilly followed close behind, her enthusiasm for the sweet treat matching her brother’s. Henry and Samantha walked after them at a more leisurely pace.
“They seem to be having a great time,” Henry remarked, watching the kids with a fond smile.
“They love this kind of thing,” Samantha said. “They’ve always been fascinated by animals and nature. They follow their dad in that respect. He was always telling them about the animals he saw when he was working.”
“It shows,” Henry said, happy Samantha had opened up about her first husband. Even if he could not help feeling a pang of jealousy at each mention of him.
“What flavor ice cream?” Samantha asked as they joined the children.
“Chocolate chip!” Lewis exclaimed without hesitation.
“Strawberry for me, please,” Tilly said, peering into the display.
Henry smiled at their enthusiasm. “I’ll have a rocky road,” he decided, then turned to Samantha. “What about you?”
Samantha hesitated for a moment, her eyes scanning the colorful array of flavors. “I think I’ll try the lavender honey,” she said finally. “It sounds interesting.”
“Lavender honey it is,” Henry said and reached for his wallet.
“It’s my treat,” Samantha insisted. “It’s the least I can do, considering everything you have done for us.”
“Okay, thanks,” Henry said, deciding not to argue even though there was a primal part of him that wanted to be the provider. But if there was one thing his mom had taught him, it was to respect a woman’s independence and choices. So he graciously accepted Samantha’s offer.
As they sat at a small picnic table enjoying their ice cream, a sense of contentment washed over him. This was how he’d always pictured his life with a mate and children. Happy, relaxed, and content together.
It was as if the future he’d always dreamed of was within his reach. He just had to figure out how to put the pieces together.
“It’s nearly two,” Samantha said. “I should go and meet Mabel.”
“Shall we go and play while your mom is in her meeting? There’s a great playground just down the path,” Henry suggested, gesturing toward a play area visible through the trees that had been built to blend in with the sanctuary aesthetics.
Lewis’s eyes lit up. “Can we go to the playground? Please, Mom?”
Samantha nodded. “As long as you do as Henry says and you don’t wander off.”
“I’ll keep a close eye on them,” Henry promised. And if his eyes failed, he had his shifter senses to fall back on. Not that his mate knew that. “You go to your meeting.”
Samantha stood up nervously. “Thanks. I’ll feel better once I have spoken to Mabel about our plans. So far, everything we have discussed has been over Zoom calls or emails.”
“Remember,” Henry began, as he stood next to her. “Mabel chose you. For you.”
Samantha sucked in a nervous breath. “I guess I’m scared that I won’t be able to live up to her expectations,” she confided quietly, so the children wouldn’t hear.
“You will. I promise.” He reached out and wiped a spot of ice cream from her cheek. “And don’t worry about the kids. I have that covered.”
“You’re so good with them,” she said, her voice husky.
“I’m still a kid at heart,” Henry said lightly, wishing he could kiss her and taste the lavender honey ice cream on her lips.
Samantha smiled and leaned forward. Then she placed her hand on his chest and a jolt of electricity surged through him. Her eyes widened, and she kept her hand on his chest for a moment longer before she took a step back, her eyes locked on his face.
“Be good,” she said to the children and then she walked away.
But she would be back. And he would be waiting. For as long as it took for her to realize they were meant to be together.