The Bear’s Chosen Mate (Bear Creek Forever: Thornberg Restaurant #2)

Chapter One – Tessa

“I can see why you like it here.” Tessa paused at the trailhead, her breath catching at the view.

Bear Creek sprawled beneath them, the town’s buildings nestled among the trees like a village from a storybook.

The kind of place a person could find their happy ever after.That was exactly what Tessa wished for her best friend, Rachel.

And maybe for herself.

Rachel came to stand beside her, her cheeks flushed from the steep climb along the trail.

“After the divorce, we needed a fresh start.” Despite the move, there was still a raw sense of loss in her voice over the breakdown of her marriage.

“And when I was offered the job at the restaurant, working shifts that fit around the kids going to school... it was a no-brainer.”

Tessa glanced over at her friend, happy to see that some of the tension had eased from Rachel’s shoulders in the weeks since she’d moved here. The sound of childish laughter drew her attention to where the girls were crouched in the undergrowth, their small hands carefully selecting treasures.

“Look, Tessa!” Seven-year-old Aria held up a pinecone nearly as big as her hand. “This one’s perfect for the fairy queen’s throne!”

“And I found sparkly rocks,” five-year-old Lucy announced, her palm full of ordinary pebbles that somehow did seem to catch the light differently.

“We can build the fairy castle while your mom is at work later,” Tessa called out.

“I can’t thank you enough for offering to look after them while I work the extra shift today,” Rachel said. “I usually can’t work weekends, and the extra money will come in handy.”

“Hey, no problem,” Tessa replied. “Anyway, you know how much I love spending time with the girls. It’s so good to see them so happy again.”

Rachel nodded, then swallowed hard. “They are,” Rachel paused. “After their dad left... it was hard to believe we would ever be happy again.” The admission held no bitterness now, just a quiet acknowledgment of how far they’d come.

“Thanks to you,” Tessa told her friend.

“I don’t know about that…” Rachel shrugged. “Maybe if I’d…”

“No.” Tessa held up her hand. “No maybes. No, what ifs…”

“You’re right. It’s done in the past. Now I just want to focus on us and rebuild our lives.” She tucked her hand through Tessa’s arm. “So, what about you?”

“Me?” Tessa asked as they started back down the trail. The girls skipped ahead but stayed within sight as Tessa and Rachel followed at a more leisurely pace.

“Yes, you,” Rachel said, squeezing Tessa’s arm.

“There’s not much to tell,” Tessa said, stepping carefully over a protruding tree root as she deflected the question. “And how is your job?”

Rachel glanced at Tessa, realizing her friend wasn’t ready to talk.

That’s what Tessa loved about Rachel. They had been friends for long enough that they easily picked up on each other’s moods.

“Oh, the Thornberg family is wonderful. They’re so supportive.

When Aria had a doctor’s appointment a couple of weeks ago, they didn’t hesitate to cover my shift.

” She chuckled. “It seemed fate stepped in there, though. Caleb Thornberg literally ended up engaged to the woman who covered the shift.”

“Fate, huh?” Tessa said, though she’d never believed in fate. Life was what you made it, what you worked for. Nothing was handed to you by some cosmic plan. Her childhood had taught her that much.

“Oh!”

The cry jerked Tessa’s attention back to Rachel, who had suddenly crumpled, her ankle twisting awkwardly on loose gravel. Tessa lunged forward, catching Rachel’s arm before she hit the ground completely.

“I’ve got you,” Tessa said, instinctively shifting her weight to support her friend. “What happened?”

Rachel’s face had gone white, her breath coming in short gasps. “My ankle…I think I…” She tried to put weight on it and sucked in a sharp breath. “Oh, that hurts.”

Tessa eased her to sit on a nearby rock as the girls turned back at their mother’s cry, their small faces pinched with worry.

“Mom?” Aria called, her voice high with concern.

“It’s okay,” Tessa said, keeping her tone calm and matter-of-fact. “Your mom just twisted her ankle. We’re going to take care of it.” She turned to Rachel, whose hands were trembling. “Can I take a look?”

Rachel nodded, and Tessa carefully unlaced the hiking boot, easing it off as gently as possible. Even so, Rachel winced. The ankle was already swelling, a bruise beginning to bloom across the skin.

“We need to get some ice on this,” Tessa said, her brain assessing what needed to be done. “And elevate it. Can you put any weight on it at all?”

Rachel tried again and shook her head, tears springing to her eyes…

not just from pain, Tessa realized. “My shifts,” Rachel whispered, panic edging into her voice.

“I can’t…Tessa, I can’t lose this job. We’re just getting settled, and everyone at the restaurant’s been so good to me, but I’m still new, and. ..”

“Hey,” Tessa squeezed her hand. “One thing at a time. First, let’s get you home and taken care of.” She glanced at the path ahead, calculating the distance. “I’m going to help you down, and then we’ll call the doctor.”

“But my shift...”

“I’ll cover it,” Tessa said simply.

Rachel stared at her. “You’re supposed to be on vacation.”

“It is a vacation. From my normal life.” Tessa shrugged as if it were the most natural solution in the world. “I’m between projects right now, anyway. I can handle a few shifts until you’re back on your feet.”

“But…”

“No buts,” Tessa said firmly. “That’s what friends do. Now, let’s focus on getting you home and comfortable.”

As she helped Rachel stand, supporting her weight while the girls hovered anxiously nearby, Tessa felt the familiarity of it settle into her bones. This was what she was good at: stepping in, solving problems, and being the reliable one. It was a role she knew well.

“Let’s get you to the car,” Tessa said, wrapping an arm around Rachel’s waist. “Girls, can you carry your treasures and stay close? We need to help Mom.”

The descent was slow and painful. Every uneven patch of trail made Rachel wince, her face growing paler with each step. Tessa bore as much of her friend’s weight as she could, while Aria and Lucy trailed behind, their earlier exuberance replaced with worried silence.

“Almost there,” Tessa murmured as the parking area came into view. The mid-morning sun beat down on them, and sweat gathered at the back of her neck, but she kept her movements smooth and steady.

When they finally reached Rachel’s battered SUV, Tessa eased her friend into the passenger seat. “Keys?”

Rachel fumbled in her pocket and handed them over. “I’m sorry about this,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears again.

“Don’t you dare apologize,” Tessa said firmly, closing the door before helping the girls into their booster seats. “I’m just happy I’m here for you, and you weren’t out there alone.”

“Me too,” Rachel replied as she adjusted her position in her seat.

Behind the wheel, Tessa adjusted the seat and mirrors, taking a deep breath.

She hadn’t driven in months—her city apartment made a car unnecessary—but the familiar motions came back easily.

The engine rumbled to life, and she backed out of the space, navigating carefully down the winding road toward town.

“I’m not sure of the way back,” Tessa said. She’d only arrived in town yesterday, and she hadn’t gotten her bearings yet.

“Turn left at the stop sign,” Rachel directed, her voice tight with pain. “And then take a right.”

Rachel’s modest house sat on a quiet street lined with mature trees. Tessa pulled into the driveway and cut the engine.

“Okay, girls,” she said, turning to look at Aria and Lucy. “I need you to be my special helpers. Can you open the doors for us while I help your mom inside?”

They nodded solemnly, unbuckling themselves and climbing out.

Getting Rachel up the three porch steps was a challenge, but they managed. Inside, the house was small but warm, with mismatched furniture that somehow created a cohesive whole.

“Sofa or bed?” Tessa asked.

“Sofa for now,” Rachel said. “Then I can still be with the girls.”

Tessa helped her onto the overstuffed sofa in the living room, then propped her injured ankle on a pillow. “Ice,” she muttered to herself. “And probably some pain relievers.”

“Kitchen.” Rachel pointed. “Ibuprofen’s in the cabinet above the sink. And there should be a bag of frozen peas in the freezer.”

Aria tugged at Tessa’s sleeve. “I can show you,” she offered, her small face serious with responsibility.

“Yes, please.”

The kitchen was compact but functional, much like the rest of the house, but Rachel had already made it feel cozy and inviting. With Aria’s help, Tessa found the medicine and frozen peas, then wrapped the makeshift ice pack in a clean dish towel before returning to Rachel.

“Here,” she said, handing over the pills with a glass of water she’d filled. “This should help with the pain and swelling.” She positioned the ice pack gently on the injured ankle. “Twenty minutes on, twenty off.”

Rachel sighed with relief as the cold numbed the worst of the pain. “Thank you.”

“Now,” Tessa said, straightening up, “who’s hungry?”

Both girls raised their hands immediately, making Rachel laugh despite her discomfort.

“Let me see what I can put together,” Tessa said, heading back to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator, assessing its contents with a practiced eye. Enough for sandwiches, at least, and some cut veggies. Simple, but it would do.

As she assembled lunch, she could hear Aria and Lucy in the living room, their voices soothing as they helped their mother get comfortable, bringing her a blanket and her phone. Tessa smiled to herself, recognizing Rachel’s gentle parenting in their thoughtful actions.

While she buttered bread for the sandwiches, she spotted one of Lucy’s sketchbooks, filled with colorful drawings.

Tessa’s fingers itched for her own sketchbook, to bring the ideas in her head to life on the page.

During her stay, Tessa had planned to sketch and draw while the kids were at school and Rachel was at work.

But those plans could wait. Rachel couldn’t.

Tessa arranged the food on plates and carried them out on a tray. “Lunch is served,” she announced with a little bow that made the girls giggle.

“Tessa,” Rachel said as they settled in to eat, “about the restaurant...”

“You call them while I go and get changed,” Tessa replied firmly. “It’ll be fine. I promise.”

“Does Mom need a doctor?” Aria asked as she ate.

“No,” Rachel said quickly, looking up at Tessa. “It’s just a sprain.”

“Are you sure?” Tessa asked. “I could drive you over to the hospital in Bear Bluff.”

“No, I’ll use the ice…” She gave Tessa a small smile. “If it’s no better after the shift…”

“We shouldn’t put it off if you think it’s broken,” Tessa replied. But she understood why her friend didn’t want a trip to the emergency room. Because that would mean a missed shift and letting down the people who had given her a job and given her a chance at a new life.

Even so, surely they would understand.

One look at Rachel’s face told Tessa there was no point arguing.

“Make the call,” Tessa said gently. “The sooner you let the restaurant know, the better.”

Rachel nodded, her expression tight with worry as she reached for her phone. “You’re right. I just hate doing this.”

“I know,” Tessa squeezed her shoulder. “But I’ll be there. I promise.”

She headed upstairs to the guest bedroom and changed quickly, selecting black slacks and a pale green sweater that her mother had always said brought out the amber flecks in her eyes.

The thought sent a familiar pang through her chest, but she pushed it away.

Six months wasn’t long enough to think of Mom without that hollow ache in her stomach.

When she returned downstairs, Rachel was just ending her call, relief evident in the loosening of her shoulders.

“They were so understanding,” Rachel said, looking up as Tessa entered the room. “Matt asked if I needed anything. But I told him I had you.” She managed a small smile. “You’ll need to ask for Matt when you get there—he’s the kitchen manager. He’ll show you the ropes.”

“Matt,” Tessa repeated, committing the name to memory. “Got it.”

“He’s nice,” Rachel added, adjusting her position on the sofa with a wince. “Everyone there is, really. I feel bad about this, Tess. You’re supposed to be relaxing, working on your art...”

“And I will be,” Tessa assured her. “This is just temporary. Besides, I’ve waited tables before. It’s like riding a bike.” She glanced at the girls, who were hovering nearby, still concerned about their mother. “How about a movie while you finish lunch?”

“Can we watch Snow White?” Lucy asked hopefully.

“Sure,” Rachel said. “Pass me the remote.”

Lucy grabbed the remote and handed it to her mom. “Here.”

“How’s the pain?” Tessa asked as Rachel navigated to the movie.

“Manageable,” Rachel said with a forced smile.

Tessa checked her watch. “I should head out now if I’m going to make it in time for the lunch shift.”“Thanks, Tess,” Rachel said, her tone apologetic.

“Text me if you need anything,” she said as she gathered her purse and her phone. “And I’ll check in when I can.”

Rachel nodded gratefully. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“That’s what friends are for,” Tessa replied with a small smile, the phrase so familiar it felt worn smooth like a river stone.

At the door, Tessa paused, her hand on the knob.

The scene before her made her chest tighten: Rachel nestled under the blanket on the sofa, Aria and Lucy curled against her like bookends, their small faces illuminated by the television’s glow.

They were eating sandwiches from plates balanced on their laps, completely absorbed in the movie.

Lucy’s head rested against her mother’s shoulder, and Rachel’s arm curved protectively around her youngest.

Tessa swallowed hard against the sudden lump in her throat. Her loss felt especially sharp, watching Rachel with her daughters.

“Are you okay?” Rachel called, noticing her hesitation.

Tessa blinked rapidly and forced a smile. “Fine. Just making mental notes of what you might need when I get back.” She waved, keeping her voice light. “Enjoy the movie!”

Outside, she took a deep breath of fresh mountain air, then exhaled slowly. “OK, Matt Thornberg, here I come.”