Chapter Seven – Michael
“Thanks for your help,” Michael said, his breath fogging in the frigid evening air as he and James secured the massive town square tree onto the flatbed of his truck.
The temperature had plummeted since sunset, turning the world crisp and sharp.
Even through his thick gloves, he could feel the cold biting at his fingertips.
“Anytime,” James replied, cinching down the final strap with a grunt. “There. This beauty’s not going anywhere.”
“I can’t wait to get to town so everyone can see it.” Michael patted the trunk of the spruce affectionately. This particular tree had been planted when his father still ran North Peak Pines. He’d watched it grow from a sapling, and tended it through drought years and ice storms.
Now it would stand proud in the center of Bear Creek, decorated with ornaments that held the town’s collective memories.
“Everyone, huh?” James asked as he jumped down off the back of the truck and landed on the frost-packed ground.
Daniel, Michael’s bear chuckled.
Did you expect him to keep it a secret? Michael asked.
Do you think the whole town knows? his bear asked.
I guess we’ll find out soon enough, Michael said, shivering with a thrill of excitement. He’d waited for this day his whole life, and it had been so much more than he had ever imagined.
“So it is true?” James asked.
“Daniel told you?” Michael asked.
James tilted his head to one side. “Not exactly.”
“Not exactly?” Michael narrowed his eyes at his friend. “What does that mean?”
“It was something Teddy said,” James explained. “And then Daniel gave him this look…”
“Ah,” Michael said.
Teddy picked up on the mating bond, Michael’s bear said.
He might be a child who has not had his first shift yet, but he still has shifter blood in his veins and an innate sense for these things, Michael replied.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep your secret,” James said.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to stay a secret,” Michael admitted. “You know, Daniel and his kids know, my mom and dad know…”
“So, you’d better hurry up and tell your mate,” James said with a grin. “I can’t deny I’m a little jealous. But it could not have happened to a better guy.”
“I just hope you all get to meet your mates,” Michael replied.
“We did all wish on the same star.” James raised his eyes to the sky. “So that gives me hope. Now, let’s get this tree to town before they send out a search party. Which would be all kinds of embarrassing when I am in charge of safety.”
“Yes, we should get a move on. Snow’s coming,” Michael noted, tilting his face to the darkened sky. He could smell it. That clean, electric scent that preceded the first real snowfall of winter. His bear stirred inside him, excited by the changing season.
“Perfect timing,” James said, climbing into the passenger seat as Michael settled behind the wheel. “Nothing says Christmas like fresh snow on pine boughs.”
The truck rumbled to life, headlights cutting through the darkness as it pulled away from North Peak Pines.
Michael drove carefully, mindful of the precious cargo behind them.
The roads were clear for now, but that could change quickly if the snow started to fall.
Salt gleamed in thin lines where James’s crew had already been.
As they approached the outskirts of town, something shifted in Michael’s awareness. A warmth bloomed in his chest, a tingle along his spine that had nothing to do with the truck’s heater.
His bear suddenly perked up, alert and eager. Sarah. She was nearby. The sense of her, the pull of the mate bond was unmistakable even at this distance.
His bear purred with satisfaction.
He wanted to drive straight to her, but instead he took a left turn. They had one more passenger to pick up.
“There he is,” James said as he spotted Christopher on the side of the road.
Michael pulled over and waited for Christopher to climb in beside James. Then he turned the truck around and headed for their destination. The town square.
As much as choosing and felling the tree was a group effort, so was raising the tree.
“Snow’s coming,” Christopher said, rubbing his hands together.
“We were just saying,” James said, glancing at Michael.
Michael tried to keep his eyes on the road and his expression neutral, but there was no way he could hide his joy. And anyway, it would be unfair not to tell Christopher since James and Daniel…
And Teddy and Maisie, and Mom and Dad… his bear said
Christopher turned to look at him, eyebrows raised.
“What’s got into you? You’re grinning like you’ve won the lottery.
” His friend’s eyes widened suddenly. “Wait a minute. I know that look.” He leaned forward and punched Michael lightly on the shoulder.
“You’ve found your mate, haven’t you? Why didn’t you tell me? ”
Michael shrugged, unable to wipe the smile from his face. “It’s new. Very new.”
“Hey, don’t keep it to yourself because you pity us poor bear shifters who are going to be alone at Christmas while you’re all loved up with your mate,” Christopher said, his mock offense belied by the genuine happiness in his eyes.
Michael glanced at his friends, the truck slowing as they approached a red light. “I wish you all could find your mates and feel the same way I do. It’s...” He struggled to find words adequate for the sensation. “It’s like finding a piece of yourself you didn’t know was missing.”
“Maybe all our wishes will come true,” Christopher said dreamily, looking out at the twinkling lights of Bear Creek’s Main Street. “Christmas is the season for miracles, after all.”
The light changed, and Michael guided the truck toward the town square, his senses growing more attuned with every block they drove. She was getting closer…or rather, he was getting closer to her. His bear paced restlessly beneath his skin, eager to see Sarah again.
Finally, they pulled into the square, where a small crowd had already gathered. Lanterns hung from the gazebo, and strings of bulbs haloed the snow-dusted benches. The mayor stood chatting with the small crowd that had gathered to decorate the tree.
And there, just arriving from the opposite direction, was Sarah, with Emmy skipping beside her and Pat following at a more measured pace. Michael’s heart stuttered in his chest.
“Earth to Michael,” James said, waving a hand in front of his face. “We’ve got a tree to unload, remember?”
Michael blinked, dragging his attention back to the task at hand. “Right. Sorry.”
“Your mate’s not going anywhere,” James teased as they climbed out of the truck. “But if you want to impress her, maybe focus on raising the town’s Christmas tree?”
Michael rolled his eyes, but his bear nudged him in agreement. James had a point.
“Let’s do this,” he said, lowering the tailgate.
Between the three of them, they unstrapped the massive spruce and carefully maneuvered it off the truck bed.
Michael positioned himself at the trunk, bearing the brunt of the weight as they carried it to the waiting stand in the center of the square.
A hush fell at the first lift, followed by a ripple of cheers as the crown cleared the crowd.
He was acutely aware of Sarah watching from across the square, a blue scarf wrapped around her neck and a matching hat pulled down over her hair. With a grunt, he hoisted the tree upright, steadying it as James and Christopher secured the base.
“Perfect,” the mayor declared, stepping back to admire their work. “Best tree we’ve had in years.”
He says that every year, Michael’s bear said in amusement.
However, Michael barely heard the praise. Sarah was moving toward them now, Emmy tugging her forward eagerly. Michael held his breath for a moment. Part of him had begun to think meeting his mate had all been a dream, but here she was in the flesh.
“It’s amazing,” Sarah said as they reached the tree, her eyes wide with appreciation. “Even bigger than you described.”
“Michael said it was as big as a house!” Emmy exclaimed, tilting her head back to see the top. “How are you going to get the star on top? I mean, it’s not really done with magic, is it?”
“We’ve got a special ladder,” Michael explained, unable to stop smiling at her enthusiasm. “And lots of helping hands. That’s where the magic comes in. People helping each other.”
“I like that,” Sarah murmured to him.
“It’s magnificent,” Pat announced, patting the trunk as if greeting an old friend. “You boys have outdone yourselves.”
His chest swelled with pride at their appreciation. This was a tree they had raised from seedling to splendor. Just as he would love to help raise Emmy. And maybe someday, a child of their own.
The thought caught him off guard with its certainty, but his bear just rumbled in agreement. Yes. Our family.
“Michael!” Daniel called, approaching with Maisie and Teddy in tow. “Tree looks fantastic!”
The children immediately gravitated toward Emmy, their excited chatter filling the cold night air. Daniel gave Michael a knowing look, his gaze flicking briefly to Sarah before returning with a subtle nod of approval.
Christopher made his way over, wiping his hands on his jeans. “You must be Sarah,” he said, extending his hand. “I’ve heard absolutely nothing about you, which means Michael’s been keeping secrets.”
Sarah laughed, the sound warming Michael from the inside out. “Guilty as charged, I suppose. I’m the thief who stole his afternoon when he delivered our tree and helped decorate it.”
Christopher gave Michael a wide grin and an exaggerated wink. “Time well spent, I’m sure. Michael is an expert on all things Christmas tree.” He tipped his head toward Emmy. “And clearly loves training the next generation.”
Before Michael could respond, a small convoy of vehicles pulled into the square.
The Thornberg family arrived en masse—Hugo and Leanne from the Thornberg Vineyard with crates of mulled wine, Waylan and Mary from the Thornberg Ranch with hay bales for seating, and the Thornberg restaurant crew with steaming trays of food.
“Let the decorating begin!” Mayor Wilson announced, opening a trailer that was used to store the boxes of Christmas ornaments collected over decades.
The square transformed into a hive of activity.
Ladders appeared, lights were untangled, and the scent of mulled wine and hot food filled the air.
Sarah and Emmy joined in enthusiastically, Emmy helping with the placement of lower ornaments while Sarah helped string lights around the middle sections.
Michael worked alongside her, their hands occasionally brushing as they passed decorations back and forth. Each touch sent a pleasant shock through his system, his bear rumbling contentedly at their proximity.
“You really love this, don’t you?” Sarah asked as they worked. “The tree, the town, the traditions.”
Michael nodded, helping her reach a high branch. “There’s nothing like seeing so many people working together,” he said simply. “And I’m grateful to be a part of it.”
Their eyes met in the glow of the Christmas lights, and for a moment, everything else faded away—the cold, the crowd, the noise. There was just Sarah, her warm eyes reflecting the twinkling lights, her smile softening as she looked at him.
His bear sighed happily. Nothing like it indeed.