Page 32 of Her Embarrassed Bear Mate

"Alix?" Her mum knocked again. There was no way she was leaving.

"Just a second!" Alix shouted back as she untangled herself from Veronica. The last thing she wanted was to be interrupted during such a lovely moment but it wasn't like her mum could've known.

In hurried silence, Alix got dressed while cursing her past self for throwing her clothes around the room without much care. While Veronica hid in the bathroom, Alix did one quick sweep through theroom to make sure there was no glaring evidence of her presence.

Her mum knocked again. "Alix? Sweetheart, are you okay in there?"

Alix dashed to the door and pulled it open. "Yes, sorry. Still waking up. What's up?"

The redness in her mum's eyes revealed the outcome already. "We're not fated."

"Oh, Mum." Alix wrapped her arms around her mother, her heart quietly breaking for her. It wasn't the first time she had to console her mother after a relationship gone wrong but it never got easier.

She ushered her mum into the room, past the dangerous bathroom, so they could sit on the bed.

"I'm so sorry, Mum. What did Dirk say?" Alix asked gently.

"He said he still wanted to get married but I could see in his eyes that he was disappointed. Oh, Alix. I don't know what to do."

"Well... if you're not fated, then isn't it over?"

Her mum sniffled. "It's not that simple. This is my chance to give Trixie a stable home and a better life. Dirk is a good man and he's a good dad."

Alix tactfully said nothing about that, especially because one of his disgruntled children was hiding in her bathroom.

"I think I could put up with Dirk settling for me if it'll give Trixie a better life," her mum added, sounding mostly lost in thought. "I want her to have the best life and a stable home is the one thing I've never been able to give you girls. There's so much you lacked as a child, I don't want Trixie to grow up like that too."

"Mum... I didn't lack a single thing growing up. I love our campervan and the home you made for us. You helped me with my homework and held me when I cried and came up with the best cosy nights in. It was a full home even without a dad and I'm sure Trixie feels the same way." Alix took her mum's hand in hers. "You don't need a man to be a better mum. Just pay attention to Trix and be there for her instead of dragging us on holidays with people we don't care about. Trixie doesn't need extravagant holidays and fancy gifts, just her mother's time."

"Do you really mean that?" Alix's mum looked like she was ready to burst into tears once again.

"Yes, I mean it."

They hugged tightly and when Alix let go, her mum looked a bit different. She was still crying but there was a clarity in her eyes that hadn't been there in a while. She looked more like the mum from Alix'schildhood memories and that could only be a good thing.

"I should have another talk with Dirk." Her mum got up from the bed, more determined than when she had come in. "Thank you, Alix."

"Anytime." Alix smiled, basking in the warmth of the moment. She was so relieved and elated, she felt light and happy.

Her mum paused. "I just need to nip to the loo."

"Nooo!" Alix dashed forward but it was too late. Her mum had already walked into the bathroom where she locked eyes with a shocked Veronica.

Shit.

NINETEEN

Veronica

Veronica stirredher coffee while wishing she could be anywhere else that wasn't here at a small breakfast table with Alix and Dianne. This was not how she pictured her morning to go and it was giving her a headache.

"So..." Dianne said, not unkindly. "How long has this been going on?"

Alix let out a high noise. "Technically, only a few weeks. Technically-technically, we met on the night before that first weird family dinner."

"All this time? Alix!" Dianne tutted in a way onlyadults could and shook her head. "I can't believe that. You two were going to be step-sisters."

"Mum! We were never going to be step-sisters, we're too old for that."

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