Page 26 of Ash

"That's a very sweet motto, Mister- James." She liked the way his smile deepened when she used his name. "I'm beginning to hope that me coming here is part of that."

"Oh, it is!" He turned and offered her his arm. "Come. Let's meet Hetty. I know she'll be excited to meet you."

"Hetty," she repeated the name to herself. The Winters had been right.

Now she could hope that they were right about everything else.

Ash was walking down the street, searching for whatever it was that he was meant to find, but even after stopping in to see some of his parents' friends, he wasn't sure where he was supposed to go, but while he was feeling more and more awkward. Still, he didn't think about going back to the house.

Well, not seriously.

His bear was enjoying himself. Nose up and into the wind, they continued to walk.

Oh! Smell that?

Ash stopped a step later and tipped his own nose into the air.

Fresh bread.

Bread was a luxury he didn't indulge in. He could make simple biscuits, but he didn't have the patience to make bread.

But here he was in the town of Mystic Mountain instead of holed away in his mountain home.

We need bread.

Ash turned his gaze inward and looked at his bear.

You don't eat bread.

His bear's eyes stared back at him with something akin to a blank look.But you do.

Yes?

So, treat yourself. Get some bread.

Ash looked askance at his bear, wondering why the furry creature was pushing him on this.

Furry?

Ash smiled.

You're furry, too. His bear groused. Then, his tone shifted. Softening. Almost cajoling.Remember, human. When you taste something good. I taste something good. When you enjoy the scent of something,Ienjoy the scent of something.

So the bread makes you happy, too.

You happy makes me happy, his bear chuffed and laid his head down to wait.

Fine.

Ash had said the word in his head as if he was giving in to the bear's pushy demand, but in fact, he wanted to taste that bread, too.

Turning, Ash stepped off of the boarded walkway along the side of main street and pushed open the door of the Bakery,Raisin' Cakes.

The name was familiar to him in the way that it featured in some of his memories of time in town with his parents. Theowners Hetty and Betty were friends of his mother's and he knew how much they had enjoyed seeing each other and talking when the opportunity presented itself.

As he stepped inside he realized that he might not have been ready to see these ladies again.

Especially now that his feelings were rising up to the surface along with his bear.

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