Page 31 of The Bear's Reluctant Mate

“That was fast,” Marion observed, placing a bowl in front of him.

“I want to start on the bug hotel,” he explained, reaching for the cereal box. “I was thinking we could invite Alfie over to help. He knows a lot about bugs.”

Marion hesitated, the butter knife suspended over her toast. “I think we should do this one ourselves, buddy. We took up a lot of Alfie’s time yesterday.”

Charlie’s face fell, his spoon clattering against the side of his bowl. “But he likes bugs. And he said he wanted to see us again.”

“I know,” Marion said gently, sitting down across from him. “And we will see him on Wednesday at the vineyard, remember?”

Charlie nodded reluctantly, stirring his cereal without enthusiasm.

“I was thinking,” Marion continued, a new idea forming, “if we make the bug hotel ourselves, it could be a surprise for Alfie. To show him how serious we are about the bug garden.”

Charlie’s head snapped up, his expression brightening. “Like a thank-you present?”

“Exactly,” Marion smiled, relieved to see the spark return to his eyes. “We can show him on Wednesday when he picks us up.”

“That’s a good idea,” Charlie agreed, digging into his cereal with renewed vigor. “We could make it really special.”

As they ate, Charlie outlined his plans for the bug hotel. The different sections they would need, the materials they could use, and the ideal placement to attract the most beneficial insects. Marion listened, marveling at how much research he’d done in the short time since their visit to the garden center.

When they finished breakfast, Charlie bolted outside, eager to begin. Marion cleared the table more slowly, washing the dishes and setting them on the rack to dry. Through the kitchen window, she could see Charlie already scouting the yard, examining potential building materials with serious concentration.

She dried her hands on a dish towel and stepped outside, breathing deeply of the mountain air. Moving to Bear Creek had been a risk. She’d uprooted them to start over in a place where they knew no one. But standing here now, watching Charlie explore their small backyard with such enthusiasm, she knew it had been the right choice.

“I found some pine cones!” Charlie called, holding up his treasures. “And there are lots of twigs under the big tree.”

“Perfect,” Marion said, joining him. “I think there’s an old terracotta pot in the shed that would make a good base.”

They spent the morning gathering materials, a selection of hollow stems, dried leaves, strips of bark, and smooth stones. Charlie organized everything into piles, explaining which bugswould prefer which materials with a confidence that filled Marion with relief.

They had undoubtedly turned a corner, and much sooner than she had expected.

The old pot, once cleaned of cobwebs and dust, became the foundation of their creation. Layer by layer, they built the bug hotel, tucking materials into different sections with careful precision.

As they worked, the scent of lavender wafted over from the bush, triggering a cascade of memories. Marion remembered the small sachets she’d sewn years ago, filled with dried lavender to help Charlie sleep when nightmares plagued him.

“What are you thinking about?” Charlie asked, noticing her distraction.

“Just remembering,” Marion said, reaching for the lavender bush and snipping a few stems. “I used to make lavender sachets to help you sleep when you were smaller.”

“The little pillows that smelled nice?” Charlie’s brow furrowed with the effort of recollection.

“That’s right,” Marion nodded, twisting a piece of twine around the lavender stems to hang them for drying. “I thought I might make some again. Or maybe some handmade soaps.”

“With lavender?” Charlie asked, placing a pine cone carefully in the upper section of their bug hotel.

“Yes. And other flowers,” Marion said, the idea taking shape in her mind. “I might start making things to sell. There are plenty of farmer’s markets I could sell them at.”

“Like a business?” Charlie looked interested.

“A small one,” Marion clarified. “Something I could do from home, so I could still be here for you after school.”

Charlie nodded solemnly. “That would be good.”

They finished the bug hotel as the sun climbed higher in the sky and stood back to admire their creation. It was rustic but charming, with different sections carefully designed to attract various beneficial insects.

“It looks great,” Marion said, genuinely impressed. “I think Alfie will love it.”

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