Page 57 of Bear Creek Father's Day
While Gruff was out by the road, he picked up the mail and noticed a thick envelope from theBureau of Shifter Affairs—Adoption Services. He wanted to open it right then and there, but if this was what they’d been expecting, his mate had to be present. Since it was near closing time, Dustin would most likely be in his office taking care of paperwork. Gruff grabbed his tools and the unneeded sign, left them at his workbench, and made his way to the Red Barn.
Jillian had already gone home for the day, so he waved at the part-timer holding down the cashier station and went directly to the office. The door had been left open a crack, and he found his sweet mate tapping away on the computer, still dressed in his forest green apron and cap. Dustin looked up as Gruff entered and spotted the manilla envelope in his hand right away.
“Is that…”
“Yep. I didn’t want to open it without you.”
Dustin located the cover letter first, skipped the preliminaries, and began reading.
“Congratulations! Your application for adoption has been approved and finalized as of the above date. Please present Form A-176, included with this letter, to Orrin Crosby at the Bear Creek Cub House to finalize the adoption process. As requested, the child’s name is now legally recorded as Zuzu Cunningham, and official state documents are included in this packet.”
Dustin jumped from his chair to hug Gruff, tears spilling from his flushed cheeks.
“She’s ours! We’re parents! When can we bring her home?”
Gruff’s happy purr vibrated between them, and he wiped the tears from Dustin’s face with the pad of his thumb.
“I don’t know, love. Let’s call Orrin and find out.”
Dustin dialed and waited impatiently for Orrin to pick up.
“Hi, Dustin. What can I do for you?”
“We just got the paperwork, and Zuzu is ours now. Can we come and get her tonight?”
Orrin loved this part of the process and growled on the other end of the line.
“Hold on, Dustin. I know you’re excited, but it might be too much of a shock to take her home without a little preparation. Let me talk to her first, and then inform the other children in the morning. I’ll have her ready to go right after breakfast, around seven-thirty. For tonight, I want you and Gruff to read over all the forms and information they sent, and then bring the entire packet with you tomorrow.”
Dustin was disappointed by the delay, but he understood why it was necessary.
“All right, Orrin, but I’m not going to get much sleep tonight. Is there anything else we should do?”
There was, and Orrin gladly shared a tried and true welcome home suggestion.
“Yes. Plan a party for her with cake and gifts, and have someone take group pictures. Be sure to invite all the family you can muster, and make her the center of attention.”
Dustin looked up at Gruff, who growled and nodded.
“We can do that. I better go and start making calls. We have a party to plan!”
Chapter 26
Monday, March 31st
It had been almost a month since Dash’s discussion with DeeDee Tillman about the possibility of offering Knox McCoy a job—ifshe found a suitable housekeeper for him and Aiden. She’d kept her part of the bargain, so Dash drafted his Executive Assistant, Ryder Sinclair, to put together a job description and benefits package that the man simply couldn’t turn down. Now came the difficult part of presenting the offer, which was why Ryder was on his way to the McCoy home north of town.
He’d met Knox and Levi a time or two, though they weren’t much more than acquaintances. Knox was well known as a master craftsman in and around Bear Creek, and for his work at the resort, which had won national acclaim and awards. He also had a reputation for being stubborn, which meant Ryder’s preparation had included both research and a carefully worded presentation.
At the end of a long driveway, he parked his vehicle before a classically beautiful cabin-style house. It was another of Knox’s creations and he noted the extended roofline over the new addition he’d recently finished. Scout and Birdy would love living here, and the surrounding territory would give their bears plenty of room to explore.
He grabbed a cardboard tube containing the plans he intended to show the couple and approached the house. The front door opened before he reached it, and Ryder scented both Knox and Levi briefly before being escorted to the living room. Neither man knew exactly what he was here to discuss—purposely done to give Knox less time to think of reasons to refuse the offer.Instead of beating around the bush, Ryder laid it out in two quick sentences.
“I’m here to offer you a job, and ask that you give it your full consideration. Scarlet Oaks is already in the building phase, and we need a Property Manager.”
While Levi looked perplexed, Knox growled at the man.
“I already have a job and my own territory to care for. Why are you askingme?”
