Page 59 of Bear Creek Father's Day
Melody’s eyes twinkled as both children made the request.
“Tory pease!”
“Will you, Gramma?”
Andrew chuckled at the obvious ploy, and Melody played along.
“Well now, children, we used to read to your papa all the time when he was little, so I’m sure we still have a few books you might enjoy. Why don’t we go to the living room while Grandpa fetches them for us?”
While the rest settled on the sofa, Zak chose the nearby recliner and pulled Orrin onto his lap. They had just enough time for some light canoodling before Andrew returned, carrying a box of books and what looked suspiciously like a photo album. He set them down on the coffee table, and selected a slim, well-worn volume with a cover that featured a pig holding a plated pancake. Orrin recognized it as coming from one of the series he’d purchased for their home library, though he hadn’t read any of them to the kids yet. The other volumes featured a mouse, moose, cat, dog, and others.
Melody showed it to the children and then began to read. The giggling started soon after, and eventually poor Kip gave himself the hiccups—again. He was still going at it when the story ended, and Rayn asked her grandpa a question.
“Do bears get hiccups?”
Andrew nodded his head.
“Yes, little miss, they do. Even lions and elephants get hiccups on occasion. I’ve heard that tickling works sometimes. Should we try it?”
Kip shrieked as Grandpa came after him with a wiggly index finger and an evil look in his eye. The threat was enough to get the boy laughing again, and low and behold, the hiccups stopped just like that. Andrew’s cocky smile made an appearance.
“Ha! The old man’s still got it. That trick worked on Zachary most of the time, as I recall.”
Melody gave her mate an affectionate pat on the arm and read a few more books, including one about a barnyard full of animals. Andrew did all the sound effects, just as he had for his son years ago, and it brought back a lot of sweet memories. Orrin noticed the change in Zak’s scent, and it revealed far more than his expression. Moments like these were the kind they wanted for Kip and Rayn—laughter, love, joy, belonging, family. Zak hadn’t met Orrin’s folks yet, but since they were a lot like Andrew and Melody, it meant the two of them knew what good parenting looked like.
As Zak suspected, the little ones (and Orrin) were given a photographic tour of his childhood—complete with embarrassing details. There were knee scrapes, new bikes, school events, holidays, and birthdays included in that album, along with images of Zak’s much younger parents. Though Andrew’s blond hair was now sprinkled with gray, some of the teenage photos revealed how much Zak took after his father. Melody’s contribution was limited to his eyes and overall body shape. He’d been a cute kid, a handsome teen, and grew up to be a gorgeous man—in Orrin’s opinion. The Halls were obviously proud of their only child, though nothing was mentioned about the turbulent times when Zak struggled with his quasi-shifter status in a sometimes unforgiving world.
After lunch, they set off to visit Andrew’s workplace, Longwood Gardens. On the way, they drove past the public library where Melody worked, Zak’s former elementary school, and other points of interest. As a long-time employee, Andrew conducted his own tour of the sprawling cultural and botanic gardens—showing his family things that the general public didn’t getto see. Fountains, glass conservatories, treehouses for bird watching, parks, lakes, and gardens of every type awaited them.
To spare their little legs, Grandma and Grandpa carried the kids as they walked from one feature to another while Andrew provided commentary. He’d worked in every corner of the property over the years, planting mulching, trimming, and creating walking paths. As a country bear, he loved working in nature and getting his hands dirty—even at home. When they reached the Meadow Garden with its open fields, wetlands, and woods, Andrew told the kids a story.
“I like to wander around here in bear form during my lunch hour, but one day I got too close to a tour group and scared some little old ladies. My boss wasn’t too happy with me, but every year when they come back, I make an appearance, and they have a good laugh!”
Before leaving, they visited the giftshop, where Grandpa bought each of the kids a plant book and a T-shirt of their choice. By the time they returned to the house, there was enough time to eat a quick supper together, amid more stories about Zak and lots of laughter. After the meal, Zak helped his parents clean up the kitchen while Orrin made sure the kids used the bathroom. Melody took the opportunity to ask a rather personal question.
“Orrin’s scent tells me you haven’t mated yet. Is there a problem, honey?”
Zak wasn’t surprised by the inquiry.
“No, mom, it’s a matter of when we can take time off together. We were hoping for the first week in May, but have to find someone to watch the kids.”
Andrew gave his mate a puzzled look and Melody smacked her son’s meaty shoulder.
“What are we—chopped liver? We’d love to care for them whenever you decide the time is right. Besides, we could use a nice change of scenery, and neither of us has visited Bear Creek.”
Zak’s brows lifted as a plan quickly coalesced in his mind.
“That would be perfect! We’ll put you up at the resort for a week so you can have fun and get to know the kids. The place is fantastic, and you’d have time to check out the surrounding area, too. Let me clear it with Orrin and work out the details. I’ll let you know as soon as I get everything figured out.”
The visit ended as it had begun—except for added kisses, hugs, and promises for more frequent phone calls. As Zak and the kids headed towards the car, Andrew gave Orrin a thorough scenting and a nod of approval.
“You’re good for my boy. We can tell how happy he is, and Kip and Rayn are lucky to have such great dads. I hope we get to see you often.”
Orrin appreciated the kind words and wished that the Halls lived closer.
“Thank you. We had a wonderful time, and it was great to meet both of you. It’s a good thing we have a guestroom, because you’re always welcome.”
With a final wave, the couple went back in the house as Melody wiped away a tear. Andrew wrapped her in his arms without saying anything, allowing his mate to collect her thoughts. This had been a big day for them, having spent the last decade wondering about Zak’s happiness and future. At length, Melody pulled back for a soft kiss.
