Page 60 of Bear Creek Father's Day
“He’s on his way now, love, so I guess we can stop worrying. On the other hand, I’m afraid we’re going to need all our energy to keep up with the grandkids!”
Chapter 27
Monday, April 28th
For the first time in its history, the Cub House lacked a single orphan.
Two weeks ago, the McCoys adoption of Scout and Birdy had been approved and the cubs were now settled in their new place north of town. That left only Griffin and Fort, whose paperwork came through over the weekend, and they went to their forever home with Dash and Aiden. Even Tasha was temporarily absent, having been sent to the BSA headquarters for two weeks of specialized training. Only Orrin remained, tasked with a thorough organization and scrub-down of the house before the next batch of orphans arrived.
Normally, more cubs would have been immediately sent to replace those who’d found homes, but Orrin had convinced the Bureau of Shifter Affairs to wait. He’d argued that it would be too disruptive, and possibly traumatic, for new arrivals to witness a mass exodus of cubs from the house. Coupled with requested time off for mating week, which they were legally required to grant, the bureaucrats agreed to hold off sending any new cubs until the second week of May.
Thus, Kip and Rayn found themselves rattling around in an unnaturally quiet and peaceful house while their papa did his work. Naturally, they missed having playmates around them all the time, but Orrin and Zak kept them busy. Rayn found it easier to adjust than Kip, since she’d already lived with a family and followed a similar routine. Now, she got to shine as papa’s little helper whenever her brother asked what was next.
At present, they were busy coloring at the dining room table while Orrin reorganized the kitchen cupboards. They could hear him banging around in there, humming happily to himself as they finished their masterpieces. They would become the latest addition to the art gallery at home—also referred to as the refrigerator door. All done, Kip held up his picture for Rayn to see and made an inquiry.
“You like?”
Rayn clapped her hands.
“Yes. It’s pretty!”
“What do now?”
Rayn thought for a moment, unsure what her daddy had in mind.
“Let’s go see.”
They scurried into the kitchen, only to find Orrin dancing as he worked. They joined him, Kip jumping and Rayn swaying to an unknown beat. Soon, the giggles started, and Orrin swept them up for hugs and kisses. Rayn finally voiced the question they’d come to the kitchen to ask in the first place.
“What next, Papa?”
“Have you finished coloring your pictures?”
They both nodded, and Orrin looked up at the clock.
“Put away the crayons and we’ll go home for lunch. You’ll never guess what we’re having for dessert.”
They tried to wheedle the surprise out of him, but to no avail, and minutes later, they were all back at home. Orrin sent them to wash hands while he got lunch started—tuna on toast. It wasa cheap but tasty meal that his parents had served frequently when he was a child, trying to stretch the grocery budget as far as it could go. First came the roux, made with whole wheat flour, butter, and spices, then the milk to make a delicious white sauce, and finally the tuna (or chicken if he had it). Vegetables added extra nutrition, but Orrin decided to skip them this time.
Meanwhile, the toaster had been popping up browned slices of multigrain bread until he had enough for all of them. Orrin ripped the toast into bite-sized pieces, poured the hot, meaty sauce on top, and served it up like a waiter at a fine restaurant. The kids had given it the side-eye the first time he made it, but now it was a favorite, both here and at the Cub House. Like they’d been taught, both children cleaned their plates before asking for dessert.
When Orrin pulled aDeliciousbox from the cupboard, both kids cheered—knowing that anything in it simplyhadto be good. He’d discovered the brand new item the other day while picking up Bear Brownies and Snax for him and Kip. These were human treats called Chewsies—two layered bars with a dark chocolate brownie layer on the bottom and a nut butter ganache on top. They came in six flavors: peanut, almond, pistachio, cashew, pecan, and black walnut.
Orrin’s bear went crazy over the scent, growling while he plated them up for the kids. He gave them a bit of each flavor, though Rayn’s pieces were smaller to keep her calorie intake at the right level. Shifters could overeat with no noticeable difference, but Rayn was limited to standard human portions—something he’d had to figure out when she’d arrived at the Cub House.
He’d explained it to her and the other cubs to prevent questions or teasing about the different sized meals she received. The sweet girl didn’t need to be reminded every time she ate that shewasn’t like everyone else. Having a quasi-shifter parent at the table enabled her to relax and enjoy her meals, as it should be, and Orrin was extra careful when Zak wasn’t present. He handed them each a sampler plate and topped off their drinks.
“These are called Chewsies. Each one has a different nut flavor, and I got to try them at the shop.”
Orrin and Kip shoved them in one after another, unable to savor the flavor when they smelled and tasted so good. Rayn was more restrained, though she seemed to enjoy them all just as much as they had. A thought came to Orrin, and he shared it with Kip.
“Wouldn’t these be good with acorns? My bear sure likes the idea.”
Kip’s wide-eyed nod and growls answered for him as he continued chewing. When there wasn’t a crumb left on anyone’s plate, Orrin asked Rayn which one was her favorite.
“Umm… black walnut!”
Kip wasn’t able to choose just one.
