Page 33 of Wrong Turn, Right Bear
I was torn between getting my family to shore and cuddling my mate and son. I chose cuddles because I could get us home later.
“You did it.” I nuzzled Theo while placing a protective hand on our son. “That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Permission to board.” Chuck’s voice boomed across the open water. “We’ll take you back.”
Theo nodded and my friend and Romey arrived. After helping my mate onto Chuck’s boat we sped toward shore as Romey rowed the punt.
At home we bathed our son and put him in his first onesie. Neither of us wanted to leave his side, so we wheeled his crib into our room and we crawled into bed. Despite wanting to keep his eyes on our newborn, Theo slept, leaving me to watch over the newest member of our family.
“There’s only one choice for his name.” Theo opened his eyes.
“Let me guess.” I pretended to think. “Ummm, is it Lake?”
“Ummm our little Lake who was born early on a very big lake.”
16 EPILOGUE
THEO
“Whatcha doing?”
Ash was deep in thought as he sat at the table. He had note paper and pencils in front of him and the laptop and crumpled up papers had been tossed at the garbage bin.
“Trying to update our brochure.”
More people were booking tours online but there was that segment of older clients who walked into the office near the lake and booked a hike or an afternoon on the water. They preferred a brochure they could hold while they contemplated whether to book with us. And if they did, they liked to keep it as a souvenir.
But with the percentage of people who read the brochures, it felt as though my mate shouldn’t be spending so much time on it.
I peered at the waste basket. “Seems like it’s going well.”
Ash grunted and I pulled up a chair to feed Lake his lunch.
“When I’m done with this, families will flock here just to do my tours.”
“That good, huh? Wow. Sounds like a masterpiece. Remember it’s not a novel.” Ash was getting carried away.
He cleared his throat. “What do you think of this?”
“Ash’s Outdoor Escapes.” That’s the header.
“Off to a great start, love.” I gave him a thumb’s up.
“Guided hikes and private boat trips and if you’re lucky, a bear sighting you’ll never forget.”
That brought me back to the night I first saw my mate shift.
“You’re not planning on arranging a special shifting experience for your clients, are you? Their hearts might not cope.”
“Nah, I’m just conjuring up an image for them.” He grinned. “Though maybe we should do a second one for shifters.”
I convinced him one was enough for now.
“Now for some special sauce. ‘Please don’t feed the bear because he might be your guide.’”
Only shifters would understand that joke.
“Good, huh?”
