“Yes, sweetie?”
Percy stood there, his expression suddenly serious. “You’re not going to be mean about the food, are you?”
The innocent question hit her like a blow. Isla stared at her son, then looked back at the laptop screen, still open to her draft of The Pinecone review. The harsh words glowed up at her in the morning light.
Her career had been built on that voice.
But for the first time, she found herself asking a question she had never allowed herself to ask before.
If she softened it… would everything she had built begin to crumble?
Chapter Eighteen – Kirk
Kirk’s knife glided through the crimson flesh of his latest chili hybrid, as the market bustled around him, filled with voices and movement that felt like the heartbeat of Bear Creek. He arranged the slices carefully on a wooden board, creating a gradient from mildest to boldest—a visual invitation to the curious palates that would soon wander over to his booth.
“You’re going to burn someone’s taste buds clean off with those,” Leo called from the neighboring stall, where he was arranging his heirloom tomatoes in a rainbow of reds, purples, and golds.
Kirk snorted, not looking up from his work. “At least my produce has character. Those tomatoes of yours are just vegetables pretending to be exciting.”
“Tomatoes are fruit, genius,” Leo fired back, tossing a small Cherokee Purple in Kirk’s direction. “And at least mine don’t make people cry.”
Kirk caught the tomato one-handed and took a deliberate bite, juice running down his chin. “Happy tears, brother. They cry tears of joy.”
Their familiar banter warmed him almost as much as the afternoon sunshine. The Bear Creek Local Flavors Market had been running for generations, but Kirk never tired of it—the camaraderie, the pride in showcasing what they’d grown, the simple pleasure of sharing food that had come from their own hands.
The square hummed with activity. Ellen’s honey stand glowed amber in the sunlight, jars lined up like liquid gold. The Mendez family had brought their preserves, jewel-toned jams in neatrows. Farther down, Mark Holloway was slicing samples of his famous smoked trout, while the heavenly scent of fresh bread drifted from Sara’s bakery stall.
This is what matters,Kirk thought as he arranged the sample cups beside his chilies.Food grown, made, and shared.
His bear stirred contentedly.Community. And our place in it.
Kirk nodded slightly to himself as he worked. His bear had been unusually settled since that morning, the restless energy of yesterday replaced by a deep, satisfied calm. He knew why. After Isla had left, he had spent a couple of hours in his greenhouse tending his chilies with particular care, preparing for today’s market with a sense of purpose that felt sharper than usual.
Because she might come.
She and Percy both.
As if he had conjured her from his imagination, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. She was here.
A few minutes later, a small burst of movement caught his eye—a flash of sandy-brown hair weaving through the crowd. Percy. The boy was hurrying ahead, his face filled with excitement as he spotted Kirk’s booth. And behind him, moving at a more leisurely pace…
Isla.
She’s here,his bear sighed, settling at once into a deep, contented stillness.Our mate.
The sight of her walking through the market hit Kirk harder than he had expected. Her blonde hair hung loose around her shoulders, and she wore simple jeans coupled with a blue sweater. The memory of her in his bed that morning, warm from sleep and soft against him, flashed through his mind.
For a moment, everything felt exactly as it should.
“Kirk! Kirk!” Percy called, skidding to a stop in front of the booth. “We came to try your chilies! Mom said I could have a taste of the not-too-spicy kind!”
Kirk grinned down at him. “Well, I just happen to have a special mild blend that might be perfect for brave dinosaur experts.”
“Really?” Percy’s eyes widened. “Did you make it just for me?”
“As a matter of fact…” Kirk began, but Leo appeared beside him and crouched down to Percy’s level.
“Hello there, young man,” Leo said, extending a hand. “I’m Leo, Kirk’s much more handsome brother. And I have something you might like even better than fiery chilies.”
