Now he was a devoted father and husband. The kid had changed in so many ways, yet he was still the same fun-loving little brother he’d always been.
He was a natural with his son, diving into fatherhood and learning the ropes with rapid speed.
And he’d fallen hard for Evie, who wouldn’t even give him the time of day for a long time. She was so far out of his league, yet he’d won her over. I still couldn’t wrap my head around it.
But I didn’t have to. It was reality, and it made me happy.
He was growing into the man Dad had always raised him to become.
Who loved and protected. Who could be vulnerable when needed.
I was prouder of him than I’d ever been.
But as he’d grown, my own stagnation had become more and more evident. I’d given up hope a long time ago, committing myself fully to the farm and to my parents’ legacy.
I stood, the back of my neck prickling. That was the reminder I needed. There was no place for me in this cozy family scene.
“Sorry.” I nodded at Celine. “Came over to check on everyone.”
“Mom!” Maggie jumped out of her seat. “We’ve got a bear!”
Eyes widening, Celine turned to me. “Explain, please.”
“Spotted her at the blackberry bramble. She seemed happy to stay there and snack, but I wanted to make sure the kids weren’t out riding bikes.”
“Mom, it’s fine. She’s just a single lady looking for a good time,” Ellie said.
When Celine didn’t crack, I choked back my laugh.
“Sorry. You said she didn’t go past the blackberries. Why were you worried about the kids being outside. Are you telling me she’ll attack my children?”
“No, no,” I said. Shit. Here I was stirring up fear again. “Betsy’s a runt and not much of a threat.”
“A bear? Not much of a threat? Ha.” She let out a humorless laugh. “I’d say a bear is always a threat.”
“She’s only got one eye, Mom. She’s so cool,” Maggie said, bouncing on her toes. “Josh taught us all about bear safety. We’re not allowed to pet her. But we can wave from far away.”
“Anyway.” I shoved my hands into my pockets, my shoulders rising. What was it about this pint-sized woman that put me on the defensive? “I should get going.”
“No,” Maggie complained. “We’ve got to finish our game.”
Celine gave her daughter that mom look that said she meant business. “It’s a school night.”
Ellie scoffed, her head tilted back while Stella worked on her braid. “It’s not even nine.”
“Is your homework done?”
“I didn’t mean to intrude,” I said, taking a step back.
She ran her hands through her hair. It was down now, gathering in soft waves around her collarbones. I’d never seen it like this. Only pulled back tightly. It was nice. Made her look softer somehow.
“It’s fine,” she gritted out. “Thank you for the bear warning. And for the new nightmare material.”
“I’ve got cameras,” I explained. “If she shows up, I’ll text you.”
“I know it sounds scary,” Stella said. “But Betsy is part of this town. She’s always around, always getting into things. And she’s just in search of food. A nuisance, really, but a cute one.”
Whistling for Wayne, I headed toward the door. I’d overstayed my welcome, my skin suddenly itchy. My dog followed, though his steps were slow and his head hung.
