Page 16 of Once Upon A Bear

Beatrice shook her head at her husband. “She broke your curse, didn’t she?”

“But at what cost?” Alexander asked, sticking his tongue out with a distasteful face. “I can still taste it.”

“I suppose you would rather not be able to talk about anything again and be married to someone else,” Beatrice asked with a winning smile.

Alexander sighed and reached for her hand. “Never, my love.”

The two of them were positively sickening, and Guinevere rolled her eyes and looked away. But looking away from them brought her attention to Gideon, who was gazing past her at the happily married couple with a forlorn look on his face.

Guinevere swallowed hard. She could only imagine what Gideon’s thoughts toward marriage would be. Gideon had told her that he wanted a family and children, and watching the two of them like this, having come through a curse like his, would either be a relief or like rubbing salt in a wound. She wasn’t sure which one.

But then there were footsteps in the hall and she turned to Rose. “I hear someone coming.”

Quick as a flash, Rose turned back into a cat and climbed up on Gideon’s lap this time, as if she sensed that he needed comfort. Gideon smiled and began to pet her absentmindedly.

As the door opened and food arrived, they spent the remainder of their meal chatting about various things—how Gideon’s brothers were doing, how the café was, and how Guinevere was preparing for winter.

“I worry about you being so far out there on your own,” Beatrice said, clicking her tongue in disapproval. “Alexander, we must make sure she has enough wood for her fire.”

“I have no shortage of wood,” Guinevere said with a laugh. “Many of my patients pay me in wood and other such things. I promise all will be well.”

“And if it’s not, you’ll come here.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Of course I will,” Guinevere said, smiling at her friend. “Thank you for always being so willing for me to appear at any moment.”

“It’s one of her many strengths,” Alexander said, his tone slightly dry. “She’s always inviting people to come on short notice.”

“As long as you remember that I’m the one who came to you at a moment’s notice,” Beatrice said to her husband.

“That you did,” he admitted, reaching over to take her hand.

“We should go,” Guinevere said, as the two of them began to look at each other with lovestruck eyes. “When they get like this, there’s no stopping them,” she told Gideon.

He rushed to get out of his seat and pulled her chair back for her before she could stand on her own.

“Thank you,” she said, warmth spilling through her chest. It had been a long time since someone had pulled out her chair for her.

“Of course,” he said, before turning to Alexander and Beatrice and giving them a slight bow. “Thank you for your hospitality and for the conversation.”

Alexander began to stand, but Gideon shook his head, raising his hand to stop him. “No need. Enjoy the rest of your meal with your wife. I think I must be getting back to the woods soon.”

Guinevere turned her head to him, searching his eyes for a hidden meaning beneath the words. Was he going to transform soon?

“I understand,” Alexander said with a nod. “I’m here if you need anything, Gideon.”

“I appreciate that,” Gideon said as he turned and strode out of the room without waiting for Guinevere.

Guinevere hurried to catch up to his long legs, taking their coats from Jenkins and following him out the door as he made a break for the woods on the other side of the gate.

“Gideon,” she called as he entered the woods and paused to wait for her. “Are you going to transform?”

“No,” he said roughly. “Not yet. I just couldn’t watch them like that anymore.” He admitted it with one corner of his mouth turning up in a wry smile. “Not when I’ve spent so many years feeling like I will never find someone who could love me when I could turn into a bear at any moment.”

When Guinevere reached for his hand and squeezed it, he let her.

“We will figure it out,” she promised, “and you will be free to live your life without this hanging over you.”