Loving the Bear (9 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Christopher now knew exactly how Aiden had felt when Charlotte had sent him away after learning the truth. He’d told him not to lie in bed and wallow in self-pity, but that’s exactly what he was doing. That’s what you had to do when your heart had been broken into tiny pieces.

He turned and put the pillow over his ear. He’d been foolish enough to answer the door which meant Aiden and Charlotte had pushed their way inside. Now they were out in the
living room talking about him. They weren’t talking very loud, but a bear shifter’s hearing made it impossible not to eavesdrop.

“He’s lost weight these last few weeks
, and he looks pale,” said Aiden.

“I know
. We have to think of something.”

“He’s not going to snap out of this because he loves her. Why a
re you humans so damn stubborn?”

“Us humans
? Well how do think it feels to have something like
I’ve been dating and having sex with a guy who says he’s from another planet and sometimes shifts into an animal
, thrown at you?”

Shit, it did sound crazy.

“Okay, yes, it sounds far-fetched.”

“Far-
fetched? The only thing that convinced me it wasn’t, was the fact that your bear blood saved my life.”

“Guess I got lucky
, but how is this going to help Christopher?”

“I know. I’ll go and talk to Lilly.”

No, bad idea
. She’d made up her mind and she wasn’t ever coming back to him.

He fisted the pillow. Damn, why had he fallen for a human?

****

Lilly dropped Katlin off at the daycare center and was about to get into her van when she saw Charlotte Renner heading toward her.

“Hi Lilly. You remember me? I’m Christopher’s sister-in-law.”

“Yes, yes, I d
o.”

She wanted to ask about him. If he was okay
. If they’d taken him to the mental hospital yet.

“Can we go someplace and get some coffee and chat?” asked Charlotte.

“Well, I have a house to clean in about thirty minutes.”

“That’s fine because I have to be at the clinic soon too. You want to meet me at Marley’s Grille in about f
ive minutes?”

“Sure. See you then.”

Lilly didn’t know what this was all about. Maybe an apology sent from Christopher via Charlotte.

She
was already in the grille and sat at a table when Lilly arrived. They both ordered coffees and Charlotte waited for the server to leave before she spoke.

“I know what happened between you and Christopher
, and I know how you feel because it’s probably the way I did when Aiden told me about what he and Christopher and the others really are.”

A doctor and obviously
as crazy as her husband and Christopher.

Charlotte put her hand on Lilly’s. “You saw his eyes. If he was making it up, how do you explain it?”

She tried to put that part of it out of her mind and believing what her mother had told her about the bogeyman not being real.

“I can’t,
but I can’t believe his story either.”

“Believe me Lilly, I didn’t want to either
, but it’s true. I’ve seen them as bears.”

Lilly shook her head. “Okay, so it’s true
, but I can’t love a monster.”

“A monster
? Has Christopher shown you or done anything to make you think that he’s a monster?”

Just the opposite. He was the kindest, most gentle man she’d ever known.

And in all honesty she loved him with all her heart. He’d healed her, made her happy, and made her think that there was a future for her and Katlin. Made her believe in life and love again.

Lilly shook her head.

Charlotte squeezed her hand. “Then you’ll go and see him and talk this thing through.”

Lilly nodded.

“Great because I could do with some human company at some of their get-togethers.”

****

The doorbell.

If it was Aiden or Charlotte again, he’d politely have to tell them to go and leave him be.

Barney barked.

“I know
, I’ve been a bad owner.”

The doorbell rang again. Barney barked again.

“Okay, okay, what is it with all of you bossing me around?”

Christopher dragged himself out of bed
and out into the hallway. He opened back the door ready to tell Aiden to leave him alone when he saw Lilly standing there.

He swallowed. He’d never thought he’d see her again. She was more beautiful than ever.

“Can I come in?” she asked.

He hadn’t realized he’d been standing there staring at her.

“Yes, yes, of course.” He brushed his hands through his hair. He knew he looked like shit.

They walked through to the living room.

“Charlotte came to see me and we had a chat.”

So it hadn’t b
een just an idea of hers. She’d really done it.

“She talked some sense into me.”

“I…”

Lilly put her fingers over his mouth before he could say anything else.

“I acted on impulse. I acted like a fool and she made me see that when you have something good going in your life, you give it the benefit of the doubt.”

She walked over the window. “I guess my concern is about Katlin
and her safety. Do you need to turn into a bear when the moon’s full or what?”

“Oh Lilly, no, it’s not like that. We control it. Sometimes it’s harder, like when we have a sexy woman in our bed.”

She turned around and smiled.

“So you won’t be turning into a bear that will scare Katlin?”

He shook his head. “We never turn into our shifter animals in the house. We go out for runs, so if you never wanted to see me as a bear you wouldn’t have to.”

She took a deep breath and walked over to him.

“Okay, I think, in fact I’m pretty sure, we can make this work because you’re the nicest man I’m ever likely to know and I’m in love with you.”

“Lilly
, you have my word I’ll make you and Katlin happy, and I’d kill anyone who tried to hurt either of you.”

She leaned into kiss him.

“Not that I don’t want you to do that, but I think maybe I should go and brush my teeth first.”

Christopher headed to the bathroom just as he heard Lilly’s cell phone ringing. He brushed his teeth and walked back to find her crying.

He rushed over to her.

“What’s wrong?”

“That was my mother. Matt’s been released from prison early.”

“So, that’s no problem, he’s miles away
, and he’s history.”

“He threatened me before he went to jail. He said
when he got out he’d kill me for not keeping our troubles to myself.”

Chapter Fifteen

Lilly knew that maybe she’d overreacted to the news of Matt getting out of jail before the end of his sentence. She also knew that sometimes he’d been all mouth and no action. The threats he’d sent her way before he’d been sentenced had probably been out of anger and nothing more. She also had Christopher around now
.

A big
, strong bear.

She looked at him and Katlin playing with Barney by the water’s end. He was so receptive to her wants and
fears; it was almost like they’d known one another all their lives. Maybe it because he wasn’t one hundred percent human. It was still strange to think about, but maybe one day she could bring herself to see him as a bear. Today he’d sensed she was extra edgy and suggested they all go for a walk so they could get some air and Katlin could play.

Her daughter’s giggle made her smile as Christopher lifted her in the air and swung her around.

“More, more, more flying,” said Katlin holding out her arms.

Christopher swung her around again and then pretended she was diving towards the ground and then back up again.

Lilly opened up the cooler they’d brought along and took out the sandwiches and sodas she’d packed.

“You guys, come and eat,” she called to them.

Katlin and Barney were the first to reach the table and then Christopher slid onto the bench beside her.

“I can fly,
Mommy,” said Katlin putting her tiny hand into the bag of chips.

“I saw that,” said Lilly handing Christopher a roast beef sandwich. Barney barked and she broke off a piece of meat and gave it to him.

“Maureen tells me she and your stepdad want to visit Glacier National Park, so I was thinking maybe we’ll all go together and make a vacation of it,” said Christopher.

“Bears in the park,” said Katlin.

Lilly exchanged glances at Christopher. She hadn’t thought, if she and Christopher were going to make a life together, how they’d explain what Christopher was to Katlin. Maybe they never would. It would be the family secret.

“Yeah, we’ll see them,” said Lilly.

“Are you sure you and Katlin don’t want to move into my place?” he asked her rubbing the back of her hand.

She shook her head.

“I know you like your independence, but I’d feel happier if I kept my eye on you.”

“I know but I want to deal with this on my own.”

He squeezed her hand and nodded.

****

Lilly now had fifteen cleaning customers. All contacts of Christopher’s buddies. She couldn’t believe they were all animal shifters. In fact, they were some of the nicest people she’d ever met. Some, including Sam and his family, or should she say pack, even left her cookies to enjoy while she cleaned the ranch house.

Business was taking off and she’d told Rose that Wednesday would be her last day at the café
. She took off her apron and hung it up.

“You know the job’s always here for you, but I know your business is going to be a million dollar one in a few years.” Rose hugged her and she tried not to cry. She’d been so kind and nice to Lilly when she’d first come to Kalispell.

“Now, off you go and come and see me often.”

“Don’t worry
Christopher, Katlin, and me are coming here on Sunday for the breakfast special.”

“I’ll have a table waiting for you.”

Lilly headed outside. It was raining. She had to pick up Katlin and then they had some grocery shopping to do. Christopher had been in Missoula for the day and told her he’d be back by suppertime, so she’d suggested she cook it for him at her place.

By the time she got to the daycare, Katlin and Eddie were already waiting for her by the entrance. She waved to her
, and Katlin waved back and ran toward her.

Lilly put her in the van and strapped her in and just as she was about to close the door she heard a man’s voice.

“Hi, Lilly.”

Matt. She felt her body freeze.
She turned around.

“It’s nice to see you again. Why don’t we go for a nice drive and
talk?”

Matt lifted Katlin out of her seat and hugged her. “Hi there, baby girl. So wonderful we’re all together again.”

Katlin began crying as Matt got into the van and sat her on his knee.

“Okay, drive some place,” he said.

****

Christopher dialed Lilly’s number as he pulled into the parking lot of his condo building. He’d gotten home sooner than he’d thought and he wanted to know if he could go shopping or pick up anything for supper. He heard the phone ring and then Lilly’s voice.

I can’t come to the phone right now but if you leave your name and number I’ll get back to you.

“Hi beautiful lady. Just want to know if you need me to pick up anything for supper. Oh, and Aiden and Charlotte said they’d like to babysit Katlin on Saturday night so we can go out to dinner at that restaurant you want to try. Call me when you can, love you.”

He pressed the end call button, thinking he’d just head to the store anyway and pick up a dessert and some wine.

****

Just survive.

That’s what she’d done before. Not so much for herself but for her baby. She’d do it again and this time she had another person to live for—Christopher.

She
’d been smart enough to take Matt to her and Christopher’s favorite spot by the lake. If she could just reach into her pocket and press number three, the speed dial she’d set for Christopher, maybe he’d overhear what was happening and trace her here.

The back of Matt’s hand took her by surprise, knocking her
down onto a patch of muddy grass. Katlin began crying.

“Please Matt, don’t do this. Don’t do this in front of our daughter. Do you want her to remember this for the rest of her life?”

“So you acknowledge that’s she’s my child too.”

“Of course I do.”

Lilly tried to get up, but she couldn’t see out of one eye because blood was seeping from a cut above it. “Just let us go and get on with your life so we can do the same.”

“You
’re my wife.”

“I’m your ex-
wife.”

“You tricked me into signing those divorce papers.”

“I didn’t, Matt. Please go home and I promise I won’t report this. I’ll just say I fell and cut my head.”

“If I remember correctly
, your promises are pretty empty.”

Her cell phone rang. She could get help,
tell whoever it was to call the police, but Matt snatched it away before she could press the button.

“Hello,” he said.

“Who’s this?” She could hear that it was Christopher’s voice.

“I’m Lilly’s husband. Who the fuck are you?”

“Put Lilly on the phone to me.”

“I guess you’re the new guy in her life. Well, sorry buddy, she won’t be seeing you again.”

She had another idea. It was her last and only hope.

“Matt please, just let me say goodbye to Christopher and I promise you I’ll go with you where
ver you want me to.”

“You know what will happen if you lie again.”

She nodded and he handed her the phone.

Here was her last chance.

“Hi Christopher. I just wanted to say goodbye and that Katlin and I enjoyed the picnic by the lake the other day.”

Would he know what she meant?

Matt snatched the phone from her, threw it on the ground, and then jumped on it, breaking it in half.

****

Christopher heard the line go dead. He’d sensed something was wrong when she hadn’t called him back, and the reason he’d called again. Lilly was in trouble but she was smart. She’d given him a clue to where she was. The picnic area. He dashed out of the condo, took the stairs three at a time, and then got in his car.

If he took the back way
to the lake, there was less chance of a cop picking him up for speeding or Matt seeing him approaching.

Shit, what if he’d already taken them away. Would he ever find Lilly again?

He put his foot down and took every back road he knew. He slowed down when he saw the picnic area up ahead. He pulled in, leaving the car door open and ran toward the small beach area where they’d sat. Lilly…she was on the ground, blood coming from her head. A bulky looking guy was standing over her, fists covered in blood. Katlin was screaming, tears running down her face.

Christopher couldn’t control his inner bear. He’d killed Lill
y and terrified Katlin. Matt would pay big time.

His
transformation into his bear half was swift, he went down on all fours and pounded toward Matt.

“Jesus, what the hell?” shouted Matt.

Christopher swiped him across the face with the back of his paw, sending him to the ground.

He glanced over at Lilly’s battered body. He’d killed the woman he loved.

Christopher growled and hit Matt harder than he’d intended opening up a large piece of his skull. Dear God, he’d killed him. He’d only intended to injure him.

Christopher pounded
over to Lilly. He nudged her with his nose. The blood. It was overwhelming. He could smell it and it almost choked him. He put his nose closer to her face. She was breathing.

Lilly was still alive. He could get her to the hospital quicker running with her in his bear form than he could in the car because he coul
d take a shortcut through the woods.

Katlin pointed at him.

“Bear, bear. Big bear.”

One thing bear shifters could do that regular ones couldn’t
, was walk on their back legs for long periods of time. He could pick Lilly up in his arms, hoping he didn’t hurt her, and have Katlin ride on his back.

Christopher went over to her, lifting her and swinging her up. She clung to his neck, tugging on his fur.

“Bear, give me a ride Mr. Bear.”

He picked Lilly up, hoping no one was around
to see all this, and he could get her help as soon as possible.

If she died
, he would too.