Page 3 of Daddy Bear Picnic

“If it’s just the porch, maybe tomorrow with adjustments, but it’ll be impossible to get until I see,” he said. “You’ve just got to mellow in and relax a little. It’s not going anywhere, and you don’t have plans. Do you?”

“You’re right. I’m not. So, where do I need to park again?”

Elijah practically held my hand as I drove into one of the spots around the back of the bed and breakfast. There were two other cars beside mine, and one truck out front, which I presumed was Elijah since it was filled with wooden planks and chopped tree stumps.

In the bed and breakfast, Elijah was in the kitchen with a white apron on, he was whisking something up in a bowl and spraying oil on a cast iron pan heating up on the stovetop.

“You’re a man of many trades,” I said, looking at him though the service window.

“A man of many pleasures,” he said. “I love cooking, I love working with my hands, and making stuff, whatever it is. So, you want pancakes? That’s what I’m making.”

The smell alone was enough to have my head nodding like an obedient puppy. “Please.”

“With bacon?”

“Oh my god, you read my mind,” I said, smacking my lips.

He laughed. “That’s actually not one of the trades I practice, but I’ll take it.”

Heavy footsteps came from above, coming down from somewhere. A door to my side opened, which I hadn’t realized was a door. A man, looking similar to Elijah stood there in as short-sleeve shirt and a pair of cargo shorts. “Oh, hello,” he said. “I’m Ezekiel. I was curious when Elijah mentioned someone had been at the old house on Plum Lane. But I’ll be happy to see it back to its former glory.”

“You saw it when it was nice?” I asked, frisking myself for the photo that was ultimately still in the car. “I only briefly remember it from being a teen, but I want to put it back to how it used to be.”

He nodded. “Sounds like a great idea. Plus, I’m sure Eli has already pitched you his services.”

I looked through the service window to see Elijah flipping the bird at his brother. “I’m already in demand, I don’t have to pitch myself.”

“What else do you do?” I asked.

“Elijah will do anything. He’s always doing something.”

“Not completely true,” he called out. “But I’ll always help someone out when they’re in need, especially when it serves a greater purpose.”

Ezekiel rolled his eyes. “What purpose is that?” He snickered, turning to me and winking.

“That old house has been an eyesore, and I’ve always wanted to go inside and see what all the fuss was about.” Elijah came out of the kitchen with a plate of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon. “Do you want to take a seat at a table to enjoy this?” The way he looked at me nearly had my knees buckling with excitement. It was clearly a trap, he’d seen the teddies, he knew I was in need of a strong, protective, caretaking presence in my life.

Damn. I was about to fall for this man’s act of kindness.

“Th—thank you,” I stumbled over my words.

“Want some OJ with that as well?” he asked, leading me into a dining room where a large table was already set with plates, cutlery, and an red with gold ornate patterned table runner across it.

“I—I—I’m not disturbing anything, am I?” I asked.

“What makes you ask that?” he asked, setting my plate of food on a plate at the table.

“Because it looks like you’re hosting.”

Ezekiel chuckled. “I’m sorry if you had that impression, this is just how we have the table set at all times,” he said. “I set it like this, don’t let him make you think he does anything but make food andrepairthings.” He added air quotes over repair.

“I absolutely do repair thing,” he said. “Without me, this place would’ve gone to ruins.”

“It still might.”

I didn’t know what I’d gotten myself between, but I was an only child. I never had a sibling to squabble with. “Have I started something?” I mumbled.

Elijah placed a hand on my shoulder with a gentle tap. “Of course, not. Take a seat and I’ll have some OJ brought through. Then we talk about what you want doing with that house.”

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