Page 15 of The Bear's Second Chance Mate
And she would keep her feet on the ground, her heart in check.
Just as she always did.
Chapter Five – Stanley
Stanley unlocked the front door of Bear Creek Pets. It was early, and he reached up to catch the bell before it rang and disturbed the animals inside, who were probably still tucked up in their bundles of hay or snoozing in their little houses.
He stepped inside and carefully closed the door, then stood for a moment, surveying everything he’d prepared. It all looked normal, at least, to anyone else. The displays were tidy, the small enclosures clean. The faint hum of the filters in the reptile tanks blended with the rustle of hay and gentle squeaks from the rabbit pens.
But this morning was different.
It was Tuesday, and that meantshewas coming.
His bear stretched with a low, slow growl.She’s coming here. To us. Finally.
At last,Stanley murmured in agreement. It might have only been a couple of days since their first encounter in June’s aunt’s back garden, but the wait to see her again had felt like an eternity.
And despite all his preparations, he was nervous.
He’d stayed late last night, adding the finishing touches to a quiet area at the back of the store. Just a corner near the window, softened with a beanbag chair, a small bookcase filled with picture books, and a little table with a puzzle left halfway done, to make it feel welcoming, not staged.
It doesn’t look staged, does it?he asked his bear for the umpteenth time.
Does it matter?his bear replied with a huff.June will appreciate the time and effort you’ve taken to create this safe space. That’s all that matters to her.
And June was all that mattered to him.
Well, June and Oli. Damn, he wanted them to be a part of his life. He wanted to be part of theirs. A real part. There for them. Always.
His bear was right. June would appreciate the effort he’d made. He’d even selected some of the quieter animals for Oli to interact with. There was Herbert, of course, who, it turned out, was a real snuggle bunny. He loved having his ears stroked and went into a kind of trance when you did.
I’d go into a daze if June stroked my ears,his bear sighed dreamily.
Can we focus on the present?Stanley replied.
I’d prefer to focus on the future, where you’ve told our mate about me and we’re living happily ever after,his bear answered.
Ignoring the hint, Stanley walked to the counter and set down the tin of cookies he’d baked before leaving the house. Yeah, he’d been up before the sun after a restless night of tossing and turning, plumping his pillow and checking the clock, sure it was broken as the minutes ticked by so slowly.
He inched open the lid and peeked at the cookies with a sigh. He’d attempted his mother’s triple chocolate recipe, but they’d turned out a little wonky in shape. Still, the smell was right, warm, nutty, with a hint of vanilla.
He moved the tin to the back room and put on a fresh pot of coffee, then glanced at the clock.
It was going to be a long day.
***
Stanley filled the hours the only way he knew how, by tending the animals and helping customers.
After his first cup of coffee, he started work, moving through the shop in a familiar routine. He checked enclosures, replaced water bottles, and cleaned cages while generously handing out attention to those animals who craved it. He scooped out fresh hay for the rabbits, refilled the guinea pigs’ pellet dishes, and cleaned Clive’s tank with gentle precision.
Customers trickled in through the morning, mostly regulars he’d known for years. He smiled, he laughed, he joked, but today it felt different.
Because you are keeping something from them,his bear said.
Yeah, these customers were his friends, and they would be over the moon when they found out he had a mate. But until he told June, it was a secret he needed to keep.
And so, he rang up cat litter and chew toys, offered his usual calm advice about tropical fish filters, and helped a local teacher collect mealworms for a classroom project, all while pretending nothing had changed.
