Page 21 of The Bear's Second Chance Mate
“It’s not,” June admitted. “But we’re managing.” She didn’t want to talk about how her savings were dwindling, or how her confidence was eroded by each rejection letter she received. They all said the same thing. Although she had gained the relevant qualifications, she lacked real-life experience.
“If there’s anything I can do…” His voice trailed off.
“You’ve been so kind already,” she told him.
“Mom,” Oli called. “Come see!”
She rose quickly, grateful for the interruption, and joined her son at the chinchilla enclosure.
“He’s making a nest,” Oli whispered, pointing. “Look how careful he is.”
Behind her, Stanley crouched down with them. “He’s quite the homemaker. Speaking of which…” He gave Oli a look. “Would you like to hold Herbert today?”
Oli gasped. “Really?”
“Really,” Stanley said. “Let me get him.”
Stanley scooped up the white rabbit and placed him gently in Oli’s lap. The rabbit snuggled in without fuss. Oli beamed, hands steady as he stroked Herbert’s soft back.
June sat beside them, her shoulder nearly brushing Stanley’s. And she was once again acutely aware of him. As if there were an invisible thread binding them together.
“Have you found Herbert’s owners yet?” Oli asked, his voice unusually steady as he continued petting the rabbit.
Stanley shook his head. “Not yet. I’ve posted in the local lost-and-found group.”
June watched her son’s face as he processed this information. She could almost see the wheels turning in his mind, building toward the inevitable question.
“If no one wants him, could we take him home?” Oli looked up at her with those solemn eyes that always made her heart catch. “Please, Mom? I’d take care of him every day.”
Part of her wanted to say yes immediately. Not just because it was obvious how much this would mean to Oli, but also because she owed it to the rabbit to give him a home.
After all, if he had not gotten lost, she would never have met Stanley.
Surely that was fate’s way of saying they were meant to be together.
“I think we need to give it a bit more time, sweetheart,” she whispered, reaching out to stroke Herbert’s ears. The fur was impossibly soft beneath her fingertips.
“But if he doesn’t find his owners?” Oli asked.
“We’ll see,” June replied. “A pet is a big responsibility.”
“Hey,” Stanley said as Oli tensed, and his foot tapped on the floor. “I forgot I promised you could meet Clive. Shall we put Herbert away and go see him?”
Oli curled his fingers into the rabbit’s fur and then leaned forward and pressed his lips to the rabbit’s head. June was so proud of Oli as he kept control of his emotions and handed Herbert back to Stanley.
Stanley carefully returned Herbert to his enclosure.
“Clive’s this way, at the back of the store. He’s a bit shy with strangers, but I think he’ll take to you.”
June watched as Oli followed Stanley, his footsteps lighter than she’d seen in weeks. The transformation in her son whenever he was near these animals was nothing short of miraculous.
They stopped at a glass terrarium in a quieter corner. Inside, a bearded dragon lounged under a heat lamp, its scaly body patterned in shades of tan and orange.
“This is Clive,” Stanley said, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur. “He’s about three years old.”
Oli pressed close to the glass. “He looks like a dinosaur.”
“A lot of people think that,” Stanley said with a chuckle. “Reptiles are among the oldest animals on Earth.”
