Page 27 of The Bear's Second Chance Mate
June shot her a look, but Barb’s face was the picture of innocence. If innocence wore horn-rimmed glasses and a raised brow.
But June refused to let Barb get under her skin. Not tonight. Not when Oli had such a good time at the pet store.
The child seated across the table from her was a different child from the one who’d moved to Bear Creek three weeks ago. That boy had barely spoken at dinner, picking at his food in silence, shoulders hunched against an invisible weight. This boy’s eyes shone with enthusiasm. His words tumbled over each other, hands painting pictures in the air as he recreated every moment of their visit.
“Herbert recognized me,” Oli continued, finally taking a bite of his pasta. “Stanley said rabbits remember people by theirsmell. And the chinchilla… Remember how soft he looked? Stanley said they take dust baths. Can you believe that?”
“Stanley sure seems to know a lot about animals,” Barb said, glancing at June. However, June focused her attention on her plate.
“He knowseverything,” Oli declared with the absolute certainty of childhood. “He said next time I can hold Clive if I’m careful. Do you think we can go again soon? He said anytime.”
“I’m sure Stanley is a busy man,” Barb said. “And he does like waifs and strays.”
June’s jaw tightened. She knew Barb meant well, but she didn’t want her aunt planting seeds of doubt about Stanley’s motives. Not when her son was this happy.
“Stanley’s been very generous with his time,” June said carefully. “And Oli clearly benefits from being around the animals.”
“Oh, I’m sure he does,” Barb said, her tone light as she ate her dinner.
“So can we?” Oli asked.
“I’ll see what I can arrange,” she said as she took a sip of her spritzer.
She’d spent years watching Oli struggle to connect with teachers, with other children, with the world outside their carefully managed routines. How many times had she sat across from him at another table, watching him retreat further into himself?
Yet here he was, transformed by a single afternoon in a pet store.
Not by her. Despite everything she’d tried.
But by Stanley’s thoughtful kindness.
“You did so well today,” she said, pushing the thought away. “You stayed calm when you were handling the animals.”
Oli beamed, that rare, radiant smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. “I wasn’t even scared,” he said, his voice tinged with wonder at his own courage. “Well, maybe a little with Clive. But Stanley said it was okay to be nervous around new animals.”
“Stanley’s right,” June said, reaching across to squeeze his hand. “Being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means you try anyway.”
Barb made a sound that might have been a hum, or a snort, before sipping her spritzer and glancing out the window.
Oli nodded solemnly, then launched into a detailed explanation of guinea pig sounds and what each one meant. June listened, letting his joy wash over her, only to find Barb watching her over the rim of her glass.
“I’ll say one thing for the man,” Barb said dryly. “He certainly knows how to make an impression.”
June said nothing.
She didn’t need to.
Barb’s raised brow said it all.
She had no doubt Barb had something to say about their pet store visit, but thankfully, she kept it to herself as they ate the rest of their meal to the soundtrack of animal facts from Oli. And that suited June just fine.
“I’ll clean up,” Barb announced as they finished eating, then rose from her chair and gathered their empty plates. “You get the little one to bed.”
June nodded gratefully. “Come on, sweetheart. Time for bed.”
Oli followed her upstairs, his energy still buzzing despite the late hour. Even as he changed into his space-themed pajamas, his chatter continued unabated.
“And Stanley said that chinchillas can jump six feet high! That’s like…” he stretched his arms up as far as they would go, “…way up there. Do you think Herbert can jump that high?”
