Page 11 of The Bear's Christmas Wish
As the adults packed up their impromptu picnic, Holly appeared at Sarah’s side with a small bundle. “For later,” she said, tucking a spare packet of marshmallows and two cinnamon sticks into Sarah’s tote bag. “In case of hot chocolate emergencies, while you decorate your tree. And tell Emmy there’s a wreath-making afternoon next week at the Wreath Barn if she’d like to learn how to tie bows. Children make the prettiest wreaths. They don’t overthink it.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Sarah said, touched by the thoughtfulness.
Michael approached after securing the last of the netting, checking the straps on her tree with careful attention. “We can walk your tree down to the car now if you’re ready,” he said. “It’s a bit heavy, but I’ve got it.”
“Thank you,” Sarah said, pulling on her gloves. She turned to the group, suddenly reluctant to leave this circle of warmth. “Thank you all. This has been...really special.”
With a final round of hugs and promises to see each other soon—which, in a town the size of Bear Creek, seemed inevitable—Sarah fell in behind Michael as he carried her tree toward the parking area. His boot prints made perfect stepping stones in the snow, and she followed them automatically, heart light, hands warm in her gloves.
As she walked, she pictured the tree in her mother’s bay window, strung with lights, Emmy’s ballerina ornament spinning slowly from a branch. And maybe, just maybe, Michael would stop by to see it.
“So,” Michael called over his shoulder as they approached her mother’s car, “about that website redesign. When would be a good time to talk about it?”
“I could come by tomorrow,” Sarah offered, surprised by her own eagerness. “If that works for you.”
“Tomorrow’s perfect,” he replied, and the way he said it made Sarah think he wasn’t just talking about website design.
But much, much more.
Chapter Five – Michael
So this is what it’s like to have a family,Michael’s bear said with a happy sigh as they carried the chosen tree to Sarah’s car.
Oh yeah,Michael could not keep the smile from his face.How lucky can one man…
And a bear,his bear added quickly.
How lucky can one mananda bear be?Michael said.
The luckiest,his bear replied.
The thought carried Michael across the snowy yard toward Pat’s car, the wrapped tree balanced over his shoulder. His father fell into step beside him, steadying the base with practiced hands. They had repeated this scene so many times before, loading a tree onto a car. But this was different. This was for his mate.
His mate!
With a happy sigh, he hoisted the tree higher, ready to slide it onto the car roof.
“A little to the left,” Emmy called from a safe distance, her pink mittens framing her face like a megaphone. “No, your other left!”
Michael bit back a grin as he adjusted his stance. Emmy’s self-appointed role as tree director was adorable, her serious expression making it clear she considered this a major responsibility.
“How’s this?” he asked, shifting the weight.
“Perfect!” Emmy bounced on her toes. “Now we just have to make it fit!”
Pat surveyed the roof rack with a critical eye as Michael laid the tree down temporarily while he measured the rack with his arms, mentally calculating dimensions.
“Let me grab something,” he said, jogging to his truck and returning with a folded rug. “This will protect the car.”
He padded the metal bars carefully, aware of Sarah watching him with those expressive eyes that made his heart skip. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, a strand of dark hair escaping from beneath her beanie. The urge to tuck it back nearly overwhelmed him.
Focus on the tree,he reminded himself.
“Ready?” Michael asked, gripping the netted trunk. “We’ll need to angle it about thirty degrees.”
Noel positioned himself at the base, and together they attempted to maneuver the spruce onto the roof rack. The crown brushed against the car’s aerial, while the trunk end extended well beyond the bumper.
“A little more this way,” Michael suggested, shifting his grip. They tried again, tilting and adjusting, but no matter how they positioned it, the tree simply wouldn’t cooperate.
