Now it was all starting to make sense. Marion had seen him with Elsbeth and jumped to the wrong conclusion. Alfie could see Marion was embarrassed, so he decided to simply move on, not dwelling on the misunderstanding that had nearly derailed their blooming relationship.
Dougray was right, his bear said, satisfaction rumbling through their shared consciousness. We just needed to give our mate space.
Alfie snorted as he walked hand in hand with his mate. No, all we needed was dumb luck. If Elsbeth hadn’t come along today to help plant a cut flower garden, then Marion would never have found out the truth.
His bear chuckled. Dumb luck, or fate?
You do have a point, Alfie agreed. Had fate stepped in once more, just as it had when Finn sent the message to the wrong person? The message that brought Marion into his life?
It gave him hope for the future. Hope that everything would turn out all right.
It will, his bear said with renewed confidence.
“So, where do we start?” Charlie asked as they reached the spot Alfie had earmarked as the perfect place for their bug corner.
Before Alfie could answer, Charlie sprinted forward and jumped on the stump.
“Whoa there, little explorer,” Alfie laughed, watching as Charlie balanced on the weathered oak stump. “That’s actually going to be part of our bug hotel. Old wood like this is already home to all sorts of critters.”
Marion squeezed his hand before letting go to set down her tote bag. “Charlie, careful with your jumping. We don’t want to disturb any bugs that might already be living there.”
Charlie immediately froze mid-bounce, his expression turning serious. “Are there bugs in there right now?” he whispered, crouching down to examine the stump’s rough surface.
“Most likely,” Alfie said, kneeling beside the stump. He ran his fingers along the grooved bark, feeling the texture beneath his fingertips. “See these tiny holes? Those could be beetle tunnels. And these cracks here make perfect hiding spots for all sorts of insects.”
Charlie’s eyes widened as he leaned in closer. “Can I use your magnifying glass to look?”
“No.” Alfie’s refusal caused Charlie to jerk his head around.
“Why not?” Charlie asked as he straightened up.
“Because I got you your own special magnifying glass and a book to help you identify all the bugs and plants…” Alfie beckoned to Charlie. “It’s in my truck. Want to go and get it, and we can grab some of the logs we collected and bring them over?”
“My own magnifying glass?” Charlie asked.
“If that’s all right with your aunt?” Alfie asked, realizing he hadn’t asked Marion if it was okay.
“As long as I get a turn,” Marion said.
“Of course,” Charlie answered.
“Okay then.” Marion mouthed, thank you , at Alfie.
“Let’s go!” Charlie said with his usual enthusiasm as he caught hold of Alfie’s hand and propelled him toward the truck.
This is going to be the best bug corner ever, Alfie’s bear predicted.
When they reached the truck, Alfie lowered the tailgate and reached for a wrapped package tucked behind the driver’s seat. “This is for you,” he said, handing it to Charlie.
Charlie’s hands trembled slightly as he unwrapped the gift, revealing a professional-grade magnifying glass with a sturdy handle and a field guide to insects and plants.
“Wow,” Charlie breathed, holding the magnifying glass up to examine it closely. “It’s perfect. Thank you, Alfie.”
“You’re welcome, buddy. Every serious naturalist needs proper equipment,” Alfie said.
“What’s a naturalist?” Charlie asked.
Alfie smiled, crouching down to Charlie’s level.
“A naturalist is someone who studies plants, animals, and insects in their natural environment. They observe how everything in nature works together. How plants provide food and shelter for insects, and how insects help pollinate plants. Naturalists are like nature’s detectives, always curious, always watching and learning. ”
Charlie’s eyes lit up. “That’s what I want to be! A naturalist!”
“I think you’re already on your way,” Alfie said, ruffling Charlie’s hair. “Now, let’s grab these logs for our bug corner.”
As Charlie eagerly began selecting pieces of wood from the truck bed, Marion stepped closer to Alfie. She reached for a log, her arm brushing against his.
“You know,” she whispered, her voice quiet enough that only Alfie could hear, “you’re a natural with Charlie. The way you explain things, how you encourage his curiosity...it’s exactly what he needs.”
Alfie turned toward her, their faces suddenly inches apart. He leaned in slightly, inexplicably drawn to her.
“Get a wriggle on, you two!” Charlie called out, already dragging a sizable log across the garden. “The bugs are waiting!”
They broke apart, both laughing at Charlie’s enthusiastic command.
“You heard the naturalist,” Marion said with a smile, grabbing an armload of smaller branches.
I want to have a whole brood of naturalists, Alfie’s bear said.
Now, that sounds like a plan, Alfie said as he loaded his arms with some of the larger logs. Side by side, they carried their bounty back to the oak stump where Charlie was already arranging his log with intense concentration.
For the next hour, they worked as a team, creating a complex structure of logs, branches, and hollow stems. Alfie showed Charlie how to stack the wood to create different-sized gaps and tunnels.
“The smaller spaces are for tiny insects,” he explained, “while these larger chambers might attract beetles or even solitary bees.”
Marion added handfuls of dried leaves and pine needles to some of the spaces. “Cozy bedding,” she said with a wink at Charlie. “You know bugs like to snuggle.”
“Do they?” Charlie asked.
“Hmm, maybe I am getting mixed up with boys.” Marion rubbed her chin in thought.
“Alfie?” Charlie asked.
“Well, I guess you could call it snuggling,” Alfie said. “Because they like to hibernate in the leaves.”
I’d sure like to snuggle with our mate, his bear said, imagining lying out under the stars, with Marion resting against him.
Alfie could think of nothing better. But for now, he had work to do.
When they finished, they stood back to admire their creation. The bug corner looked like a miniature woodland village, with the weathered oak stump serving as its centerpiece.
“It’s perfect,” Charlie breathed, clutching his new magnifying glass.
“Let’s take a break,” Marion suggested, reaching for her tote bag. “I packed some snacks and drinks.”
They sat together on the ground, sharing apple slices, cheese, and cookies while sipping cold lemonade from a thermos. Charlie perched between them, occasionally jumping up to check if any bugs had discovered their new habitat.
Alfie’s bear was practically purring with contentment. This is how it should be, his bear said. The three of us together.
Perfect, Alfie agreed.
I wish Charlie knew about me, his bear added wistfully. He would love to know bears can be naturalists, too.
Soon, Alfie promised. Very soon.
Now that he and Marion had reached an understanding about their relationship, the next step would be telling her about their mating bond. He knew he couldn’t keep his shifter nature secret much longer, not if they were going to build a life together.
“Alfie!” Charlie called, excitement threading through his voice. “I found a roly-poly bug already moving in!”
“That’s great!” Alfie called back. “They’re excellent decomposers. They help turn dead plants into soil.”
Marion leaned against his shoulder, her warmth seeping through his shirt. “Thank you for this,” she said quietly. “For all of it.”
“You are welcome,” he said, inhaling her scent. “But you don’t have to thank me. I get a kick out of doing this, too.”
Marion chuckled. “You and Charlie are like two peas in a pod.”
“He does make this all more fun,” Alfie said. “Seeing things through his eyes takes me back to my own childhood.”
“Well, look at this magnificent creation!” Elsbeth exclaimed, admiring the bug corner. “Charlie, you’ve built a five-star insect resort!”
Charlie beamed with pride. “We made different rooms for different bugs. And I already saw one moving in!”
“That’s wonderful,” Elsbeth said, coming to join them with a basket on her arm. “I brought some bulbs for you to plant nearby. Pollinators like bees and butterflies will love them, and they’ll visit your bug hotel, too.”
“Can I see?” Charlie stuck his head in the basket.
“Why don’t we take a look with your magnifying glass?” Alfie plucked a bulb from the basket.
“Okay.”
While Charlie examined the flowers with his magnifying glass, Elsbeth turned to Marion. “Alfie mentioned you make handcrafted soaps. I’d love to hear more about that.”
“It’s just a small hobby right now,” Marion said, her cheeks coloring slightly. “But I’m hoping to turn it into something more.”
“You absolutely should,” Elsbeth encouraged. “Would you like to visit my flower farm sometime? I grow all sorts of botanicals specifically suited to natural products.”
Marion’s eyes widened. “I’d love that.”
“Wonderful!” Elsbeth grinned as she watched Charlie and Alfie dig a hole for the bulbs. “Some of my flower petals and seeds would make perfect ingredients for your soaps. Calendula, lavender, chamomile—they all have wonderful properties for the skin.”
“That sounds amazing,” Marion said, genuine excitement in her voice. “I’ve been experimenting with different natural ingredients, but having access to fresh, local flowers would be incredible.”
“It’s settled then,” Elsbeth said. “How about Tuesday? We could make a day of it after you drop Charlie off at school.”
As the women continued chatting, making plans, and sharing ideas, Alfie felt his bear sigh with deep satisfaction.
She’s going to fit right in, his bear thought. Like she was always meant to be here.
Alfie couldn’t agree more. Watching Marion laugh with Elsbeth, and seeing Charlie carefully planting bulbs around their bug hotel, it all felt as if all the pieces of his life had finally come together.
As if they finally made sense.
And what a perfect picture they made.