Chapter Fourteen: Henry

Henry stood in front of the mirror hanging on the wall of his room at the main ranch house, holding up a shirt that had seen better days. His brow furrowed as he considered his options for his dinner with Samantha and the children.

Just choose one, his bear said, impatient to get going.

I should have grabbed more of my clothes from the cabin, Henry said with a sigh as he dumped the shirt on the bed. He must have been in a daze when he went up to his room and took the clothes before him. They all made him look like a hobo.

Yeah, with those clothes, you are not going to make a good impression, his bear grumbled. They do not say husband material.

Henry chuckled, shaking his head. I'm hoping Samantha already thinks I am husband and father material, he murmured.

Since your fashion choices stink, you'd better make sure your personality shines through, his bear advised sagely. There's a lot riding on this dinner.

I know. Henry sighed deeply. Which is why I want to look my best.

But he would not accomplish that with these clothes.

He folded his arms across his chest as he stood, head bent, surveying the limited selection of clothes on the bed, in the hope he'd missed something.

He had not. A couple of flannel shirts, some well-worn jeans, and a pair of khakis that hadn't been in style for years were all that lay before him.

Henry ran a hand through his hair, frustration mounting. He glanced at the clock on the nightstand, realizing time was ticking away.

Would it be weird to get dressed at the cabin? he mused, recalling the nicer clothes he kept there.

Yes, it would be weird, his bear responded with a roll of his eyes.

Great, Henry muttered in exasperation.

"Do you want to borrow some of my clothes?" Dougray's voice broke through Henry's thoughts, and he turned to see his brother leaning against the door frame, an amused smile on his face.

"You would be a lifesaver," Henry admitted, relief flooding through him.

Dougray stepped into the room and clapped Henry on the shoulder. "No, that would be you," he said, his tone light but his eyes serious.

Henry chuckled, though a knot of anxiety tightened in his chest. "I feel completely out of my depth."

"Try to relax," Dougray advised. "This is meant to be. Remember that."

"Thanks," Henry said, letting out a long breath. "I'll try to remember. Although when I'm around Samantha, it's like my brain goes to mush."

"Give me a second to grab something for you." Dougray left the room.

While he was gone, Henry scooped up the clothes from the bed and hung them in the closet, making a mental note to grab some clothes from his closet at the cabin before he came home tonight.

But that thought conjured up an image of his bedroom. Or more precisely, his bed.

With Samantha in it.

"Here," Dougray said as he entered the room with a crisp blue checked button-down shirt and a pair of dark jeans. "These should fit you well enough."

"Thanks, Dougray," Henry said with a huge dose of relief. "I owe you one."

"Anytime, big brother," Dougray teased, but there was an undercurrent of genuine concern in his voice. "Just make sure you don't mess it up,"

"Believe me. I know exactly what is riding on this dinner," Henry replied. "And I do not intend to mess it up."

If he did, his life might well be over in so many ways.

Henry quickly changed into the borrowed shirt and jeans, which were a little tighter around the thighs than he normally wore. But they were comfortable enough.

And much better than what is lurking in your closet, his bear reminded him.

"Looking sharp," Dougray told him as Henry looked at his reflection in the mirror.

"I don't feel sharp." Henry took a deep breath, smoothing down the front of the borrowed shirt. "I feel like I'm about to jump out of my skin."

"You're going to be fine," Dougray said, sensing his brother's turmoil. "Just be yourself. She already likes you, remember?"

"Yeah," Henry replied, straightening the collar. "I just hope that's enough."

"Trust me." Dougray gave him a reassuring nod. "It will be."

He's right, Henry's bear said. It will be enough. You will be enough.

We'll soon find out, Henry said as he took one last look in the mirror and headed downstairs.

"Here he is," Mary said as Henry walked into the kitchen, the smell of his mom's home-cooked food making his stomach rumble. "Don't you look handsome."

"You make me feel as if I'm fourteen again, going on my first date," Henry said as Mary came up to him and brushed her hands over his shoulders.

"That was an important step, a rite of passage, but this…" Her eyes misted with tears. "This is so much more."

"Not too much pressure," Waylan said as he sat at the table, drinking a beer.

"Henry will be fine," Mary insisted. "He's going to dinner with his mate. It's a forgone conclusion where the relationship is heading."

"Unless he blows it," Dougray said bluntly.

"He's not going to blow it," Mary said. "When has he ever blown anything?"

"Well, there was that time with the sprinkler system at the fire station," Dougray began, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"That's enough," Henry interrupted with a warning look at his brother. "Ancient history. And completely different circumstances."

"What happened with the sprinkler system?" Waylan rocked back in his chair.

"Nothing happened," Henry said, backing toward the door. "And nothing's going to happen tonight, either. It's just dinner."

"Just dinner with your mate," Mary corrected. "I'm so happy for you."

Henry tugged his mouth up at the corners. "Thanks, Mom. I should get going. Don't want to keep Samantha waiting. Thanks for the shirt, Dougray."

"You're welcome," Dougray said with a wave of his hand.

As he reached for the door, Waylan called out, "Remember, son, just be yourself. That's who she's falling for."

"Thanks for the advice. I'll see you all later." With that, Henry exited the house and closed the door behind him. For a moment, he leaned back against it and took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

You'll be just fine, his bear said, although he was not too convincing.

Just dinner with my mate, Henry said, echoing his mom's words as he strode toward his cabin.

Pity you didn't bring wine, his bear complained.

Or flowers, Henry moaned. He was like a beginner at this romance thing.

I'm sure Mom won't mind if you pick some from her garden, his bear said.

No, I'm sure she would not. Henry went around the side of the house and paused at his mother's carefully tended garden and handpicked a handful of colorful wildflowers, making sure to choose a variety that would complement each other. And those that his mother would not miss too much.

As he gathered the flowers, he arranged them carefully in his hand, hoping Samantha would like them. When he was satisfied he'd chosen a decent bouquet, Henry set off down the path leading to his cabin. As he walked, he lifted the flowers to his nose and inhaled their sweet scent.

Someone looks pleased with themself, his bear said.

I'll be more pleased if Samantha likes them. And me, Henry replied.

And me, his bear added.

I'm working up to telling her about you, Henry said.

I can't wait, his bear said, and then they both focused on his mate.

There she was at his cabin. Henry glanced at the flowers in his hand and picked up his pace, eager to see her, to smell her…

Maybe keep that to yourself, his bear said.

And there was I thinking it would be my opening line when I give Samantha the flowers, Henry said wryly.

You are joking, his bear said.

What do you think? Henry replied as he approached the steps leading to the cabin.

I think it's a good thing fate is on our side, his bear answered.

Henry hesitated for a moment before he mounted the porch steps. He could sense Samantha in the kitchen, while the children were in the living room. The scent of homemade cooking, a rich pasta dish if he was not mistaken, wafted out of the cabin. It seemed surreal, someone else cooking in his kitchen.

It was as if he were an outsider looking in. But he didn't want to be an outsider. He wanted to be inside, with his mate, a part of her family.

And this was his chance to make that happen. To break down any barriers that might stand between him and his mate and their life together.

How hard could it be when, as his bear said, fate was on his side?

Brushing his hand down his borrowed shirt, he walked up the steps and across the porch and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Samantha called out, her voice sending an intense thrill through Henry's body. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and opened the door.

The warm, inviting scent of garlic and herbs enveloped him as he stepped inside. Samantha stood at the stove, stirring a large pot of sauce, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. She turned as Henry entered, a warm smile lighting up her face.

"Henry! You're right on time," she said, wiping her hands on a dish towel. Her eyes took in his appearance, lingering on the crisp shirt and the flowers in his hand. "Oh, those are beautiful," she said, sounding surprised.

"They're for you." He stepped closer and held out the bouquet. "I hope you like wildflowers."

"I love them," Samantha said, taking the flowers and inhaling their sweet scent. "They're so much nicer than store bought."

"I'm glad you like them," Henry said. "I picked them from my mother's garden."

Why tell her that? his bear asked in dismay.

Samantha looked up from the flowers. "Oh, I hope she won't mind!"

"Not at all," Henry insisted. "She'd be thrilled to know you like them."

Samantha's cheeks flushed slightly as she ducked her head and inhaled the sweet scent once more. "Well, thank you. They're lovely." She glanced around the kitchen. "I should put these in water. Do you have a vase?"

Henry moved to one of the cabinets, reaching up to pull down a simple glass vase. "Here you go," he said, handing it to Samantha. Their fingers brushed as she took it, sending a jolt of electricity through him.

"Thank you. I've always wanted to create a wildflower garden. It's on my list of things to do when we get settled." Samantha's eyes met his for a moment before she turned to fill the vase with water.

Henry watched, mesmerized as she carefully arranged the wildflowers. "We could create one here. In Tilly's secret garden," Henry offered.

"Tilly would love that." Samantha turned back to him. "I hope you like pasta. I made my grandmother's famous recipe. Well, it's famous in our house, anyway."

"I love pasta," Henry replied, his mouth already watering at the thought. "Can I help with anything?"

"Actually, you could set the table, if you don't mind." Samantha gestured toward the dining area. "I was going to ask the children, but they are busily working on the treehouse design. They want to share it with you after dinner."

"No problem at all. I'm excited to see their plans," Henry replied, moving to grab plates and utensils from the familiar cabinets.

"You might not be so enthusiastic when you see them. Lewis will probably have plans for a full-sized castle, complete with turrets." Samantha went back to stirring the sauce, an apologetic smile on her face.

Henry chuckled as he began setting the table. "A castle, huh? Well, I'm always up for a challenge."

As he arranged the plates and silverware, it all felt so natural. As if they had been preparing dinner together for years. The domesticity of it all filled Henry with a longing he hadn't realized he'd been missing.

"Kids!" Samantha called out. "Dinner is ready!"

"Coming!" Tilly's voice rang out from the living room, followed by the sound of shuffling papers and excited whispers.

Henry finished setting the table just as Lewis and Tilly burst into the kitchen.

"Henry!" Lewis exclaimed, waving a stack of papers in the air. "We've got so many awesome ideas for the treehouse! Want to see?"

"I would," Henry said, grinning at Lewis's enthusiasm. "I can't wait to see what you've come up with."

"After dinner," Samantha told her son.

Tilly entered the kitchen holding more treehouse plans, her eyes darting between Henry and her mother. "It smells fantastic, Mom," she said.

Did she suspect there was something between them? Children could be very perceptive. And if she did suspect, would she mind? Henry would have to tread very carefully. This wasn't just about Samantha moving on. It was about the children being ready to accept a new man in her life.

And theirs, his bear added.

"Thank you, Tilly," Samantha replied, giving a grateful smile. "Why don't you both wash up and then we can sit down to eat?"

As the kids hurried off to the bathroom, Henry stood awkwardly in the kitchen, unsure of what to do next.

"Can I help with anything else?" he asked, eager to be useful.

Samantha nodded toward the counter. "You could open the wine, if you'd like."

"My bear…" He closed his eyes briefly and cursed himself. "My brother reminded me I should have bought wine and flowers. Hence the hastily picked wildflowers."

Samantha laughed with amusement. At least he hoped it was amusement. "Well, I'd say you did pretty well with the flowers. And as for the wine, I've got us covered."

"I will get it opened," Henry said, going to the drawer and retrieving the corkscrew.

"I brought it with me to drink last night. A celebration of the move. But we both know how that turned out." She dished the pasta up onto plates. "But I figured we should drink it tonight."

As he opened the wine, he hoped Samantha saw this dinner as a kind of celebration. Of their friendship.

And their future together. But that might be wishful thinking.