The Dance

Chapter 173 Our Future

Bam brought the skiff out to the Virtue to ferry everyone back to the beach. "Great looking boat, man."

"Thanks bro. With another Brown on the way, we needed something bigger." Matt stroked Jill's belly lovingly.

Lucas flew into the skiff with the help of Bam followed by Jill and Matt. Red climbed in next much to the surprise of Bam. Bam tilted his dark shades casting a look of approval to his younger brother. Bear followed giving his older brother a hug. "Bam, this is Rose."

Red extended her hand. "It's just Red."

"Welcome to Browntown. I was beginning to think we had lost Bear to the big city of Hoonah forever."

Both Bear and Red laughed nervously at the comment. They both understood the importance of her visit and both were unsure of how that experience would play out. Bam navigated the family back to shore where the rest of the Browns patiently waited. The reunion was sweet for everyone. Red and Bear stood quietly to the side and waited to the end of the hellos to introduce Rose.

Ami and Billy approached Bear and asked him who the lovely woman was that stood next to him. "Ma, Da, this is Rose, my girlfriend."

Rose handed Ami the basket of baked treats she had made. "Rose owns her own bakery. She's an excellent baker."

"We look forward to trying your goodies." Ami peeked in the basket. "Welcome to Browntown."

Gabe and Noah remembered Red from Matt and Jill's wedding and the weekly trips to the bakery with Bear.
Rain and Bird were thrilled to see another woman in Browntown. Finally, the ratio between men and women was balancing out.

Everyone was a little surprised to see Bear so still once he hit the beach. They attributed his uncharacteristic calmness to his new love interest. He still loved the outdoors but he now harnessed his energy in a new direction. Rose was good for Bear and Bear was perfect for Rose.

Bear and Rose trailed behind the rest of the family stopping to look at his favorite spots along the way. "It's quite lovely out here."  Rose took a deep breath and exhaled. "I can see why you like it here."

Bear squeezed her hand tightly. "It's only more beautiful with you here."
Rose fought back the tears. No one had ever paid her a more lovely compliment. She fumbled for her sunglasses to hide her emotions. Bear had turned her normal little bakery life upside down in a matter of a few short days. Her life had been relatively uncomplicated until she had agreed to one date and from that point forward everything had changed. Emotions had been unleashed and feelings long buried had resurfaced. She thought she couldn't love again but there it was, patiently waiting in the wings, to make its grand entrance into her life whether she was prepared for it or not.

Bear finished escorting Rose to the main compound pointing out Lila and Bam's home, his parents' cabin, Matt's old tire house, Noah's chicken coop and lab, and the trapper shack that Gabe now inhabited.

"And that up there..." Bear pointed skyward..."is my treehouse."

Red's eyes turned upward and spotted a red car door attached to a structure in the tree. "That's where you live."

"It's more like where I sleep. I live out here." Bear turned in a circle pointing in all directions. "Want to see it?"

Rose nodded without saying a word. He led her to the ladder and asked her to climb in front of him. She made her way up into the treehouse and he quickly followed behind.

"This is what I needed you to see. This is my life." Bear stood quietly and didn't say a word. Rose tried to understand it all but the only thing she could say to him was, "I can't do this."

She started to turn but Bear reached for her arm. He pulled her in closely and rested his arms on her shoulders. She hung her head not wanting him to look at her disappointment.  He gently lifted her chin with his hand until she had no choice but to look at him. "I'm not asking you to live here, Rose. I'm asking you to see who I am. See what makes me who I am."

Rose sighed heavily. "What's wrong baby girl?" He knew something wasn't right. "Bear, I can't live out here full time. My home, my business is all in Hoonah."

Bear began to speak. "I know."

"Let me finish." Rose held his hands. "Baking saved my life. It gave me a purpose after trying to kill myself. It taught me to be patient, to appreciate how something beautiful can be made from simple things. Bear, I want you to be in my life but I can't give up the bakery."

Bear interrupted again. "I'm not asking you to give up the bakery. I have a plan." Bear pulled her to a seated position and sat across from her. She listened intently.

"Matt's offered me a permanent job at the sawmill. His business has increased and he needs the help. I'll be moving to town and I already have my place with Matt and Jill. I was thinking we could see how things progress from there."

"But what about the hauling business and your life here?" Rose asked with intensity.

"With two boats in the family, it will be easier to get home to help. We can always come home for long weekends and I can work on building a bigger space for when we visit...something a little more spacious."

"You would do that for me?" Rose thought he was giving up to much of himself.

"I'm doing this for us." He paused and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small bag and handed it to her. "I see a future with you Rose."

Rose opened the bag and a silver bracelet with a heart dangled from it. "It has your initials on it."

Red flipped the heart over and read the initials outloud. "RRWB."

"Bear, are you trying to ask me something?"

Bear smiled at Rose. "All in good time Ms. White. Now about that rain check?"

Bruno Mars- Just the Way You Are