I was in my townhouse’s study, sketching. I huffed a laugh as I rubbed out the pencil lines for the fourth time. This was definitely not my skill set. It seemed absurd that I was drawing when my mate was so much better at it, but I was determined to add a final decoration to the design in front of me that I planned to surprise Cherry with.
Finally, I’d successfully added the two cherries—her signature mark—to the sign. Then to the frieze, I would have the craftsmen work into the plasterwork of the building: the one I’d already bought to house Cherry’s design studio and clothing store in Seattle. After receiving the call from Cherry yesterday that she’d come back with me, the idea had sparked. In the early hours of this morning, I’d fallen asleep with my mate in my arms, blissfully content in the knowledge that we’d never be apart again. Yet, the thought of what Cherry was giving up had muddied my contentment. I’d witnessed firsthand the success and joy she’d found in central Berlin in her studio and store, and I was determined that securing my joy wouldn’t cost her hers. So, early this morning, I purchased this building in central Seattle.
I’d been in touch with an interior designer by noon and sent them photos and details of the layout of Cherry’s Berlin store. I’d had the designer model the same details onto the centrally located building in Seattle. The only thing I’d modified was the scale, allowing for the store, the client fitting room, and the design studio to be more spacious.
Cherry was due back shortly from her Saturday at the store. So, Fern and I locked up my townhouse and popped back over to the apartment. Once through the door, I put on a pot of coffee to brew, knowing Cherry would be beat from her overtime. No doubt it would have been a particularly taxing day, given that she’d have broken the news to her sales assistants and Maisy that she was relocating to Seattle.
As soon as Fern caught the scent of coffee, she asked, “Can I have a coffee catch-up with my teddies?”
With an indulgent smile, I made her some chocolate milk to put in her teapot. She’d taken to mimicking me and Bert, who liked to have a pot of joe on our daily catch-up calls about pack business.
I’d once heard someone say that imitation was the highest form of flattery. And I felt that truth whenever I watched Fern pretending to hold a work meeting with her teddies, imitating Bert and me. Worry had tugged at me initially over how Fern would take the news about everything that was soon about to change in our lives. But I’d felt Nuu-Chah’s guiding light and knew that Fern was meant to be part of the Starsmoon Pack. Besides, she’d have a lot more children to play with when she was back in Lord Hills. As part of the pack, she’d have tea parties with other children, not just teddies.
Moreover, she’d soon be outside in the great outdoors, running through the fields and woodlands of Lord Hills. Sureness gripped me. Fern was part of the Alpha line of Starsmoon and would quickly find her place in the pack. It was her destiny.