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She couldn’t tell her mother the truth. Mostly because her mother would think she was batshit crazy.
But also because even speaking about Timber, speaking about the life she had built with her bear man and his little cub daughter, would break her heart all over again.
She shook her head. Her mother waited for her to speak, still stroking her head soothingly.
Finally, Lyra found it within herself to speak.
But when she did speak, Lyra started crying again.
“I got attached to his baby. And I fell in love with him. And he … chose his secretary instead.”
The excuse she gave was better than the real one.
Lyra’s mother didn’t admonish her for something she had warned her daughter about. Instead, she pulled Lyra into her arms again as Lyra cried and cried.
TWENTY-ONE
TIMBER
He found taking care of Marigold by himself was not going well. He was struggling to do everything. Even the simplest things he was screwing up.
When he got up early the following morning, Marigold was hungry. He tried to be quick in making her bottle and managed to spill the milk powder all over the floor. Marigold screamed louder.
He tried cleaning it up, instead slipping in it and slamming into the table that was holding her carrier. Pain radiated over his knees and legs, and he cursed under his breath.
Marigold was screaming at the top of her lungs, and it broke his heart. He knew if Lyra were there, everything would be fine.
After finally making her a bottle, he sat down to feed her. He glanced at his phone, hoping for Lyra to message him that she had forgotten something. He wanted her back.
His phone was blank, and his stomach dipped. He chewed on his cheek … hoping … that was all he could do. He hoped she would come back. His bear roared for her.
Marigold looked at him, her fingers gripping the bottle as she ate. She blinked, and he took in her innocent eyes. He wondered if she missed Lyra like he did.
He heard Marigold toot, and then he smelled her poop. Marigold giggled and spat up milk. It splattered down her neck and over her outfit. It was going to stain. He moved quickly, reaching for a cloth when her poop stench smacked him in the face. He looked down, seeing she’d shit out of her diaper and through her onesie.
He had poop all over his shirt, and the stench was strong. He wrinkled his nose and looked down at her.
"All right," he said to her. "Time for a bath."
He pulled her up and headed for the bathroom. He turned the water on, and Lyra started to scream.
He rocked her, trying to soothe her, feeling he was failing as a father. These were all things he should be able to handle, and he wasn't doing so well.
Timber put her into the bathtub and allowed her to play with a few toys. He glanced at his phone, deciding to type out another message.
He'd sent her three already, asking her to come back. He'd asked her if they could talk. He'd asked her what he could do to fix things. His bear encouraged the thoughts, rumbling with the need for her.
She'd given him silence in return. He hated it. He wished she would yell or scream at him. He couldn't stand the silence.
You know what will fix it. You have to get the council to allow you to be with her.
He tried to wash Marigold when she started to scream and kick. Water flushed over the edge of the plastic tub, soaking the floor. She splashed with her hands, spraying water on him.
His clothes clung to him, and frustration was at an all-time high. He finally pulled her out of the water and into a towel when she leaked out more thick brown liquid.
She giggled as it spread down his shirt, dropping onto the floor. He just stood there a moment, feeling like a wreck.
He thought he had his life together a week ago, and now everything was falling apart at the seams. He couldn't even take care of his daughter, let alone give her the life she deserved.
