CB does not belong to me [though I wish it did], which is why I write on here instead of publishing my stories in book form.
So sit back and enjoy reading "A Holiday to Remember". Next posting is Sunday!
Part Five – Hot Cocoa and Eggnog
"Ya know, you two, this really is the best tree. Not extremely tall, but not too short, either. Surprised we could find one this height around here this close to the holidays," Ted grinned as he helped the other men strapping the tree carefully to the top of the bus. Thankfully it wasn't going to collapse the roof, though it was close. Any bigger and it probably would have. "How'd you find it, anyway?"
"Oh, when we were talking," Jewel responded, sparing a glance at Beary, who was on top of the bus, sorting out the straps with Fēnglì. They had decided not to say anything about their new relationship, opting to let the others think that they had merely worked things out, and for them to figure out the truth. A Christmas mystery, of sorts.
The females, meanwhile, were on the ground keeping the cubs in check while the little ones threw snowballs at each other and had some fun in the snow.
Allison shook her head as she helped Kristina with the snowball pile of her own, making sure she targeted Dex by the bus a few times – earning a playful roar in response from the annoyed adult. Both redheads smiled and laughed at the behavior of their fellow Barrington, while Norbert shook his head and ducked behind the bus before he was barraged with snow, too.
Jewel sat on a bench, looking up and watching Beary, a little annoyed that she hadn't been allowed up on top of the bus with him, but she did have a good view from where she sat.
"So, tell me, did you two make out?" Jade asked, plopping down beside her.
Jewel laughed and shook her head. "Nah, not yet. But I take it you figured out that we're together?"
"Of course. Unlike those dunderheads, I've known you two a lot longer. It's obvious." The black she-bear smiled and pulled Jewel close. "I'm glad you two are finally together. It's about damn time, actually."
"I know, right?"
"So what'd you two talk about?"
"That's going to remain private between us. Confidential," Jewel responded softly. "Please, leave it at that."
"Okay, okay. Keep your secrets. So why didn't you two tell the others that you're together now?"
"Eh, let them figure it out on their own if they can. We'll keep it to ourselves for now. They probably wouldn't understand." The golden teen fidgeted, messing with one of her bangles. "One of these days we'll have a real kiss. But what about his Christmas present?" She frowned a bit, wondering if he'd even like it.
"Whatcha getting him?"
"Well, I was thinking a kitten, but then I realized that Tabs is only about a year old. Then I thought about a new fish tank for his room, since his other one's broken, but I figured Henry would buy him a new one, since he's the one who broke it, so now I've decided on that fancy art kit. Over $150, and it includes a variety of markers, color pencils, chalks, erasers, pencils, an easel, a couple sketchpads, among other things. I bought it yesterday at our last stop – I was going to get it anyway, and was very glad when it finally came in after ordering it. Okay, and I'm picking up the male kitten tomorrow. A pretty white cat with a couple black paws. I've named him Blackpaw."
"Blackpaw? Why not Shadow? Or Tao? Black and white, right? So why not Tao, then?"
"Sure, Tao. Not bad. But we've been having a mouse problem, so Tao and Tabs are gonna be mousers."
"Good. Now then, what's this about Henry breaking the fish tank? When did that happen?"
"Last night. It was an accident. Beary won't tell me much about it." Jewel shrugged.
"He won't tell you? That doesn't sound like him." Jade frowned, not happy. "Jewel... Has Beary ever mentioned Henry getting angry with him?"
Jewel's eyes narrowed. "He was pissed off last night, I know that much. But that's because of what Lyra said."
"And the fish tank broke last night..." Jade was upset. Had Henry broken the fish tank on purpose? Had he meant to hit Beary, but moved at the last minute? Why and how had things gotten so bad between them? "What happened to the fish?"
"Tabitha ate it before Beary could grab it, from the sounds of it."
"Poor fish. I hope Tabs enjoyed her meal."
"Seems like she did, since they only found the skeleton. Beary's had that fish for years... He was understandably upset. But, he's decided that he wants a bigger tank anyway. At least 36 gallons. He's been saving up for it. Posted the information for it on the pin board in the kitchen. He was going to give his smaller tank to Lyra, though she can't see it. She liked the sound of the filter running, though, and the sound of the fish digging through the marbles to find any leftover food."
Jade smiled, thinking of the youngest Taylor – not counting the grandchildren. She turned her head and looked over at Lyra, who was being played with by Trista and Rachel, while Akela sat obediently beside them, making sure his mistress was cared for.
"Hey, Jewel! Get up here! We need your help!" Beary called, much to her delight.
Jade laughed. "Get going, ya dork."
Jewel hurried over, laughing when she was hoisted up by Fred and Zeb, and climbed over the tree to help Fēnglì and Beary finish strapping in the larger portion of the trees. "Honestly, you boys are hopeless."
"Aw, but you love us anyway, Jewel," Fēnglì responded with a smirk.
"Of course I do." Jewel gave Beary a wink and smiled at Fēnglì, who stared at them in surprise before grinning broadly. "Shh."
"It's about time," he whispered, glancing at Beary.
"Oh, shush." Beary stuck his tongue out at him. "We gotta get this done. Shh." He looked down off the bus. "Fred, we're ready for the strap!" Beary caught it as it was tossed up, while Jewel called for the second strap on the other side, while Fēnglì held the branches together. Working together, the trio got the strap through the buckle and tightened it to a perfect strength.
Checking the other buckles, they high fived and started to get down, falling back into the waiting arms of their family, before walking off to go to the bathroom and get into Jewel's vehicle as everyone loaded up.
"So, Jewel, have you given him the song you wrote him yet?"
"FĒNGLÌ!"
"Song?" Beary blinked and blushed. "You wrote me a song?"
"Damn it, Fēnglì." Jewel's face was heating up as she rested her head against the steering wheel. "I hate you."
"Aw, I know," the red-striped silver panda laughed. "And, you, Beary, have a song to show her, don't you?"
"Gah! Fēnglì!"
Jewel turned to look at Beary. "Really?"
"Mhm. He had me discreetly ask Ted about the song, wanting to know if it looked okay. Ted said it was great, by the way. He wanted to know who it was by, but I wouldn't tell him." Fēnglì grinned, loving the chaos he'd caused.
"Fēnglì?" Jewel asked, looking at her younger friend.
"Hm?"
"Get out," Beary growled. "Jewel and I need to talk, and you don't get to play referee."
"Aw, but you guys!"
"OUT!" they both roared, and Fēnglì got out quickly with a pout.
Beary moved up to the front and locked the doors. He glanced over at Jewel as she turned the ignition, started the car, and began backing out. "What, not gonna wait for them?"
"Nope. You and I are gonna go get a thing of cocoa and talk away from prying eyes."
"You and your cocoa," he laughed.
"Hey, you like cocoa, too, mister. Don't even give me that."
"Maybe I just like it because I like you." He blinked and started to laugh. "Well, I didn't have to fight down saying that anymore. Feels good."
"That's good. And you better not just like cocoa because you like me, mister! As complimentary as it is. Oi! Back that paw away from the CD player! Driver gets to pick the music!"
"Aw, but Jewel."
"Nope." Jewel grinned and pressed PLAY on the car CD player, grinning with the sounds of the Backstreet Boys filled her car. She glanced at Beary for a moment and laughed as he moved his shoulders and danced a little to the music. "Now where do you want to go? Starbucks?"
"Nah, too expensive. How about Jukebox? They have great cocoa, and at a low cost," Beary suggested.
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan."
.~*~.
"So, tell me about this song you wrote for me," Jewel implored as they took their seats at a two-seater booth in a corner of the coffee shop. Both lightly blew on their cocoa, letting it cool slightly. The mugs were decorated with whipped cream and sprinkles, the cocoa mixed with a bit of milk in it to add in the flavor.
Beary flicked an ear. "I was about to ask you the same thing. Well... I did write you a song, Fēnglì wasn't just screwing around. I called it 'I Promise You (With Everything I Am)'. Silly, I know, but... It's a love song."
"Aw, Beary..." She put a paw on his after reaching across the table. "Mine is 'How Did I Fall in Love With You'. Fēnglì laughed at me for that."
"He is a jerk at times." He squeezed her paw gently, running his thumb over the soft fur. "So when do I get to see this song?"
"When I get to see yours," she teased, purring at his touch. She leaned down and sipped her cocoa through a straw, smiling at the taste. "Try your cocoa!"
He nodded and leaned forward a bit too far, making contact with the whipped cream that went up his nose. He pulled back, startled, while Jewel squealed with laughter at his cream-covered snout.
"Ah, man!"
"Here, let me fix it." Suddenly she was beside him, licking his nose and lips, cleaning him off.
His body went hot with embarrassment. "Jewel..."
"Tasty. And this way, you don't have any leftover bits in your fur!" She grinned at her brilliance and sat back down.
"Yes, but now everyone's staring." He gave a quick glance around.
"Let them stare. I don't care. I'm happy, and maybe some of it will rub off on them," she teased before sipping her cocoa. "Now then, are you going to try again?"
He grinned, content with just watching her. How happy she was, how her eyes lit up, and how her smile brightened the room. Bending down, this time paying more attention, he took a drink of his cocoa. Then another. "This is good!"
"See, I told you cocoa's best with all the yummy toppings!"
"All right, all right, and the chocolate straws were a nice touch, too." He laughed. "I think I prefer the whipped cream to marshmallows, to be honest."
"Oh, there are some marshmallows in there, too. Under the cream." She shook her head, watching him poke through the cream to try and get to the marshmallows. "You're such a dork! Just enjoy it and maybe I'll go get us some burgers, too."
"Sure, why not. Wanna go see a movie? They have enough people to set up the tree, and we aren't decorating it until tomorrow. I'll pay for the tickets and concessions."
"Aw, are you planning a make out session?"
"What? No! People who go to cinemas to make out are stupid. If you're going to pay such a high price, then watch the movie! If you want to make out, go to a make out spot on the cliff that all the kids know about." He crossed his arms grumpily.
She blinked. "I didn't realize you thought so passionately about something like that. Well then, movie it is. What are you wanting to see?"
"Well, I thought 'The Tale of Despereaux', perhaps?"
"You... really are a kid at heart. You know that, right?"
"You don't want to see it?"
"Not really, no. I was thinking more like... 'Bolt'."
"The dog movie?"
"Yeah!"
He started to laugh. "I guess we're both cubs at heart, huh?"
"Indeed."
.~*A Holiday to Remember*~.
A few hours later...
"Where are they? They've been gone a while," Tennessee mused, not at all happy with how his daughter had just taken off from the tree farm.
"Oh, Tennessee, calm down. They obviously needed to talk, and they wanted to do so privately," Trixie chastised.
"Or they're making out," Fēnglì piped out. "You know, now that they're together!"
All movement in the Hall stopped, and several pairs of eyes focused in on the red-striped panda.
"Fēnglì?" Méngméng questioned. "Nǐ wèishéme yào bǎoliú zhèxiē xìnxī jǐ zìjǐ?"
"Yīnwèi wǒ xǐhuān zàochéng hǔnluàn, Mǔqīn."
"Confusion you have indeed caused by keeping this to yourself, little one," she scolded in English. "What a little troublemaker."
Fēnglì grinned and looked over at his twin siblings, barking at them in Chinese, sending them scurrying.
"Fēnglì!"
"What? I just told them to go cause trouble." He grinned and pulled out two folders from behind his back. "You know, Beary and Jewel have even written music for each other?"
"What? Let me see that," Zeb growled, grabbing the folders and looking in. One by one, each of the adults looked through the music.
Henry and Helen entered through the main doors, confused as to why everyone was gathered around something. Allison and Norbert shook their heads and made their way to the kitchen to start prepping for the dinner. As it was December 23rd, it was going to be a grand dinner, but nothing as big as tomorrow or the next day.
Helen hobbled to the group, confused. "What goin' on?" she asked slowly. When her eyes fell on the folders, she reached out for them. "Give."
Sheepishly, they were passed to her, and she held them against her chest. She turned to Fēnglì, eyes narrow. "How dare? They trust!"
He had the decency to look embarrassed. "Sorry, Mrs. Taylor. I just figured everyone should be on the same level about them."
"That up to Beary and Jewel!" she growled.
"Helen, calm down," Henry began. "Trista, Jacob, take your mother home to rest, please. Maybe take the other cubs, as I do believe it is nap time."
Trista and Jacob nodded, gathering up their own cubs, as well as directing the others to follow as they carefully led their mother out of the music hall.
Henry turned to the other adults, waiting until all the cubs were gone – except for Fēnglì, who did not take naps – and growled. "Seriously?"
"Oh, don't even start, Henry. You have no room to talk, either," Jade growled, thinking back to what Jewel had revealed.
"Jade, calm down. We were all at fault," Ted interrupted. He glanced over at Ray, who looked at Henry with an odd expression.
Henry was confused. What was Jade talking about? She didn't know about what had happened the previous night, did she?
"He knows what he's done, and if he doesn't cut the bullshit, I'll make sure everyone knows," she threatened.
Henry's eyes narrowed and he turned around, limping out. What the hell had Beary done?! Had he told them what had taken place?! He could feel his rage building up. How could his son do this to him? Tell people what happened between them?! Was he trying to sabotage his career? Their family? The holidays?!
He knew one thing for certain, and it was that Beary was going to get another talking to.
.~*~.
Jewel laughed again as she looked over at Beary after parking outside the Hall and turned off the engine. "I still can't believe you got sucker punched!"
"That's what I get for doing a good deed," he complained playfully, referring to a fight he had been breaking up inside the movie theater. "A black, swollen eye."
"You could have pressed charges, ya know."
"It was an accident. He didn't mean to hit me, so why lay another charge on him when he's already going to have a bad day?" Beary shrugged. "It's not that big of a deal, though it hurts like hell. Do I look that bad?" He pulled away the bag of ice, and Jewel flinched. "That bad, huh? Great. I'm going to be beautiful for the holiday concert." He sighed.
"Don't be such a baby. The swelling should go down by then, and no one's gonna see the bruising because of your fur, you big baby." She flicked his nose with her finger.
"Ow! Jewel!" He put his spare paw up against it, returning the ice pack to his eye. "Rude."
"Nah. Come on, I think Fred said he was making eggnog for our dinner drink tonight!"
"Eggnog? Fred's eggnog is the best! As long as he remembers not to put some almond milk into it this year like last year." He shook his head, remembering the horrified Fred and the emergency trip to the hospital because Beary's throat had swollen shut.
"Yeah, that was certainly eventful. He's been extremely careful with you ever since. Poor guy was so heartbroken," Jewel remembered. "Lyra was terrified. One moment you were holding her, the next you couldn't breathe and she was on the ground." She rubbed her arms. "It scared me, too... Been a long time since you had that bad of an episode."
"Hey, but I'm all right, aren't I?" He smiled and put a paw on her shoulder. "I'm here and alive. Something like that isn't going to happen again. Live and learn, Jewel." He pulled her into a hug after unbuckling. "Don't worry about it. I have you to take care of me now. You can be my food tester!"
"What? No!" She started laughing. "I'll be your food sniffer, but not tester!"
He grinned. "Is that a promise?"
She snorted. "For one night... and in return..."
"What?"
"You have to give me piggy back rides everywhere, except in the bathroom."
He laughed. "Deal."
Getting out of the car, Jewel jumped on his back, and he carried her into the Hall, where Tennessee and Zeb were starting to wrap garland around various pillars, while Trixie and Méngméng were wrapping garland around the staircase railings. The cubs were missing, though.
As soon as Beary and Jewel entered the Hall, all eyes focused on them, leaving them uneasy and nervous. "Uh, what's everyone looking over here for?" Beary questioned, concerned.
"Where have you two been?" Tennessee demanded, not amused. "You better not have been making out, or so help me..."
Jewel blinked and started laughing. "Daddy, you don't really think Beary would make the first move on a date to do that, do you? This is Beary we're talking about!"
"Hey!" Beary argued, though he knew she was right. "Fine, I'll give you that one." He set her down.
"Besides..." Jewel turned to him, wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him full on the mouth. He pulled back, tripped over a box of ornaments, and got himself stuck in a box of garland, eyes shocked. "Case in point," she finished with a laugh.
Tennessee's eyes narrowed, but he accepted this result. "Then where were you?"
"Grabbed some hot cocoa and went to a couple movies. Simple as that. Didn't make out or anything. Couldn't even get him to grab my butt."
"JEWEL!" Beary gasped, pulling his coat up to hide his embarrassment.
Tennessee snorted. "At least I know you can't get up to any trouble with him. He might keep you grounded, o daughter of mine."
Jewel took on a thoughtful look. "Well, he did convince me not to get a nose ring, so I suppose that's right."
Her father scowled and went back to putting garland on the pillars, while Zeb laughed a bit.
Jewel turned back to Beary, only to find Henry standing there, looking pissed off. "Oh, hi, Henry!"
He gave her a gruff nod and hauled Beary out of the box, leading him away for a talk. As soon as they were away from the Hall, out on the covered bridge, Henry turned to him. "I want you to know how disappointed I am in you."
"What? What did I do this time?!" Beary complained, confused.
"Telling them what happened last night?! You know damn well I did not mean to break your tank!"
"I didn't tell anyone but Trista and Jacob!"
"You did what?!" Henry clenched his fists. "Beary! Damn it!"
"I didn't tell anyone but them! And they wouldn't tell anyone, not even Mama! So stop jumping down my throat and being an asshole!" he growled. "They told me that this happens when you aren't busy, or when things aren't going your way. They've told me that you've threatened, but never gone through with anything! They said that this was your first time actually almost hitting one of your cubs, and it better be the last, Papa! If you so much as touch Lyra while angry, I'll beat the crap out of you, and that's a promise!"
Henry glowered at him. "This isn't about Lyra, boy. This is about you lying."
"Lying?! I didn't lie! I told you the truth!"
"Then why is Jade making threats, huh? How does she know?!"
"Jade? Like I know? She couldn't have overheard us, as I had been picking up Trista and Jacob from the airport alone when I told them."
"Then you better figure out what happened, boy, or so help me. This is no one else's business but family, and you're treading on some mighty thin water."
"If that's the case, then why doesn't Mama know, huh? Why haven't you told her that you're a psychotic bear who gets pleasure from threatening your kids? Or are you too busy pushing her around? Don't think I didn't hear you!"
Henry backhanded him and shoved him against a wall of the covered bridge. "Now listen here, you little brat! What happened with your mother last night was an accident! You have no idea what I've been through, how my mind and memories torment me. How I still have nightmares from my haunts. If you feel so strongly about me, then why don't you leave, huh? No one's stopping you! No? You're not going to leave? Didn't think so. Sometimes, your ignorance and arrogance make me question why I saved you from that banker! Your attitude as of late has really had me questioning! So why don't you shut your little pie hole about things you don't understand? Hm? Is that a good idea? Yes, I think so."
Beary stared at him, shaking. The voice his father was using was not one he was used to. It wasn't even his angry voice, but something else entirely. It was frightening, and he was scared, something he didn't like being.
"Do you understand, boy?"
"Y-Yes, s-sir," Beary responded, fleeing as soon as he was released. He didn't bother with a retort, far too frightened. He also knew he couldn't tell anyone about the encounter. They wouldn't understand, and it'd make things worse. Not to mention tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and he didn't want to ruin it for everyone else.
Finding a tree, he began to climb as high as he could, ending up a good thirty feet off the ground, pulling his coat close to his body against the biting wind as he settled on a thick branch and cried.
.~*A Holiday to Remember*~.
A few minutes earlier...
"Hey, Dad?"
Raymond Falco looked down on his short daughter from where he stood on a stepping stool hanging garland. "What is it?"
She waved him down, and, sighing, he got down. "I don't think something's right with Henry. He seems agitated, and I'm afraid he's taking it out on Beary," she whispered. "Possibly Helen, too. She's been nursing a head wound today, too."
Ray's brow furrowed at the thought. Henry being violent with his youngest boy and wife? That didn't sound like him at all. "Are you sure?"
"Positive, Dad."
"Fine, then I'll go talk to him. Did they go outside?" At her nod, he left the building, passing his work to the nearest bear, which happened to be her, leaving her garland pillar shorter than the rest of them – something the others spent the rest of the night teasing the short bear about.
Raymond sniffed the air and followed the scents of Beary and Henry out to the bridge in time to see Henry pushing his son against the wall and speaking harshly to him. Ray stay hidden from view, watching as the cub ran off. The tall bear waited a few minutes before walking onto the bridge, where Henry was staring out at the moonlit large pond.
After a few minutes of silence, Ray finally spoke. "Finally snapped, have you? I was wondering how long it would take."
"Go away, Ray. I don't want to talk."
"You're right, you don't want to talk. You need to talk before you screw up your family, Henry." Ray stood beside him, looking out at the water. "Look around you. This is all yours. You've raised a successful family so far, but your mind is starting to fray. You're getting angry and frustrated, kid."
"I'm not a kid, Ray."
"Then act like an adult! You need help, Henry, before you snap and do something more that you're going to really regret."
"Like what?"
"Beat your child. You've come close several times, from what I've heard. You actually broke his fish tank last night, from what Jade's told me, and I saw you push him up against the wall here. If you had actually hit him, I'd be laying you out on the ground there."
Henry's gaze lowered and he clenched his fists a bit. "I don't know what's going on. I really don't. I just... Lyra said something yesterday that she overheard Beary saying, and I guess it just..." He sighed, ears flattening.
Ray grumped a little and put his paws on the railing, still staring out at the water. "Why don't you tell me about it, then? Sounds like you could use a listening ear."
Henry didn't look at him as he began to talk, explaining what had happened the day prior, how Beary believed him neglectful because of his work schedule and the touring, and how Henry hated him for not only missing Helen's pregnancy, but Lyra's birth as well. How their confrontation had spun out of control, and Henry had lost his cool, swinging his cane and breaking the fish tank. Then he spoke of the night, how he had lost control, trapped in a nightmare, and when Helen had tried to help him, he'd pushed her back, injuring her, [He started crying at this point, too]. Finally, he spoke of the events of today, the altercation they had just had because Henry had been furious that Beary had told.
"Jade didn't learn from your boy, Henry. She learned from Jewel, who had mentioned it in passing as something she overheard last night," Ray responded.
Henry looked at him. "What?"
"Yup. So you better feel like an asshole, because that's what that was about: You jumping to conclusions. And what you said tonight? Saying that you were questioning why you rescued him from that banker? That was coldhearted, and I wouldn't blame the boy for hating you from now on. You deserve it, just from what you said to him. If it weren't the holidays, I'd slug you right now, but alas, I am going to be a good bear and not misbehave, or Helen and Cass will have both our butts." Ray shook his head. "If I were you, I'd find that boy and apologize deeply to him. Try to fix things the best you can. This feud is not worth losing your child. Take him some damn eggnog and talk this out before it gets too much later. If things are still awkward over dinner, I will punch you out. I came here to relax, not get into the middle of a family squabble."
"Yeah, you're right... I'll talk to him," Henry responded, glancing at him with a faint smile. "I was out of line and jumpy, but... But what about the nightmares?"
"We'll talk about those later. Right now, you focus on Beary. And for Pete's sake, give him a different name already!" With that, Ray walked away, leaving the older bear to contemplate what he'd said.
'Ray is right, I screwed up badly,' Henry thought. 'I have everything going for me: A loving wife, four beautiful children, two of which have lived successful lives, and two who haven't graduated from high school. Why am I letting these feelings get to me? Why I am allowing myself to slip? To attack Beary, who had done no wrong other than to rightfully point out that I am neglectful?
'But what if I can't fix things? What if I make them worse? Oh, I don't know what I'm doing anymore. Should I even bother? Maybe if I stay quiet, this will all blow over. No, Henry, stop thinking that way. It won't blow over, and you know it! You need to face this head-on before you lose Beary all over again. But what if he won't listen to me...?' Henry sighed softly, looking out at the water, gently moved by the wind. He knew he should go get the eggnog. Maybe that would help soothe things over between them?
'Might as well. Can't make things any worse,' he finished, turning and began limping back to the Hall, careful not to slip on the ice.
Upon entering and gathering up a thermos of eggnog and two cups, he ventured back outside, ignoring confused looks from his other family members. He just hoped he could get Beary to understand, and perhaps even help himself to calm down a bit. He wanted things to go back to the way they were, before...
He frowned. 'Before what, exactly? I guess his first year living here after coming home was great. He certainly loved me enough. Now that I think about it, he started acting out around the time of the second tour – the first one I went on. The world tour. That actually explains a few things, and I get why he says I'm neglectful. He saw firsthand that I was ignoring Helen, albeit unintentionally, and he had to deal with the consequences. Her unbalanced hormones, her fears that I wouldn't come back... He was left alone to deal with that.'
He sighed, ears flattening as he sniffed the air, locating his son's scent. 'I need to make this right again. But how? Talking's a start, but what about after that? Do I invite him along on the rest of the tour? No, I can't. He has school. I can't pull him out of that, but I also don't want to give up on the tour. The band needs their manager, and I don't trust them with another person. Not after what Rip did to them. I could put Ted in charge, but that might just end in disaster. A power trip for him. No, it's best that I do it on my own. I'd take Helen, but... But what about Lyra? I could take her, too, but then Beary'd be left out. But perhaps it's a good idea. He can have a break, and won't have the pressure left on him. Yeah, that'll be what I do. I'll tell him in a couple days, not tonight, though. After the charity concert.'
He finally stopped below a tree and looked up at his son, ears flattening when he heard him crying. How long had he been crying? Since leaving, almost thirty minutes ago? Henry couldn't believe he had actually made him cry.
Taking a deep breath, Henry called up. "Beary? Son, we need to talk."
Please review, as I want to know what you all think! Thanks for reading! See ya next time!