Ambereye

by Gill McKnight

  “Well, I was going to woo her like you said, and pace myself and everything. But she saw me in the river—”

  “Yeah, I heard all about the ugly bear story.”

  Jolie ignored his jibe. “So Hope asked me what was going on, and I told her, because it seemed like the right time. But she got upset.”

  “What did she do?”

  “She told me to go away and let her think about it and we’d talk later. And that’s what I’m doing.”

  “So you didn’t sit down and discuss it then and there?”

  “No. She wanted space…and maybe to work for you again,” Jolie finished quietly. “If she doesn’t leave Ambereye altogether.”

  Andre digested this. “You let Hope take control at a time when you should have been guiding her through the process of understanding and accepting your wolven side.”

  “You told me to wait.”

  “You need to talk about this now,” he stated bluntly. “You should never have allowed her distance. With distance comes disbelief, which is great when we don’t want humans to believe in us, but crap if you’re trying to charm one into becoming a mate.”

  “But she said—”

  “Go talk to her.”

  “But—”

  “Now. Go. Right this minute. Go, find, talk.” He practically shooed her out of her own office. “Must I write the script for every little move you make?”

  “I can’t find him anywhere.” Hope’s voice quivered with anxiety as Godfrey jogged up to her. They stood together at the park gates looking left and right, anxious for a glimpse of Tadpole.

  Godfrey delivered his bad news. “He’s not by the postbox either. And that’s a favorite spot.”

  They had been scouring the neighborhood for nearly an hour.

  Godfrey had called to collect Hope to go for a walk across the park to their favorite coffee joint. They agreed they needed a latte and a massive catchup, with all the juicy trimmings. No sooner were they through the park gates than Tadpole’s ears jerked upward, his nose buried itself in the grass, and suddenly he was off at full tilt and soon out of sight. Hope had no idea what had possessed Tadpole, and no amount of calling could halt him or bring him to heel.

  “I can’t believe it. He’s never been the same since Little Dip. It’s like that valley’s a curse.” She was close to tears. Godfrey hugged her tightly.

  “Look, let’s head back home and see if he’s sitting on the doorstep waiting for us. What do you say? If he’s not there we’ll come back out for a second look, okay?”

  “Okay.” With one last miserable look up and down the park, Hope turned to follow him.

  Their walk and talk had become a disaster. Hope’s heart sank.

  Losing Taddy in the city was just as frightening as losing him in the woods. And this time there was no Jolie to rescue him.

  As if on cue Godfrey asked, “Is that Jolie’s car?”

  He pointed up ahead to Hope’s house. Hope looked up from her brooding thoughts. It did look like Jolie’s dark green Rubicon. She picked up her pace. As she drew closer a blob of ginger fur appeared at the passenger window. Next an excited reedy bark assured her she was not deceiving herself. Tadpole was sitting in Jolie’s Jeep!

  “Taddy. She’s found Taddy. Wow. They must be superglued or something.” She broke into a cautious trot, aware of Godfrey jogging along on her blindside.

  Seeing their approach, Jolie slid out of her vehicle, a joyous Tadpole wriggling in her arms.

  “Look what I found sitting on my doormat.” She offered up her precious cargo.

  “Oh, Jolie. Thank you so much, once again. I was worried sick.”

  Hope scooped Tadpole out of Jolie’s arms with a big smile that made Jolie puff with pleasure.

  “Your doormat?” Godfrey asked dubiously.

  “Yup. Well, the apartment block doormat. How the hell he managed it, I’ll never know.” Jolie knew damned well that the runt had picked up her wolven scent and had followed his wolf buddy all the way across the Willamette. The real mystery was how he was not lying squashed on the roadside somewhere along the way.

  Godfrey raised a cynical eyebrow, and she had the grace to blush slightly. Luckily, Hope was so engrossed with alternately scolding and kissing the dog she failed to notice the exchange.

  “You realize that you’re on a leash forever, buster. In fact, pull any more stunts like that and it’s a ball and chain, okay.” Hope was chastising him nose to nose. “Uncle Godfrey and Mommy were looking everywhere for you. Yes, we were.”

  Jolie rolled her eyes and began to shuffle from foot to foot. Happy as she was to deliver furball safe and sound, and earn some badly needed hero points, she was unsure if she should stay or just melt away.

  Godfrey’s presence was in the way of her heart-to-heart with Hope.

  She had gone home to change clothes and to call Hope to see if they could meet for a talk, as directed by Andre. Finding Tadpole sitting, tail thumping, by her apartment stairwell was a real surprise and an added bonus. It gave her the perfect opening. When Hope didn’t answer her phone, she quickly guessed Tadpole had been reported MIA and Hope was probably out looking for him. Even better. Jolie would be his deliverer, and she remembered what happened last time she’d saved Tadpole. The memory of that kiss and night of passion had been replayed a million times in her head since their return.

  Dressed in jeans and an old sweatshirt, she gathered up her furry little brownie point and headed over to Hope’s house. At least the pup sitting on the passenger seat beside her assured her a positive welcome.

  She wasn’t too sure what else to expect, especially after last night’s show-and-tell wolven visit. Jolie would happily settle for a cup of tea and hopefully the talk Andre was badgering her to have.

  What she hadn’t expected was for Godfrey to be there, too. Now she glared at him, hoping he’d get a clue and clear off. Instead he smiled slyly back, knowing damn well the little dog had followed Jolie’s wolf scent. Her shoulders slumped. It wasn’t cool to prowl around Hope’s neighborhood like a lovesick coyote. She hated being caught out and felt like an idiot.

  “Let’s all have a cup of tea. I’ll make it.” Godfrey strolled toward the house, Hope following close behind. Scowling even more, Jolie brought up the rear.

  “Yeah, Uncle Godfrey, go make some tea,” she muttered.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Guess what?” Godfrey swanned into the living room, cell phone in hand. “Uncle Andre is coming over for lunch. Isn’t that great, Taddy?” He was addressing the dog, but his eyes were firmly fixed on Jolie. She frowned back. What was his problem, and why was he looking at her like that?

  “Oh, what will I make?” Hope was on her feet. Godfrey grabbed her arm and pressed her back down into her seat.

  “Calm yourself, princess. He’s dropping by Giorgio’s to collect a mixed sandwich platter. I’ll make coffee as soon as he arrives. It’s all under control.”

  Andre arrived twenty minutes later and handed his offering over to Hope with a quick kiss on the cheek. Godfrey and Hope headed for the kitchen to prepare lunch, leaving Andre and Jolie alone in the living room.

  “Have you been skulking round this house in wolven form?”

  Andre immediately hissed in her ear.

  Jolie was mortified. So this was what Godfrey’s little side glances were all about. He’d ratted her out to Andre.

  In the kitchen Hope and Godfrey set about preparing lunch.

  “Finally, peace to gossip. So, what’s the state of the nation?”

  Godfrey fussed over individual plates and napkins while Hope sorted out the coffee cups. “What do you make of ole fuzzy ears, now that you know the family secret?”

  Hope stopped what she was doing and turned to look at him, a little taken aback.

  “It’s no joking matter. These people are…werewolves. Like in the movies. Only not. They are here in the city, and at my work, and in my home—waiting to be served sandwiches with little napkin triangle
s. Godfrey, it’s just so unbelievable. Didn’t you find it unbelievable at first?”

  “What? We live in an age of space travel, moon walks, cloning, laser beams, and painless waxing. All those fantastic stories from our youth are now true, now everyday reality. But not the scary monster stories? Are they the only unbelievably fantastic thing that can’t possibly come true?” He raised his eyebrows at her mockingly.

  “Where do you go for this painless waxing?” She sidetracked away from the difficult thoughts.

  “Don’t digress. I know all your timid little tactics, girlie. Are you telling me you were absolutely clueless, even after she bit you? And let’s not mention the mammoth bonkfest, which you were unladylike enough to brag about, by the way?”

  Hope’s face burned. “Well, it has been a long time since I attended a bonkfest, and yes, I did wonder a little at Jolie’s uncanny stamina.” A private smile flitted across her face before she could stop it, earning her a buddy arm punch from Godfrey.

  “There ya go,” he crowed, “fantastic creature clue number one. Unstoppable love machine.”

  “But it never occurred to me I was sharing my bed with something a little less than human. Or is it more than?” She frowned.

  “Look, hon,” Godfrey continued in more sober vein. “It’s not going to be a quick adjustment. But you can go at your own pace. The big question is do you want to? Would you like to keep seeing her? Because I’m your friend, and I’m telling you I think you got a keeper there.”

  Hope looked at him dubiously. “The werewolf thing is freaky. I could barely look Andre in the eye when he came in. It’s such a shock. I’ve known him longer than you, and you never once gave me a clue, you bastard.”

  “You know I couldn’t do that. I bet you’ve been subconsciously hugging the secret to your chest, too, since you found out. Well, haven’t you?”

  Hope nodded; she had to admit she’d been curiously protective of Jolie since their return, especially with Candace and the boys in the office. She’d even worried for the great hulking creature that visited her last night. Jolie as a wolf was beautiful, and Hope had found herself fussing, and caring, and worrying about her the same as she did in the office. The line between human Jolie and wolven Jolie was blurring for her.

  “I swear, Hope, before he broke down and told me, I had an idea something wasn’t adding up with Andre.” Godfrey leaned back on the countertop beside her. “I actually thought he was addicted to Viagra or cocaine or something. His energy and sex drive was so crazy. It wasn’t until we visited Little Dip and I saw the weird link the Garouls have with nature and that valley that I began to guess. But there was nothing in his city face to give him away. Humans are so wired and stressed in the city. And there are so many wackos out there, too. It’s the perfect hiding place for an otherworldly creature. I’d never have figured out if we hadn’t gone to Little Dip.”

  “Yes. I just thought Jolie was a little odd when I first met her. And when I went to work for her, well, I thought she was a nut.”

  “She is, hon. The sweetest nut on the tree. Trust me.” He began to give her his top tips. “They are so easy to manage, Hope. Quite docile really. Loving and loyal. No nasty surprises. But big on energy, especially sexual energy, and very, very passionate. What you experienced, your little bonkfest? That’s just a typical early night, after a favorite TV show and a cup of cocoa.”

  “I don’t think I’d survive a week.” Hope’s face burned at the thought, even as her toes tingled happily.

  “Nonsense. All you’ve got to do is hang on to the headboard for dear life. And feed ’em lots and lots of big, stamina building meals. I’m never done cooking for those two.” He nodded toward the door. “See? Look at the fun we’re having gossiping about our other halves.”

  He gave her a big, happy grin, clearly loving that she was now in the know and he could openly share.

  “We can hook up with Amy and have some fantastic gossip sessions about our Garoul mates. Think it over, sweetie. I’m telling you, you’ve got a good person in Jolie. And a very fetching wolven. Talk it over with her. At least do that much, because she’s pining for you. And if you dump her she’ll fret and begin to lose her hair, and shed all over my carpets.”

  Hope thumped him playfully. “You’re such an idiot, Godfrey Meyers. But I will talk to her. I do like her, you know, and I don’t want to hurt her.”

  Godfrey smiled. “You don’t fool me. You more than like her. You just need to feel a little more secure before plunging right on in.”

  “Can I help you with those?” The question came from behind Hope as she was loading the dishwasher. The boys had left fifteen minutes ago, Andre offering Godfrey a lift home before swinging back to the office. Now Hope turned to see Jolie hesitating in the doorway.

  “I thought you’d gone with the boys.”

  Jolie shook her head. “No. I was just talking to Andre before he left. I can go if you want.”

  “Are you not going back to work?”

  Again Jolie shook her head. “No. I took the afternoon off. I was wondering if you’d like to walk in the park? Tadpole won’t stray. If he does, I’ll go after him.”

  “I have a feeling he’ll stick like fuzzy felt when you’re around. He followed your trail earlier, didn’t he?”

  “I’m sorry. I never thought he’d do that. Sometimes I go for a late night run in the city parks. Nothing ever follows me home.”

  Hope closed the dishwasher door.

  “Somehow I think your idea of a run in the park isn’t the same as mine.” She straightened up and looked out the window at the day still bathed in sharp winter sunlight. “Okay.” She made up her mind. “It’s still a nice day. Let’s go do something positive with it.”

  They sat on a park bench. Tadpole lay slumped at their feet, exhausted after playtime with Jolie.

  “Jolie, what do I do with this secret?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean am I bound to it somehow, because I know about you and your family?”

  “Who are you going to tell? The National Enquirer? Ghostbusters?”

  Jolie shrugged.

  “Maybe Oprah?” Hope snipped, feeling silly now. “You know what I mean,” she said defensively.

  “Oprah already knows. She’s one of us.”

  Hope’s head whipped round to find Jolie’s eyes dancing with mirth at her gullibility. “Not funny, Garoul.”

  “Hope, I know you think you’ve discovered something awful that will change your life. But it’s not like that. You’ve known Andre for years. His friendship for you hasn’t altered. Nor has Godfrey’s. They still love you. In some ways I think it’s a relief for them that you know.”

  Jolie began to fiddle with a small splinter on the seat planking. “I’m glad you know, too. No matter what happens between us,” she said quietly. “I wouldn’t have told you, or felt like this, if it didn’t feel right. If you weren’t the one for me.”

  Hope stared intently at her. “How do you know that?” This was the crux of her problem: how could Jolie be so certain when Hope was still floundering? “You didn’t even want me near you when I began working for you.”

  “Well, you were a pain in the ass. You stole my chair.”

  “That was my chair, and you damn well know it.”

  “And you tricked me out of my stapler.”

  Now that Hope thought about it, there’d been clues everywhere.

  Her gaze dropped to the wolf ring on Jolie’s little finger. “I gave you the wolf paw one.”

  “It broke the same day. I was conned,” Jolie grumbled.

  “That chrome stapler also started out as mine,” Hope reminded her. “Is this how it’s going to be, Garoul? All of mine is yours?”

  Jolie looked up at her, her eyes burned into Hope’s.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m afraid it’s going to be tofu burgers and savory rice. That’s all I got in. Tomorrow I do my big grocery shop.” Hope rummaged in the kitchen cupboards.
“Oh, and corn, I have a can of creamed corn.”

  “Sounds great.” Jolie lounged by the kitchen door, keeping well out of the way. “Can I help with anything?”

  “Pour some wine. The glasses are to your left in the tall cupboard. There’s an opened bottle of white in the fridge. I hope it’s okay.”

  Hope was nervous and fussing now. On pure impulse she had invited Jolie to stay for dinner. It was madness since she had nothing in the house to cook with. “Maybe we should just order in.”

  “Burgers and rice sound good,” Jolie reassured her, and passed over a cold glass of Riesling. “But we can order takeout, or even go out if you wish?”

  “No, I’ll rustle something up.”

  Hope began preparing the simple meal, aware that Jolie stood watching her every move. Curiously, Jolie’s proximity in this little domestic tableau relaxed Hope. She’d expected the opposite.

  They ate in front of the TV like couch potatoes, watching a mindless cop show, as if they’d done this a million times before. Then Jolie cleared away their plates and came back to join Hope, pulling Hope’s feet onto her lap, rubbing her stocking toes.

  “I want us to try. You’re right for me,” she said quietly, out of the blue. Hope looked over at her.

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Mother Nature told me. And she’s smart,” Jolie said with a wry smile, and tweaked a ticklish toe.

  “What did she say?” Hope felt the corners of her mouth lift despite herself.

  “She said you need love because love will help you heal. Inside and out. And she told me I’m the one to love you. I’m the best one for the job,” Jolie stated with authority, nodding firmly to underscore the correctness of her words.

  Hope raised her eyebrows. “Is that a fact? And what do you get out of this stupendous deal?”

  “I get to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  “And I get a werewolf.”

  “A very loving werewolf. You’ve been to Little Dip. You met my parents and family, some wolven, some not. You know Godfrey and Andre from way back. You’ve met Amy and Leone. All mixed couples. These are people who just fell in love, and it doesn’t matter about differences. They look at each other and they don’t see those things. I want to be with you. I know it can work. I grew up with this. I see it every day when I look at my parents, or my cousins, or my brother and his partner…and you’ve seen it, too.”