Page 173 of His Hungry Wolf

It was then that someone descended the stairs. He had Dr. Sonya’s shiny dark hair and smaller build. He looked about 17 but could have been younger. And he didn’t have anywhere near Dr. Sonya’s rapid-fire energy.

“Mom, do you know where my sneakers are? I can’t find them,” he said intently staring at the two of us.

“If you put it back in the same place when you take them off, you wouldn’t have to go searching for them every other day,” Sonya said with the exhaustion of a mother.

“Mom!” He said embarrassed.

“I’ll help you look for them later. Why don’t you prepare room two for our guests. I’m sorry, what’re your names?”

“I’m Cage and this is Quin.”

“You know me. And this is my son Cali.”

“Hi,” he said with a shy smile. The kid stared at us fascinated. I didn’t think he meant it to be rude. But, considering I was new to showing affection for another guy, it made me self-conscious.

“Cali? Now,” his mother said sending him back upstairs.

Sonya rolled her eyes as if to say, “Kids.”

“Everyone’s so friendly here,” I told her finally letting go of Quin.

“It’s a very friendly town. And you two will find yourselves very comfortable here. Glen and Tom are our resident gay couple but don’t think they are the only ones. I used to teach at the school. Believe me, I know,” she said with a smile.

“Have you lived here long?” Quin asked again turning into the detective.

“I moved here three years before Cali was born. I was just fascinated by the history.

“So, about 20 years?”

“This June,” Sonya said with a smile. “Time flies doesn’t it?”

“You wouldn’t happen to know of any mothers dying during childbirth or any babies going missing about 21 or 22 years ago, would you?”

“Oh, goodness no. That was before my time but it’s a small town. Gossip lingers. I haven’t heard anything like that, though. Is that why you’re looking for your father?”

Quin looked at me surprised. I hadn’t shared with him what my father had told me about my mother.

“Maybe. But it could be unrelated,” I explained.

“If you want, I could ask around about both,” Sonya volunteered.

“We’d appreciate that,” Quin offered.

“It’s ready,” Cali said reappearing on the stairs.

“Cali will show you to your room. I don’t know if you two have eaten yet, but the diner next to Glen’s place is open until 9.”

“Thank you. We’ll check it out,” I told her feeling very at home.

Approaching the foot of the stairs, I paused.

“I just realized I forgot the crutches in the truck.”

“Do you want me to go get them?” Quin offered.

“I think I’m good,” I said offering one hand to Quin while holding the railing with the other.

Cali waited for us at the top of the stairs. As soon as we got there he asked,