It didn’t matter how many times she went over things, Connie knew she couldn’t do this on her own. She needed help and the only people she could ask were her parents. Shoot. She didn’t want to, but if she wanted to move into town then she had to.
They were downstairs and she was aware they were worried about her and she was going to add to that. Connie knew she had to do this, so she swung her legs off her bed and went to join them in the kitchen. Her dad at the head of the table and her mom at his side, both of their heads turning to her when she walked in.
“Hi, darling, you want something to eat?” her mom asked straight away as her dad’s eyes locked with hers.
He knew something was brewing.
“No, Mom, I need to speak to you both.” Connie sat down, fiddling with the hem of her top nervously.
“Sure, what’s up?” her dad asked, all the while his eyes scrutinizing her.
“I know you’re aware I’ve been unhappy and I’m sorry that you’ve been worried about me . . . please don’t interrupt.” She held up a hand as her mother’s mouth opened. She had to get this all out or she’d stutter and make no sense at all. “I don’t want to upset you, so don’t think this has anything to do with either of you, but I’d like to go and live in town and get a job there.”
Her mother’s hand shot to her mouth, a soft sound escaping that was between a sob and a cry while her father just stared at her for a few seconds before he inclined his head. “You’ve thought this through, Connie? Really thought it through? This isn’t some kind of whim?”
Connie shook her head, trying hard not to look at her mom because she knew she’d crack and cry. “I’ve thought it through, Dad. I need a break from everything here and you know I’m not happy. Shit, everyone knows that. I’d like to do this but I need some help. I don’t have enough for a deposit on a place and I can’t get a job until I have a place to stay. It’s a catch twenty-two situation.”
“What will you do?” Her mother finally spoke, her voice high-pitched and laced with tears. “Who’ll feed you? Wash your clothes?”
She looked over at her mom, giving her a shrug. “I’ll do whatever I can, waitressing, working in a shop, anything. As far as looking after myself, I guess I’ll have to learn. It’s about time, don’t you think?”
“Waitressing?” Her mother turned to her dad. “Did you hear that? Our daughter is going to be a waitress.”
Her father nodded, reaching out to snatch one of her mom’s hands to steady it. “I heard and there’s nothing wrong with that. If she works and gets paid then that’s all that matters. Although, I assume you have something else in mind for the future?”
Connie sighed, knowing that question would come. He was her father after all. “Daddy, I just want to get settled first. Once I am, I’ll think about the future. This is kinda huge for me so forgive me if I don’t have everything else planned out just yet.”
“Of course,”—her dad’s free hand snaked out, reaching for her and she willingly took it, her own hand shaking as his strong one clasped hers—“we’ll help you, baby. I just want to know one thing . . . will you allow me to vet the place first? I don’t want you in a run-down slum. Please? For your old man’s peace of mind?”
“Of course, Dad!” She launched herself out of her seat and into his arms as her mom started to cry.
“Our baby’s leaving.”
“We need to go to Chad and ask his permission first, Connie,” her dad mumbled as she smothered him.
“I know.” Connie squealed, happy and excited in equal measures. “But if we have any problems with him, don’t worry, I have a secret weapon in the sidelines.”
But they didn’t need Caitrìona. Or any kind of wheedling for Chad to agree to her leaving the Camp and moving to town. In fact, he offered to help her find a place, well, not him exactly, he called Cody who ran Silvers the Shifter club and asked him to help. And as Cody was a member of the Pack, Connie knew he’d look out for her and it certainly put her mom’s mind at ease that Cody would be helping. Although when he’d offered her a job at Silvers her mom almost had a heart attack.
That wasn’t what Connie wanted either, but if she didn’t find something else then she might have to take him up on the offer. But first things first, she had to go view the apartments he’d set up for her, and that’s where she and her dad were headed right now. She was grateful that he’d managed to talk her mom out of coming because although she loved her to death, she just knew her mother would find fault with every single place they saw. Not that her father wouldn’t, but at least his would be valid, probably.
The first was definitely not for her. It was tiny, dark, and over a pizza parlor with the scents wafting up and into the apartment far too overpowering for her sensitive nose. It did have good points, being central and cheap, but she couldn’t see herself living there, so they were headed over to number two on the list.
As they drove along the main street, Connie realized she felt happier than she had in ages, and looking at the town with fresh eyes, she saw it as a new beginning for her and noticed how clean and well looked after it was. Usually she only came in to go to Silvers, or run a quick errand, and she rarely took the time to see the town itself. Now she did and it looked better than she’d hoped.
“It’s just down here, Con, off Main Street, so you’d be pretty central.” Her dad pointed off to the right. “Looks like a good area too and the rent’s reasonable. We can do the deposit and three months for you, sweetheart, the rest is up to you.”
Her heart stuttered, shoot, she was really doing this. “That’s more than I could ask for, Dad. Thanks so much.”
“You’re welcome. Now, let’s see if it’s any good, huh?”
He pulled off onto a tree lined road that was quiet, with a young woman pushing a stroller and a small dog walking beside her. As they slowed down to check the house numbers, she raised her hand and gave them a smile and a wave, her dad automatically returning the gesture. “Friendly.”
“Yeah.” Connie smiled, concentrating on locating the apartment. “There! Dad, it’s that one.”
“Nice,” her dad commented as they stopped at a large house that had been broken up into separate condos. “Let’s go and see if it’s as nice inside.”
“I hope so.” Connie grinned. “Location is perfect. I wouldn’t need to get a car if I stayed here.”
“No, there is that.” Her father agreed as they got out.
As the letting agent came to meet them Connie stopped in her tracks . . . a divine scent hitting her nostrils and almost flooring her. Her head snapped around in search of the source, her eyes scanning the area, her nose twitching towards Main Street as her Wolf rose inside her to pad around uncontrollably. Shoot, now was not the time for her to misbehave. Not in front of a human.
“Behave!” she chastised her, all the while the delectable aroma assaulted her senses, invading her and settling inside her and causing her stomach to do somersaults and clench with . . . what? She was trying to decide exactly what was going on when her father took hold of her elbow, and pulled her around.
“Connie! Hey, come on, the lady is waiting for us.”
And then it was gone. As fast as it had come the scent dissipated and left her feeling as if she’d lost something important. Sadness settled in her belly as she allowed her dad to tug her away, her eyes darting back again toward Main Street with wonder and thoughts of what the hell had just happened.