Chapter Nineteen
Byron bought them ice-creams from the small store across the road and they sat outside the library to eat them as they waited for Odin to return. Every few minutes, Jay would look around, trying to see if a different angle, a different moment, would help him remember this place. Had he been here before? Or was the book just something someone had given him?
Byron was disappointed that Jay didn’t remember though he did his best to hide it.
Restless, Jay stood, picked a direction and started walking. He heard Byron follow behind him, his pace slower. Giving him space. Right then, Jay wanted nothing more than to bury himself in Byron’s arms but there were already a lot of eyes on them and he knew that would only make things worse. Humans were funny about those kind of things.
They left the library behind as they walked past a scattering of buildings along the road. Here and there a store, a few houses. There was a bigger building further on and as Jay passed it, a bell rang out. Seconds later the doors opened and children streamed out into the yard, laughing and shouting as they played. Jay closed his eyes, focusing only on the sound. It was strangely familiar. He stepped close to the wire fence that surrounded the yard, crouching down as he reached it and peering through.
Byron was at his side a second later. “Jay?”
“I remember this place.”
“You went to school here?”
He shook his head, looking up at Byron. “No. I remember being here, outside. Watching them play. I wanted to play too.”
Byron was momentarily distracted by something in the yard before his hands surrounded Jay, pulling him to his feet.
“Let’s go. We’re attracting a bit of attention.”
Jay followed Byron’s gaze to see a woman standing in the center of the yard, her arms folded.
Byron turned them back towards the library.
“We had better keep a low profile from here on in. I really don’t want the local sheriff asking questions.”
“Why? We were just looking.”
“Adult males around schools, especially strangers in a small place like this, people tend to overreact.”
“Because they’re scared?” Fear seemed to be the cause of a lot of what people did as far as Jay could see.
“Exactly. They want to keep the children under their care safe.”
They sat back down outside the library. Jay heard their car in the distance and looked up at the same time Byron did. From another direction, a second car rolled to a stop in front of them.
“Speaking of sheriffs. Let me do the talking again, Jay. And whatever happens, do not growl.”
A man in a uniform got out, setting a hat on his head as he ambled towards them. Jay turned his attention to finishing his ice-cream cone and listened.
“Good morning, gentleman.”
“Good morning, sheriff.”
“Are you boys new to the area?”
“Just visiting for the morning. Looking up a family connection.”
“Is that right?”
“My cousin Jay spent some time here as a kid with a foster family. We don’t have the details so we’ve been trying to jog his memory by having a look around at the library and the school. I hope we haven’t caused any unease.”
“Close knit town like this, people notice change,” the sheriff said. “What was the name of this family?” he asked, clearly directing the question at Jay. Jay swallowed hard, glancing towards Byron.
“My cousin’s not much of a talker, Sheriff. Went through a lot of foster homes, didn’t have the best experience in a lot of them. Remembers Mongrave well because it was such a happy time. Can’t remember the name of the family, though. A lot of the bad stuff happened after.”
“I’m sorry to hear that but I am glad he’s got good memories of our town. We’re a friendly place. Have you got ID with you?”
“Of course,” Byron said easily. “It’s in my pocket.”
He pulled it out and handed it over.
“Jay, do you have yours?”
“In the car, with Odin.” Odin who had just pulled up across the road and was watching the interaction carefully.
Jay looked on as the Sheriff checked the ID and in amongst it was one of Byron’s business cards.
“Your family own that hotel chain?”
“That’s right.”
“My sister stayed in your place in Toscan, said it was the nicest bed she’d ever slept in.”
He handed Byron back his papers.
“Well then.” Byron picked up the business card, pulling a pen from his pocket and scrawling a number of the back. “If you or your family are ever considering another stay in one of our hotels, give this number a call and they’ll get you a special rate on your rooms.”
He held out the card, and the Sheriff took it. “Appreciate that,” he said with a smile, tapping the card against his hat.
“If you need to see Jay’s ID, it’s just across the road in my friend’s car.”
He gestured to Odin. The Sheriff turned to look, taking in the gear visible in the back of the car. “Camping trip?”
“At the edge of the Acorn Forest Reserve. Some beautiful hiking trails. We were so close to Mongrave we said we’d do it all in the one trip.”
“Well, then. I won’t keep you from it. How long will you be staying?”
“A few days, most likely. Our friend was just arranging accommodation at the cottages down the road.”
The sheriff smiled at that.
“That’s my sister Sally’s place. You won’t find nicer cottages in the area. You boys take care. If I can be of any help for county records and things, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll let folks hereabouts know you’ll be around the next few days.”
“Thank you, sheriff, we’d appreciate that.”
He tipped his hat at them, gave Odin a wave, and returned to his car.
As he drove off, Byron stood, helping Jay up before they crossed to the car and climbed in.
“What was that about?”
“Three strange men wandering around a small town. Sheriff just wanted to make sure we were on the level.”
“Better that than the locals coming after us with shotguns,” Odin joked. “Do you want to go straight to the cottage?”
“Actually, we got a lead of sorts from the library, if you’re not too tired. Not the name and address we were hoping for, but there’s an area which seems like it might have a population of shifters not far from here.”
“Then let’s go check it out,” Odin said.
“What if they’re not friendly?” Jay asked.
“Then we’ll beat a hasty retreat,” Byron assured him.
Jay sat back in his seat, struggling to sit still as his stomach flip-flopped. A cool hand slipped behind his neck, Byron’s fingers kneading gently across his skin.
“Hey, it’s all going to be okay. You’re doing so well, Jay. The librarian, the sheriff. It must have been scary for you but you kept your cool.”
“No growling,” he said, echoing Byron’s words from before.
“No growling,” Byron replied with a smile, leaning in to press a quick kiss to Jay’s forehead.