“She’s excited to give you more information or answer any questions you might have about the condition.”
Frank sidled up next to Tom as the audience broke out in applause again at Annie’s announcement. Out of his costume and dressed in well-fitting pants with a button-down shirt, Frank looked edible. He nudged Tom with his shoulder but turned his attention back to Annie.
“And as you know, the money from your ticket will go to help keep and preserve the Little Dorrit Bookshop. With the help of Mayor Jerry Englebottom”—Annie motioned to the Mayor seated in the front row— “and the town council, this building, first built in 1867 by Jedidiah Banks to be our first public library, has been tentatively declared a site of historical significance by the city of Waycroft Falls contingent upon state and local recognition within the next year. Thank you, Mayor Englebottom and council members.” Annie’s voice trembled a little at the end. The mayor and the few council members in attendance waved to the crowd as everyone clapped. Annie covered her mouth with both hands, the emotion spilling over on her face. Tom’s heart wanted to burst at seeing his sister so happy. Beside him, Frank blinked rapidly, the broad grin lighting up his face.
“I’ve always had a love of books.” Annie addressed the crowd again. “So it seemed doubly fitting when the site of Waycroft Falls’s first library became available for commercial use that I snatched it up for the Little Dorrit Bookshop. The walls of this building have always known books and lovers. Jedidiah Banks built this structure specifically to cater to his wife’s love of literature.” Annie paused.
“Reading brought them together, you see. While he recovered in a Northern hospital from an amputation received on the tail end of the Civil War, his nurse, Cassandra, would read to him. During their lifetime together, they discovered a mutual love of Mark Twain’s humor. They thrilled together to the adventures of Jules Verne and Alexandre Dumas. And they wept at the misfortunes of Charles Dickens’s hapless orphans.” Annie clasped her hands in front of her.
“We know this because of the letters Jedidiah Banks wrote to his mother. He had cursed the ball that shattered his arm, leading to the infection. His life changed forever in an instant. But it was Cassandra and books, he said, that saved him. In his melancholy, it was her voice and the words of her favorite authors that encouraged him to make a new life. He cashed out his assets, and he and his new wife moved South during reconstruction. They settled here in Waycroft Falls and built our first library, here where you’re sitting, so they could grow that love of books in the inhabitants of the town.” Annie cleared her throat.
“I petitioned the town council to designate this building of historical significance because it’s part of the history of Waycroft Falls. But I did it for another reason too. Because books and lovers are precious. And as long as this building stands in Waycroft Falls, books, lovers, and booklovers will have a home.” She bowed. The audience clapped until Annie held up her hands.
“That’s all the presentations we have.” Annie laughed. “Please see my brother at the bar for wine and beer.”
Tom chuckled. “That’s my cue.” He gave Frank’s arm a squeeze. “I’m so proud of you tonight. You were great.” Tom hesitated, tongue-tied as he remembered Frank’s declaration onstage. He wanted to shout the feelings that bottled up in his chest to the entire room, but instead what he said was, “I’ll talk to you later about the change in blocking.”
Tom grinned at Frank’s puzzled look. “Don’t forget to eat. The food’s already paid for.” Tom jerked a thumb toward the heavy-laden table of finger foods he’d seen the caterer bring up during Annie’s speech. He dashed through the crowd to John, who waved him behind the impromptu bar.
FRANK WATCHED EVERYONE part for Tom as he made a beeline for the bar and the line that was already forming in front of it. He ducked into place and served drinks with an air of professionalism, chatting to everyone who stepped up.
Had Tom missed it when Frank told him he loved him? No, he couldn’t have. Frank had seen Tom say Beauty’s lines back to him.
Like a sleepwalker, Frank got in line for the food. He barely registered the congratulatory praise and handshakes with neighbors and shop patrons who saw the show.
Did Tom’s response mean he accepted Frank, maybe loved him too? Frank grabbed two finger sandwiches and then backed into an alcove out of the crush.
Mrs. Anderson shuffled up to Frank as he swiped at the crumbs on his shirt. She grabbed his arm in a pinching grip as if she needed steadying or she’d fall. Wearing a burgundy velvet dress with her gray hair curled and makeup lining her eyes, she was unrecognizable as his landlady.
“That was good. Real good. You did a good job, Frank.” He easily heard her strident voice over the loud talking of the crowd.
He hadn’t even known she was coming to the play. He hoped she came away from it feeling better about having a shape-shifter under her roof.
“Thanks, Mrs. Anderson. I hope you weren’t put off too much by the change. That was me under all that fur, not some makeup.” Frank took a deep breath. He needed to tell her. This was the right time. It was public, with so many people right next to them, and he was done lying, hiding. “It was me that day with Tom too. I’m the dog he had with him when you evicted him. Well, I looked like a dog. I have Galen’s syndrome.”
Frank saw her eyes widen. Was it fear, astonishment? Then the old woman’s mouth split in a grin, her false teeth gleaming.
“I knew. I’ve known you had the curse since you moved in, young man. My husband Henry did too. God rest his soul. I knew the moment I smelled it on you. Wet dog.” She laughed and patted his hand. “I didn’t want that rascal Thomas bringing in any other dogs that might start a scrap with you. I’d never seen you manifest. But now I know…” She patted him again. “He’s been coming to visit, though, so I guess it’s all right.” She wandered off back to the food table.
Frank stood there for a moment, blindsided by his landlady’s revelation. He caught Tom’s eye from across the room where he’d been cornered by the mayor and the city council members. Tom lifted an eyebrow in inquiry. Frank warmed under Tom’s gaze and waved to allay any fears. This was good news. This was great news. He’d had allies here all along, and he hadn’t even realized it. He turned back to the buffet table behind him and popped a crab hors d’oeuvre in his mouth.
Frank had stuffed himself silly at the food table and talked to everyone in the room by the time the reception thinned.
“Hey, I forgot to give your phone back.” Tom shoved the phone into the pocket of Frank’s pants while getting in a clandestine grope.
“Mmmmmm.” Frank hummed as Tom’s fingers brushed against his cock through the thin material of his pocket. “Can we leave yet?”
“Almost. Just the stragglers left. As soon as they leave, we can go home, and I’ll tell you my good news.” Before Frank could ask, Tom straightened up. “Speaking of… Be right back.”
Frank watched him go to shake hands with the last of the town council before they departed downstairs.
In his pocket, Frank’s phone vibrated, startling him into taking a step back. He fished it out and thumbed on the display. A voice mail from his dad.
Frank pushed Play, the happy expectancy of a congratulation making him feel light. He hoped he was calling about the tickets for tomorrow’s show. Frank had wanted to see them tonight, but he understood getting a babysitter on short notice sometimes made last minute plans hard. He’d have to make sure the comps were there for the Saturday show.
“Hello Frank. It’s your dad.”
Frank’s smile slipped at the dour tone in his dad’s voice.
“I wanted to tell you, I got you message about the tickets to your play.” His dad sighed. “It sounds like a good play. Just…well, me and your stepmom won’t be coming, son. Shirley and I discussed it, and we don’t feel right leaving the twins. I’m not sure when we’ll be able to visit either. Shirley just started a new job. Robbie’s enrolled in a ballet class intensi
ve at the moment. And Joseph made the tee ball team.”
Frank strained his hearing and heard his father scratching at his beard. In the background Frank could hear his stepmom calling his siblings to dinner in the next room. One of them was laughing and telling Shirley about the television show they’d been watching.
“Maybe when the twins are older we’ll consider it.”
Frank’s shaky breath filled his lungs until they hurt. One in, one out. One-two in, one-two out. His inner wolf refused to settle, though, growling and pacing inside his head.
Because it should hurt. It should feel like the world was ending when your family slaps away every gesture of reconciliation. He half listened to his father rattling on about inconsequential things until he couldn’t take it anymore and snatched the phone away from his ear, pressing the Delete icon even though he hadn’t heard all the message. They’d hurt him enough.
Frank sat down in a folding chair and dropped his head in his hands.
He startled at a touch on his shoulder. Frank looked up into Annie’s smiling face
“Tired?” She sat down beside him.
“No. Yes.” Frank rubbed at his eyes. “My dad and stepmom called to say they aren’t coming tomorrow.”
Tom sauntered up. “It was an amazing show. We only have to do the same thing tomorrow night.”
Annie frowned. “Frank’s parents aren’t coming.”
Tom tilted his head. “You said you were leaving them tickets. Did they give a reason?”
“Yeah.” Frank dropped his phone on the floor. “They always have a good reason. They don’t want to see me.”
“Then they’re idiots.” Tom scowled, his lips thinning.
Frank shook his head. “No. No, it doesn’t matter.” But it did matter. Rejection from your parents shouldn’t happen. They were the ones who protected you, supported you. He stared into the faces of his friends. His father and his stepmother were no longer his family. These people were his family. The family that chose him.
As if an echo of his own thoughts, Annie cut in. “You’re a part of my family, Frank.”
“And mine.” Tom sat on Frank’s opposite side and took his hand. “I want you in my life, Frank. Just the way you are. I choose you, man or beast. I will have no other as husband and as lover.” Tom quoted Beauty’s lines from the play.
Annie patted Frank on the back but rose to join John across the room. Frank squeezed Tom’s fingers. “Yeah. They’re pretty words, but—”
“I mean them. I meant them when you saw me say them during the play, and I mean them now.” Tom swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I’d planned to go back to New York, but every time I thought about leaving you… The big city doesn’t seem so bright and shiny anymore. Nothing does without you.”
Tom stood and pulled Frank up by their clasped hands. He fisted the front of Frank’s shirt, drawing him closer until they were chest to chest, thigh to thigh.
“My friend Micah is boxing up my stuff as we speak. I called him an hour ago. When I saw you say you loved me onstage.” Tom leaned close, close enough Frank could taste the peppermint gum on his breath that he’d chewed earlier. “I’m staying for you, Frank.” He waited a beat. “Turns out I like complicated. Turns out I love you.”
Frank’s heart beat so hard he thought it might tear right out of his chest. “I’ll make it simple for you then. I’ll go wherever you’ll take me. I’ll even go back to New York with you if you want.” His words rushed out, making him breathless, his lungs unable to keep up with the urgency of his decision.
Tom’s mouth lifted on the sides. “Nuh-uh. I’m not going anywhere. The town council’s even found me a job. You’re stuck in Waycroft Falls with everyone that loves you—”
Frank kissed Tom then. He poured every ounce of happiness he felt into the kiss. And when he pulled back, admiring those blue, blue eyes that were just the tiniest bit dazed and the million-dollar Broadway smile changed to a shy one filled with hope and promise, Frank for once knew the perfect response.
“Then you must have both. The man and the beast.” Frank grinned as Tom recognized the lines from the play, eyes softening. “I’m yours. Yours, Tom.”
Did you enjoy the book?
If you did, please leave a review on Goodreads
[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36596391-wolf-around-the-corner]
or at your bookseller’s website.
It would be greatly appreciated!
But you are free to just enjoy the book, too!
Do you like exclusive giveaways
and free stories?
Interested in my upcoming titles?
Subscribe to Aidee’s Awesome News on my website at
https://www.aideeladnier.com to find out more.
Also by Aidee Ladnier
Wolf Around the Corner
The Moonlight Market
A Hundred Promises of Love
Elusive Radiance
Klockwerk Kraken Series:
The Klockwerk Kraken
Spindrift Gifts
Busted Labs Series:
The Applicant
The Break-In
Lawrence and Myrna Mysteries (with Debussy Ladnier):
Lawrence Frightengale Investigates
About the Author
Aidee Ladnier, an award-winning author of speculative fiction, believes that adventure is around every corner. In pursuit of new experiences, she’s worked as a magician’s assistant, been a beauty pageant contestant, ridden in hot air balloons, produced independent movies, hiked up a volcano, and is a proud citizen scientist. A lover of genre fiction, Aidee’s perfect romance has a little science fiction, fantasy, mystery, or the paranormal thrown in to add a zing. You can visit her website at https://www.aideeladnier.com/
Or join her at her favorite social media sites:
Tumblr: http://aideemoi.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aideelad/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aideelad/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aideelad/
Wolf Around the Corner Page 19