“Why are you so excited about this date? What is a date specifically?”
“Well, dating is how humans determine if they want to partner with another human. Typically it consists of an agreed-upon activity, either beverages or food are commonly involved, and the two people spend time talking about their lives, likes, dislikes, future goals, that kind of thing.”
“I see. And this date tonight, with the coyote, Janice? Is this a potential mate for us?”
“I honestly don’t know. I haven’t been interested in anyone in a hell of a long time. I moved out and isolated myself from people for the most part after my last relationship failed.”
“It failed? Did your mate die?”
“No, not that. It was a fantasy. Fake. She decided to sleep with other people and not tell me. She lied and stayed with me because of my artwork. She worked in a gallery that I was under a contract with for a certain number of shows a year. She decided that my not telling her my pen names for my books was like lying and took that to mean she could sleep around to entice other artists to her gallery.”
“Humans are crazy.”
“Agreed. At least a lot of them are. That's why I moved away.
I don't spend a lot of time with other humans anymore.”
“That seems sad. A herd is a grouping that spends most of our time together. It provides company, support, assistance with raising young, and security.”
“Well, I have my parents but they live farther south. I see them now and again but for the most part, we talk on the phone.”
“I will think on this. There is a lot to learn about humans. Thank you for being willing to instruct me.”
“We have a lot to learn about each other. I’m going to go back to my work if that’s all right.”
“Thank you. I have much to think about.”
I could actually feel Winona go silent. She was still like a warm presence in my mind but one that was quiet and allowed me to access the rest of my thoughts with no distraction. I was getting used to having her there and it was sort of comforting.
I worked until about five and shut down after saving my work. Things were starting to flow but it was time to get ready. I decided to take a bath and relax with a book but I set a timer on my cell so that I would leave myself enough time to get dressed. It was casual, which was good because I didn’t have much in the way of non-casual clothing, especially here at The Center.
I was nice and relaxed from my bath, dressed in clean but comfortable clothes, and ready to go just as the door chime sounded.
I opened the door wide and motioned Janice inside.
“C’mon in. I just need to find my loafers and grab my key card.”
“Thanks. You look great.” Janice was looking me over with a smile that seemed almost predatory. It was fleeting and then her brilliant smile was there again, seeming to shine just for me.
“I’m glad that clean jeans can impress you. I’ll be right back.”
I dashed back into my bedroom and scrambled in the closet for the topsider loafers I loved. They were my go-to casual shoe and I shoved my sockless feet into them. One last look in the mirror, key card in my pocket and I had no more excuses.
“I’m ready. So, where’s this picnic taking place?”
“I had hoped for outdoors but the weather sucks. We’re picking up a basket I ordered from the café. We can either eat in the movie room I reserved or in the nature room.”
“I’ve spent enough time in that space for now. Let’s grab the food and we can eat then watch whatever you brought to entertain us with tonight.”
“That works. I already dropped the DVDs off in the room. So, shall we?”
Janice held out her hand and I took it. We laced our fingers together and headed toward the café.
Once we had the food and got settled in the movie room, Janice and I started discussing our lives. I was usually nervous and didn’t talk much about my youth but I was able to open up and tell her more.
“Truthfully, as great as it is to have parents who understand my urge to draw and paint, it’s equally as bad at times as they push for perfection and success. They want me to focus on my art and be true to my vision and passion but also make money and be a commercial success.”
“So, they just want everything for you. Sounds sort of typical in a way.”
“I guess so,” I said softly. “I never thought of it like that before. You have an interesting way of looking at things.”
“Thanks. I think some of it is the way I was raised but some of it is the training I’ve had since coming to work here. I started off as a basic unit clerk and worked while I attended online college classes.”
“I didn’t know that. How did you go from unit clerk to admin and training assistant?”
“Actually, Kerstin was doing her residency here. We met during one of her rotations and hit it off. I was a few years behind her in school so growing up we hadn’t intermingled much. By the time I was done with my two-year degree, Kerstin had been hired as a full-time shrink. She started off with human clients while she took additional training for working with the shifting youth.”
“Did she ask for you to work with her?”
“As if. Actually, I had gotten a transfer up to the offices to work as the admin for two of the humans we have in the administrative offices. They shared my time and it was a great learning experience. It also put me in a position where the Clinic paid for the rest of my degree. Once I had my bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in social work I was able to secure a spot in the psych department. I ended up assigned to Kerstin when she was ready to take on shifter clientele and work more in our First Shifting program.”
“So you’re actually a social worker too?”
“No, I never did clinical work or went for a master’s in it. I couldn’t take on patients of my own.”
“Is that something you might be interested in doing?”
“Not really. I mulled it over for a while, I admit. But I just didn’t want to be tied to a pager and be on call for emergencies. On the recommendation of Kerstin and her supervisor I was brought into the training program for working with First Shifters. I don’t take on my own cases, but under supervision of a fully qualified psychiatrist or psychologist I can run point on cases.”
“Gotcha. Hmm, it's a shame all of this is so secret. It would actually make a decent book.”
Janice paled and her eyes widened.
“Relax, I’m kidding. I totally get the need for secrecy. I do. I won’t do anything that would hint at our secret society. Besides, I don’t write that genre and I think two pen names are enough to manage.”
“Have you ever been treated for your aggressive teasing?”
“Can’t say that I have. What do you suggest?”
“Um, a movie?”
“Right. Okay, what fine films did you bring for our enjoyment this evening?”
“Well, I thought we could start with, Cat People.” Janice handed me the DVD case so I could look it over.
“Uh huh. 1982 about a woman who changes into a panther when she has sex? Nope. Veto. Next?”
“Fine. This one is awesome. It’s actually a TV series but I can get more discs if you get hooked.”
I took the next DVD case and read the back. “Big Wolf on Campus. 1999. Well, moving closer to current day.” I kept reading and mocked her next selection. “You’ve got to be kidding. A high school boy gets bitten and turned into a werewolf just before his senior year? Please tell me you have a better option.”
Janice gathered the first two back and handed me a third case. “This is a TV series too but I know I can get the rest of you want to watch them.”
“She-Wolf of London? Really?” I read the description and it was about a college girl getting bitten and turned. She goes on to investigate supernatural happenings with an English professor. “Right. Fine. You got me. Now, are there any real offerings? Because I don’t think we can really date if this is your honest
taste in quality entertainment.”
“See, teasing isn’t fun when it’s being done to you, is it?”
Janice took the last DVD from me and tossed it on the table with the other discards. “Try these. If these don’t work, we have a digital rental system down here too.”
“Underworld. 2003, so at least we’ve reached the current century. I’ve actually seen the whole series. Selene is hot.”
“She is. But, if you’ve seen it, check out the last one.”
“The Princess Bride 25th anniversary edition?”
“Yup. Blu-ray and very cool.”
“Inconceivable!”
“Wait a second. You’ve seen this before.”
I shrugged. “I may have seen it once or thrice. Would you like to watch it with me? We can share popcorn on the couch.”
“As you wish.”
NEEDLESS TO SAY, the date went well and we clowned and recited lines throughout the movie. We even watched the bonus footage and interviews that I hadn’t yet seen. We cleaned up our mess and brought the basket back to the café before Janice offered to walk me home.
“You’re sweet, you know that?”
“It isn’t something many people see. Thank you.”
Janice blushed and it made her look even cuter.
“I had fun tonight. Thank you. I haven’t been on a date in forever.”
“Perhaps you just had to wait for the right species.”
“I see, so until coyotes became an option I was doomed to life alone?”
“See, I knew you’d get it.”
We held hands and joked our way back to my room.
“I’d invite you in but, I really do need to take things slowly now. I hope you understand.”
“I get it and I’ll take whatever pace you set as long as you’re willing to give things a try.”
“Sara warned me you know.”
“I know, she spoke to me too. She doesn’t want me pushing you. I won’t. Push you that is. You have a lot to deal with and we have plenty of time.”
“Thank you. I had a lot of fun with you.”
“May I kiss you good night?”
“As you wish.”
And she did.
Chapter Twenty
WELL BEFORE MY alarm would have woken me, I found myself staring at the ceiling. So many things ran through my head. It didn’t help that Winona was telling me her thoughts on my thoughts. It was worse than having a therapy appointment with a mind reader.
Between discussing the date (which we agreed had been successful), my writing (which I was happy with but Winona wasn’t sure about), and the whole changing into a deer thing, life was busy. I decided to call my parents later in the day but first a shower and breakfast was in order.
I had just climbed out of the shower and dressed when my doorbell sounded. Surprised as I hadn’t ordered breakfast, I went to the door and found Kerstin and Stacy standing there.
“Hey you two. Didn’t expect anyone this early. Come on in.”
I waved them inside while I heard Winona whisper, “Something’s wrong.”
“What could be wrong?” I asked silently as I followed them into the living space.
“I don’t know but Stacy’s Other is nervous.”
“I didn’t know you could talk to other people’s Others.”
“I can’t but we sense each other. I can’t tell what it is, but something is going on.”
“Can I get either of you something to drink?” I asked aloud.
“No, we’re just here to discus some news that Stacy found as she worked with Dena on some research.”
I sat on the couch and waited. I didn’t know what was going on, but I’d learned a lot of patience in the woods and knew that if you were quiet long enough, people would talk.
Stacy coughed, clearing her throat, then took the lead. “I was looking into why you had such an easy time acclimating to Animus versus others who choose the virus only to have serious problems with it; their immune system fights it off, or they take a month or more to acclimate and be ready for shifting. You took to it with amazing speed and shifted in two weeks. It’s highly unusual. In fact, I couldn’t find a case of it happening before you.”
“What did you find? Am I part alien or something?” I joked because I was nervous and curious but I sensed there was something coming I wouldn’t like.
“Actually, Dena helped me figure it out. I used her to research your parents. I had originally hypothesized that the reason had to do with your Native American ancestry.”
“I remember.”
“Well, I had Dena research your mother a bit. It seems that she does come from a tribe that has shifters. In fact, most of the tribe is comprised of a variety of shifters.”
“Wait, what?”
Stacy looked to Kerstin then back at me. “I suspect that the reason you took to shifting so easily is that you were halfway to it already. If a human and shifter produce a child, the child will most likely have the shifter gene but more than a ninety percent chance that they won’t have Animus. The odds do vary based upon which biological parent is the shifter. Women are more likely to pass the virus on to their baby. I should add that there are a lot of humans with the genetic marker and no virus. We think those may be from generations passed when invaders or conquerors raped or intermarried with natives of various area.”
“So, my father is human and my mother a shifter?”
“I can’t know for certain but I think it’s time we bring them here. If your mother is one of us, then either she’s hidden it from your father or he knows. Either way, if you have them both come visit, we can figure things out.”
“Do we have to? Figure things out I mean. I’m not a research project and I don’t know how to ask them about this stuff.”
“Just have them come visit you here. Let them know that your ‘therapy’ for your surgery is almost complete and it would be a great help if they came to visit and get you moved back home.”
“I’m going home?” I was lost but somewhat excited about going home.
“Soon. There is more to teach you but it’s time to start working with you in true outdoors scenarios. You and your Other have bonded well and we’ll work out the rest soon.” Kerstin looked pleased as she told me the news, yet she still looked worried.
“Spill it, Kerstin. What are you holding back?”
“I’m not holding anything back. Not exactly. I’m perplexed as to why, if your mother does have the virus, that she never told you and kept it hidden all of these years.”
“I guess there’s no time like the present. So, I just invite them here?”
“Yes, just ask that they come up and let them know lodging is provided for family members helping their loved ones with their therapy.” Kerstin gave me the subterfuge to use but still, I was worried.
“Right, background story. Let’s do it.”
I picked up my cell phone and hit my parents’ number. After two rings, it was answered. “Hi Mom. Is that offer to come help me still open?”
The End
About the Author
Jeanine Hoffman was born and raised a New Englander who later moved to Pennsylvania for far longer than intended. She currently lives on the West Coast in Oregon with her wife Heather Jane, dog Mr. Bones, cat Bailey, and a beta fish named Abby. Jeanine loves to spend time reading, writing, cooking, and playing board and card games. When the weather is clear you may well find her behind her camera lens stalking the mountains and forests of Oregon. For more information check her out on Facebook and on www.jeaninehoffman.com.
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Stranger Than Fiction Page 25