The Wizard's Herbarium: The Wolf Child

Part 32

Colt spent his downtime working for John while he waited for approval for the mortgage. Most of his work entailed running errands including getting coffee and picking up his groceries. Colt felt more like a servant than a valued employee, but in exchange, he was getting a place to stay and the use of John's phone for when Myles called. Colt had no right to complain.

From their previous business relationship, Colt was grateful that his lawyer, and friend, Myles was used to his... antics. While Colt had always known that he'd open up his own restaurant, that line of thought wasn't always clear to those around him. It had taken his wife and Myles by surprise when Colt announced that he was going to open Nero. After years of working under different chefs and then becoming head chef of a well-known fine dining establishment in the city, he was ready to do things on his own.

At the time, Colt knew that he wasn't going to regret opening Nero, but now, he wasn't so sure he still held that view.

Nero was like his second child that always came first. His wife, Kate, always knew that she'd have the bulk of child-rearing and duties around the house as working as a restaurant required so much attention, but owning one was taking it to another level. Julien was just starting his transition and things were becoming more stable at home that Colt felt it safe to begin a new business venture, even if Kate was hesitant.

With lots of hard work, Nero became a reality, and maybe its existence had been a good thing. Julien spent time at the restaurant on weekends, sometimes helping out with the prep work in the kitchen. He grew up watching Colt do intense dinner services and seemed to share a similar love of food that Colt had. Despite all that, Colt couldn't help but think 'what if'? What if he'd never opened Nero and took a career in an office or something? He'd have more time for Julien then. Would that have prevented Julien's death?

Still, when he'd opened Nero, Colt hadn't been coping with the loss of a child and a marriage. That's what made Myles worry, and the voiced his concerns to Colt whenever he could. It was one of the reasons that Colt was glad he'd shut off his cellphone ages ago. The only number Myles had to reach him belonged to John.

"That guy called again today." John said when Colt arrived at his house one morning. The bus that went up and down the highway didn't come all that often, but it was reliable enough. Colt took it just up the highway and then it was about a fifteen or twenty minute walk to John's.

"Myles? I'm sorry." Colt wondered how long he would be able to take advantage of John for. He was working for him for free, but that was only because John let him live for free and even took his phone calls. In many ways, Colt felt like he was the one getting the better deal.

"He's worried about me, I guess," Colt continued. "Which I get. I'd be worried too probably, but working is best for me right now."

"Can I ask what happened?"

"I lost my son."

John blinked, taken aback. Colt never really knew what other people were expecting him to say. Maybe divorce, or even the death of an elderly parent. There was always something about mentioning the death of his kid that made people do a double-take, but for Colt, it was becoming easier and easier to say.

"Shit..." John breathed.

"That's why I want to reopen the restaurant," Colt continued, wanting to move quickly past the subject. "I feel like I can make a difference, at least here. What do you want me to do today?"

"How do you feel about yard work?"

Colt shrugged. "Do I have much choice?"

"I guess you don't."

Many of the houses outside of the town were at least a of couple of acres. Being such a remote area, land was cheaper there. Colt often spotted chicken coops, large gardens, or even small grazing animals on people's property. He guessed that most folks needed the food their land provided to survive. If he had done the same, he'd probably sell the excess to neighbours and tourists.

John was no different. His property was too small for animals, but he had a huge garden that looked severely neglected. Weeds were everywhere and vegetables planted earlier in the year were either overgrown or dead.

"I have a job that requires a lot of time and energy," John said in way of explanation when Colt fixed him with a look upon seeing the disaster.

"I don't know how much food you're going to salvage from this," Colt said, eyeing the lettuce that had bloomed.

"Get what you can and everything else you can clean out for the fall. The summer is basically over anyway. I'll only get a few good weeks out of this."

Well, he had a point.

When Colt ran Nero in the city, he grew some of his own herbs. Everything else, he ordered in because he didn't have the time to grow things himself. Here, however, things were different, and as Colt sifted around in the garden, he began to daydream how nice it would be to have a huge garden just outside the restaurant. He couldn't get much more 'farm to table' than that.

Working in the garden was soothing and Colt established a rhythm. He'd never really gardened before. Working in restaurants and then owning Nero, he didn't have the time for much else. Thinking back on it, Kate was amazing for all the time she spent alone and without him at home.

John left shortly after Colt had gotten started. The developer had to begin his day too, and once again, Colt amazed at the level of trust in the town. Since he'd arrived, Colt had been mostly welcomed. He'd been welcomed into Chuck's house and family, and now John's house. Even if he was met with a little suspicion, that had been short-lived and the kindness he'd been shown overshadowed that one part. That kindness was why he wanted to stay.

By the time Colt paused for a break, he'd weeded out almost half of the expansive garden. Like he'd thought, most of the food wasn't able to be saved and anything Colt wasn't sure about, he put into his mouth, as was his habit from being a chef.

The garden was fenced off near the trees with tall chicken wire to keep out anything that might eat the garden. Just outside the fence was a few apple trees, their branches heavy with fruit that looked just right to pick. Colt abandoned his work to pick a piece of fruit. As he reached up into the branches, his gaze was drawn over his shoulder by a rustle behind him.

When he caught sight of a flash of white, Colt felt a cold chill, as though ice water were dropped down his back. The hairs on his arms stood on end, some primal part of him sensing danger as his only warning before the large wolf, Marrok, stepped out from the foliage. The wolf's fangs were bared at Colt and a growl rumbled in his chest.

It was similar to the first time he'd met Marrok like this, and Colt's fear did not subside, even though he knew the wolf.

"Marrok," Colt said, turning to face the wolf, and keeping his movements slow. "It's me. It's Colt."

There was no light or intelligence in the wolf's eyes. They had gone dark and feral. 

"Brother, no!" From the direction of the house, Kova ran up to Colt. The boy wrapped his arms around Colt's waist, putting himself in between the wolf and the man.

"Don't hurt him," Kova pleaded. "The humans will only hurt you, please! Please, brother."

When the wolf made no sign that he'd heard, Colt grabbed onto Kova's arm, ready to tear the boy away from those sharp teeth that bore down on them.

Colt could hear Kova sobbing beside him, tears staining his shirt. He was at a loss of what to do. Colt didn't know what was going on, or how to fix any of it. Like the first time he'd met Marrok, Colt stumbled upon the reality of his own mortality. He could die today.