🐺Wolf Creek:Volume One🐺

Chapter Four: Apologies

          The Wolf Creek library was my favorite place in the entire town. I stared in wonder as we made our way up the stepping stone path. It wasn't an enormous building, but it still seemed to tower over me. Flower beds circled the property as if it were a house. I peered up at the second story and spotted an apple pie resting on a kitchen towel as it cooled in the window. It was a house! The first story must have been used for the library while the second was occupied as the owner's living space.         

          "Ah, Kelsey!" A cheery and chubby woman ran from behind a checkout desk to hug me. I didn't know how to respond at first, but quickly realized that if I didn't hug back she wasn't letting go. My arms cautiously folded around her shoulders before she pulled back with a hearty laugh. I probably looked like an old tabby cat when approached by an overexcited puppy. The older woman gave me a sympathetic look.

         "Poor dear, you don't remember me at all, do you? Well, not to worry. We can get to know each other all over again! No doubt we've both changed since the last time I saw you." The woman practically sang. I couldn't help but notice that she had a thick Scottish accent. I also couldn't help but adore it.

          "So what did you have in mind, Mrs. Bernz?" Gran politely asked. I could tell that some of the woman's cheer had gotten into her as well. Mrs. Bernz stopped for a moment, pondering. Then she lit up like a Christmas tree at a lighting ceremony.

          "I've been thinking about it all day! I was thinking that I could show her the basics for today. Book sorting, checking, maintenance, the works. I have to be at the reserve's center with Harold at some time in the afternoon, though, so I'm afraid I can't stay as late as I'd like." Mrs. Bernz answered. Gran turned to me to make sure everything sounded alright with me. If it was, she would stop by the grocery store for a short while. I nodded before turning back to Mrs. Bernz. Only she wasn't there.

          "Well, come on then!" She laughed from behind her desk.

          The next hour or so flew by as I learned the tricks of the trade. Being a librarian was harder than I thought it would be! I had to do an inventory, organize the books that were part of the inventory, flip through any books that were turned in in case there were any new stains, and when that was done, I had to check on all of the plants. It all required a lot of patience, but I loved the job nonetheless. Especially when something small and soft rubbed against my ankle. I looked down to see a bright white ball of fur.

          "Hello there." I giggled down at the snow-colored kitten, "my cat's going to be so jealous when I get home and he smells you." I still bent down and scooped up the small feline. It purred against my shirt, and even left a layer of fur against it. The kitten reached up and licked my ear. I tried to be quiet as I laughed and ran my hand over the silky fur.

          "Who might you be?" I asked as I sat the kitty down and watched it adoringly.

          "That's Cloudy." A voice from behind me boomed. I jumped and spun around. Cloudy took my sudden shock as his cue to bolt. Across the aisle from me stood a young girl about my age. She had a mischievous smirk, and she was very pretty. I could see that she was trying not to laugh at her catching me off guard.

         "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm Emily." She spoke, her dark eyes glittering.

          "Kelsey." I responded.

          "Are you that new girl?"

          "Sort of."

          "Oh, riiiight. You're the girl that had that bad wreck. I'm sorry to hear about that. I'm glad you're okay though." Emily reflected what she must have been hearing all day. She clearly had a naturally loud voice. I thanked her as she pushed her bright purple hair out of her face.

          "Oh, there you are, Em! I don't reckon I ever even saw you come in." Mrs. Bernz joyfully shouted from behind the checkout counter. She had been reading for the past half hour as I practiced my work. So far I had finished the brunt of it, and was now working through my smaller chores. It seemed that I had been across every inch of the building except for upstairs. I couldn't believe that I hadn't found Cloudy earlier.

          "I came in through the back door." Emily explained. Mrs. Bernz nodded with a silent 'Oh!' Just then Gran came through the front door, causing the gold bell that was hanging above the door to ring. She quickly made her way to the desk, and I rushed to help her with the mountain of groceries she happened to be carrying. How selfish I had been! While Gran had walked with all of that weight I had been making check marks on a piece of paper.

          "Thank you, Kelsey." Gran sighed in relief when the heavy bags were finally sat on the desk. I nodded eagerly as I sat the last bag on the corner. I felt terrible as looked outside to observe the sun. It was low in the sky, but wasn't creating a sunset quite yet. Emily seemed to sense my distress.

          "I can take over if you want," she suggested.

           "That would be wonderful, Em, but I'm afraid I have to run you all off," said Mrs. Bernz. "I have to go meet Harold in fifteen minutes so that he can be there when they introduce the new wolves to the sanctuary. Mr. Acuna would like to be there, and I just know it'll have Harold a bit nervous." I nodded my head in excitement. I thought that the reserve already had the new wolves.

          "Well, we'd better get going then!" Gran agreed as I began to bunch the bags around my arms. They dug into my arms, but there was no way that I was letting Gran carry them again. After all, the walk home was much longer than the walk to the grocery store. We said our goodbyes and started for the door.

           "Bye, Emily." I called over my shoulder.

          "You can call me Em, you know." She laughed.

           I gave a quick nod before the door closed behind me. Gran admired the flowers along the path as she tried to coax me into letting her carry a few bags. I wasn't having it. The most I relinquished was a small bag of bananas, but that was only because Gran snuck it from my tired fingers.

           I took in gasps of air as Gran and I marched up the stairs and onto the porch, but made sure to do so quietly so that Gran didn't hear my struggle. She abruptly stopped in front of me and kneeled down, causing me to nearly run into her! When she stood she was holding a green envelope and a vase of daisies. The weight of the groceries lifted with my new distraction. And with my dropping a bag of lettuce. Gran giggled and picked it up for me.

           "Did you order daisies? Because I'd be perfectly happy to go and pick some for you." I spoke as Gran hurriedly unlocked the front door and began taking bags from me. We began to put away the food as Gran answered.

          "I never order flowers. These were sent by someone. Sent to you." Gran held out the vase and envelope. I sat the daisies down carefully and tore into the green paper. Then I yanked out a piece of paper. I looked it over, flipping it in my hands. It was clearly from a set of matching stationary. But who would send me something? I snuck a peek at the name on the envelope, which was now laying in a raggedy heap on the floor.

          "James Acuna. Is he related to William Acuna?" I wondered aloud.

         "James is William's son." Gran confirmed.

         "Son? Why would the son of the richest man in town send anything to me?" I asked. There was no answer. I looked up at Gran to see her watching with a worried expression. Evidently she wanted me to see for myself. I read over the back of the page from where I had last turned it over. Beautiful calligraphy was written across the paper.

         "Apologies..." I read out loud. "Apologies for what?"