A scowl crossed Dave’s face again. He tended to be very even tempered and things didn’t rile him up, but it was obvious the interview had really bugged him.
“Look, you’ll find something else that will be even better.” I ran my finger lightly along the curve of his neck, stroking it. I really wanted to cheer him up, but it was hard. What could I say? I knew how frustrated he was. All I could do was cross my fingers that something better would come along and try to make him feel good now. “So, tell me about your parents. How did they wind up in the Catskills and you at Camp Vickers?”
“My parents actually met at Vickers. They all grew up there and they’ve known each other since they were just werepups. My dads, Ian and Gerald, are about a year apart in age. They always did everything together. They were inseparable as kids and when they grew up they hung out with each other all the time. They directed the plays and events at Camp Vickers.”
“I didn’t know Vickers put on shows?” Wow, who would have thought that weremen and women would take the time to put on theater productions? Then again, I guess, they do pretty much everything that normal people do, so why not. They just did some things, like running, hunting, fucking … a lot better.
“Well, the theater group was not super active while you were there—too much going on. Anyway, my mom, Madge, starred in several of their productions. They all fell in love and the rest is history. They had me and my kid sister Rosalie, and eventually when we were grown they left Camp Vickers and moved to the Catskills.”
I cocked a brow at him. “You didn’t want to move with them?”
“Nah, I was pretty happy at Camp Vickers.”
“Why did they pick the Catskills?”
“They all love the theater and wanted to expand their horizons. The Catskills are the home of some world famous acting camps for kids. So Ian applied at several of them, and based on his experience at Camp Vickers he was hired as a vocal coach. He didn’t tell them that Camp Vickers was really a campground for werewolves though. Eventually after they relocated, my mom was hired in the wardrobe department and Gerald was brought on to direct several productions each session. So they all work there now.”
“They have all these things … a wardrobe department, directors … at a kid’s camp?”
“These acting camps are not your garden variety camps, Bev. They put on full-scale productions with extensive makeup, wardrobes, and props. Some of the shows are better than what you would see on Broadway. Kids come from all over the world to attend and it ain’t cheap. It runs thousands of dollars for a session.”
“Wow, I had no idea,” I giggled. I could just imagine how the parents would feel if they found out they were paying big bucks for their precious children to learn acting and singing from werewolves.
“Have they ever done the play ‘Little Red Riding Hood’? I bet they could do a fantastic job with that!”
Dave snorted. “Very funny, Bev. But seriously, a lot of celebs got their start at these camps. You’d be surprised.”
“It seems to be in the middle of nowhere, though,” I said thoughtfully, looking out the car window. I had never been to New York and had expected to see skyscrapers, tons of people, and lots of action. Instead, I was seeing miles of lush green hills and valleys. I felt myself getting sleepier by the minute; it was a long drive.
“We’ll be there soon, babe,” Dave reached over and squeezed my knee. “Are you doing ok, or do you need to stop and stretch?”
“I’m good. But I do need to go on a run when we get there. I need to unwind and let my wolf out.” I glanced down at my phone. There were several calls from Todd. I didn’t want to play games with him, but for now, he would have to wait for me to call him back. He needed to learn that letting girls splay their boobies all over him was not acceptable, unless of course, that girl was me.
17
“So, which one is your birth father, Ian or Gerald?” I asked Dave as we pulled into the driveway of a modest ranch home.
Dave shrugged. “I have no idea, but it doesn’t really matter. They both raised me. They’re both dad to me.”
“Oh, okay.” I had barely opened the car door before an attractive, trim woman in her fifties and a man who looked to be about the same age rushed out to greet us.
“Bev, this is my mom Madge, and my dad Ian.” Before I could say anything, she grabbed Dave, giving him a big hug, and then gave me one also. Within minutes, she had hustled us inside the house and was chatting with me like I was an old friend.
Ian waved his hand at Madge. “Give the girl a chance to say something woman.” He winked at me. “You can’t get a word in edgewise here. She is always running her mouth,” Despite his words, it was obvious by the way they looked at each other they were very much in love.
“Are you hungry?” Madge asked.
I nodded.
“Good. I spiralized a snack for all of us.”