Page 80 of Kin of the Wolf

I let Austin grab a duffel bag out of the car and thank his friend before gripping his arms to look him up and down. He’d lost a few pounds, his face leaner than when he’d left, though baggy cargo pants and a hoodie made him look more like a college student than a soldier, and was that mustard on his sleeve? It must have been a long trip.

“I imagined you arriving home all respectable and dashing in a uniform,” I said, though I supposed I wouldn’t fly in such a thing if it weren’t required.

“My dress blues are in my duffel. I imaginedyouwashing and ironing them for me before I go back.” He grinned wider.

“The Air Force hasn’t matured you as much as I envisioned.”

“It’s only been six months.”

“Will it be another six before you learn to do your own laundry?”

“Maybe nine. I did bring you a Christmas present. Maturely.” Austin patted the duffel.

“Did you buy it at one of the overpriced gift shops in the airport?”

“Well… you’re stuck on base most of the time when you’re in training. There weren’t many opportunities to shop.”

“That’s a yes. That’s okay. I’m glad you’re here to visit.” I didn’t mention that his brother’s only response to the message I’d left, wishing him happy holidays and asking if he needed anything, had been a gif of a cat batting Christmas-tree ornaments. Maybe someday Cameron would get over his grudge and want to have a relationship with his mother again. I hoped so.

“For more than a week, yup. Ozzie still lives here, right?” Austin waved across the complex toward the building where one of his friends who was a year younger and a senior in high school resided.

“Yes, and he and his mom, against the lease, still have three dogs, four cats, parakeets, and a ferret. Based on the pet-food bagsI’ve seen go into that apartment, there might be multiple ferrets there by now.”

“I’m sure his mom appreciates you keeping tabs on them.”

“I have no doubt. Are you going to visit?”

“Do you mind? I need to check on a bet we made. He might owe me money. Then I’ll come home for dinner.”

I decided to pretend Austin had come to see me as much as he had his friends. All I said was, “It’s breakfast-for-supper. Bacon and eggs.”

Thanks to Duncan’s shopping trip, I had lots of both.

“Perfect.” Austin left his duffel bag on the damp walkway and jogged toward his friend’s apartment. Whatever he’d gotten me at the gift shop must not have been prone to water damage.

I picked up the duffel, hefted it over my shoulder, and headed toward my apartment.

Austin noticed and halted. “Mom, you don’t have to carry that. I’ll come back for it.”

“I don’t want my gift stolen.” I decided not to mention the increased crime in the area. That was still a problem that I needed to deal with, or at least that the local business ownerswishedI would deal with. I doubted Augustus had been doing anything to squelch it, so I didn’t anticipate it getting worse, but having him gone wouldn’t improve things either.

“It’s heavy,” Austin warned.

“It’s fine.”

It wasn’t any worse than Rue’s boxes of potions, tools, and ingredients.

Austin eyed the duffel over my shoulder, seeming to debate between grabbing it or running off to see his friend. Ultimately, he trotted back over, took it from me, and we headed toward the apartment together.

“I’ll put it away first,” he said.

“It’s nice that the military has taught you some manners.”

“You’ll be more inclined to do my laundry if your back isn’t thrown out.”

“That is true.”

“Though your back seems fine.” Austin gave me a sidelong look. “I think I’m losing my bet with Ozzie.”

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