Page 2 of Wolfish
“Yes, of course,” Selena said, greeting them. She liked seeing friendly, familiar faces. She relaxed while she drank her wassail and took a bite of her cheesecake.
“We’re glad to see you want to open up a gift shop here,” the triplets said in unison with a distinctive Irish burr.
“We wanted to be part of this process,” Laurel said.
Selena loved how welcoming everyone was.
“I’m Kayla Wolff, and this is my sister, Roxie. My brothers, Blake and Landon, my sister, and I own the ski lodge, and we have our own gift shop. But it mostly caters to skiers.”
“I’m Bertha Hastings, and I own Hastings Bed and Breakfast. I don’t really sell gifts, but I wanted to meet our new business owner.” She was an older woman, wearing a flowery dress in fall colors, and all smiles.
“I’m Maxine Fox, the cat lady. I only have two, mind you, but it has still become my nickname. I own the dress shop a couple of doors down. I carry mostly clothes.”
“I’m Faye, and my husband, Roger Boatman, and I own the Silver Town Theater. We sell mostly movie-related gifts, but I wanted to meet you too.”
“That’s me as far as selling tea-related merchandise,” Silva said. “And the tavern only sells food and drink. So what experience do you have in running a shop?” Silva asked. Before Selena could say none, Silva continued. “I worked for my mate at his tavern until I set up the Victorian Tea Shop.”
“It’s lovely,” Selena said, trying not to appear conscientious about not having run a shop before.
“We had run a family lodge for years before we came here,” Kayla Wolff said.
“We had been buying and selling small Victorian hotels for years before we settled here,” Meghan MacTire said.
“I’ve run my bed and breakfast for eons,” Bertha said.
“I sold my beachwear shop in Florida and settled down here, changing the clothes I sell for each season and special occasions, like tuxes for New Year’s Eve. I still have a market for beachwear for visitors staying at the Wolff lodge, which has a swimming pool. You wouldn’t believe how many people forget to pack a bathing suit for a winter ski trip,” Maxine said.
“Oh, I’ve done that,” Selena said.
“Yeah, me too,” Kayla said.
“We ran a movie theater in Indiana before we moved here. We were glad to be around other wolves,” Faye said.
“The same with us,” the MacTire sisters said.
Laurel said, “We were flipping beautiful, small Victorian hotels and enjoyed doing it, but once we arrived in Silver Town, we were here to stay.”
“I, well, I haven’t had any experience running a shop, but it’s something I really have my heart set on.” Selena figured she wouldn’t have any issues with people threatening her while running a gift shop in Silver Town like she had when she was testifying at court on her forensic cases.
“Well, let me tell you, sugar, we’re all here to assist you. With our combined experiences and the wolves in Silver Town to support new businesses, we’re all here to help make your dream come true,” Silva said.
Everyone agreed, and Selena felt a modicum of relief as long as the sheriff’s department didn’t have an issue with a background check that showed she wasn't qualified to do the job.
“Oh, what do you intend to call the shop?” Laurel asked.
“The Howling Wolf.”
“I love it,” Ellie said.
“Yes, you’ll fit right in,” Roxie Wolff said.
“A perfect name for a shop in a wolf-run town. What merchandise do you plan to carry?” Meghan asked.
“Holiday and special occasions wearables and gifts. So fall and Halloween merchandise for now. And winter items, Christmas, then spring, Easter, and a patriotic theme. Summer holidays. Just a change of seasons kind of shop.”
“Where are you going to set up shop?” Silva asked.
“Between your tea shop and Maxine’s clothes store.”
