Germaine Street - Chapter Eight

Ekaterine Vauden bounded down the stairs when she heard the bell. With the Core Days fast approaching the normally athletic girl was even more hyperactive and in need of occupation. Her near metallically copper coloured hair was darker than usual and heavier too thanks to the sweat from the intense workout she’d put in since breakfast. Truly this was the best time of the month.

The girl opened the door to see the tall blonde man about to ring again.

“HELLO!” Ekaterine blurted far too enthusiastically before recovering and moderating her tone and volume so the man wouldn’t flinch again. “I mean hello, can I help you?”

Tobias recovered his composure a little, “yes, hi, I’m Tobias Rirsen” he paused, the girl blinked, waiting for additional information .

“I live across the street?”

“K…”

“I wondered if my daughter had stopped by?”

“Oh, I don’t know, you want to talk to my Mom?”

“Sure!”

Ekaterine, still holding onto the door, turned her head and shouted “Mom! Some guy is here, is his daughter with you?”

A moment later a petite woman came into view and behind her, through the archway from whence she had come, Tobias glimpsed his youngest child. Anji shooed her daughter from the door and smiled at Tobias.

“Please come in, Abby has been telling us all about the neighborhood, she’s a delightful conversationalist”

Abby was petting the large silver and gold wolf when Anji and Tobias entered the kitchen. “Hi daddy” she said before turning to the wolf and saying, “Mr Vauden, this is my Dad”

The wolf tilted his head before padding over to Tobias. Placing his forepaws on Tobias’ shoulders, the wolf stared into the Rirsen patriarch’s eyes.

“Oh get down Toby” Anji said with a mix of exasperation and indulgence. This made Tobias laugh. “You’re called Toby old man?” The wolf gave a small vocalization of assent and dropped to his paws to the floor.

“Well, our parents clearly share phenomenal taste in names” Tobias held out his hand “Tobias Rirsen, I suppose I’m here as Abby’s dad, a welcome to the neighborhood and, unofficially since it’s saturday and the office is closed, a welcome to the town, anything I say on a saturday isn’t an official statement of the office of the Deputy Mayor” He chuckled at his witticism. Anji took his hand and shook it.

“Pleased to meet you” She looked over her shoulder towards the archway, “Eketerine, can you take Abby and have her meet your brother and sisters” this was met with a small gasp “Oh don’t act surprised my girl, you are not the best eavesdropper,” Anji paused and sniffed “and after you introduce Abby to Charlotte and Alenia or Serge, go take a shower”

“”Fine” a voice at once stroppy and sheepish replied “c’mon Abby, let’s meet the fam”

“Okay” Abby happily headed towards the older girl and soon two sets of footfalls could be heard traveling upstairs.

Anji poured Tobias a cup of the Acorn Coffee.

“Yes” she said as she placed the mug in front of the Deputy Mayor, “Before you ask, it is Hesse Syndrome” and tilted her head towards Toby.

Tobias sipped the coffee “Bad break old chap, my uncle was a sufferer” he turned back to Anji “Have you had any success with Lyceia?” This earned him a pained whine from Toby who skulked back to Anji’s side and placed his head on her lap.

Anji gentle poggled her husband’s ears “I mean, yes, kind of, but it gives Toby migraines in Human form for two days and only lasts three days per dose so we tend to reserve it for birthdays or anniversaries, stuff like that” She smiled weakly and shrugged “It’s not ideal but what can you do?”

“Fair point. Well I’m here for two reasons, the first was to track down Abby, the second was to say, in my official capacity as deputy mayor, that we at City Hall welcome you and the rest of your family to our little town. In my capacity as your neighbour, and deputy mayor, I'm thinking of having a cookout tomorrow over at our place, I invited the Mayor so you could potentially meet her, if she comes. If she doesn't, at least you can meet everyone in the street as well as a few other neighbors from further abroad than this street, what do you say?”

Anji smiled and looked down to her husband before replying “Of course, we’d be delighted”

“Terrific, say 4:00? No need to bring anything but feel free if you like, if your kids are like mine there won’t be any leftovers by the time everyone heads home anyway. And speaking of my kids” Tobias drained his coffee “I wonder what Abby is up to…”

“Let’s find out” replied Anji, “You can meet some more of the family too”.