Chapter Four
Sirius
Sirius stood at the large windows looking out at the bustling town.
He’d done something daring in the past week since his phone interview with Calista Pond. Other than already quitting his job, he’d broken his lease, packed up all his stuff, and drove to Vale Valley. The second he had everything packed in the truck he’d rented he got on the road and didn’t look back.
Sirius didn’t want to think that he might be making a mistake. He figured that if Calista Pond changed her mind and didn’t give him the job, he could stick around for a bit or move on to another small town.
Sirius had gotten to town the night before and was staying at the Vale Valley Inn where he met the owner, Vic. Sirius was shocked when he was able to pick up that Vic wasn’t human, he couldn’t stop staring and probably looked like an idiot. That was something he noticed, that he was able to see things as if something was giving him the ability to recognize the different types of supernatural in town.
Maybe he was reading too much into everything. But he felt energized magically, as if he could fly if he wished it. He wasn’t the only one affected by being in Vale Valley. He’d woken up that morning with Smoke, his familiar, lying next to him. Usually Smoke only came to him when he called for him. It could have been Sirius’ imagination, but his wolf familiar appeared much larger than the last time he’d called him to his side.
Maybe I really am just imagining things, and it’s all in my head. I want this place to be filled with magic. Hell, Vic might not even be a werewolf, and I just want him to be. I made a fucking mistake, and I should count my losses and go back to Chamberlin City. Gods, I sound like a whiny ass baby.
“Sirius,” a female voice said behind him.
He turned away from the window and greeted the voice. “Yes, I’m Sirius.”
“Great, I’m Tessa Blake, we spoke on the phone.”Tessa Blake extended her hand for Sirius to shake it.
“It’s nice to put a face to a voice, Miss Blake,” he told her jokingly, releasing her hand. He studied Tessa for a few seconds and had to admit at first glance she was adorable with short jet-black curly hair, honey brown skin, and deep chocolate brown eyes.
“You as well. And please call me Tessa.”
“Only if you call me Sirius.”
She smiled, and it reached her eyes. “Sirius, I must say we are excited to have you visit out little facility.”
Little facility is right.“Um…” was all he could say. Sirius was used to a more activity working in a hospital.
“You don’t need to say anything.” Tessa chuckled. “Let me give you the tour, and then I’ll take you to see the big boss. She should be done with her meeting by the time we’re finished.”
“Sounds good.”
“Are your accommodations at the Vale Valley Inn satisfactory?”
“Yes, I slept like a baby and Vic, the owner, was very understanding with me showing up later than my check-in time.”
“Vic is wonderful. I’m so happy for him and his m…husband Kellan.”
“He’s married?”I didn’t see a wedding ring.
“Yes, he and Kellan got together over the Christmas holidays, and they are expecting their first child fairly soon.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful for them. I’ll make sure to congratulate him the next time I see Vic.”
“You do that, he’ll appreciate it. Kellan’s been a total basket case since they found out about the baby.”
Sirius could only guess, expecting a baby in a new and marriage. They started walking out of the main building into another and then another, after the fourth building, Sirius realized the small-town hospital wasn’t what he was expecting. The hospital should have its own area code the way it was set up. It wasn’t a single structure like most hospitals, but various buildings, and campuses that he hadn’t noticed when he was looking out of the window.
Tessa talked and introduced him to every department head they came in contact with as well as doctors and nurses she seemed to know personally. Three hours later Sirius was overwhelmed and excited, hoping he got the job. He liked what he saw with the hospital, and the nurses and doctors seemed happy to be working at the General Hospital. The tour was great, and Tessa kept up the chatter, but Sirius had a feeling there was something she was holding back from him. He noticed that she tripped over her words when she talked about certain aspects of the workings of the hospital.
“I think you tricked me, Tessa.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said innocently.
“You gave me the impression that this was a small-town hospital, when that’s not the case at all.”
