Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future novel Chapter 100

Half an hour later, we exit the highway and drive another twenty minutes down a country road. Eventually, we pull up to a little restaurant that has a handmade sign that says '‘Jimmy’s BBQ’ with a silhouette of a hog under it.

There are a few other cars in the parking lot, but it doesn't look like a place that ever gets too busy.

“You got dressed like that to eat barbeque?” I ask waving at his suit.

He just smiles as he gets out of the car and jogs over to my side to open the door for me, “You're going to love this place. I promise.”

A short, plump woman in jeans and an oversized blue sweater greets us, “ Bronx! Long time no see, darlin’. This must be that adorable wife we see in the papers.”

“Hi Shelly. Yeah, this is Kas. I thought it was about time to bring her to my secret spot,” he smiles and gives the woman a big hug. I take a deep breath and stop myself from growling at the interaction. There is a hint ofa werewolf's scent in the air, but she is definitely human.

“It's nice to meet you, Kas,” Shelly reaches her hand out and I shake it, “ You must be a pretty special young lady to win this grump’s heart.”

“It's nice to meet you too, Shelly.” I say cordially. She is so friendly, it's difficult not to like her. I look at Bronx, "He can be a grump, can't he? You're right. I must be pretty special to put up with him.”

“Ha! She's got a sense of humor, too. Come on you two, your usual table is right where you left it, Bronx,” she smiles as she leads us to a booth at the back of the restaurant. Once we have seated, she lets us know she is going to get us some fresh iced tea and Bronx’s usual order, then walks away.

“Your ‘secret spot’?” I look at Bronx with genuine curiosity.

“Yeah, when things were really bad for Saint and I, he would go for runs with no destination in mind and we would end up all over the place. We ended up here one day. Shelly is human, but her husband is a hybrid. Werebear, werewolf. His werebear side is more dominant, so he tends to be a loner, but he makes a mean smoked trout. How they ended up as mates, I don't know, but they are madly in love. More importantly, they didn’t know or give a shit who I was. They let me borrow some clothes and fed me until I was stuffed. They treated me so well, even though I was a stranger to them,” he stops and looks around at the rustic decorations on the wall. I look around too. There are taxidermied animal heads, old photographs, and vintage tin signs screwed into the walls. It is very comfortable and quaint. The smell of smoked meat is like a delicious perfume.

“Shelly told me they help wandering werebears and the occasional errant wolf all the time. I told them I had just shifted, so I didn’t have any money. They didn't care. They let me bus tables to pay for whatever I ate. Coming here was one of the first times I was treated just like a regular person. They just wanted to make sure I was okay. I came back a week later and paid them back every penny and more. They keep my table open in gratitude. I've brought Milo here once. I've never even brought Reggie.”

He looks at his fingernails for a moment then gives me a guilty look, “I would even come here on Sundays sometimes when I was supposed to be in the apartment with you. I wasn't always out in the woods drinking and smoking. I mean, a lot of the times I was, but sometimes when I wanted to be alone, I would come here.”

“How come you've never told me about any of this?” I place my chin in my hand and give him time to answer.

“I-I guess I wasn't ready. We were talking about it during my last therapy session and realized I want to share more places like this with you. I mean, most of them are just spots in the woods or at the tops of mountains, but you know, I figured start with one that will at least get us a dinner worthy of your culinary expertise,” he confesses. Shelly comes back with a giant tray filled with plates of various barbecued meats. She piles the plates on the table and even pulls up the table beside the booth for the platters that don’t fit. It all smells so good. I can feel my mouth watering.

“I hope you're hungry, Kas,” Shelly quips with a giggle.