Chapter 13 #3
While inside Wolf’s house, you’d never know you were in a bunker. Especially with the optical illusion of what’s outside the windows.
“It’s actually built according to proper building codes,” he tells us while giving us a full walkthrough.
“I’ve got a weird question,” Kyoko says. “How does the, uh, plumbing work? Specifically the toilet part.”
Collin makes a face. “Tell me the outhouse up there wasn’t, like, a sign.”
“No way,” Wolf says with a chuckle. “The plumbing was kind of a bear to figure out, but I came up with the idea to use vacuum toilets.”
“Vacuum toilets?” Kyoko asks.
“You know, the kind you find on cruise ships or airplanes. They require less water and are able to quickly move things to the septic tank. Thus avoiding the gravity problem.”
When Wolf told me he had an engineering degree, I was surprised. But seeing how he took this degree and managed to apply it in so many brilliant and creative ways to this bunker is downright shocking.
I’m starting to see Wolf’s quirky behaviors in a whole new way—like he’s a unique, modern-day version of a mad scientist. He might be the most misunderstood person I’ve ever met.
The gears in my head are turning, trying to think of ways that we could overhaul the public perception of Wolf.
He already has plenty of support, but it’s mostly from those who would vote for anyone but Billy.
It’s time to work on building up voters who want Wolf for Wolf. And the more I learn about him, the better for the town I think he’d be.
“Vacuum toilets! That is … wow.” Kyoko eyes Wolf appreciatively, then says, “I like your brain.”
He grins at this, and it’s the most Wolf-like expression I’ve seen since we arrived tonight. Tipping an imaginary hat to her, he says, “Thank you kindly.”
“Though I do miss the mustache.”
“I can always grow it back. Starting … now,” he says, which makes Kyoko laugh.
While she was impressed by the vacuum toilets, Collin and I love the hot tub on a private patio off the primary bedroom, and Val and Winnie are enamored of the library.
They take turns pushing each other on the rolling ladder, singing a slightly off-key version of Belle’s song from Beauty and the Beast.
“Jo would love this,” James says.
“She’s welcome anytime,” Wolf says.
“You know, once people find out about this place, you’re going to be flooded with requests,” Winnie says. “You’ll have to kick people out. Or charge an entrance fee.”
Wolf shrugs. “I’ve been inviting people to my bunker for years. So far, no one has taken me up on it.”
“To be fair, I don’t know if anyone believed you actually had a bunker,” Val says.
“And if they did,” says Chevy, “no one would have believed it was anything like this.”
After finishing the tour, Wolf offers us drinks and we all settle into the comfortable leather sofa and chairs in the living room.
When we were in his impressive walk-in closet, Wolf put on slippers and a silk robe but left the robe untied, with his bare chest and chest hair still on full display.
The man certainly has no shortage of confidence in terms of his fashion choices.
Or maybe, I think, glancing around the homey living area with its vaulted ceiling and stone fireplace, maybe Wolf is simply a man completely comfortable in his own unique skin.
“You’re probably wondering what prompted this visit,” Chevy says finally, setting his water down and leaning forward.
Wolf’s gaze is on the patterned rug covering the hardwood floors. “Not really. Figured you might be checking in at some point after yesterday.”
“And how are you, Wolf? I know it can’t have been easy to face such a setback to your mayoral campaign.”
“It’s not a problem,” Wolf says, “since I no longer have a mayoral campaign. I plan to withdraw in the morning.”
There’s a long beat of silence in which the only sound is the steady hum of the ventilation system that Wolf explained is powered entirely by solar. Another amazing feature showing the true genius of the man behind it.
A man the town of Sheet Cake does not know half as well as they think.
“Why?” It’s Val who breaks the silence with one whispered word.
“It was a fool’s errand,” Wolf says. “I should have known that going up against Billy would be futile. Our whole lives, that’s how it was: him versus me.
School, sports, girls.” He pauses. “Our parents’ attention.
And whether through hard work and smarts or by cheating, trickery, or physical violence, Billy always finds a way to win. ”
“He hasn’t won the mayor’s race yet,” Collin points out.
Wolf sighs. “No, but the burned signs were a reminder of what it’s like to go up against my brother.
I left my family years ago because I didn’t want every single thing to be a fight.
I wanted to live in peace. And I have—until I decided to stick my neck out.
” He shakes his head. “I forgot how it feels to battle against him. The exhaustion and overwhelm and the relentless, unforgiving pressure. And even if my brother didn’t light the match himself—it’s exactly what I needed to remind me why I walked away. I’m just too … tired.”
The exhaustion is clear in the strain of his voice.
Wolf still has his eyes set on the floor.
I can see the tension in the flex of his jaw and the hands clenched in his lap.
Even Wolf’s shoulders, rising and falling steadily in controlled breaths beneath his silk robe, are stiff.
Without the mustache, he looks even younger, and it makes him seem even more vulnerable in this moment.
I didn’t grow up with siblings. Technically, I have a lot of half-siblings, as my dad made it his life’s mission before he died to have as many children with as many different women as possible.
That was the only part of being a father he excelled at—the basic, biological one.
He was the direct antithesis of my mom, who wasn’t a helicopter parent so much as she was bound and determined to raise a boy who would become a man nothing like his father.
My half-siblings have existed in name only, spread across multiple states with nothing to connect us except some DNA. One or two of them reached out over the years after I got drafted, but they were only interested in money. Not me.
Which makes Wolf’s experience completely foreign. His story and mine are flip sides of a coin: my many siblings, disjointed and disconnected; Wolf’s only sibling thoroughly invested in defeating him at every turn.
I can’t speak into this area of his life because I can hardly imagine what it’s like. And though I don’t envy Wolf the battles it sounds like he’s had with Billy, there’s the smallest part of me that wonders what it would be like to have a brother who is that invested, even if it’s in my failure.
Bad, I decide, once again looking at Wolf. Having no relationship is better than a toxic one.
Though I’ve always seen Wolf more like an acquaintance or lately, like a potential friend, I suddenly see a man who needs not just the campaign help he asked for, but real support.
Maybe even … a family.
“Well, whatever you decide to do, we’re here for you,” Chevy says. “Though I do wish you’d reconsider.”
Wolf nods but makes no promises. “Thanks.”
Kyoko leans forward, her eyes bright. “Can I ask a few more questions about this place?”
Wolf smiles at this and seems to relax a bit. “Fire away.”
We spend a little bit more time letting Wolf talk about the bunker until my eyes are starting to droop.
Several nights of terrible sleep are catching up with me.
But at least I think we all feel a little better about Wolf.
Maybe not about the state of his mayoral campaign, though I have some thoughts about that already. Maybe even an idea.
Overall, he seems down but okay, all things considered. I might even catch a spark between Wolf and Kyoko, if I’m not mistaken. That would be a fun pairing.
At a breaking point in the conversation, I stand up, yawning. “It’s getting late, and we should be going now that we know you’re okay. Some people have to help a baker in a few hours.”
James and Collin both groan.
We all hug Wolf, as though by some unspoken agreement, though I do wish he were wearing more than pajama pants and an open robe. He gamely receives one embrace after another, and I swear, he does seem lighter by the time Kyoko closes out the line, looking a little shy.
Or … maybe just a little hesitant about hugging a man when her cheek is level with his bountiful chest hair.
“One more thing,” I tell Wolf as we all head back toward the entryway and the elevator back up. “Don’t withdraw from the race yet. Give it a little time. Maybe we can talk things through in the light of day.”
“I don’t think I’ll change my mind,” Wolf says. “I certainly know Billy has no plans to change his about making me miserable.”
“You don’t think Billy would have burned the signs?” Chevy asks.
“Not his style,” Wolf says. “He always has henchmen, though. People to do his dirty work and take the blame as needed. He’ll make sure to cover his tracks about it, though, if he was involved.”
“That’s what I figured,” Chevy says. “And though I understand not wanting to go up against him, I shudder to think what he’d do for the town long term.”
Wolf says nothing, but I have a few ideas about helping change his mind. More than ever, I feel confident that Wolf Waters, builder of designer bunkers, is the best option for our town. It might take serious convincing, but I have some ideas there as well.
What I know for sure is that Wolf Waters is going to need a lot more help than I realized. Which makes me want to groan because of course, right now when I’ve met Rose and want to spend time with her, I’m being sucked into more town drama. All while running on almost zero sleep.
I’m about to step onto the elevator platform but then turn back to Wolf.
“Actually … is that offer for your guest room still open?”