Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
LORI
Ion has been away for several days. He calls twice a day. Once in the morning, before I go to work, and then again in the evening when he talks to the girls and me about our day. I don’t mention the boogeyman, and we’re all happy to hear Ion’s voice.
It’s Friday, and the girls have a piano lesson. I take the opportunity to do some shopping at the farm market. Ogram, the troll who owns the place, is quiet but nice. His mate, Hope, is human and full of energy. I’m paying for some last-of-the-year squash when Tilda walks in.
She’s dressed in an all-white jumpsuit with a hood that protects her from the sun. “Hello, Lori.” Her voice is cool.
Holding my bag, I step away from the counter. “Hi, Tilda. How are you?”
“Fine. Vampires are always fine. Have you heard from Ion?” She pushes her hood back, and her long blonde hair flows over her shoulders.
“He called to speak to the girls and me last night.” I know her standoffishness is due to the nature of a human lifespan, so I try not to take offense from her tone.
“When will he be back?” She stares over my shoulder as if she can’t look me in the eyes.
“He didn’t know.” I step back. “I’d better go pick up the twins from your sister’s house. Have a good day.”
When there’s no response other than a nod, I head for my car.
I put the vegetables in the passenger seat and round to my door when, in a blur, Tilda is in front of me, blocking my way.
I gasp. “What the hell?”
“Did he tell you he’s going to die when you die?” She bites it out as if it tastes bad in her mouth.
My heart pounds so hard, I can’t catch my breath. “What?”
Pained and twisted, Tilda’s pretty face is filled with rage. “I didn’t think so. That’s what he plans when you die in a mere sixty or seventy years. When you die, Ion Radu, the most ancient vampire on Earth, will take his own life so he doesn’t have to suffer the pain of living without you.”
I shake my head because this can’t be true. “That’s impossible.”
“No.” The fire goes out of her, and sorrow replaces it. “It’s sad, but not impossible.”
“You cannot believe that is what I want.” My tears start flowing, and I’m helpless to stop them.
“Maybe if you end this thing now, he’ll realize it was never a good idea to mate with a human.”
I can see where her logic lies, but the idea of ending things with Ion forces pain to lance through me as if being stabbed with a knife. “I don’t think I can do that, Tilda.”
“Selfish.” She spits it out, and as the sun pokes out from behind a cloud, she pulls her hood up.
I take her gloved hand. “I’m sorry you’re upset, and I understand your feelings. I will try to talk Ion out of his plans, but I can’t leave him. I love him, and by some miracle, he loves me. It’s selfish and totally unselfish.”
“He’s special. He’s Ion Radu. He can’t die.” She cries and puts her face in her hands.
I slide open the back door of my SUV. “Let’s get you out of the sun.
Sit.” When she does, I round the vehicle and get in on the other side.
“Listen to me, Tilda. I know he’s special, and I’m more surprised than you that he would choose me over every female human or creature in the entire world.
I’m also in love with him, and my girls love him.
He’s the only good thing that has ever happened to us as a family.
I’m not giving that up unless Ion makes me. ”
She keeps crying. “I don’t see how you can say that.”
“Would you give up Max?”
Her head comes up, and she looks at me as if I’m nuts. “What. No. Why?”
“Let’s say you knew that being a vampire was causing an allergy that would give you a hundred perfectly blissful years together, and then you would both die in each other’s arms. Would you leave Max to save you both?” It’s a little far-fetched, but the best I can do under the circumstances.
She wipes her face and stares at me. “Max would never let me go.”
“I’m not asking Max. What would you do, or better yet, what would you risk for one hundred years or even fifty perfectly happy years with the Sasquatch you love?” I see the moment of acceptance, and it feels like a huge victory.
“I would happily take those fifty years no matter what happened at the end of them.” She sniffs back her sorrow.
“Then you understand.” I take her hand. “I want to be part of this family, and I want my girls to have aunts who love them, but you have to accept the inevitable.”
Reaching across the small divide between the seats, Tilda pulls me into a hug. “You will have this family for all of your life and the twins' lives, Lori. I apologize.”
“It’s not necessary. It’s lovely how much you love Ion and how much you worry about him. I understand that seventy years is very quick for a vampire who might live thousands of years, but seventy years of happiness sounds pretty wonderful to me.” I pat her back and release her.
“Yes. Many people don’t ever find true love.” She pulls her hood up and draws a deep breath. “Go pick up the twins.”
I step out of the back and walk back around as Tilda heads for her car.
“Lori?”
I turn, and she’s stopped, looking back, but with no part of her face showing. “Yes?”
“Thank you for putting this into perspective for me. Mari tried, but her perspective was still that of a vampire. Max will also live several hundred years and could only advise me to mind my own business. What you said…it made your point of view more understandable. You didn’t owe me that, but I appreciate it. ”
“I’m glad I could help. Maybe we can all have Thanksgiving together in a couple of weeks.”
“That would be nice.” She turns and gets into her car with its windows all darkly tinted. A moment later, she drives away.
After my encounter with Tilda, I’m wary when I arrive at Mari’s house to pick up the twins. I’ve barely finished knocking when the door opens.
Mari is dressed in black, which is typical for her. “Good afternoon, Lori. I’m happy to see you.”
“Are you?” I ask before considering whether it’s polite.
She smiles and invites me to enter. “We’ve been practicing a new song and the girls would like to perform it for you.”
I walk to the den where Mari has her piano.
Dotty is seated, and Livi stands next to her, facing me. Dotty looks over her shoulder and grins. “Mommy, sit down.”
Mari shows me to an armchair, and I sit.
“What’s up, girls?”
“We’ve been working really hard.” Livi tugs on her blue sweater and shifts from foot to foot.
Walking so that Dotty can see her and the piano at the same time, Mari commands both girls’ attention. She nods.
Dotty’s fingers move across the keys, and a lovely and familiar melody about being a part of a bigger world rings through the house. A moment later, Livi’s sweet voice joins in with perfect tone. She sings about trinkets and other glorious things that she wants to explore.
I’ve never heard her sing so confidently. It’s always Dotty dancing and singing for all the world to hear, but today, my shy baby pours her heart into this song from an animated fairytale about a mermaid.
The piano is perfection, and the singing is beautiful. I’m weeping by the time they reach the last notes. I leap to my feet and clap as loudly as I can. “That was wonderful.”
“Why are you crying, Mommy?” Livi’s eyes widen, and she fists her little hands.
I open my arms wide. “Because it was so beautiful, baby.”
She runs into my arms, and a second later, Dotty joins the hug.
Mari steps into the kitchen and returns with a glass of water for me. “I thought you could use this.”
Taking the glass, I nod. “Thank you. And thank you for the mini concert. It was wonderful.”
“They are getting quite good. Olivia plays just as well, and Dorothy’s voice is lovely. I enjoy teaching them. I can tell they practice daily.” Mari ruffles Dotty’s hair.
Filled with joy, I’m bowled over by how differently this visit went compared to what I expected. “They do not sing like this at home, and they always wear headphones when they play the keyboard. I’m completely shocked and delighted by today.”
“I’m glad we could surprise you.” Mari’s expression is filled with pride for her students.
The front door opens before I can thank her, and Ion steps inside.
“Mr. Ion,” the girls cry at once and run into his arms. They rapid-fire information at him about school, singing, piano, and something about a mean girl at the after-school program I have them in when I have to work in the afternoon.
He listens and responds when appropriate. When his gaze comes up, he looks at me. “I have only been gone a few days.”
“Clearly, you were missed.” Mari steps forward, laughing, and kisses his cheek.
“I may have to go away more often if this is my greeting.” He still watches me with a warm smile on his handsome face.
“No!” the twins shout.
He laughs.
Stepping back, Mari says, “Come and gather your things, girls.”
They run to the far side of the den, where their backpacks and jackets are neatly placed in the corner.
I step closer to Ion. “Welcome home.”
Cocking his head, he studies me. “Is everything alright?”
“What makes you ask?” I kiss him and back away.
He closes the distance I’ve created and pulls me into a hug. “Your scent would indicate some fear.”
“I’m not afraid of you.” It comes out more emphatic than my intended coolness.
“I mean.” I draw a long breath, trying to calm any nerves and push aside the encounter with Tilda.
“Of course, I’m not afraid of you. It’s been a strange afternoon, but good and bad.
I’ll tell you about it later, and you can tell me about your time in California. ”
“If my instincts are correct, both of these topics will require some privacy?” He looks in the direction of the den.
“Maybe I can try to get a sitter for tonight.” My mind immediately shifts to a few teenagers I know who might be available on a Friday night.
“If you’d like, Sam and I can have the girls over for a sleepover.
Sam has made a large pot of chili, and I know he would be thrilled to have someone to share it with.
I know it’s disappointing for him to cook and have no one to tell him how good his food is.
” Mari steps back into the foyer and the living room area.
“If you want. The girls would be safe with us, and it’s no trouble.
” She runs her hand over her rounded abdomen. “It’s good practice for the future.”
“Can we, Mommy?” Dotty asks the question, but two sets of wide blue eyes stare up at me.
“You have to go home and do all your homework first, and listen to Mari and Sam. If I get a bad report, you’ll be grounded indefinitely.
” My heart beats faster at the idea of a full night with Ion.
I should feel trepidation since I will have to tell him about my encounter with his granddaughter, but my body loves any excuse to be alone with him.
They bounce. “We will.”
Looking at Mari, I ask, “Are you sure? They can be a handful.”
Grinning, Mari laughs. “We are also a handful. It will be fun. Sam will be thrilled, and if they are very good, I will let them play the grand piano that Sam bought me last month.”
More jumping and cheering follow, and I thank Mari while corralling two excited eleven-year-olds.
As I’m ushering my daughters out the door, Ion leans in and kisses just below my ear. “Why don’t you come here whenever you drop the girls off. I will cook you dinner.”
“Do vampires cook?” I don’t manage to keep the surprise from my voice.
“You’ll have to wait and see.” He grins and caresses my cheek before watching us get into the car from the shade of the overhang at the front door.