CHAPTER TWELVE #3
My mood was definitely off, and I needed to snap out of it.
It was a sunny day, maybe I could go to Caldwell Park and take a walk.
I could stretch my legs and clear my head.
Kate took walks most mornings and she swore by them.
Surely it would be safe now. The threat of retaliation from Sawyer was no more, and the contingent of Fae were back where they belonged.
“Hey, Nadia?” I called out.
“Yes?” She appeared at my side.
“Wanna go for a walk with me?”
“It is a lovely day.” She smiled. “I’d enjoy that.”
Pleased with my decision and Nadia’s reaction, I pulled my hair into a ponytail, went and put on a T-shirt and stretchy walking shorts and laced up my shoes. The two of us took a long, enjoyable walk, and by the time we turned onto my street I felt more relaxed than I had in the past two weeks.
That was until I recognized the car that was parked in front of my house. It belonged to Charles Montgomery, and its engine was idling. I was so surprised to see it there that I tripped slightly.
Nadia took my elbow to steady me. “You have company, Lorna.”
I suppose he’d been waiting for me to return home, and that realization had me huffing out an annoyed breath.
Nadia and I walked down the sidewalk and as we approached the car, the passenger door swung open.
Charles stepped out onto the lawn of my front yard, immaculately groomed and looking handsome as sin.
He wore dark slacks and a crisp pale blue dress shirt that was unbuttoned at the throat.
Not a single strand of his hair was out of place.
And of course, I was all wind blown and sweaty. He couldn’t have showed up before I’d changed out of the dress? I thought crossly. This wasn’t only about personal vanity. I was still the Magistra of the city, and damned if he didn’t owe me more respect than to simply drop by unannounced.
From the front passenger seat, a tall buff bodyguard emerged.
His muscles seemed to make the seams of his suit strain, and his eyes were hidden behind mirrored aviator sunglasses, but his energy read Supernatural.
I guessed he too was a Vampire. He positioned himself in a way that let me know he wasn’t comfortable with all of us standing out in my front yard.
Charles ignored the security and instead smiled at me. “Hello, Lorna.”
“Charles.” I straightened my own sunglasses and gave him a polite nod.
Before anything else could be said, Chloe scrambled out of the back seat and rushed over to me. “Hi Lorna!”
“Hey Chloe.” I bent over and gave her a careful hug. She too was neat as a pin with perfectly braided pigtails and a pink floral sundress.
Chloe ran a hand over my hair. “Your ponytail is all messy.”
“I was taking a walk,” I explained. “It was windy at the park.”
“Hello, Miss Chloe,” Nadia said from off to my side.
“Nadia!” Chloe promptly abandoned me and threw herself into Nadia’s waiting arms.
Nadia swung her up and Chloe planted a big kiss on the Vampire’s cheek.
“I missed you,” Nadia said, giving the girl a hug.
Chloe gave Nadia a stern look. “I haven’t seen you in a long, long time!”
“Two weeks,” Nadia corrected, shifting the girl over onto her hip. “I’m sorry little one.”
“Where have you been?” Chloe wanted to know.
Nadia gave Chloe’s nose a gentle tweak. “I’ve been watching over Lorna and keeping her safe.”
Chloe looked from Nadia and to me. “Were you babysitting Lorna?”
“Yes,” Nadia answered easily. “It was something like that.”
“For goddess’ sakes,” I muttered, feeling a bit embarrassed by the description.
Charles stepped closer. “Could we talk, Lorna?”
“Sir,” the male bodyguard spoke up. “I suggest we take this reunion indoors.”
“Right,” Charles said. “Lorna?”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and sigh.
I knew it was juvenile, but I still wanted to do it out of the sheer frustration of being maneuvered, especially at my own home.
Instead of being rude, I dug down deep, put on my best southern hostess smile, gestured for them all to follow me and said, “Come on in.”
Now my living room was filled with two Vampire bodyguards, Charles Montgomery and his daughter.
“Be comfortable,” I told them and excused myself to go get some water.
I walked straight to the kitchen table and swapped out my prescription sunglasses for my regular ones.
Then I filled up a glass with water and drank.
I could hear Charles speaking from in the kitchen. “Nadia?” he began. “Could I impose upon you and ask that you take Chloe in the backyard while Lorna and I speak privately?”
“Of course,” Nadia said. “James and I will show Chloe all of the flowers.”
A moment later both bodyguards were escorting Chloe out into my backyard. Charles walked in after them, but he’d stopped at my kitchen table.
I watched as they took Chloe out back. “I hope they know what they’re in for,” I said only half joking.
“There’s two of them,” Charles said. “I’d say they have a decent chance of keeping Chloe out of trouble.”
Despite my annoyance, that did make me smile. “My money is on Chloe. If anyone could give two vampires the slip—it’s her.” I stayed where I was by the sink, leaned against it and waited. The silence stretched for a moment before I asked, “Why are you really here, Charles?”