“I’m going to keep it. It beats renting in Davenport and will save you money.”
Victor leaned toward his desk. “I’ve told you many times, money doesn’t mean anything to me. We earn it and spend it according to our liking.”
“Yes father,” Tony answered.
Tony and Victor sat quietly finishing their bags.
“Do you remember Helda Morgan?” Victor asked tapping his fingers against his chin.
Tony rolled his eyes and said, “Yes, I remember Helda. Is she bothering you about me?”
“You could say that.”
“I’m not interested in her, father. I’ve found someone else.”
“Oh!” Victor raised his eyebrow and said, “Who might this be?” he asked leaning toward the desk resting his elbows on the edge.
Tony sat up in his chair, downed his bag and said, “A girl from Mayville.”
“Helda calls everyday seeing if you’re here.”
“Next time she calls tell her I fell off the face of the earth,” Tony snapped.
“Son, don’t be hasty. After all, you dated her in Davenport and brought her here to meet your mother and me. I thought things were going well and then you dumped her and disappeared.”
“I went to Mayville for Aunt Jan…”
“And met this girl?”
Tony looked away and said, “Yes.”
“Tell me about her?”
Standing up, Tony paced.
“She’s one of a kind,” he said with a half-grin. “Independent, strong-minded, unlike Helda,” Tony frowned remembering Helda’s girlish outlook on life.”
“Your heart flutters when you think of this girl, son. What’s her name?”
“Jessica. But, father, I am a dhampir and she’s…well…a mortal. How can it work between us?”
“Son, please sit! I’ll explain the best I can.”
Tony sat back down.
“Your mother, the beautiful mortal she is, caught my eye the same as Jessica has yours. I knew the moment I laid eyes on her; she was my mate for life. Ohhh! The way she presented herself around others, I knew my secret would be safe with her.
“The vampire secret,” Tony said.
“The very one,” Victor smiled.
“It’s more than appearance, son. It’s the heart that attracts you to your mate, but then you wouldn’t know, you can’t hear heartbeats. Your mother’s heart, the first time she saw me, fluttered like a hummingbird. Every time she thought my name or saw me her heart beat would change. She wasn’t afraid. She was curious and wanted to know me. And her thoughts,” Victor grinned. “Her thoughts consisted of only me. I brought on my charm, of course, and my good looks attracted her to me. Every night for two weeks I’d watch her sleep, dreaming of me and I knew she was the one.”
“Did she know you were outside her window?” Tony asked.
Victor smiled. “She would look out her window before she went to bed and softly say, ‘Victor’ and smile the prettiest smile with her heart fluttering.
“She knew you were the one then.”
“She did and the following day I called on her. We dated for a month and a half before I told her I was a vampire.”
“She didn’t run?” Tony asked surprised.
“No,” Victor smiled. “I wooed and charmed her with gifts she never dreamed of having and by the end of summer, we married.”
“How do you keep from turning her?” Tony asked.
“Simple. I don’t let my venom release when I bite her.”
“You can control that?”
“I learned how to control my abilities over many years and my desires of what’s important to me…your mother.”
“But, I read when a mortal has a child, like me, they risk dying. Is that true?”
“It’s truer than you know.”
“But mother is alive and here with us.”
“She is, isn’t she,” Victor half-grinned.
“Survived and a mortal, how?” Tony asked stumped.
“The best doctor’s money can buy, son, the best doctors.” Victor got up from his chair, went to the icebox taking two bags of blood out and handed one to Tony.
Victor leaned against the wall and asked, “Have you noticed your mother hasn’t aged over the years?”
“I haven’t paid much attention, but now that you mention it, why doesn’t she?”
“I pay the best plastic surgeons to keep her looking as good as she does.” Victor growled a low growl deep in his chest. “The sexiest woman I’ll ever know and in the bedroom she is amazing, a huge turn on. She brings out my vampire lust.”
“Okay father that was more than I needed to know.”
Victor laughed his vampire laugh and asked, “Have you and Jessica, you know, enjoyed a bedroom fling or two?”
“Father, I can’t believe you’re asking me that.”
“I’m taking that as a yes.”
“You know mother will die someday,” Tony commented to change the subject.
“No! She won’t!” Victor said seriously.
“You know she will and then what will you do.”
“Remember, I can hear heartbeats and before hers gives out, I’ll turn her.”
Mother will be with us forever. Tony thought silently and then asked, “Does she know this?”
“No and you’ll not tell her either,” Victor stated seriously. “It’s our secret, son.”
The office phone rang. “Excuse me son.”
Victor picked up the phone without saying a word, and then hung up. “Jason is waiting for you out in front,” Victor said. “We’ll talk later and by the way, I’m glad you’re home.”
Tony nodded and left the room.
The fog over London made it hard to see your hand in front of your face. Jason waited with the door open for Tony to enter the limo before taking him to the mansion. Tony sat in the back seat of the limo and started thinking of Jessica. He missed her to the point he wanted to call just to hear her voice. But he knew it would be a horrible mistake. Not until he sorted out his feelings and how she would or could, possibly, fit into his future.
The limo pulled up in front of the mansion. Tony exited and went straight to the bedroom he’d had as a child on the second floor. The room hadn’t changed.
Settling in the room, Tony unpacked his suitcase, took his phone from his pocket, opened it and looked at Jessica’s name and number before closing it and setting it on the nightstand. Lying down, with his arms behind his head, he focused on a spider hanging from the light fixture, wishing he had Jessica in his arms, touching her soft skin, feeling her gentle touch, her smile and most of all the way she understood him.
“She should have run the minute she laid eyes on me, especially when I told her what I was,” he whispered. “Why didn’t she? Is it the same attraction for her as for my mother?” Thinking back to the first time he spoke to Jessica at the diner with his heart pounding erratically when he finally found the courage to say something, why did it have to be hello, but she did say ‘hello’ back.
Jessica sweet Jessica, why have you stolen my heart? “Because, I watched you for five years without you knowing and wanting you and then when I finally find the courage to get to know you, what do I do? Run!” Tony said punching himself in his leg. “I run because I’m the one afraid, a coward, to face the best thing in my life and afraid of rejection, afraid of commitment. So I ran!
“Can it possibly work between us, her being mortal and me a dhampir? If it worked for mother and father, maybe, it can work between Jessica and me? But she’s so fragile, her delicate soft skin and mine ….hard,” he whispered rubbing his arm.
“Damn, I want you Jessica. I love you. But do I love you enough to spend the rest of my life with you?” he asked out loud.
Sitting up on the edge of the bed, he folded his hands in front of him, tapping his foot against the floor. “Why does this have to be so hard?” asking himself getting up. “The most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on and…and
….”
“Tony, dear,” Jennifer said lightly knocking on the door.
Tony straightened his face, stood up and opened the door.
“Dear, I heard you talking. Are you alright?”
“No mother, I’m not.”
Jennifer took Tony’s arm leading him to his bed. “Sit,” she calmly said. “What is going on?”
“Mother, I think I’ve fallen in love.”
“I knew one day you would,” Jennifer said moving Tony’s hair away from his face.
“But with a mortal. How can someone like me, a dhampir, make it work with a mortal? How do you and father make it work?”
“Tony, your father and I make it work because we understand and love each other. Sure, we have our disagreements from time to time, but that bonds us more closely, knowing what each other’s needs are and backing away when it’s too much.”
“Jessica and I haven’t disagreed on anything. We have the same things in common and I love her company.”
“Does she make you happy?”
Tony stood up and walked over to the wall. “She does, but she doesn’t know it.”
“Why haven’t you told her?”
Laying his head against the wall he said, “Because I haven’t found the courage. I came here when I felt I was getting to close to her,” turning to face Jennifer. “I’ve watched her for five years house-sitting for Aunt Jan. A few months ago, I approached her at the diner and the only thing I could say was hello.”
“Sounds like love to me,” Jennifer said. “Have you spoken to her?”
“Yes, but don’t think my palms didn’t sweat and my heart nearly burst out of my chest because I was afraid she’d reject me.”
Jennifer knew what Tony meant by rejection. She had protected him from everyone who tormented him as he was growing up and she understood why Tony was so fearful of talking to Jessica.
“She treats me as if I’m human, as if I’m one of her kind.”
“Did you tell her your half-vampire and human?”
“I have. Last month I found the courage to tell her I’m a dhampir.”
“How did she react?”
“Better than I thought she would. She showed compassion. She understood I was different from her, drawing me closer to her.
“I can’t tell you what to do, but I can tell you, you need to sort out your feelings and figure out if you want to spend the rest of your life with her. “It’s not Helda is it?” Jennifer asked hoping it wasn’t.
Tony rolled his eyes, “No mother, it’s not Helda. It’s a girl named Jessica. She lives down the street from Aunt Jan. You remember the log cabin at the end of the road.”
“Oh, the Pearl residence, but I don’t remember a child, just a couple and seeing them from time to time when I visited Jan.”
“That’s the one,” Tony said wringing his hands. “She reminds me a lot you.”
“Well, take your time, dear, but it sounds to me, your mind is made up and you’re second guessing yourself.”
Tony looked at his mother with a surprised expression on his face. “Second guessing about what?” he asked.
“The one you’re destined to spend the rest of your life with and bring you happiness…Your mate.”
“How do you know if they’re the one?”
“Look at yourself.”
Tony raised his eyebrow.
“Your palms are sweaty.”
Tony looked at his palms and rubbed the sweat on his pants.
“You’re fidgeting.”
Tony did his best to stop.
“You’re heart is beating faster than a hummingbird’s and…”
“You can’t hear my heart.”
“I see it in your eyes, dear.”
Tony looked toward the wall.
“And if you don’t hop your butt back on that plane and claim her, make her your own. She’ll find someone else and you’ll be left wondering what happened to your mate.”
“Mother, I’ve made love to her.”
“Well,” Jennifer said. “I’m not surprised. A taste of your mate, now that’s a new one,” Jennifer winked at him.
Tony grinned going back to sit on the bed.
Jennifer got up and walked to the door. Turning to look at Tony she said, “Don’t let this one get away,” she said raising her eyebrow. “Never be afraid to take chances, especially if the right one comes along.”
“Thanks mother.”
In the morning, I took my time getting out of bed. I’d spent most of the night thinking of Tony. Missing him and watching my phone so I wouldn’t miss his call. He never called.
I took my shower and cried as the water hit my face, letting out my frustrations. I was never going to see or hear from him again. With my frustrations finally gone, I stepped out of the shower, dressed and made a decision. Today I wasn’t going to think of Tony ever again. I’m going to live my life the way I wanted to, alone. Tony was never coming back.
With my head held high and the sun streaming through the clouds, I drove to work, without looking at his house, with a huge smile on my face.
Entering the hospital, I saw an elderly man walking slowly to the elevator. He stopped when I past him. I continued toward the elevator. Holding the door for him I asked, “Which floor do you need?”
Very slowly, he looked at me and said, “Ten.”
“You’re in luck, I’m going there myself.”
“Thank you,” the man whispered.
“May I ask who you’re seeing on the tenth?”
Holding his cane with both hands he said, “Charlie.”
“Oh, he’s on the second floor,” I said pushing the button for two.
When the elevator stopped at the second floor, I held the door open for him. So weak and fragile I helped him out of the elevator. “Wait here sir; I’ll get you a wheelchair.”
“Miss I’m fine. Just show me to Charlie’s room.”
He stopped at the nurse desk, spoke and down the hall he went to see Charlie.
Arriving at the tenth floor, Mike told me, “Jess, we need patients.”
“I know Mike, believe me, I know.”
The phone buzzed. “Tenth floor, Jessica,” I said picking up the receiver.
“You have a patient coming up from Portland General. Mr. Mangus Willard.”
“Thank you.”
“Please tell me were getting a patient?” Mike asked.
Smiling I said, “We are today. Mr. Willard will be joining us shortly.”
“My prayers have been answered,” Mike beamed.
“Thanks for letting me watch the movie with you and Malinda the other night.”
“Jess, any time you want a movie date with a friend, call me.”
“Thanks Mike,” I said giving him a hug. “You’re a terrific friend.”
Mike smiled as he gathered up his lunch bag and coat. “Hey, that’s what friends do for friends.”
Mike left to go home and I sat down staring at the computer monitor. A ding sounded on the monitor letting me know I had mail. Opening up the mail, admission papers for Mr. Willard appeared. Printing them off, I opened the chart program and typed in his information.
Mattie came around the corner with an armful of luggage for Mr. Willard. Stopping at the desk she asked, “Which room is Mr. Willard’s?”
“One-o-four, is he moving in?” I asked looking at two suitcases.
Mattie laughed and said, “It seems like it,” and off she went to take his luggage to the room.
Before Mattie was finished setting up Mr. Willard’s room, the orderlies wheeled Mr. Willard down the hall on a gurney. I followed behind and helped get him settled in his room.
Setting up the IV stand and heart monitor, Mr. Willard knocked me backwards yelling, “I don’t need a hospital. I’m fine, but my wife is trying to kill me.”
Mattie helped me off the floor and the orderlies came back into the room.
“Looks like we have a wild one,” I stated standing up. “Mr. Willard,
I’m your nurse, Jessica.”
“I don’t give a crap. Who you are,” he yelled. “You tell that wife of mine when I get out of here, she’s in for an ass whooping.”
“Mr. Willard, please calm down.”
“Calm, I’ll show you calm,” and took another swing at me.
“Do you know why you’re here?”
“So that wife of mine can screw around on me. She thinks she’s slick putting me in here, but I’ll show her.”
“Mr. Willard you’re here because you have a cancerous brain tumor.”
“Like hell I do.”
“Mr. Willard, are you in pain?”
“Pain, you ask if I’m in pain,” he laughed. “The only one in pain will be my wife when I get my hands on her.”
Mr. Willard wasn’t calming down. The orderlies handed me his chart and left the room. Looking the chart over, I realized he was on a morphine drip. Not sure if he’d knock me to the floor again if I tried to set it up, I told him, “Mr. Willard, I’m going to give you some pain medication in your gluteus maximus.”
“In my what?” he yelled.
“You’re behind Mr. Willard, the thing you sit on.”
“Well what are you waiting for the moon to shine?”
Mattie laughed so that only I heard her. “I’ll be right back,” I said and left the room.
Getting his pain medication ready in a syringe, I heard him yelling at Mattie. Hurrying back to the room, Mr. Willard was sitting on the edge of the bed with a wild look on his face. Mattie stood in the corner with her eyes bulging afraid to move.
“Mr. Willard, the moon is starting to rise and I need to give you this pain medication.”
Mr. Willard stood on the floor, turned around letting his hospital gown open enough for me to give him the morphine. After the injection, he climbed back on the bed and closed his eyes.
Safely, I started his IV and hooked up his heart monitor. Making sure he wouldn’t tear them out later, I taped the tubes to his arm securing it around his entire arm.
The rest of the day went smoothly. Mike arrived and I was glad to see him. I informed Mike about Mr. Willard and he reassured me he’d keep a close eye on him. I left the hospital feeling good about myself because my thoughts hadn’t strayed. I smiled all the way home.
Victor came home from the blood bank and went straight to Tony’s room.
Dhampir Secrets Page 13