Dhampir Secrets

by Lewis, Shirlee

  And then a knock on my door I wasn’t expecting.

  “Don’t answer it Jessica,” I whispered looking at the door. “You know it’s him, don’t answer it.”

  “Jess,” I heard him say. “I need to talk to you.”

  I have nothing to say to you, I thought.

  “I’m not leaving until I talk to you,” he said.

  Stand there all night, I don’t care.

  “Will you please talk to me?” he asked.

  No.

  “You’ll have to come out at some point to go to work.”

  “Shit,” I cussed again.

  “Stop cussing Jessica, it’s not your nature,” I whispered.

  Then I heard a female’s voice on my porch.

  “Tony, what are you doing here? You live over there.”

  “This doesn’t concern you Helda.”

  “I’ve tried for months to talk to you.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Will you both get off my porch?” I said.

  “Yeah, what she said. Come Tony, we can talk at your house.”

  “No!” he said firmly. “Jess, I need to talk to you.”

  “Is this the reason, I haven’t been able to get a hold of you?” Helda asked Tony.

  “It’s none of your business,” he snapped.

  “What does she have that I don’t?” Helda said sarcastically.

  “Helda, for the last time, leave me alone.”

  “Fine, I thought we could get back together, but…”

  Tony cut her off. “I’ve never loved you and I never will. You mean nothing to me, now go.”

  “You don’t love me, at all.”

  “No,” he told her.

  I heard footsteps leaving my porch. Going to the bedroom, I opened the curtain and saw Helda running back to the car parked in Tony’s driveway and speed away.

  Back in the living room all was quiet on my porch so I went to make coffee thinking Tony had gone home.

  Starting the water in the pot, I saw Tony at the window peering into the kitchen.

  “Jess, I need to talk to you.”

  I looked at him.

  “Jess, I never meant to hurt you. I didn’t want to leave, but I was afraid because things were going too fast.”

  With the coffee started, I went to the living room, grabbed a pillow hugging it tightly against my stomach. Sitting quietly I hoped Tony would give up and go home. Hearing footsteps on my porch, I assumed Tony left so I pulled the curtain back and peered out. I didn’t see him. Then the flame which burned inside of me a month ago came back and all my frustrations surfaced and I said out loud, “Why does love have to hurt?”

  “I don’t know Jess, but it does,” he said from the porch.

  “What the?” I peeked out again but didn’t see him. Am I imaging him on my porch? I got up, went to the door and opened it. Standing on my porch, leaning against the rail with his arms crossed was Tony. Frozen in place, I closed my eyes, counted to ten out loud, hoping it was a mirage.

  When I opened my eyes he said, “I’m still here.”

  I cussed again, “Damn.”

  “I’m not leaving until you talk to me Jess.”

  Folding my arms, I said, “Say what you have to say and then… go home.”

  Tony started for the door, but I latched the screen.

  “Okay,” he said lifting his hands in the air to surrender. “Jess, I’m sorry I didn’t call or text, but I was having a difficult time sorting out my feelings… I wanted to be sure I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You can’t imagine how difficult…”

  “Yes I can,” I whispered.

  “….this had been for me.”

  “Really!”

  “Yes, really,” he said. “I love you Jess. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you! I want a relationship with you, to be with you always.”

  “What! You’re kidding, right?”

  “Afraid not,” he shrugged and looked at the ground.

  “You leave me, telling me you’re going to England to help your father. I hear nothing from you for an entire month. Not a thing! So I’m thinking, okay he doesn’t want you. So I worked hard to put myself back together to wake up each morning and go to bed each night trying to have a normal life. And here you are telling me you love me and want a relationship.”

  “That’s what I’m saying,” he said and smiled his half-grin. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Yes you are,” I said.

  “Where’s that?” he asked looking surprised.

  “Home!” I said firmly shutting the door, locking it and leaning again the door.

  “Okay, but you’re not going to win. I’ll get you back and I don’t care how long it takes. You’re my life and I love you.”

  Hearing footstep on my porch, I unlocked the door cracking it to see Tony walking back to his house. “Finally,” I said and went to the kitchen.

  Pouring a cup of coffee, I sat at the table my thoughts running out of control. He thinks he can waltz back into my life? I’ll take him with open arms. Ha! Fat chance that’ll happen. taking a drink of my coffee. “What am I saying? Fat chance nothing. You know you’re going to let him back into your life. You love him. I took a deep breath. You want to spend the rest of your life with him being happy and making him happy.

  “No,” I told myself. “He can’t expect me to?” I paused snapping my fingers. “Just open my door, invite him in and say, welcome home Lover.”

  My cell phone rang. I got up to get it stopping halfway to the counter. What if it’s Tony? “Don’t answer it,” I whispered.

  Grabbing my phone, I looked at caller ID, it was County Hospital calling.

  “Hello,” I said flipping it open.

  “Jess, I hate to bother you on your day off, but Mr. Willard is asking for you. Could you come in before he destroys the tenth floor?” Mr. King asked.

  “I’ll be there shortly.”

  “Thanks Jess.”

  Looking around the kitchen for my keys and finding them, I headed out the door. Noticing a leg with its foot tapping startled me. Tony was sitting in my chair on the porch. Without saying a word, I went to my car and left for the hospital.

  When the elevator opened I heard Mr. Willard yelling at the top of his lungs. Monica, walked over to me and said, “His wife’s in the room and he’s asking for you.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “He keeps threatening to put her here so he can go home.”

  “Okay. I’ve got it from here.”

  Walking into the room, Mr. Willard turned to me, “Ms. Jessica,” he calmly said. “You don’t have to transfer me, I wasn’t yelling at the nurses. My wife…”he said looking at her. “…Makes me crazy. She comes in here with her goody, goody attitude and thinks I don’t know what she is up too, but I do.”

  “What’s she up too?”

  “Taking me to the cleaners and hoping I’ll die so she can enjoy her boyfriend on my money.”

  I glanced at Mrs. Willard who looked toward the window.

  “Mrs. Willard, we have a nurse lounge if you’d like to wait,” I said hoping she took the hint and left the room.

  Mrs. Willard nodded and left the room.

  “Now, Mr. Willard, I don’t know your personal life and don’t want to know, but you have got to stop all this yelling. Your condition is far worse than you know and you need to calm down.”

  “Ms. Jessica, I know about the brain tumor and the outlook isn’t good for me, but I need her to stop coming and seeing me.”

  “Mr. Willard, when she does come to see you, you need to stay calm.”

  “Try living with that money-hungry bit…”

  “Don’t you say it?”

  “Yes Ms. Jessica. I know I’m going to die, but I don’t need her helping me die early.”

  “When she does come to visit, close your eyes the entire time she’s here and think of places you want to see and things you want to do. But, don’t get yourself worked up. She
has the right to visit you, she’s your wife.”

  “Yeah I know she is,” he said sighing.

  “Get some rest and I’ll see you in a few days.”

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “Nowhere, it’s my days off. Be good. I’ll see you when I come back.”

  “Yes Ms. Jessica.”

  Walking up to the nurses’ desk Monica asked, “What do you have that calms him down?”

  “Patience, Monica.”

  “Well, I could learn a thing or two from you.”

  I smiled and went to the nurse lounge.

  Opening the door I said, “Mrs. Willard you can visit your husband now.”

  “Thank you. He’s wrong about me.”

  “You shouldn’t have any more problems when you visit.”

  “Thank you.” Mrs. Willard left the lounge.

  Not wanting to deal with Tony, I went to the diner. Gillian saw me and took a cup of coffee to my usual table before I sat down. Mr. Willard was a sweet man behind his ruff exterior, but I couldn’t stay at the hospital 24/7 to keep him from yelling.

  Relaxing with a cup of coffee, I looked up to see Tony sitting in the booth in front of mine and Mark Malone coming toward my table. Great, I thought and turned toward the window.

  “Hey Jess, how’s it going?” Mark asked sitting in my booth.

  Before I answered him, Tony got up, came over to the booth, put one hand on the back of the booth and the other on the table and said, “She’s mine,” in a low growl sounding like a “true” vampire.

  Without a word, I got up and headed home because I didn’t want to stick around.

  The rest of my days off, I spent reading. Tony on my porch. In the morning refreshed, I headed to work. All was quiet and Mr. Willard was behaving.

  During lunch, I sat in my usual spot by the window with nothing on my mind. After lunch, a bouquet of yellow roses sat on the counter at the nurses’ desk. Printed on the front was my name and I recognized the handwriting, Tony’s, not wanting to know what the card said, I sat them on the counter behind me.

  My shift half over, my curiosity got the better of me and I went to the bouquet. Standing in front of it the aroma of the roses drifted toward my nose and I smiled. Sighing, I took the card and read: Sweetie, I’m so sorry I’ve caused you so much pain. You are my world and I can’t bare to see myself without you in it. Please forgive me. I love you, Tony.

  Arriving at home, Tony was sitting on my porch, like he’d done for the last week, and he wouldn’t look at the car when I pulled in.

  I didn’t get out of the car because I stared at him and then my heart took off beating hard against my chest.

  “You can do this,” I told myself and got out of the car. Stopping on the last step I said, “You’re forgiven.”

  Tony stood up and started to walk toward me, but I held up my hand and he stopped.

  “If you ever, and I mean ever, leave me again and I don’t hear from you within twenty-four hours, it’s over. We’ll be done for good.”

  “Jess, I promise you here and now, I’ll never leave you again.”

  I walked past Tony, unlocked the door and went inside. The screen door shut immediately behind me and I looked to see Tony still on the porch.

  “Aren’t you coming in?” I asked.

  “I thought you’d never ask,” he said. He came inside and closed the door behind him.

  Chapter Eleven

  Tony sat on the sofa watching me put my keys on the hook and my phone on the counter, fill my coffee cup, walk to the living room and sit in the armchair.

  He got up from the sofa, walked over and knelt beside the armchair, running the tips of his fingers slowly up and down my arm. My heart erratically thumped against my chest. Looking up at him, he took the cup out of my hand, placed it on the side table and gently pulled me to my feet. Facing him, he placed his hand over my heart and smiled. She’s my mate forever. Slowing moving his hand to my chest, giving me a sensation I’d missed during his absence, stopping at my shoulder and then slowly moved my shirt away from my neck.

  “Tony,” I breathlessly started to say, but he placed his finger on my lips.

  Looking me up and down, I smiled, he undressed me with his eyes. I saw a glow, a fire burning, deep within his pupils I hadn’t noticed before. Leaning toward me, running his face gently against mine he whispered, “Will you love me unconditionally?”

  “Yes,” I whispered softly.

  Placing my arms on his shoulders I pulled myself to him. He softly kissed my neck and my heart beat faster. His lips found mine and a fire inside me burst into flames I couldn’t control. Wrapping my leg around his hip, I wanted him. I missed him.

  His arms tightened around my waist as he carried me to the bedroom, gently laying me on the bed. I heard a ripping sound, but I didn’t care. I welcomed Tony home. Mind, Body and Soul.

  Arriving early at work, I stepped off the elevator. Monique ran over to me. “What’s wrong Monique?” I asked, thinking something might be wrong with Mr. Willard.

  “I heard Tony almost got killed?”

  “What makes you think that?” I asked.

  “I heard you stopped that guy,” she said.

  “I did,” I said, smugly.

  “Really, how did you do it?” she asked.

  “I’m not going into details, Monique. I would do it for anyone, not just Tony.”

  “Okay, it’ll be in the newspaper. I’ll read about when I get home,” she said heading to the elevator.

  “Have a good day,” I said, taking a seat at the desk.

  My first day back at work was always the same, paperwork. Today I didn’t mind. It helped pass the time because I was eager to see Tony when I got off work.

  My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. Looking to see who was calling, I didn’t recognize the number, but answered. “Hello.”

  “Jess, Tony.”

  “Hello Tony, how are you today?”

  “I’m fantastic.”

  I laughed remembering how we spent my days off.

  “I’d like to talk tonight when you get off work,” he said.

  “Haven’t we covered everything?”

  “Not exactly,” he said serious.

  “What more is there?” I asked.

  “You’ll find out tonight.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you tonight.”

  Closing my cell phone, I couldn’t imagine what he was eager to talk about. We spent my days off together. Shrugging my shoulders I said, “Guess I’ll find out tonight.” Getting back to the paperwork my cell phone vibrated again. Looking at caller ID it was Kelli.

  “Hello Kelli, how are you?”

  “I read in the paper that you helped Tony out of a jamb. Is that true?” she asked.

  “Yes Kelli, it’s true. I’m at work so I have to go.”

  “Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you at work.”

  “No problem,” I said.

  “Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  Before putting my phone in my pocket, I turned it off. I didn’t need any distractions with all the paperwork I had in front of me. Surprisingly time past quickly. I was glad. It meant I would be that much closer to finding out what Tony wanted to talk about.

  Ten minutes before eleven, Mike relieved me. He didn’t mention anything about the headline in the newspaper. I didn’t bring it up either.

  “Jess, you have a goodnight.”

  “You do the same Mike.”

  When I arrived home, Tony met me at the car, grabbed me up in his arms kissing me passionately. “What would you like to talk about,” I asked when the kiss ended.

  “Jess, I want you forever.”

  “I want you forever too.”

  With my answer, Tony smiled.

  We walked into the house arm in arm with Tony closing the door.

  Sitting on the sofa, Tony’s facial expression turned serious. “I want you to quit your job,” he said firmly.

>   “But…why?” I asked with a shocked expression.

  “For starters, father’s in the process of purchasing the blood bank in Portland. He asked me to run it for him. I’d like for “us” to run it together.”

  “When is this transpiring?”

  “Not until next year.”

  “I could work until then,” I said sounding hopeful.

  “Jess, don’t you understand my feelings for you.”

  “I know you love me.”

  Tony smiled. “Unconditionally and secondly.” he pointed at me continuing, “You here with me....forever, right?”

  “Of course, forever, but that’s not the point.”

  “What is the point?” he asked.

  Calmly and reassuringly I said, “Tony, I love you with all my heart and plan on spending forever with you, but…”

  Tony raised his eyebrow.

  “But,” I overstressed. “I love my job and I’m not ready to leave it. Someday yes, I’d love to, but not right now.”

  “Do you need convincing?”

  “Convincing?”

  “To say home with me,” he grinned. What’s it going to take to convince her, she doesn’t need to work?

  “Let me think about it.” I said wondering what scheme he had planned.

  “Okay, but…”

  “But?…” I said raising my eyebrow.

  “You’ll quit soon enough.”

  “You’re positive about that?”

  Tony grinned like a “vampire” with a deep, low growl coming from his chest, “Absolutely without a doubt.”

  In the morning, Tony’s cell phone buzzed on the nightstand beside the bed. “Hello,” Tony answered.

  I rolled toward Tony, but he sat on the edge of the bed and glanced back at me.

  “Hold on please he said,” laying the phone on the bed to put on his pants.

  Picking up the phone he headed down the hall toward the living room.

  Getting out of bed, I went to the kitchen to start coffee and breakfast. Tony went out on the porch. “Hum,” I said quietly. “What’s that all about?”

  Coming back in the house he asked, “Think we could pick up my car today?”