The Suck Stops Here

by Kristen Painter

  Cora and Denise returned to clear plates and bring the main course. Steak. No wonder. There was a baked potato and glazed carrots too. Dishes of butter, sour cream, chives, and chopped bacon were added to the table.

  If Christina didn’t know Noah was a werewolf, dinner with his parents might not be the best way for her to find out. But if Christina knew, why hadn’t she said anything to Donna? No, Christina was absolutely in the dark about all of this.

  Which meant she was in for a pretty big shock when the lights came on.

  Once again, Donna struggled with what to do. She didn’t want Christina to freak out in front of everyone. That could go horribly wrong. She could end up blaming Donna. Or wanting nothing to do with Noah or the baby.

  Then a new thought occurred to Donna. Noah obviously knew he was a werewolf, so why hadn’t he told Christina? What on earth was he waiting for? Donna really wanted to talk to him first.

  “Not hungry?” Tom asked.

  Donna gave him her best smile and picked up her steak knife and fork. The conversation she needed to have couldn’t happen right now. She knew that. “Sorry, just something on my mind. This looks delicious. Is this filet mignon?”

  He nodded. “Only the best for our guests.”

  She pushed everything else aside, and for the next twenty minutes, through the steak and the delicious apple pie that followed, she kept her mouth shut except for small talk and pleasant conversation.

  But as the meal came to a close, she began searching for a way to broach the supernatural subject.

  Cora and Denise returned to clear the dishes and see if anyone wanted more coffee or wine.

  Jeanne spoke up immediately. “We ought to retire to the family room. It’s more comfortable. We could have more coffee in there.”

  Donna seized the opportunity. “That sounds lovely.” Anything to get them moving and possibly offer an opportunity for her to get Noah alone.

  But as they got up and went into the other room, Noah and Christina stayed together, talking in soft tones about something Donna couldn’t quite hear.

  Once everyone reached the living room, Noah and Christina remained by the door, clearly wanting to do something else. Noah hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “We were going to the game room to play some Mario Kart.”

  “That sounds fun,” Donna said. “I’d love to see the game room. Would you mind giving me a little tour before the game gets underway?”

  Noah shrugged. “Sure. Come on. It’s in the basement.”

  Donna smiled at the Millers. “I’ll be right back.”

  She headed for the door and the two kids, not giving the Millers a chance to come along. “Lead the way!”

  Noah nodded. “It’s right through here.” He took them down the hall and to a door near the kitchen.

  Wide steps led down. He flicked on the light and started for the basement, Christina’s hand in his.

  Donna followed. “Your parents have a beautiful home.”

  “Thank you,” Noah said. “It was a great place to grow up.”

  “Have you lived in this house all your life, then?”

  “Since I was five. That’s when they built it.”

  The basement was just as well done as the upstairs. Donna looked around, giving the game room lots of appreciative nods. “What a fun space. You must have spent a lot of time down here growing up.”

  “We did,” he said. “Me and my friends and my sister with her friends too.”

  “And look at that. You have a little snack bar and a popcorn machine.”

  He nodded. “We have everything down here. There’s a full bathroom down that hall, too, which made it ideal for sleepovers.”

  “I bet.” That was all the opening Donna needed. She looked directly at her daughter and used the new skill Neo had taught her. “If we’d had a game room with a bathroom, I never would have seen you and your friends.”

  Christina laughed. Then she blinked and looked toward the hall. “You know, I think I’ll go check out that bathroom. They say pregnant women need to pee a lot, so I might as well get used to it.”

  Donna could kiss Neo for teaching her to glamour. As soon as the bathroom door shut, she faced Noah. “I know you and your parents are werewolves. How dare you keep that from my daughter and the woman you claim you love?”

  Shock rounded his mouth, and a wolfy blue glow flickered in his eyes. “How did you—”

  Donna let her fangs drop. “Because I happen to be the vampire governor of New Jersey.”

  He swallowed and glanced back toward the bathroom for a second. “I want to tell her. I plan to. I just didn’t want to freak her out, or upset her, or do anything that might cause her to lose the baby. I love her. I swear it on my pelt. I’m just terrified she’ll leave me.”

  Donna pulled her fangs back. “I can understand that, but she deserves to know that the child she’s carrying is more than she thinks it is.”

  He nodded, looking a little miserable. “I know.”

  “Good. I’m going to go back upstairs, and you’re going to tell her right now, understand? And listen, Christina’s had quite the introduction to the supernatural lately. She shouldn’t be freaked out by what you are. Just by everything else that comes with it.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Donna gave him a quick smile before turning toward the stairs. “Good boy.”

  Donna strode back into the living room with a big smile on her face. She hoped Cammie hadn’t struggled too much to keep up the conversation, but leaving her alone with the Millers couldn’t be helped. Donna had done what she’d needed to do.

  Well, the first part of it anyway. The second part was about to happen. She just needed the right opening.

  “Your home is lovely,” Donna said to Jeanne. She and Cammie were sitting in two smaller club chairs separated by a small lamp table. “That game room is a great spot, but the entire house is just beautiful. You’ve done a wonderful job with the decorating. It’s such a comfortable space. You’ll have to come visit me in New Jersey sometime.”

  “Thank you. That is so kind of you to offer,” Jeanne said with a bright smile. “Would you like more coffee now?”

  “I’d love some,” Donna answered.

  Jeanne got up and filled Donna’s cup from a silver carafe that was part of a whole service set up on the low center table. “Where do you live in New Jersey?”

  “Right on the Hudson River. The view from the penthouse is spectacular in the evening when Manhattan is all lit up.”

  Tom was at the bar, adding a little brandy to his coffee. “Penthouse, eh? Sounds pretty swanky.”

  Donna took her cup and walked over to the bar, setting her cup beside his. “It is pretty swanky. All of Wellman Towers is. I own the top two floors and part of the one directly below them, but the view from the penthouse is the best. The view from the rooftop patio isn’t too shabby either.”

  Brows raised in question, he held up the brandy.

  She nodded for him to add a splash to her coffee as well. Then she laughed softly. “I suppose it’s not really fair to say I own all of that. It really belongs to the governorship.”

  Jeanne frowned, and Cammie looked smugly curious. Jeanne shook her head. “The governorship? I don’t understand. Do you work for the governor? I thought you were writing a book.”

  Donna took a sip of the spiked coffee and smiled. “No. I am the governor.”

  Tom laughed. “That’s quite a claim. Especially when the governor of Jersey lives in Drumthwacket. I know because I read an article about the renovation of the place a few years ago. Name like that sticks in your head.”

  “The human governor lives there, yes.” She let her fangs drop as she turned to smile at him. The mirror behind the bar showed that her eyes were shining too. Good. She wanted him to get the full effect. “But as you can see, I’m not human.”

  His eyes glowed with the full weight of the wolf within him for a moment, then his face went blank, and his eyes lost their eerie lig
ht. A moment later, a huge grin bent his mouth. “How do you like that? I suppose you already know who I am?”

  She exhaled and tucked her fangs away. “I didn’t. Not until my admin confirmed it.” She looked at Jeanne. “Not long after we arrived, I started to suspect, much as I imagine you both did about me, that there was something more than human about you.”

  Jeanne still looked unsure. “A vampire.” She glanced at her husband. “What will the pack think about this?”

  He didn’t seem fazed. “I suspect they’ll think we’ve got a great alliance in the offing. Donna’s no ordinary vampire, after all. It would certainly make the marriage go down easier.” He glanced at Donna. “Provided you’re amenable to such an alliance.”

  “I am. But about the kids,” Donna started. “I’m not at all happy that Noah wasn’t up front with Christina about who he is. My daughter is completely human. She has no idea he’s a werewolf. Or what that means for the baby she’s carrying.”

  Jeanne got up from her seat, wringing her hands together. “We aren’t happy about him keeping that back either, I assure you. We’ve been pushing him to tell her for a long time. But he’s afraid he’ll scare her off. And this baby is important to us.”

  “To me too,” Donna assured her. “But that’s no reason to keep his true nature a secret. If they love each other, they have to be honest with each other.”

  “I agree, but that baby might be more important to us than you realize,” Tom said. “Births in our pack have been declining for years. And we don’t know why. This baby feels like a sign of better things to come. Even more so now that we know about you.”

  Jeanne glanced at Cammie. “Are you a vampire too? You don’t seem quite human either.”

  Cammie looked at Donna like she was asking for permission.

  Donna shrugged. “You might as well tell them. It’s not like they won’t eventually find out anyway.”

  Cammie returned her attention to Jeanne. “I’m not a vampire. I’m a retired Venari.”

  A low growl emanated from both of the Millers as their eyes began to glow again.

  “Hey,” Donna said sharply. “She said retired. And she’s my sister. You have nothing to fear from her. Especially if you’re not breaking any rules.”

  The growling stopped, and the Millers seemed to calm down. Jeanne seemed embarrassed, immediately occupying herself with smoothing down her dress.

  “My apologies,” Tom said. “It’s instinct more than anything. I’ve never met a Venari before, retired or otherwise. To be honest, I’d hoped to go to my grave without that happening, but if it had to, this is probably the best possible way.”

  Cammie didn’t seem bothered. “I’m used to that sort of reaction, frankly. But Donna’s right. You have nothing to worry about from me. Unless you go on some kind of human-killing spree.”

  Jeanne nodded nervously. “Thank you for that reassurance.”

  Donna took another sip of the coffee, which had already cooled off a bit thanks to the brandy. “Right. Back to Noah. I’m not happy about him keeping this secret from Christina. I don’t know how she’s going to take it. I expect her to freak out a little. That’s generally how she reacts to shocking things.”

  “Even though you’re a vampire?” Tom looked unconvinced.

  “I’ve only been a vampire for a little over a month,” Donna answered. “And it was a lot for her to take in.”

  He shook his head. “A month? And you’re already governor?”

  She nodded. “Long story, which I’ll tell you someday, but not tonight. So yes, she’s as new to all of this as I am. Newer, really, because she’s been at college and not immersed in it like I’ve been. Which also reminds me that you need to know it’s very important that she finishes school, just like Noah. She deserves to finish her degree just as much as he does.”

  Jeanne joined them at the bar. “Oh, I agree. We absolutely support that too. Wouldn’t be fair otherwise.”

  Donna was glad to hear her say that.

  A door slammed somewhere in the house, then loud footsteps came toward them. They all turned in time to see Christina enter the room with a scowl on her face that could have frozen lava.

  “Mom.” She was fuming, hands on her hips, eyes flashing in anger. “These people are werewolves. Did you know that?”

  “Not until about ten minutes after we arrived.”

  “Yeah, well, Noah just told me, and I’m done with him. With all of these people. Do you know what that means for the baby? How do I explain that at the hospital? I could punch something right now.” She groaned. “How could he do this to me?”

  This was exactly what Donna had been afraid of. “Sweetheart, maybe we should talk.”

  “No. I don’t want to talk. I want to go back to the RV and never speak to that liar again.”

  Noah appeared in the doorway behind her. “Christina, please, let’s talk about this.”

  She glared at him. “No.”

  “Yes,” Donna said with more force than she’d meant to. The glass in the room rattled. She took a breath to calm herself a little. “Christina, sit down. Noah, you—”

  Christina put her hands on her hips. “Mom, he lied to me.”

  “Because he was afraid of how you’d react. And you’re kind of proving his point right now, aren’t you?”

  With a frown, Christina sat on the couch across from her aunt. She folded her arms and glared at the room.

  “Noah, sit, too, please.”

  With a nod, he joined Christina, keeping to the far end of the couch.

  Donna took another, bigger sip of her coffee, then went over to stand in front of them, fully prepared to glamour them if need be. “You two are going to work this out. Noah, you need to apologize for keeping such important information from Christina.”

  He slanted his eyes at Christina. “I did.”

  “Do it again.”

  He took a big breath. “Christina, I am really sorry for not telling you the truth sooner. But I was so afraid of losing you and the baby. There was never a right time either.” He shook his head. “All I want is for us to be a family.”

  Christina uncrossed her arms to fold her hands in her lap but said nothing.

  Donna was far from done. “Now, Christina, you apologize for not telling Noah that your mother is a vampire.”

  Noah’s eyes widened.

  Christina looked up. “But I didn’t—”

  “So you told him?”

  “No, but—”

  “Then you let him believe I was human?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Because that was a lie, too, wasn’t it?”

  Christina frowned. “You only just became a vampire, and you told me not to tell anyone.”

  “I did, that’s correct, but I think you’re smart enough to understand that the man you’re having a baby with, the man you intend to marry, would be an exception to that request.”

  Christina didn’t look thrilled, but she turned toward Noah. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you my mother is a vampire.”

  He shrugged. “It’s okay. I understand. This whole world must seem really crazy to you.”

  She nodded. “It does. Well, it did. I’m getting pretty used to it now. Still weird being the only human in the group sometimes, though.”

  He slid his hand halfway across the cushion between them. “I bet it is. But I promise you, I will always protect you and our child. No matter what. I love you.”

  For a moment, she didn’t move. Then she slid her hand toward his. “I love you too. But I am still a little mad at you.”

  He laced his fingers with hers. “That’s okay. You probably should be. I’ll never keep anything from you again. I swear it.”

  “You better not.” Her mouth was set in a hard, thin line, but her eyes held a glint of amusement. “Or you’ll be in the doghouse. Literally.”

  Tom snorted. “I see your daughter is a fast learner.”

  Donna looked at him. “Runs in the family.
” Then she focused on Christina again. “Are we good here? Because we’re not leaving until we are.”

  Christina finally smiled. “Yes, we’re good. Doesn’t mean Noah and I don’t still have a lot of talking to do.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “Say,” Tom started. “If you’re staying at the campground for a few days, maybe Christina could stay here with us for that time. There is a lot of planning to be done, what with the wedding and all. Assuming it’s still on.”

  Donna wasn’t opposed to that. In fact, she much preferred Christina not be around when they arrived in Kansas for Artemis’s funeral. Not with that many vampires in the vicinity.

  Christina’s humanity would definitely be a drawback at times going forward. The funeral would be one of them.

  Donna nodded. “I think that’s a great idea. What do you say, Christina?”

  She chewed her bottom lip for a moment. “I guess I could. But all my stuff is back at the RV.”

  Tom put his drink down. “No problem. Noah can drive you back so you can collect your things.”

  Noah tugged on Christina’s hand. “Stay, baby. Then we can talk all you want.”

  “Okay.” She looked at Donna. “Thanks.”

  “We’ll pick you up on our way home.” Donna glanced at Jeanne, then Tom. “I’m actually headed to the queen’s funeral. I’m sure you heard about her unfortunate passing.”

  He nodded. “We did. Makes sense that you’d be headed out there, you being a governor and all. We’re happy to have Christina for however long it takes you.”

  “Thanks.” Donna glanced at Cammie. “I guess we should call it a night, then.”

  Cammie stood, clearly ready to go. Donna understood her eagerness. This night had gone very differently than they’d expected. And thankfully, much better than it could have gone, all things considered.

  As they said their goodbyes and Noah went to get his keys, Tom approached Donna. “I’m serious about that alliance, even though we’re not exactly in neighboring states. The marriage of our children will imply such a thing has happened anyway, but an official announcement as part of the engagement news might be nice. It would certainly make the speed and rareness of this wedding more understandable.”