after to change,” Ròs said as she laughed.
Michael laughed nervously. “Well, I guess that’s kind of a relief…kind of.”
Ròs laughed again. “Your dinner is almost ready, and Cat should be here soon. We should probably start setting the table.”
Michael watched as the beautiful woman moved gracefully around his kitchen. For a vampire who didn’t eat food, Ròs was a wonderful cook and always insisted on making every meal.
After the first night, Michael had offered for them to stay with him until Cat made up her mind. He really liked the Cowans. They were great houseguests, always helping out around his little cottage. He had given Emma, the church’s housekeeper, two weeks off to go and visit her family just in case Ròs or Trevor did anything suspicious. He needn’t have worried though, because most of the time he forgot they were vampires.
“So Ròs, Trevor, do you still plan on taking Cat from us?” Michael asked, worried about their response.
Ròs laughed. “As if Cat would allow us to just take her. She’s quite the strong-willed girl, that one. Just like her parents were. No, she shall make up her own mind and we’ll act accordingly,” Ròs replied while removing the bread from the oven.
“Besides, she seems to be well taken care of here,” Trevor interjected. Michael smiled and was relieved to hear their answer.
“Hello, anybody home?” Cat’s voice came from the hallway. She moved into the kitchen and stood in awe at the scene before her. Ròs was standing at the stove with her long red hair tied back, wearing a bright red apron , stirring a pot. Trevor was setting the dining room table for two and Michael was exiting the pantry with a bottle of sparkling apple cider in tow. It looked like a normal family getting ready to sit down for dinner.
“Oh Catherine, don’t you look lovely tonight. We’re just about ready. Just have a seat, and I’ll be right there,” Ròs’ soothing voice had her moving to the nearest chair.
“Do you need any help?” Cat asked.
“No sweetie, your uncles and I have it all under control.”
Cat watched on as everyone continued setting up for dinner. The one odd thing that she noticed as she scanned the space was there were blankets covering all the windows. Hmmm, I guess those block out the sunlight , she thought. As everyone joined her in the dining room, Cat found herself sitting across from her aunt at the head of the dinner table, with her uncles on either side.
“Cat, you look different,” Michael commented as he noticed his niece’s happier demeanor.
“Yeah, I finally sat down today and told my friends.” Cat jumped when Michael dropped the fork he was holding onto his plate. “Oh, no, I told them I’m adopted, not the other thing. I’ve kind of been avoiding them since school let out, but they forgave me. I still can’t believe I was so stupid.”
“Of course they’d forgive you. You’re a wonderful young lady who would only surround herself with compassionate friends. I’m so happy you took that step. What about your parents?” Ròs asked
“I’m going to talk to them when I get home. I realize I’ve hurt them too. And before you ask me, I haven’t made my decision yet. Please give me a few more days, okay?”
“Of course, Catherine. We understand how hard this is for you, and we’re very patient. I mean, we’re immortals after all. Now you two eat. You men just talk too much, and the food is getting cold.” Ròs and Cat laughed at their dinner companions’ puzzled faces.
Two hours later, Cat pulled into her driveway. Her stomach was tied in knots thinking about the conversation she was about to have with her parents.
“Yoo-hoo, Catherine. You’re cutting it a little close to curfew, aren’t you dear?” a sickeningly sweet voice called out.
“Great, just great! Nosy Maude and little Fredricka, just what I need,” she murmured to herself. “Hey Mrs. Roberts. Almost, I’ve got about 25
Emma Knight
Robert T. Jeschonek
Linda Nagata
C. L. Scholey
Book 3
Mallory Monroe
Erika McGann
Andrea Smith
Jeff Corwin
Ella Barrick