by Lane Hart
“How many?” I asked.
He groaned again. “One, all, any.”
He was standing beside the bed now, watching and working himself. His jaw clenched as he tried to prevent himself from touching me. I liked that I was driving him crazy, and wanted to keep it going.
After all the sex we’d had in the last eighteen hours I knew I could take anything. I pushed three fingers in and slid my back down the bed to lay down, as I felt the beginning of the contractions. Adding my thumb to circle my clit, sent me barreling into an orgasm.
“Oh God, that was so worth it,” I heard Tom say before he pulled me to the edge of the bed and mounted me.
“Hey! What are you – oh!” I started to laugh until the orgasm swept me away again.
“I had to. Can’t get enough of you,” he moaned above me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Tom
I felt like I was on top of the world. Days, actual days had gone by since Joselin and I came back to our hotel room. Three of them to be exact. It wasn't just the sex with her. It was, hell, I was without a doubt falling in love with her. I was pretty sure I'd never get tired of seeing her beautiful smile, or the way she looked at me like I meant the world to her.
Our time together had also been spent laughing and talking. I wanted to know everything about the woman that had been around two hundred and sixty years. She wanted me to tell her what it had been like raising Kate, teaching her new things, showing her new places, everything we did together.
I knew even after such a short time with Joselin that she wanted children as much as Elizabeth had. It was a bitter shame that neither of them had ever had a chance to be a mother. There was no way there would ever be two more loving and caring souls.
I hoped that Joselin could be a part of Kate’s baby’s life. She’d practically be its grandmother. And if we married, she really would be. Marriage. That, along with falling in love, were things I didn’t think I’d ever see again. Yet, here I was, not just considering it, but actually wanting to make Joselin my wife.
The sun was shining through the balcony window, overlooking the ocean. It was amazing how beautiful Joselin looked, her messy dark hair all around her as she laid tangled in the white bed sheets, smiling up at me, with the sun making her glow like some ethereal being from a dream.
“What are you smiling at?” she asked.
I leaned down to brush a kiss across her lips. “You are an amazing woman, and I’m falling in love with you.”
Her smile only grew bigger. “I’m falling in love with you too. No, that's not true. I think I already love you.”
“We’re really good together, aren’t we?”
“Yeah, we are. And everything, good and bad, in both our pasts led us here to be with each other.”
“I never thought I’d ever love someone as much as I loved Elizabeth, but I do. And there’s not the least bit of guilt or pain in what I feel for you.”
“Will you consider letting me turn you?” she asked, and I could see how much she wanted and needed me to say yes.
“I’ve seriously considered it, and I think that’s what I want, if you’re sure you’re okay with it.”
The air rushed out of her lungs. “Yes, I want you to, but I want you to be sure.”
“How about we give it a year and see how things go?”
“Deal,” she said with a grin.
“So what’s the plan for the short term?” I asked. “Well, other than we're sure as fuck going to keep doing what we’ve been doing for several days now.”
She smiled and thought it over. “I’m trying to decide where we should start our search. About six years ago I met a warlock who was high up in the European coven. He was from a city near Berlin, so that may be our best bet.”
I nodded. “I’ve got a few ideas myself. There were several warlocks I came across with the D.R.A., one’s I made sure were left alone … and then there's Kate’s uncle. I don’t know of any other witches.”
“Oh, right. Liz’s brother, Jason? I think she mentioned him a few times, but she never really said much about him.”
“Yeah, he was her twin actually, but I don’t know if he even uses the same name. I haven’t seen or heard from him since he up and left Greensboro nineteen years ago.”
“So, should we start in the States or go to Germany?”
“I think for now it’d be safer out of the country, until the government's manhunt dies down.”
“Okay, then let’s head back to my place in California, pack up, and head to Germany?”
“You know I have nothing left, right? House, clothes, money, I can never touch anything that was mine again.”
“Oh Tom, I’m so sorry. But I do have more money than I will ever spend even if I live a thousand years. My money actually just sits in accounts, making more money. So, don't worry about anything, okay?”
I groaned. “This is … God I hate this. Since I moved out of my parents’ house I’ve been taking care of myself, even though they tried to throw their money at me. This is going to kill my ego, but I know when to admit I don’t have any other option. Well, other than crashing with Kate and Sam, and that is definitely not going to happen.”
“Don’t worry about any of that. Actually, I was thinking of finding a house near their place so we’d get to spend more time with them, especially after the baby comes.”
“That would be really great. I still can’t believe I’m going to be a grandfather. Oh fuck!” I exclaimed when a panic attack seized the air from my lungs.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Childbirth. Thinking of Kate …” I wasn’t sure I could go through all that again. I still see the images of Elizabeth dying when I close my eyes.
“Don’t worry about that. We will find a doctor to be there and take care of Kate and the baby. I can wipe their memories after it’s all over. Sam and I have already started talking and planning.”
I tried to slow my breathing and stop the panic. A doctor would be good to have. It could be the difference between the two of them staying alive.
“With my and Sam’s blood we can heal most anything, or at least help the healing,” Joselin said as she rubbed her hands soothingly through my hair.
“It will, won’t it? This is good. Maybe they'll be okay.”
“Of course they will be. And in the meantime, we’ll stay busy traveling so you won’t have time to dwell on it.”
“I know other ways you can distract me for the next eight months,” I told her with a smile.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Eight months later...
Tom
I woke up from a dead sleep to the phone ringing. Who the hell is calling at, shit, what time is it? Three a.m. Who the hell is calling at ... Kate! I jumped out of bed trying to figure out what piece of clothing to put on first.
“Calm down Sam, they’re both going to be fine. We’re on our way,” I heard Joselin say from her side of the bed before she got up and turned on the light. “It’s time. Kate’s water just broke.”
“Oh God,” I said as I sat back on the bed with my head in my hands. “I don’t know if I can do this again. It almost killed me the last time and if something happens to her-”
“Tom, it will be different this time. We’ve got one of the best doctors in the United States and two vampires full of blood to heal her. She’s going to make it. Sam won’t settle for anything else.”
“Like I did, you mean.”
“No, don’t say that. You did everything you could. There was no one you could trust to help, and even a hospital might not have been able to save her,” Joselin said, as she sat down beside me and put her arm around me. “Now get dressed so we can go meet your grandbaby.”
“Now that makes me feel old,” I said with as much smile as I could manage.
“Sweetie, how many times do I have to tell you, I’m two-hundred and sixty, you are not old,” she said, giving me a quick kiss.
I found some pants and a shi
rt, then shoes and I was ready. We sped the short drive to Kate and Sam’s house, but then I had to stop at the front door.
“Take some deep breaths and try and stay strong for her, okay?” Joselin said as she grabbed my hand and rang the doorbell.
Sam opened the door and looked about like I felt. “Thank God you’re here. I am freaking the fuck out.”
“How’s she doing?” Joselin asked.
“She’s doing really well so far. Dr. Wilson said she’s like five centimeters dilated or some shit, but the contractions are getting worse and I can tell she’s in more pain than she's letting on,” he said, rubbing his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry Tom, I can’t imagine how hard this is on you.”
I patted him reassuringly on his shoulder, knowing he was just as worried as I was about Kate.
“Does she feel like seeing us?” I asked.
“Come on in, I’m sure she does,” he said as he led us to their bedroom and we waited in the hallway.
“Hey baby, you up for visitors? Your dad and Joselin are here,” we could hear Sam telling her.
“Sure, tell them to come on in, but warn them that I look like shit,” I heard Kate say.
“You’re beautiful like always, you don’t look like shit. Come on in,” Sam came back to the door and told us.
We walked into their bedroom. It had been turned into a hospital room, which was a huge relief. If only I’d had all this, and these people, with me nineteen years ago maybe things would have been different.
“Hey Dad, hey Joselin. How are you guys?” Kate asked with a smile. She was sitting up in a bed, her hair a little sweaty and her face flushed, but she looked good. Happy even.
“We’re fine, just worried about you,” I told her giving her a kiss on her forehead. Joselin gave her a hug. “How are you feeling?”
“Good right now, but give me another minute or two and I’ll be cussing like a sailor. Dr. Wilson has everything under control though. She’s great. Thank you, Joselin, for finding her.”
I knew Joselin had used some sort of vampire mind trick on the good doctor, that or bribed her with an obscene amount of money. The doctor would know that her bank account was fuller, but she wouldn’t remember why when it was all said and done.
“Anytime. Now I just wish we could have found a pediatrician, too, just in case.”
“Oh, son of a bitch!” Kate screamed as she raised up.
“That would be another contraction,” Sam said as he grabbed Kate’s hand and rubbed her arm through it, giving her a pep talk. I couldn’t help but smile, so glad she had found someone who loved her so much.
“Shit! How much longer is this going to take?” Kate asked as she panted.
“Oh baby, I think we have a ways to go still, but I know you can do it,” he told her, placing another kiss on her lips.
“I’m ready to see her,” she replied, looking up at him.
The doctor had done an ultrasound a few weeks ago, so we knew Kate was having a girl. Thank God for that, because I didn’t know if Sam could have handled her having a boy that looked like his father.
“Me too,” he told her.
I was just ready for this to be over, so I could know Kate was going to be alright.
“You doing okay?” Joselin asked, still holding my hand. I looked down into her worried eyes, and for the millionth time, was glad I had her in my life.
“Yeah.”
“Oh Dad, I’m sorry you have to go through this. I understand if it’s too hard for you to be here.”
“I’m staying. That’s the only way I’ll know you’re okay.”
“Then will you tell me about her? You’ve never told me anything. I know it’s tough, but I’d really like to hear about her. It’ll help distract me.”
“You look just like her, and have the exact same eyes,” I told her with a smile, as my own eyes watered. “I bet you didn’t know Sam and Joselin knew her, did you?” I asked, blinking away the moisture.
“What? No way!” Kate exclaimed as she looked back and forth between them.
“She was beautiful, and so sweet and kind. I remember asking if she was pregnant when she couldn’t have been more than three or four months along. She said she hoped she had a girl, and if so she was going to name her Kate,” Joselin told her.
“Really? She named me? How’d you know her?”
“She was a waitress at the restaurant back in Greensboro, Tex and Shirley’s. She worked at a grocery store too while she was going to college.”
“Where’d she go to college? In Greensboro?” Kate asked.
“Madison. She loved kids and wanted to be an elementary school teacher,” I told her.
Her eyes widened. “Madison? That’s why you let me go there?”
“Yes. She worked so hard to get in and then I, um, got her pregnant her first semester.”
“Oh wow! And Sam, you knew her too? Why didn’t you tell me?” He looked away, and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Because it's pretty damn embarrassing. But yeah, I actually asked her out once…or a few times. She always turned me down. I suspected she was your mother the first day we met, but I wasn’t completely sure until I met your dad and he mentioned her.”
Kate’s mouth dropped open and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I remember seeing her pregnant. With you. Wow, that’s weird, but I told her congratulations. I was glad she’d finally said yes to someone, and he was a lucky guy,” Sam said. He looked over at me before laughing. “Then when we asked about the father she said he was a D.R.A. agent living in Pennsylvania with his wife.”
“Wife? Oh shit, shit, shit! Another contraction,” she said as she panted.
“Thanks a lot Sam, you jackass,” I told him. I knew he was trying to take the heat off of himself.
“Go back. Daddy, you had a wife when you were with my mom?” Kate asked after the contraction was over.
I sighed. “Yes. She was a bitch and I hated her. I was leaving her and had started the paperwork…but didn’t tell Elizabeth. When she found out I was married she wouldn’t see me for three months. I kept visiting her as much as I could, and calling her, but she avoided me. Then, one day in March I came to see her and saw her pregnant belly. She hadn’t told me, but I knew you were mine.” I shook my head. “She finally forgave me that day, and said these two had actually told her to give me another chance, so I owe you both for that.”
“She said she loved you and still wanted to be with you. She was just worried you’d hurt her,” Joselin told me.
“My wife really was an evil bitch. She tried to sneak and get pregnant behind my back by skipping birth control pills after I told her I wanted to wait. Her and her entire family are the most arrogant and uppity…they thought were better than everyone else. They were horrible people, just like my mother and sister. They all pushed me to apply to the agency. Then the bitch came down to Greensboro after I sent her annulment papers, and found your mom in my hotel room.”
“So, if you didn’t want any kids, why were you stupid enough to get pregnant with me?” Kate asked, shocking me by the way she was distorting what had happened. I never considered she'd think she was an accident. That’s not how Elizabeth and I ever felt about her.
“I promise you sweetie, we wanted you.”
“Yeah right, you wanted to knock up your mistress while you were married?”
“Your mother wasn’t my mistress. I loved her more than anything in this world. Your mom and I knew we wanted to be together and have a family before my bitch of a wife came down and screwed things up. I didn’t want to have kids with that bitch, I wanted to with your mother. I knew she’d make…she would have been a great mother to you, and she loved you so much.”
“I’m sorry Daddy.”
“She dreamed about you the night before I asked her to marry me. She dreamed we had a beautiful girl, with her teal eyes, and named her Kate. She knew, probably for months, that she wasn’t going to live through, well, you know.”
“She saw the future?”
“Yeah, in her dreams.” I smiled. “When she met me she’d already dreamed of me, standing and watching her in the rain. That was the day she finally took me back. She saw her mother’s car wreck that killed her, which was why I was in town in the first place. I was supposed to find your mother and her brother and turn them in.”
“Really? I have an uncle too? But of course you couldn’t turn them in.”
“Of course not! I don’t know what ever happened to your uncle Jason, but I’m trying to find him. Oh, and your mother saw in her dreams that Sam and Joselin would be the ones we would love. I was starting to suspect that when I met Sam, then knew for sure the day Joselin showed up.”
“What?” all three asked at the same time, clearly surprised. I’d kept it from them so they wouldn’t ever be swayed in the decisions they'd made.
“She did. The night you were born she told me she’d met the two people we’d both end up with and that they were vampires. She didn’t tell me your names at that moment, but you two were the only ones she knew. Kate, she told me she knew you would be happy and have your own family, and here we are.”
That’s right, she’d seen Kate with a family, so she and the baby have to make it through this. That was some relief.
“Wow,” Kate said as she cried. “Thanks for telling me all this. I wish I could’ve known her.”
“Me too sweetie.”
"The night Kate was born, and you called me, I was so worried about you. I didn’t even know your name,” Joselin said. Sam and Kate looked stunned again.
“I asked Joselin to change your mother into a vampire. To save her. But she was already gone by then. I just wasn't ready to give up on her.”
“Okay, it’s time to check and see how you’re doing,” Dr. Wilson said when she walked into the room, putting on a pair of latex gloves. She’d been using the nursery across the hall as her room/office while she’d been confined here for two weeks, ready and waiting for today.
“That means everyone out for a few minutes,” Sam told us. Joselin and I went to wait in the living room.
