The Turning (26 page)

Brian put mine on me while Matt put Nicole’s on for her. The check came and we got our stuff while my dad signed for it. Brian had taken my mom’s arm to lead her out, I took my dad’s arm, and Nicole took Matt’s. This was turning out to be one of the best days of my life. I was just filled to the brim with happiness.

I wished every day could be happiness and family, people I loved. Maybe the nightmares would stop then. But now wasn’t the time to think about that. Though, it was hard not to as I glanced up at the night sky. The time for sleep would be coming soon and that meant nightmares.

We decided to go back to my apartment for cake and coffee, since I was the closest. I knew the blood was already hidden. I would have to be careful with that when I lived with Nicole. Maybe build a fridge into my closet floor? I’d have to see the layout of the new place. It would be a pain to move, but I would be much, much closer to the hospital. Right now I had to take two buses to get there. I went in the limo with Brian while Nicole went with my family. I really wanted some alone time with him.

As soon as the limo pulled away, I turned to Brian. “I can’t thank you enough for the present. I love it so much, Brian. So, you paid off Nicole’s student loans?”

“Yes, I did,” he hedged, waiting to see what I would say.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you?” he repeated, eyebrows raised. He looked me over as if trying to figure out if I was a Kelly clone or something.

“Yes, thank you for doing that for her.”

“So, not wanting to start a fight, but I am confused. Why did I get yelled at when I paid off your student loans, but not when I paid off Nicole’s?”

“She’s my friend. I take care of her and help her as I can, but I can’t do much,” I explained. “I’m happy to see someone help her, because I would do the same if I could. I’m a different story. I can take care of myself. I’ve had help from my family, and the rest I was going to do myself. I wanted to prove to myself that I could.” After I was done, I studied Brian to see if he understood.

“I am sorry. I get it now. But I care for you deeply, just like you want to help Nicole and take care of her, I want to do the same for you.”

It was my turn to have the light bulb go off overhead. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be a hypocrite, that I would do it for her, but get mad when you did it for me.” I crawled into his lap and snuggled with him.

“
Mo mhile stór
, there is no need to apologize. There is no book that gives you all the answers in life. You do the best you can with what you have.”

“My dad always says that. I’m glad they like you.”

“I am as well. I like them very much too. They are very nice people, and they raised you and helped shape you into the woman you are. How could I not like them?” he asked with an impish smile. We got to my apartment and my family pulled up behind us. I gave Nicole the keys, and told everyone else to go up except my parents.

“Thank you, I don’t deserve you guys,” I said with a shaky voice, and hurried up and hugged them before I started crying. I walked up holding my mom’s hand with my dad trailing, and saw the small flower shop outside my door. Brian, Nicole, and Matt were bringing them all in. “What is all of this?”

“Seems you are a popular girl, my sister,” my brother ribbed. “They all have cards.” We grabbed the rest of them and brought them in, while my mom got plates, forks, and got the coffee going. I opened the card on the three dozen long stem red roses. They were from Brian, so I went and gave him a kiss.

The huge vase of tulips was from Julie, the spring arrangement was from my sister, Charles sent an orchid, and the four dozen yellow roses were from Andre. I handed Brian the card. I could see the look on his face, and he wasn’t too happy.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Brian went to answer it, so we all looked at him funny. When I saw who was there, I understood. Trent carried a bag of packing supplies and boxes, and there were four other guys carrying more boxes. I just laughed. “Brian you are never boring, I have to give you that.”

“Trent, hi!” Nicole greeted, all cheery, and gave him a peck on the cheek.

“Mom, Dad, Matt, this is Trent, Brian’s business associate,” I introduced.

“Thanks for bringing this all over, Trent,” Brian said. I knew he was an associate in title, but really Brian’s assistant.

“My pleasure. I’d take any opportunity to see Nicole again. And you too, Kelly,” he finished with that last part quickly.

“Oh, of course, Trent.” I bit back a laugh so I didn’t embarrass him. “Can you stay for some cake and coffee?”

“Sure, if I’m not imposing.” Trent smiled at Nicole.

We all sat in the living room eating, talking for a while, and planning the move, then Matt pulled me off to the side. “Can we talk?”

I walked with him into my bedroom and closed the door. “What’s up, kid?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing?”

“What do you mean?” I asked innocently.

“Look, Mom and Dad might not notice some things, but I do. You look different and you’re acting a little strange. Tell me what’s up, Kel, I know you’re happy and it’s your big day, but something’s up. I know you,” Matt accused.

“Dude, I’m all good. I’ve not seen you in at least a few months, finishing med school did a lot to your sis. Don’t worry about me, okay? I promise I’m five by five, little bro. I was sicker than I thought I was and it lasted a little long given I was run down. I’m feeling much better though. I’m a little shaky about bringing Brian around Dad, and it was probably too soon to invite him to something as major as a graduation.

“I don’t want him to get the wrong idea and think he has to propose or something. Don’t worry about me. You in for the move tomorrow?”

“I’m going to worry about you. You’re the only sis I got in the state, and I love you. If something’s up you can talk to me, you know that, right?” He paused and waited for my nod. “Okay. And no, I can’t help out, I’m sorry. Tomorrow I’ve got to work, and Monday I start summer school.”

“You’re doing well, Matt. Everything will be okay, I promise. You need me, you call me. I’ll drop whatever and be right over.”

“Naw, I’m all good, sis. If I need you, I’ll call,” he promised, putting his arm around me. We left the bedroom and joined everyone else. We gave each other a few looks here and there and winks, as only two very tight siblings could.

After about an hour, everyone started getting ready to go. Brian offered Trent and Nicole a ride home. We all said our goodbyes and planned to start the packing at eight tomorrow morning. Trent had the other packing supplies that they were going to drop off at Nicole’s.

After they left, I changed into some grubby clothes. It was still only seven at night, and I was wide awake. I realized with an evil smile that this was going to be fun. No one here to watch since I closed the blinds, I got to move as fast as I could. Right at seven fifteen, I already had all forty boxes built. I laughed to myself. I would have to figure out a way to get everyone out of Nicole’s apartment while I did this for her. I knew I was working off some frustration. I hated my brother having to go to work full time while taking summer classes. It was bad enough he had to work part time during the regular school year.

When there was a knock on the door at eight, it snapped me out of my trip down memory lane and worrying about Matt. I looked around. I had already wrapped, packed, and labeled ten boxes. I smelled Brian through the door and opened it without even looking through the peep hole.

“Hello, my lover,” I greeted, jumping into his arms.

He laughed that big contagious laugh. “Well someone is in a good mood. Been having fun while I was gone?” He looked around the room. “Oh, someone’s been using her new vampire skills.” I leaned back so he could see the big smile on my face.

“Yep! Look at all I got done in an hour.” I was really merry. “Are you willing to help?” He nodded and I sent him to start on the kitchen, while I went to work on my closet. Four of the boxes were big ones that you could hang clothes in. So I put all my hanging clothes in there, and packed up the rest in boxes.

I pulled out a bag and packed everything I would need tonight and the next morning in it. Then I worked on the bathroom. Dressers were already done, so the linen closet was next. I went to the kitchen then to talk to Brian. He was sitting there reading one of my medical books, everything in the kitchen was already packed away.

“Umm, why didn’t you tell me you were done in here?”

“I am much older than you, I am also going to be much faster, and I did not want you to feel bad that I would beat you,” he stated matter-of-factly.

“I don’t care about that. I was just glad you hurried up and got all the clothes hidden that you sent over last week. I forgot to thank you for that. Did Matt ask you what it all was?”

“No, I quickly did it while Nicole and Matt were looking at the flowers.” He licked his lower lip and met my eyes. “We need to talk about Andre’s flowers.”

“Okay, what do you want to say?” I hedged.

“I do not like that he sent you those flowers,” he answered.

“I was just as surprised as you were. He’s your friend. I assumed he might have discussed it with you.”

“He did not,” Brian grumbled. “I trust you, but I need to ask you—did anything happen with him?”

I put my hands on the table and looked him straight in the eyes. “You have to promise not to get mad, okay?” He nodded so I continued, “When we were running errands, we stopped at my apartment so I could pack a few things. He kissed me. I immediately pulled away and told him I was with you, and I wanted no one else. He said he thought that was why I invited him over. I set the record straight, and that was the end of it. Nothing happened after that.”

“Okay.”

My eyebrows shot up at that one. “Okay?”

“Okay, I believe you, and accept your answer. I am not upset, and okay—well Andre has quite a libido and is used to getting what he wants from women,” Brian responded.

“So we’re good?”

“Of course,” Brian affirmed. “Tell me what else I can do.”

“I have a question, or I guess issue, I want to discuss with you first. When my mom made the comment about wishing Marie was with us tonight, it got me thinking. She’s alone in New York, and I don’t want anyone to drain her. Is there like a leave alone list? I was thinking of calling Andre, but now that he sent the flowers, I don’t want to do anything that might be misconstrued.”

“There is such a list, and you could call Andre, but it would be more effective to call Julie. That way Marie would be on the list for all of America. It means a lot that you came to me about this, but I have to ask. You do not want her turned either, do you?” he inquired.

“No, I don’t,” I answered. “Probably not for the reasons you think, but I have my reasons.”

“Fair enough. What else is left to do?”

“I packed a bag of what I would need, so everything else needs to be boxed up, and I’d like the furniture to all be brought close to the door. That way when the movers get here in the morning, they can easily move it all right into the truck.”

“Who said anything about movers?”

“Seriously? Like I don’t know you well enough already to know you have movers coming tomorrow.” I snorted, shaking my head.

“Well, well, are you not just so clever?” he snickered. Then we got back to work and were done with everything a half hour later. All that was left was my bag, the overnight bag he brought with a change of clothes, and everything on the bed. It was only quarter to ten.

“I’m not tired yet. I’m going to go grab some of my blood, and then do you want to go see my new apartment?” I asked him.

“Of course, just let me call the town car.”

“Let’s just take a cab, you goof.” I took two pints out of the fridge Brian had brought for me when he showed up.

“If that is what you want. I have not been in a cab since the fifties, this should be interesting.” I drank the blood, and offered him some, which he declined. I grabbed my purse, and my new keys, and we were out the door. I hailed a cab at the corner, and we pulled up at my new apartment about ten minutes later.

There was an elevator at this building, which would be nice for moving in, but otherwise, I hated elevators. I was thinking I’d still have to use it after coming home tired from the hospital. I wouldn’t want to climb up the four flights of stairs every time.

How did I keep forgetting I was a vampire? It would take me about two seconds to get up those stairs now. Cool. I caught Brian’s eye, and with a nod, we raced up the stairs. He won, of course, but it was fun.

There were three apartments on each floor and we were the closest to the stairs. Apartment 511. I opened the door, and turned on the light. It was nice, with very a spacious living/dining room.

I went to check out the kitchen, which was bigger than my last one. I liked how the apartment was shaped since it was on the corner of the building. Both bathrooms, one for each bedroom, next to each other between the bedrooms. It was a good set up that added a layer of sound proofing, which was also nice, since I didn’t like the idea of sharing a bathroom with anyone.

One bedroom was bigger than the other, and knowing Nicole, she would give me that one. It had two nice windows facing north towards the hospital. Great, there wouldn’t be any sunlight issues, given my newfound aversion to sun. “What do you think, Brian?”

“I like it. Your window faces north, so no direct sun in the morning. Bigger space than your last apartment and you do not have to share a bathroom. You are literally across the street from the hospital, and there is assigned parking so you could get a car if you wanted to,” he listed, and I laughed.

“Besides the getting a car part, that was everything I just went over in my head. I guess great minds think alike. Okay, so now, negatives?”

He thought for a moment before answering. “Needs to be painted and the carpeting is hideous. I prefer wood to carpeting myself, but decide what you and Nicole like and I will have guys here tomorrow to get it done.”

“Oh no, you’re
not
my sugar daddy, Brian!”