Chapter 17
Katie went over and turned off the call light, then faced him with a perplexed frown. “That’s Mrs. Roberts wanting to tell me what flavor of tea she’s decided on. Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
He let out the breath he’d been holding, but his nerves sparked and sizzled like a downed power line. “I’m fine. I’ll get her the tea. Take care of preparing the next appointment.”
Christian hurried to exam room four. All was well with Mrs. Roberts. He let out the breath he’d been holding and took her tea order. As he stood at the microwave waiting for the water to boil Christian realized he was a mess. If he were consulting with a patient exhibiting these symptoms, paranoia, exhaustion, depression, anxiety he would have prescribed several days of rest and maybe an anxiety med. He didn’t have the luxury of rest and wouldn’t until this building was once again a safe place for every person who walked through the doors.
He’d wondered all morning how Dominic progressed with this security system. A few hours later when he had some time to himself, he went to his office and called Dominic on his cell.
He answered on the second ring. “Hello Christian. Is everything all right?”
He was in Nathan’s office at the Davenport home. Christian could see Nathan in the background of the hologram sitting behind his desk staring at a computer displaying some hologram of its own. “Mostly. How are you coming on our project?”
“You’re partner, Dr. Langston called early this morning with the exact number of areas needing surveillance. Everything is ordered and on its way here as we speak. In fact, I was about to call you. The team I’ve organized will be here tonight to begin installing the devices and setting up the command center. What time will be good?”
“Any time after six. We’re in the process of moving mothers from this labor and delivery facility to my lodge which is much smaller but has eight suites. The hospital will be empty by mid-afternoon. The rest of the staff have been told to go home by five. The building will be vacant the entire holiday weekend.”
“Fine. I’ll call you this evening to let you know when we’re on our way.”
“Good. Um, there is another matter I need to discuss with you if you have a moment.”
“Certainly. What’s on your mind?”
“Noah received word from the VCDC this morning. They’re beginning to get answers about another drug involved in these poisonings. Of course we’ll have to pass on this information to our patients. Currently they don’t know whether they may have come in contact with this drug here because initially we weren’t one hundred percent sure they had, but we have to tell them what we suspect, Dominic. Every detail. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what could happen if they believe they were poisoned at our clinic by a staff member.”
Dominic rolled his eyes. “No. Consider me retained.”
Christian didn’t like the grim tone of his voice. “Any advice?”
“Got a Swiss bank account? Maybe one somewhere in the Caribbean?”
Christian laughed. “I wish, but no. My partners and I are responsible for this. I’m almost willing to say let the chips fall where they may. They lost their children, Dominic. One man lost a life mate. No amount of money will make up for that, but a good size chunk of change might help vindicate their losses.”
“Shit. You really do need a lawyer with that thinking process. Look, I know you feel guilty, but what you have to keep in mind is none of this was your fault. This is a criminal matter. The crimes may have happened at your facility, but you weren’t being negligent. You and your partners couldn’t have foreseen this or prevented it from happening. Now that you know the facts you’re taking preventative measures to forestall further poisonings.”
Christian drug in a ragged breath. “Sound advice, but it doesn’t change anything.”
“Of course not. I understand you’re grieving your patients’ losses, but don’t let emotions rule your head and don’t you dare say a word to any of them without me present. My other line is ringing. We’ll talk about this later in detail.”
Christian hung up the phone and sighed. Dominic was right. He couldn’t let emotions override good sense. But without compassion and empathy for those patients and families, he wouldn’t be much of a doctor.
He leaned back in his plush office chair and punched his cell’s home button, bringing up his wallpaper hologram, a small collage of pictures of him, Tiffany and her family last Christmas. Holly and bows surrounding the edge of the combined, overlaid pictures. Danielle had created the collage and sent it to him last January. She was as good a photographer as she was an artist. The memories and emotions the picture evoked made him smile, but worry quickly trailed those happy thoughts.
Christian trusted Dominic. He rarely lost a case. But what if a patient or patients chose to sue and they lost? Christian had wealth, but not Davenport’s level of wealth. He had no fear of losing his medical licenses because as Dominic said, no crime had been committed by the partners. Negligence however could be argued in a civil case in a vampire court. If they lost the case, he and his partners could lose the practice, patients, everything they’d worked for their entire lives.
His next thought—premature perhaps—how would he take care of Tiffany? Christian had melded his thinking patterns with the times throughout the years, but he still felt a man should be able to provide for his mate. Nothing, not even poverty would prevent him from being with Tiffany. Granted she was a simple girl, but he wanted to give her things she didn’t even yet know she wanted.
“I really am getting the cart before the horse here,” he muttered and slipped his cell into his lab coat pocket. He headed out the door and back to work before more morbid ‘what ifs’ began to root in his addled brain.
***
“Tiffany, do you mind filling these eggs with the stuffing I prepared in the pastry bag?” Her mom handed her a plate of boiled egg whites shells then dashed off to check whatever she had brewing in her ovens.
“Sure.” Tiffany glancing around the kitchen counter tops. What the hell was a pastry bag? Tiffany was no cook. Her mom had tried to teach her growing up. Try as she might, she sucked at it, but then she’d never had any real interest in learning.
It was late Saturday morning and the kids and Jazerra were due to arrive any moment. Nathan, Julia, Dimitri and Dannie had gone to the airport to pick them up in a limo. Her mom had a huge lunch in the making and Tiffany didn’t seem to be providing as much help as her sister, Chelsie.
She glanced across the kitchen’s island where Chelsie worked on some cold, ham and cheese sandwiches for the kids. The adults would be having some fancy dishes which had made her mother and Julia famous.
The last hour or so in the kitchen had been fun, filled with light conversation, laughter and memories of days spent just like this one in their farm house kitchen. Those days seemed a lifetime ago. But they’d taken her mind off Christian and his woes, which had been bringing them both down the last two days.
He’d spent the night again, but it had been nothing like the previous two nights. Such heaviness engulfed him. He tried to hide it with a smile, joke, idle conversation, but he hadn’t fooled her. He’d told her about the VCDC’s findings, but she suspected there were some things he’d left out to keep from worrying her. She’d tried to get him to open up, but it wasn’t happening. She even tried to push at his mind like before, but he wasn’t taking ‘psychic' calls. Apparently he’d blocked her, which could only mean matters at the clinic were far worse than he let on. She’d finally given up trying to get him to open up and turned on the TV. They’d silently watched an old movie cuddled in each other’s arms until they both fell asleep.
Christian wouldn’t be here today for this little family reunion. For the next two or three days he, the partners and Dominic would be at the clinic working non-stop until the security system was up and running. What she wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall for that.
“Tiffany, please get on those eggs,” her mother chided. She stood at the stove stirring the contents of a pot, shooting her an impatient look over her shoulder.
“Sorry.” She glanced at Chelsie for help. “Psst. Chels.” Her sister looked up. “Where’s the pastry bag?” she mouthed.
She pointed at the middle of the island, littered with the tools of her mom’s trade, and several finished dishes, but she still couldn’t figure out what item Chelsie had indicated. “Which one?” she whispered.
“Oh for Pete’s sake,” her mother said as she turned from the pot she’d been stirring on the stove. She grabbed a long white tapered tube off the island counter top and handed it to her. “This is a pastry bag. And why are you whispering? I may be older than you, but my hearing is just as keen as any vampire’s.”
“Right. Sort of habit, I guess.” She tried for an innocent smile.
“I appreciate your help, T.J. but could you please hurry. I want to be done with lunch when the kids arrive. I haven’t seen Nate and Beth in weeks.”
“Sure. Sorry. You know I suck at this culinary stuff.”
“You wouldn’t if you gave it half as much attention as you do your computers.” She returned to the stove and her pot.
“I’m on it.” Tiffany studied the apparatus in her hand. Once she figured out which end the egg goo was supposed to come out of, she went to work.
“Do you think Christian will be here for dinner?” Chelsie asked.
“I don’t know, but I kind of doubt it. He has a lot on his plate this weekend.” She hadn’t spoken to anyone about what had been discussed at that meeting or what really occurred this weekend at the clinic. She’d made a promise to Christian. Asa too. Nathan had made no such promises and had told her mother what he and Dominic were doing to help Christian. Of course Dominic had told Dannie since he would be at the clinic all weekend. Now the whole family knew.
“How was last night with Christian?” A sly smile spread across her sister’s face.
“There’s no romance to report. These troubles at the clinic are starting to get to him big time.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“Me too,” her mother said, turning from the stove and directing her attention Tiffany’s way. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to say about Christian’s overnight stays.”
“I know. You don’t want him staying the night when the kids are here. That’s fine.”
“Good. I don’t mind Christian staying here with you at night otherwise. In fact, I feel better knowing he’s by your side. But I hope the two of you will wait to become life mates until this mess in his world is a distant memory.”
Exasperated, Tiffany laid the pastry bag on the counter top. “Mom, seriously. I’m barely used to the idea of a me and Christian in a forever light. It isn’t like we’re planning our honeymoon. Whoa. Back up. What do you mean wait to become life mates? I thought we already were life mates?”
That question seemed to take the air out of her mom’s sails. She glanced at the floor and if Tiffany wasn’t mistaken she actually blushed. “Mom?”
Her mother turned off the stove and approached the island. “Of course you’re life mates, but right now you’re not life mated. Let me try to explain. The term life mate has multiple meanings. Nathan is my life mate. That’s a title, who he is to me and was prior to us actually life mating, an action, a verb if you will.”
“What the hell is this? English 101? What do you mean?”
“Can the sarcasm, T.J. Explaining this to my thirty-five-year-old daughter is hard enough as is.”
Tiffany slid Chelsie a ‘do I really wanna hear this look’. There was no help to be had there. The girl’s expression seemed mesmerized by what their mother might say next.
Then Tiffany got it. “Oh my God! Mom, we are so not having the sex talk if that’s what this is about.” She backed up a couple steps and planted her fists on her hips. “I think when the time comes me and Christian will figure things out just fine.”
“This isn’t just about sex. There’s more.” She turned toward Chelsie. “Honey, if you don’t mind, could you leave us alone for a bit?”
“No way. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
Her mom grasped her forehead and groaned. “I really don’t have time for this. The dining room table isn’t even set.”
“Too late now. Spit it out.”
She cleared her throat, then said, “Vampires consider marriage in a different light than humans. It’s not vows before God or a piece of paper that truly unites our kind as one although most do observe a traditional union. It’s an act called marking which occurs once the couple is physically intimate. It’s a beautiful experience and the bond unbreakable except by death.”
Tiffany raised her hands, palms out. “Whoa. I think I’ve heard enough. I don’t need the picture of you and Nathan’s beautiful marking thing forever branded on my brain.” She shivered.
“Then don’t think of me and Nathan. Think of you and Christian.”
“I don’t want that in my head either. I’m kind of a fan of a mystery.”
“In this instance, a mystery would not be a good thing. Obviously, Christian hasn’t discussed this with you. So, it’s up to me.” She sighed. “Marking is a bite from him to you in your shoulder. Once that’s done you’ll have a new scent. So, will Christian the first time he drinks from you. Eventually, you’ll do the same to him because, well because it’s the way of our kind.”
“Okay, that’s enough, because that ain’t happening. I don’t mind him doing it to me if that’s what turns him on, but I can’t conceive of biting someone and drinking their blood. Even Christian’s. I’m about to gag here. You’re gonna have to finish these eggs. I’ll set the table.” She turned to go, but her mother grabbed her arm.
“I know this subject is a bit daunting to you because you’re approaching the notion of intimacy from the mindset of a human. When the time is right, none of it will seem scary or weird at all. It’s completely natural for us and so is drinking from your life mate.”
Shaking her head and at a loss for words she looked at Chelsie.
She shrugged. “Mom’s right. Better to hear this now from Mom than Christian having to fumble through an explanation at some point down the road. He’ll mean well, but no doubt he’ll put the explanation in more clinical terms than romantic ones.”
This was so messed up. “Why are there no books written on this subject? I think I’m gonna go google this.”
Her mother chuckled. “Google away if you wish, but I doubt there’s much on the internet about the sex lives of real vampires. When the time is right, the semantics will not matter. It will happen and it will be wonderful, natural and one of the best experiences of your life.”
Tiffany opened her mouth to reply, but childish squeals of delight echoed through the house like a trumpet announcing an army. Seconds later the midget squadron burst into the kitchen. Her little sister, Elizabeth ran to their mother and gave her hug while the other kids chattered and helped themselves to Chelsie’s sandwiches.
“Oh, Momma, I’ve missed you!” Beth cried.
“I’ve missed you too, Darling.”
Her sister was the most beautiful eight-year-old child she’d ever seen. She had her father’s brilliant violet eyes, a thick head of coal black curls the color of Nathan’s hair and an absolutely cherubic face.
Seconds later the adults arrived. Greetings were exchanged and most went for the antipasto appetizer tray including two of Nathan’s security guards who had apparently escorted everyone to and from the airport. About a dozen more of them surrounded the house and entrances. She couldn’t imagine what the neighbors must be thinking.
Last to enter the room was her brother, Nate. He gave the crowd a cursory glance, leaned a shoulder against the door jam, and went to texting on his phone. Geez! He must have grown a foot since Christmas.
Tiffany noticed Beth staring at her in an odd way. She went over and gave Beth a hug. “So, what’s new with you, Cupcake?”
She blinked at her several times then asked, “Why’s Tiffany a vampire, Momma?” Beth glanced between her mom and Nathan who rolled his eyes.
Her mother just smiled. “We’ll talk about that later. You and the rest of this gang go get washed up for lunch.”
Jazerra, nanny to all the kids including Julia’s daughter, gathered them up and took the kids out of the room, save Nate.
Her brother walked over to her and snapped a picture on his cell phone, then proceeded to text some more.
“What the hell was that for?” she demanded.
“Jacob wants a picture of you. I told him you just got turned.”
Tiffany blinked at him. “Who’s Jacob?”
“His best friend. A vampire boy a bit older than him,” her mother supplied.
Nate stared at the device for a few seconds, then gave her one of those disgusted looks only a pre-adolescent could pull off. “He says he thinks your hot. Gross.” Still texting, he turned and sauntered out of the room.
“Brat!” she yelled after him. That was one incorrigible kid there, but she loved him.
Adult laughter filled the room.
Her mom sighed. “Enough, T.J.. Let’s get this food to the table everyone.”
***
Christian was bone tired, but grateful the installation of the surveillance equipment was finally complete. The five men Dominic hired had installed fifty-three cameras and voice activated recorders and were now finishing up testing the monitoring equipment in the command station.
They had chosen a large, rarely used storage closet on the first floor where he and his partners, Dominic and all the techs stood watching the head technician, Dave, type on a master keyboard. Numerous holomonitors rotated live feed of every spot in the building where cameras and audio sensors had been placed.
“That should about do it, Mr. Chavinski,” Dave said to Dominic, then scooted his chair away from the desk and stood. “Everything seems to be working fine. Have a look.”
Christian watched Dominic swipe a finger across one of the holoscreens, causing eight separate feeds to jump from area to area across the clinic. The technology was amazing!
“Your right. Everything seems to be working perfectly,” Dominic said then straightened and faced Christian and the others with a smile. “Dave, thank you. You and your people have done an amazing job. Invoice me at your earliest convenience and I’ll cut you a check.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll have one for you tomorrow morning.”
“Fine. You and your people go to the hotel and get some rest. Dinner and drinks are on me. Live it up, but not too much because I want you back here at seven a.m. sharp.”
“Yes, sir.”
The young human appeared college age as did most of his staff, which amazed Christian. Dave and the other kids were nothing short of virtual geniuses, accomplishing a monumental task these last three days. He and his partners finally had hope of a rapid closure for the V-clinic’s deadly dilemma.
Christian, his partners and Dominic, thanked each of them and shook their hands as they filed out the door. Tomorrow the crew would fly home, save Dave who would be staying on to make sure the system continued to work properly. Once they were gone, Asa let out a lengthy sigh. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m going home to sleep.”
“Sound thinking,” Noah replied on a yawn.
Sleep beckoned Christian too, but the need to be with Tiffany beckoned more. He hadn’t seen her in two days and missed her. He hadn’t even had time to give Tiffany her transfusions so Chelsie had volunteered. The mental block he’d erected against her was still in place, which caused him some guilt, but he didn’t want her tuning in and discovering his overwhelming worry and exhaustion. There were some things life mates shouldn’t share with one another for the other’s peace of mind.
Nathan and Mia had a family picnic planned for today, Memorial Day. Tiffany had invited him, but he hadn’t promised her he’d be there because the crew couldn’t provide an exact ETA on the completion of the job. He’d considered texting her to tell her he was on his way, then decided he’d rather surprise her.
After going home for a quick shower and change of clothes, Christian headed to the Davenport home. Dominic accompanied him since he was Dominic’s ride.
When they pulled into the Davenport driveway, a security guard stopped them. Dominic waved at him and the man let them pass. He parked behind Nathan’s limo and glanced about, spotting a half dozen more security guards wearing black suits posted along the front of the house, two by the front door. He looked across the cab of his truck at Dominic and frowned. “What’s going on?”
“Nathan flew in all the kids and Jazerra on Saturday.”
He said no more and no explanations were needed. Nathan obviously wasn’t convinced these threats to the people in his life stopped at the V clinic doors and they weren’t. Nathan had plenty enemies of his own.
Dominic opened the door and said, “I just mind spoke with Dannie. She and the rest of the family are in the back yard. I need to take a shower and change. I’ll be out shortly.”
“All right. And Dominic?”
He looked back at him. “Yes?”
“Thanks for sacrificing your holiday weekend for me and my partners. I expect an invoice soon. I appreciate you and Nathan fronting the cost of all this, but the V clinic will pay for Dave and his crew and the devices.”
He smiled. “Think nothing of it. Let’s go enjoy the little weekend we have left.”
Christian smiled back, then got out of his truck.
***
Weather wise, Memorial Day turned out perfect with temperatures in the mid-eighties and plenty of sunshine, which of course Tiffany and the rest of her vampire kin could only enjoy through heavily tinted sunglasses. Funny. The inability to go into the sun without special glasses had been one of her greatest concerns about life as a vampire. How she wished these current problems Christian faced could be so simply solved.
She, Dannie and Chelsie were seated in some wicker lawn chairs on the back veranda enjoying a beer, Dannie a glass of Chardonnay. In the middle of the back yard she watched the kids rocking a bounce house Nathan had rented for the occasion. Her mom, Jazerra and Julia were under the pop up tent organizing the food on the banquet table. Nathan captained the grill while talking to Dimitri. The burgers smelled great, but at last check from her mom, Nathan gave them about ten more minutes.
It would have been a picture-perfect day if Christian and Dominic were here. Tiffany hadn’t heard from Christian since late last night, hadn’t seen him since Saturday morning. He told her he’d hoped to be here today but hadn’t made any promises. Tiffany understood. The surveillance system had to be done today and that was far more important than a party.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Chelsie commented.
Tiffany glanced at her and hunched a shoulder. “I’m just chilling. No big deal.”
“You miss him,” Chelsie stated softly.
Tiffany nodded and took a sip of her Corona.
She heard her sister sigh and looked her direction. “What?”
“I don’t think Christian’s absence is the sum of what’s eating at you.”
“You would be correct.” She took another sip and stared off across the yard.
Dannie reached over and patted her forearm. “I know you’re as worried about Christian’s problems as he is, but I promise you Dominic and his men will come through for the clinic. He’s the best there is at this sort of thing. Second to you of course. You aren’t upset Christian didn’t ask you to do the security installation, are you?”
“God, no. It would have been a good distraction but when Dominic and Christian started this project I was in no place mentally to execute such a monumental task. Dominic was. I’m just glad he got it done and so quickly.”
Dannie nodded. “Good. Just remember as soon as someone makes a move to hurt another person, it will be over, T.J.”
Tiffany forced a smile. Unfortunately, she wasn’t as optimistic as her sister. Christian told her there could be more than one person involved and Tiffany feared he might be right. Based on what she’d learned, poisoning vampires seemed far too complicated a task for one person to create and execute.
Mercifully, her sisters discontinued questioning her about her sullen mood and struck up a discussion between themselves on new movie releases they each wanted to see.
The other issue eating at Tiffany was this strange vampire mating ritual her mother called marking. All these years she thought she understood most everything about vampire life, but there was an alarming amount of facts no one had bothered to mention. Tiffany considered herself resilient, able to handle most any difficulty life threw her way. Despite her initial reaction to waking up as a vampire, she’d accepted it. Because of Christian and the fact they were true life mates, she now actually embraced her new species status.
These last few days she’d felt adrift, confused and alone even in the midst of all the people who loved her. She even felt disconnected from Christian. Tiffany suspected he’d placed a mental block against her so she wouldn’t sense his troubles. She hadn’t been a fan of mind speaking in the beginning and she understood why he done it, but the fact he’d shut her out hurt.
Tiffany chugged back the last of her beer then went to the kitchen for another. She’d just opened the fridge door when she caught Christian’s scent. Seconds later he strolled into the room and when he saw her, his face lit up with a brilliant smile.
She was sure hers did too. “You’re here! To stay I hope?”
“Here to stay as long as you want.” He gapped the distance between them and wrapped her in his arms, kissed her cheek, her head and finally her lips, gently at first then with purpose and passion.
His presence, his touch, washed over her like warm summer rain, eradicating fears and worries, leaving her weak with gratitude and relief. His busy mouth, exploring hers, started a roaring little fire low in her belly and in other places she couldn’t wait for him to tend.
I love you, he whispered in her mind.
I love you too and I’m so glad you’re finally back. I’ve missed you. I’ve missed this too, she whispered back in his thoughts. He’d disengaged the block and she couldn’t have been more relieved. Mind speaking may have initially scared her, but somewhere along the line that honest, personal and private communication had become so sweet and important to her. It made her feel a part of Christian’s heart and soul.
When he finally released her, she said, “Please don’t shut me out again. I don’t like that. It’s as if you don’t trust me to handle your troubles. If we’re going to be a couple we have to share each other’s troubles. You know what I mean?”
He nodded, his expression repentant. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I was just trying to protect you. I don’t often get upset, depressed or angry like this and I didn’t want it spilling over onto you.”
“I don’t need you to protect me. I need you to be honest. I’ll try to do the same. My moods can be pretty nasty at times and because I can’t block you yet, you’re bound to pick up on them. But fairs fair, Christian. We share the good, bad and the ugly. It’s honest.”
“Okay. No more blocks.”
“To a point. If either of us pick up on a bad vibe from one another and we say it’s private, we back off. Okay? But no more blocking.”
“Agreed. We all want to be alone with our thoughts sometimes especially when we brood, but all bets are off if it becomes a chronic issue. At that point, we talk about it face to face.”
He made a good argument, but there were some dark things in her soul she wasn’t ready to talk about to anyone. “If it’s an issue I can talk about, I will.”
His lips made a thin line, his features pensive. “I guess I’ll have to take that for now. I’m just glad to be here because you can’t imagine how much I’ve missed you. Speaking of missing things. Have I missed lunch?”
She laughed. “No. You’re just in time. Nathan’s probably pulling the burgers and dogs off the grill as we speak. How about a beer?” She opened the fridge again and pulled out two. She handed him one. “So how did it go? Is everything done?”
“All done. Fifty-three devices were installed along with the base station. So every area which has potential for people traffic is covered. Asa, Noah and I plan to take turns monitoring the base station.”
She nodded. “Good. What a relief this will be over soon.” At least she hoped. “For the rest of today no more thoughts or talk about the V clinic. Let’s go eat.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” He popped off the cap on his beer, then took her hand escorting her out the back door to join the others for what turned out to be a spectacular Memorial Day.