Authors: Shirlee Lewis
“I’m still working on it,” she said and laughed.
“You’ll let me know the date of the wedding right?” I asked.
“I sure will. You’ll be the first to know, Jess. Oh! And Jess, I love you,” she said still hugging me.
My face lit up and I said, “I love you too Abigail. I love you too.”
Abigail set her dolls on her dresser on either side of the picture of her and Jason. Before I left, I snapped a picture of Abigail and myself, promising I would send her one when I got home.
Tony arrived late with a box of papers Victor needed him to look over for the blood bank in Portland.
Before Tony and I crawled into bed, we heard low growls coming from downstairs. We grinned and Tony didn’t hold back, wrapping me in his arms. His growl didn’t start low, but the fire burned rapidly in his eyes and Tony embraced me. Tonight the entire house was alive.
Chapter Seventeen
Early in the morning Tony and I caught our flight for Oregon. We landed late in the evening, but Portland’s glimmering light was a delightful view. Tony and I arrived in Mayville around eleven. Passing by his house the lights were off.
Tony eyed the house and I saw anger appear on his face.
“Honey, we’ll take care of that in the morning,” I said.
“Yes, we will and the sooner the better.”
We unpacked the car and went inside. “Home,” I said. “What a good feeling.” I unpacked our luggage and started a load in the washer. Tony went to his recliner and closed his eyes.
Going out on the porch, I breathed in the air. The pines were nothing compared to the jungle and I never wanted to see the jungle again.
Turning toward the house, I stood at the screen door watching Tony resting in his recliner and my heart filled with joy.
“Come on honey, let’s go to bed.”
Tony opened his eyes long enough to make it to the bed and then they closed again. I cuddled against him and soon I was asleep.
In the morning Tony and I walked toward his house. Mildred came out on the porch, looked in our direction and her face fell. She quickly darted back into the house. Tony and I didn’t stop. We walked up on the porch and knocked on the door. Frank answered.
“Come in,” he said. “How was the honeymoon?”
Tony and I walked into the house.
“Millie! Our neighbor is here,” he called over his shoulder.
We sat on the sofa facing Frank.
“Frank, our honeymoon was a nightmare. I was kidnapped and Jess rescued me from the nightmare.”
“Oh! What happened?” Frank asked.
“Our honeymoon was the greatest until Freda kidnapped me. It seems your wife knew who to contact in regards to our stay in Italy.”
“Millie, you need to come in here,” Frank said.
Millie came into the living room from the hall and stood behind Frank. I looked at her with a raised eyebrow and she looked down at Frank’s head.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” Mildred said.
“Mildred, where
isTony’s grandparents will?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said.
“Mildred, I know you have it. You called someone to confirm Tony was related to Frank. You have snooped around our house and took the will and rent money. You knew where we were going for our honeymoon because I saw you with a paper the day the reservations were made.”
“Millie
, is this true?” Frank asked.
“I don’t know what they’re talking about.”
I took my cell phone from my pocket. “Do I need Detective Sean to come and search the place? I can call him right now and he’ll be here in two seconds.”
Tony cleared his throat, “Let me ask you this Mildred. When Freda held me captive, she specifically mentioned your hand in the kidnapping. She said, “I’m so glad Millie found you and helped me with all the information needed in your capture. You and I are going to have a wonderful life together thanks to Millie. Are you going to tell me you didn’t have a part in the kidnapping?”
“I don’t know why she would say that. We haven’t talked in years.” Millie immediately excused herself and went toward the hall.
“I’d say we have a problem,” Frank commented.
“Yes, we have,” Tony replied.
“Well I don’t know what to say,” Frank said. “Millie never let on she knew anything about this.”
Mildred came back into the living room with papers in her hand. She handed them to me. I looked through them. The will was the only thing here. The money was gone.
“Where’s the money,” I asked.
“I spent it,” Mildred said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t have a clue Freda was going to kidnap you, Mr. Mureaux. She never told me her plans. Just that she was interested in you after seeing you at the meeting at Mortensin Castle.”
“How do you know Freda?” I asked.
Millie bowed her head and quietly said, “Freda is my sister.”
“Did you happen to inform her, Tony is a married man?” I asked.
“No, I left that part out. It wasn’t important at the time.”
“Not important!” raising my voice.
“Calm down, Jess,” Tony said, placing his hand on my knee.
“Calm down! How can anyone be calm over vital information?” My blood began to boil. I could feel my temperature rising.
“Jess, it’s our destiny to be together. Doesn’t matter what Freda thought, it wasn’t going to happen.”
Frank added, “Millie’s brother and sister were captured when they went on a camping trip with their school group. No one has heard from them since. I always thought they were dead.”
“No, they were taken by a vampire who turned them. Freda, Gidion and I have always been in contact. Freda didn’t care for Thorment’s ruling and decided to start her own clan. She never said anything about kidnapping. I swear!”
“Didn’t you th
ink to ask?” I said, between clenched teeth.
“It’s not my fault you have an adorable husband. Freda, when she was human, would have pounced first chance she got.”
“I think the best thing to do in this situation is to pack up and leave,” Tony said calmly.
“Millie,” Frank said. “You’re getting an easy way out. They can have you arrested. Start packing.”
“Arrested for what? I didn’t do anything!”
“Aiding in a kidnapping, but most of all for theft,” I said waving the will.
“You can’t prove I had a hand in anything?”
“I can,” I said. “The day I heard you on the phone telling someone you had the will and informing them Tony was going to a meeting in Italy. That Mildred is aiding to a kidnapping. And you didn’t know if Frank was related to Tony. You knew the entire time and snooped around our house fo
r any information you could get.”
“Millie, you and I are going to have us a chat,” Frank said sternly. “Now, get to packing woman.”
Millie got up and left the room.
“I’m sorry about this. Mr. Mureaux, I didn’t realize Millie was involved. I should have seen it when you talked to me about her snooping. I am sorry too.”
“What’s done is done,” Tony said. “I expect you out within the week.”
“We’ll be out by then,” Frank said.
Tony and I left. “She tried her best to deny it all. It goes to show lies and deceit will never win,” I commented.
“No
, it won’t,” Tony agreed.
All week we watched as the moving van was loaded. Tony and I couldn’t have been happier.
Come Monday morning it was back to business at the blood bank.
The customer base was picking up. My paperwork was going over into the next day. I didn’t have time to help with the clients which made Tony happy. He’d check on me to see that I was in my office and off my feet. He arranged for Melody to work the front room when the waiting room was full. I didn’t mind, though, I was feeling fatigued.
Tony came into my office through the side door adjoining our offices.
“I got off the phone with Jason,” he said.
“What did he want?” I asked.
“He asked me if he and Abigail could come for a visit.”
“When are they coming?” I asked. “You did tell them yes, I hope.”
“A week from tomorrow and yes I did,” Tony said.
“Frank and Mildred should be completely out before we get home tonight.”
“We’ll check the house when we get home,” Tony said.
Tony went back to his office and I started on the paperwork. Abigail’s first visit in her life and she was coming to see us. I was ecstatic.
Five o’clock and I hadn’t seen my desk top for the paper’s covering it. I’d hope to have put a dent in it, but not today. Tony came into my office, scanned the desk and said, “I’m guessing the papers will be here in the morning then.”
“Smart aleck,” I said. “Try all week. I still have to make folders and then file the ones that have folders.”
“Well, at least I’ll know you won’t be trying to help with the blood donors.”
“Is that why you keep coming in here and checking on me?” I asked.
Tony grinned and I knew the answer.
“Come on, sweetie. Let’s go home,” Tony said coming to the edge of the desk.
I got up, grabbed my jacket and purse. We headed home.
Tony and I hadn’t made it in the door when the phone started ringing. I went to answer the phone. Tony went to the refrigerator.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Hello Jess. Victor. Is Tony available?”
“He’s right here.”
I handed Tony the phone.
“Hello,” Tony answered.
“Son, I have some good news about Freda and her clan.”
“I hope she’s wiped off the face of the earth,” Tony said with clenched teeth.
“She is and Thorment spared everyone. He has taken them under his wing teaching them ancient laws as they pertain to vampire laws in today’s world. He informs me they are adapting well, but keeps a watchful eye on them.”
“What about Melian?” Tony asked.
“He’s enjoying Freda in their life together,” Victor laughed.
“I’m glad to hear they won’t infest the earth any longer.”
“I called to let you know Jason and Abbey are coming for a visit soon.”
“My house is empty and they’ll stay there.”
“Fine,” Victor said. “They plan on visiting several sites before they return. Could you and Jessica escort them?”
“Father, we have the blood bank to run. How could we possibly…”
“I have that covered. The staff from here is coming along so they can run it.”
“Well, we’ll see they have a good time.”
“I can always count on you,” Victor added. “I’ll go now. Your mother needs some attention.”
“Jess needs some attention too,” Tony said. They both laughed.
“Jess, we’re taking another vacation.” Tony found me lying on the bed.
“I can’t. I have so much to do at work.”
“You’re going to like this vacation. We’re going with Jason and Abigail,” he said sitting on the edge of the bed. “Are you feeling okay?”
“I stay tired and my stomach stays queasy. I
t’s only in the last week I’ve felt this way.”
Tony leaned down to kiss me placing his hand on my stomach. The queasy feeling came suddenly.
“It’s not the flu again is it?” Tony asked.