Chapter 40

While the men, Jean-Luc excluded, waited outside, Ephie changed into the clothing that Birdie had brought her. Leonie helped, although Ephie could have managed just fine on her own. She thought it was more important that her mom felt useful.

The outfit wasn't fancy, but it was the perfect thing to go home from the hospital in. A pair of leggings, a T-shirt with a rendering of Jean-Luc on it that Ephie had done herself using a graphics program, and her long cardigan. Comfy and forgiving.

Leonie tied Ephie's new sneakers, something she probably hadn't done since Ephie was five. "You have everything?"

"I think so. Hang on." She dug into the bag the nurse had brought.

Jean-Luc sneezed. Could he smell the smoke? Ephie could as soon as she'd opened it up.

There wasn't much in the bag, because very little had survived the fire. There was no sign of the sneakers or cardigan she'd worn that day. Inside the bag were the top and jeans she'd had on, which reeked of smoke, and a small bundle of things in a separate bag. She was sure that contained her jewelry.

It did. The few pieces were all wrapped in a length of gauze. Her earrings, the sunstone pendant on its chain, a little bracelet, and her precious pansy ring.

She left everything in the gauze but the pansy ring. She inspected it, but it seemed untouched by the fire. She put it on, feeling complete again, then patted her shoulder. Jean-Luc jumped up. "Good boy," she whispered.

"Who are you talking to, sweetheart?"

"Just Jean-Luc." She looked at her mom, who now probably thought she was having some kind of mental episode. "Okay. I have everything. We can go."

As she and her mom walked out into the hall, Remy pulled Ephie into a gentle hug. "Ready to go?"

"So ready."

He took her bag and held her hand on the way to the parking lot. At some point, Jean-Luc jumped to his shoulder.

Ephie was just going to have to get used to the fact that her cat liked Remy better. The stinker. It was pretty sweet, though, seeing Remy with Jean-Luc. Made her wonder what he'd be like with an actual child.

Remy had his SUV and Darryl had his rental, so they stopped when they reached the edge of the parking lot.

"Why don't you come over for a bit," Remy said. "It's only seven o'clock. I'd love to show you my house. If you're hungry, we can order some pizza or something."

"Oh, pizza," Ephie breathed as she found herself craving the food. "That sounds amazing, and now I won't be able to sleep until I have some."

Remy smiled. "Pizza it is then."

"Sounds good to me," Darryl said. "You want us to pick it up?"

Remy shook his head. "I'll order it on the way to the house and have it delivered. Any preferences?"

Leonie didn't look happy, but that didn't surprise Ephie. Her mother wasn't generally a fan of food eaten without utensils. "Something with veggies, maybe? Do they have salad?"

"They do. I'll get you one," Remy said. "I'll wait for your car at the exit so you can follow us home."

"Roger," Darryl said.

They parted company. Remy took Ephie's hand again. "I am so happy that you're coming home, but I'm even happier you don't hate me."

"I could never hate you."

"No one would blame you if you did, after I made such a big decision for you."

"You're right, I could have hated you. If I was an idiot. But I'm not. I know you saved my life. Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me."

She'd spend the rest of her life doing just that, if he let her. She released his hand to wrap her arm around his, tugging him closer. A razor-thin sliver of moon shone down on them, the stars sparkling in the night sky like the diamonds in her ring. "You know you're going to have to teach me how to be a vampire now."

He smiled. "I'm all right with that. I don't think I'll have to teach you much, though."

"If it's all right with you, I'd like to stay a while. Unless you'd rather have your space back. I can rent a—"

"There is nothing I want more than more of you in my space."

She laughed. "You're about to be a very happy man, then."

He patted her arm as they reached his car. "I already am." He walked around to the passenger side with her, unlocked her door and opened it. "You know the only thing that would make me happier than a few more weeks with you would be spending the rest of my life with you."

She leaned in and kissed him. "I love you, Remy. I owe you my life. I think sharing it with you sounds like a very good idea."

"Yeah?" He grinned.

She nodded, too emotional to speak.

Jean-Luc meowed and jumped into the car, taking over the front seat, paws on the dashboard.

She laughed. "Hey, little man, that's my seat."

"He likes to sit there," Remy said with a shrug.

"He's spoiled."

Remy kissed her, then leaned his forehead against hers. "Nothing wrong with spoiling the person, or cat, you love."

She smiled and looked into his eyes. "Are you trying to steal my cat from me?"

"No, never, I swear. But he does seem to like me."

"He adores you." She slipped into the passenger seat, Jean-Luc going to stand on the console as she did. "I think we should probably consider him our cat."

Remy's grin went ear to ear. "I'd like that."

He shut her door, then put her bag in the backseat before coming around and getting behind the wheel. He started the car, pulled out, waited for Darryl to get behind him, then drove them home.

On the way, he called Salvatore's and ordered three pizzas. A meat lovers', a veggie supreme, and a plain cheese, plus two garden salads and four orders of tiramisu.

"That's a lot of pizza," Ephie said.

"You're craving it, and it's good pizza. Nothing wrong with some leftovers, right?"

"Sure." But she also wondered if he wasn't trying to impress her mom and Darryl just a little bit. She had no problem with that. In fact, it was sweet.

When they arrived home, he parked on one side to make room for the other car in the driveway. With Jean-Luc on his shoulder again, Remy got out, came around and got her door, then retrieved her bag from the backseat.

Together, they went up the front porch steps. Standing in the glow of the porch light, he unlocked the door as Darryl and Leonie joined them.

"Nice house," Darryl said.

"Thank you." Remy pushed the door open. "Pizza should be here in about fifteen or twenty minutes."

"Great," Darryl said. He stood to one side. "Ladies first."

Ephie stepped inside. It was so good to be back. Her mother came in behind her, Darryl and Remy following.

"Let me get the light," Remy said. He flipped it on.

That's when Ephie realized they weren't exactly alone. "Um, Remy?"

"Hmm?"

She pointed toward the man sitting on the back deck. "Please tell me that's a friend of yours and not one of Turner's men?"

"I'll take care of this." Remy's body tensed, and a steely look came into his eyes. Jean-Luc hissed and arched his back. Remy rushed to the sliders, unlocked them, and yanked them open. "Who are you and what are you doing at my house?"

The man stood up, unfolding his lanky form with exceptional grace. He smiled at them, revealing gleaming white fangs, but his attention seemed directed at Leonie, who now stood with Ephie and Darryl behind Remy.

He stepped in front of Ephie like he intended to shield her from any danger. Ephie shivered, already imagining the worst.

Beside Ephie, her mother let out a gasp when she saw the stranger's face. "You. What are you doing here?"

The man nodded at Leonie. "Nice to see you, too. You look well, considering you've aged." He shrugged. "I could have done something about that, but you were too stubborn."

"Get out of here," Leonie warned. "I want nothing to do with you."

"Yes, you made that abundantly clear over the years." He strode toward them, stopping just shy of the threshold. "But this isn't about you, Leonie. It's about me paying my daughter a visit." He looked at Ephie. "You certainly have grown into a lovely creature."

Ephie grabbed her mother's arm, already knowing the answer to the question she was about to ask but hoping she was wrong. "Mom, who is this guy?"

Leonie answered, her voice so tight it sounded like it might crack. "Solomon Lang. Your father."