Dhampir Love (34 page)

     “Freda will be dealt with accordingly,” Thorment thundered.  “Tony, would Melian have been aware of this?”

     “Freda had a companion with her in Modena.  I only heard her acknowledge him by Carl.”

     Thorment growled.  “Your mate came to me for help and recognized Melian as Carl.  I’ll deal with him accordingly.   Tony, Victor, I apologize for my clan’s behavior.  Feel free to visit when in Italy.  Goodbye, my friends,” Thorment said and then the phone went dead.

     Victor pushed speaker off and said, “Thorment
will
deal with this.  Freda and her clan won’t know what hit them when Thorment’s finished,” Victor commented.  “Please, go to your mate.”

     Tony
stood, walked to the door and turned the handle. 

     “And son, welcome home,” Victor added.

     Tony nodded once and left the study.

     Arriving on the third floor, I went to the kitchen. 
Surely there has to be something I can eat? 
Searching the refrigerator and cabinets, I found them empty.  Sighing, I went to the bedroom and fell on the bed stomach first.  My stomach disagreed with me, so I rolled over onto my back.  A small knot formed and I flew to the bathroom.  Leaning over the toilet I said, “Hunger pains.”   Getting up I went back to the bed.  Lying on my side helped, but not enough to take the edge off from how I was feeling. 

     The first healthy meal I had in over a month had been at the airport in Modena. It wasn’t a meal of steak and potatoes, but a hamburger, bag of chips and bottled water taking the edge off my hunger.  I couldn’t even look at the fruit hanging from the ceiling in the basket. 

     The pain subsided enough to be considered tolerable and I closed my eyes.  Concentrating on lying in a bed instead of the hard cave floor, the pain came back with a vengeance.  “Okay, I’ll find something to eat,” I said out loud.

     In the kitchen on the first floor, Jason was making coffee.  He looked up when I walked in.  “Jessica, how are you?”

     “I’m hungry and I can’t sleep.”

     “No problem, I have left over’s from yesterday.  I’ll heat them up,” he said going
to the refrigerator. 

      He took out a plate, and put it in the microwave.  The aroma filled the room as the food was heating causing my stomach to rumble loudly in agreement.  Grabbing my stomach, I was embarrassed with the sound. I looked at Jason to see if he noticed. 

     Jason took the plate from the microwave, set it in front of me with a fork.  The pork roast, potatoes and carrots were a delight.  I ate without tasting.  He offered me a glass of milk which I gladly accepted.  

     Back on the third floor, I instantly fell asleep.

     I’d slept all day and night.  Tony wasn’t in bed when I woke up.  I took a shower before heading down.  When the elevator doors opened, Abigail was leaning against the wall. 

     “Jessica,” she squealed.  “Tony told me you were here, but I couldn’t disturb you. I’ve waited “
forever
” for you to come down.”

     “Here I am,” I said giving her a hug.  “Have you seen Tony?” I asked.

     “Yea, he and Victor are in the study.  Tony told me to let him know when you’re awake. So, I’ll let him know,” she said at the study door.

     I had forgotten how fast she was.

     Abigail announced I was awake in a voice the angels in heaven could have heard.  I had to cover my ears.  In lightning speed she was back at my side.

     “Abby, what’s all the fuss,” I heard Jennifer as she came out of the study.

     “Jess, dear, it’s good to see you,” she said.

     I walked up to her and gave her a hug.  “My your thin.  Are you getting enough to eat?” she asked wrapping her arm around me
and leading me to the kitchen.

     “Jenn says we can go shopping if you want to,” Abigail added.

     “Abbey, now let’s wait and see how she feels.  She’s had a long trip and may want to stay in today.”

     Abigail pouted.

     “No, it’s fine.  I’ll shop with you after I eat.”

     Jason sat a plate down on the counter with pancakes and bacon.  I ate everything.

     “My goodness Jess you’re not …..”

     “No. Goodness no.  I’m just hungry from lack of food.”

     “I spoke with Tony and I have to say. Thank You dear.”

      “You know about the…” I said looking at Abigail and then back to Jennifer.

     “Yes, I know.”

     I finished my breakfast and we retreated to the living room.  Jason followed with a tray of drinks.  Abigail sat as close to me without getting in my lap putting her arm around me.  “So, how was your honeymoon?” Abigail asked.  “Did you see a lot of stuff?”

     “I saw Italy and we went to Germany.  The castles are amazing and I window shopped.  Oh,” I paused.  “That reminds me. I’ll be right back.  I went to the third floor, retrieved Abigail’s gifts and took them back to the living room.

     Before entering I said, “Close your eyes, Abigail.”

     Abigail closed her eyes.  Laying the gifts beside her I told her to open them.

     “These are for me?” she asked.

     “Yes, honey, from Tony and me.”

     Abigail opened the small one
first.  Her mouth formed an ‘O’ as she took it out of the box.  “She’s beautiful,” Abigail said with wide eyes.

     “You be careful with that one.  She’s porcelain.”

     Tony entered and sat beside me, wrapped his arms around my waist resting his chin on my shoulder pulling me to him.  I turned to kiss his cheek.

      Abigail opened the biggest gift next.  Her eyes lit up.

     “Jess, thank you so much,” she said looking the bride doll over. 

     “You’re welcome.  Now you have to follow Jennifer’s rules okay.”

     “Don’t worry, I will be the best Abbey you’ll ever see,” she said hugging the bride doll.  Thank you, Jess and Tony.  I’ll treasure them always.”

     “J
ess, Tony tells me you are quite an exceptional woman.”

     “No, not really,” I said.  I looked at Tony continuing, “I love him with all my heart and I’m going to spend the rest of my life cherishing him.”

     Tony leaned toward me and whispered, “I love you.”

     We shared our adventures of the honeymoon with the exception of the Amazon forest.  Abigail listened without interrupting. 

     “Jess and I have some things to do, Abigail.  Enjoy your gifts,” Tony said and we walked out of the room.  “Excuse us.”

     Tony placed his hand in the small of my back and led me to the limo.  Once inside, I asked, “Tony, why did Victor point at me and call me your mate?”

     “Father calls my mother his mate.  It’s his way of addressing the loves of our lives.”

     “Oh!  I’ve never heard you use the term,” I stated.

     “I don’t have to because you’re my sweetie.” 
One day I will and you’ll think nothing of it.

     The limo stopped outside of an exquisite restaurant in the heart of London.  Before we got out I asked, “Have you heard if Thorment took care of Freda and her clan?”

     “Jess, let’s not worry about them.”

     “I want to know, Tony.” I said with pleading eyes.

     “I heard he was heading to the Amazon.  I’m pretty sure he’ll take care of them. 

Now,” he said, tucking my hair behind my ear.  “Let’s get you something to eat.”

     Tony and I exited the limo.

     We sat in a private corner with a partition blocking us from the other guests.  Tony ordered me an appetizer, a main course
and dessert.  A bottle of the house wine was delivered to our table.

     “Tony,” I said with my eyes wide.  “I’m only eating for one, not two.”

     “Sweetie, how long were you in the forest without a proper meal?” Tony asked. 

     “A month at least, why do you ask?”

     Tony placed his finger on my cheek, gently moving it from my cheek bone to the edge of my lip.  “Have you noticed you’re thin?”

     “No, but I stay hungry all the time.  I can’t seem to get enough
to eat since we’ve been back from the forest.”

     “All the more reason for you to eat,” he said.

     All the food that was placed before me, I have to say, I ate every bite.

     “Answer me this
, Jess.  What made you decide to try and find me?”

     “I…”

     “Wait until I finished.  Now, you could have called father and he would have helped you.  Just the thought of you in the forest alone frightened me.”

     “Tony, did you not tell me once you would go to the ends of the earth for me.”

    “I do believe I said that.”

    “Well, I would for you and I did.  Sure I could have asked for Victor’s help. But at the time, the only thing on my mine was you, and getting you back to me safe
ly.

     Tony leaned toward me and gently placed his lips within a centimeter of mine.  “I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again.  You, my sweetie are one amazing woman.”

     Tony and I left the restaurant heading back to the mansion.  Sitting in the back of the limo, Tony wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close to him with his head leaning against mine.  

     “We’re going home tomorrow, Jess.  I have some business to take care of and the sooner the better.”

     “What business is that?” I asked.

     “To rid a th
orn in my side and empty my house.”

     I knew exactly what Tony meant.

     The limo pulled up to the mansion and Abigail was waiting on the porch.  Her eyes twinkled as Tony and I exited and she was beside me in a split second.

     “Jessica, are you ready for shopping?” she asked lightly dancing.

     “I sure am,” I said.

     “Jess, father and I will be at the blood bank until late.  He’s going over things I need to know for the bank in Portland.  Have fun and I’ll see you tonight.”

     I kissed Tony and said, “I’ll do that.”

      Jason dropped Jennifer, Abigail and I off at the Westfield shopping mall.  “Jason, I’ll call you when we’re done. No need to wait here,” Jennifer said.

     “Yes ma’am.”

     Abigail darted to the driver’s side of the limo.  Sticking her head in the window she talked with Jason, gave him a kiss and then joined us at the entrance.

     “I see a wedding in the future,” Jennifer said.  “They sure are crazy about each other.”

     “I see one too,” I said.

     We both laughed.

     Jennifer looked at Abigail and said, “Stay with us, Abbey.  I don’t want to have to find you and you know the consequences.”

    “I’ll be the best Abbey,” she said.

    Into the mall we went.  We started on the first level of the mall going to every shop.  Abigail was ecstatic seeing all the clothes shops, toy shops, purses, dresses and jewelry.  Her biggest excitement was the wedding dresses and shoes.

     “I’m going to wear one of these,” she giggled.

     Jennifer and I looked at each other and then at Abigail. 

     Jennifer bought her a semi-truck load of clothes, shoes, and jewelry.  I couldn’t imagine her wearing an outfit a day and seeing the end, but Jennifer had promised Abigail a reward for her good behavior.

     We spent the afternoon sho
pping.  Abigail and I spent the evening putting her items away in her closet.

     “Abigail, are you and Jason planning on a wedding?”

     “We’re still talking about it.”

     “And?”

     “And we believe it will happen in the near future, maybe next year in the spring.  We haven’t set a date in stone yet,” she said with twinkles in her eyes.

     “I’m happy for you.”

     “You know Jess, I never would have dreamed in a million years I’d get married.  The entire time I was in the basement, I thought that’s where I belonged.  But, here I am living a life I never dreamed of and finding my perfect mate.  I owe it all to you, Jess.”

     “You don’t owe me anything.”

     “Yes, I do,” Abigail said with her eyebrows furrowed.

     “No
, you don’t.  The only thing I want you to have Abigail is a long and happy life.  You’ve found what makes you happy and that’s all you ever
owe
me is seeing you happy.

     “So, my happiness is all?”

     “Yes Abigail, your happiness.”

      Abigail darted toward me from the closet and I stuck out both hands.  She stopped within inches of me and gently wrapped her arms around me, hugging me.

     “I don’t think I’ll get used to your speed,” I said.