I clear my throat, feeling a bit sweaty despite the cold weather. “How we met... I don't really know where to start.”
“How about you start with what his species is? Maybe it'll make the rest of the telling easier.”
“I don't really know how to tell you that, either. It's not something I even realized existed. But then again, I guess I didn't know any of this existed before. I think I'm actually adjusting quite well, considering.”
My mom squeals and jumps off the bench when somebody else walks by, an older gentleman in a pinstripe suit and a top hat,unnaturally pale, with blood red lips and a bevy of beautiful, older women around him.
I appreciate the hell out of the fact my mother greets all the women first, squishing them to her and jumping up and down like she's a teen again.
I'm assuming this isthevampire.
He looks a bit shell-shocked to see my mom, and there's no way his focus on her means anything other than he wants her badly. Not sure that's something I really care to know about, but then again, go mom.
My mom finally gives the vamp a hug, and it's kind of fun to watch their body language from where I’m sitting. Not knowing exactly what they're saying, only really hearing tones, the vamp almost looks like he's on the verge of tears. Some of the other women are rubbing his back, linking their arms with his, but his eyes don't leave my mom.
How is it that there's this whole other part of her life that I know nothing about? How long did she date this guy, and why do I know nothing about it?
It doesn't take long for my mother to wave me over, which is easy enough to do. Especially seeing as I'm now a permanent resident of this town. Shit. I don't think I've been a permanent resident anywhere since I graduated high school.
“Devon, honey, meet some friends of mine. These beautiful ladies are Brianne, Bianca, and Belinda. This, is Hank.”
I extend a hand to all of them, trying to get a vibe read. “Hi, nice to meet you. So weird that we both have ties here now, Mom. So you two used to...” I ask, wagging my finger between my mom and Hank. Sure, it's borderline rude and embarrassing, but I know my mom. She's pretty damn hard to embarrass.
“Like I said, it was several years ago. I don't remember where you were, but maybe off continent? I’d sneak out here for long weekends. It was... a good time. Maybe it's ironic because of how old he is, but when I think about that time with you Hank, I felt so young.”
Brianne cackles, throwing her head back. “Oh honey, he makes all of us feel young. There's a damn good reason for that, though. Tell us, Devon, how are you enjoying town? It’s so funny that you’re her daughter and that you came here without knowing your mother considered moving here at one point.”
Wow. Definitely need to know more about that. “I'm a little embarrassed to admit I haven't really branched out much since I've been here. Mostly due to the fact that I didn't realize this was going to become a permanent thing,” I laugh. “I apparently got married. So that happened. Now I guess I live here. But you know what? It feels... good. I think it suits me, yeah.”
Bianca seems like the more emotional one, more subdued. “We’ll take care of your daughter, Brenda. For those times you can't visit, know that we'll be here, looking over her. Here honey, why don't you take my phone number? I'm not your mom, but I can be a darn good stand in when she's not around.”
It actually sounds quite nice to have somebody that knows my mom here, someone to give off that motherly energy when she's too far away from me. “That's so sweet of you. I actually really appreciate that. This whole supernatural thing is very new to me.”
“Forgive me, I'm not one to listen to much gossip. Who's your partner? You mentioned you recently got married? Congratulations.”
I take my phone back from Bianca and nod, a smile forming on my face. “Thank you. Um, not sure if you know him, he alsodoesn't get out much,” I say with a laugh. “His name is Chip. He's um, a shifter?” I say as I side eye my mom.
She straightens up immediately, because this is what we were talking about before we got interrupted by their sighting. She grabs onto this information though, nodding, and I know she's trying to figure out what kind in her head.
“Well, I'm stumped. Is it rude of me to ask you what kind of shifter he is? I hear there's some big party in town tonight, maybe you could introduce us? I really would love to stay in contact once your mom's out of town again. Your mom and I were always the closest among all us ladies. You're beautiful, you look just like her.”
This whole time, Belinda and Hank have been a little quiet, Belinda I think just because she's shy, but she seems friendly enough with a smile on her face and she's nodding along to the conversation, hanging off of Hank like he's a security blanket. Hank looks like he's seconds away from reaching out to my mom to yank her into him. I'm definitely not the only one that's noticing the tension though, because all of the women keep smirking at him and his obvious discomfort. Makes you wonder who broke up with whom, doesn't it?
“Actually, if my sources are correct, my sources being my er, husband, I don't think I've used that word yet out loud, that felt weird, apparently he organized the party for us? He just told me about it. It was supposed to be a surprise. So yeah, he'll definitely be there.”
Understanding lights up their face, and now I realize my mother is the only one who doesn't know what he is. Still something I kinda wanna talk about without an audience though, because I have no idea how she's going to react. So instead of diving into that right now, I turn my attention to Hank.
“So, Hank. You and my mom, huh?”
“Oh Devon, we don't need to talk about that,” my mother immediately says, stopping me in my tracks. “You don't want to hear about my ex-boyfriend.”
“Ex-boyfriend? That's the story you're telling people?”
My mom shrugs, trying to seem unaffected. Putting more pieces into place, I'm getting the sense that he did something to hurt her, and she left. Of course I'll need more details to know for sure, but I can read my mom pretty well and everything about her is screaming to let it go, because no matter how much time has passed, she's not quite ready to talk about it.
“We should be going. My daughter and I have some more catching up to do and before we meet up with Chip. It was so good to see the three of you though. Maybe next time I come to town we can meet up for some cocoa or something.”
All three women start howling with laughter, telling my mom that was a great joke as they walk off, and Hank still looks haunted, standing there and staring at my mom, jaw tight, and have I mentioned I'm dying to know the story there? It's so damn hard not to be a nosy bitch.
