My throat had tightened as I’d thanked her again, but I still hadn’t opened the box. I didn’t have any photos of my parent, and I didn’t want to open that box until I was ready to deal with whatever emotions were packed in there with the photos.
I didn’t tell Laura that. Instead, I just told her I hadn’t had time, what with being so busy cleaning.
Laura stopped on the street, her hand going to her heart as she reaches out. “Steady me. I think my heart skipped a beat from the shock.”
“You’re so very funny.”
“Just lightening the moment. You okay?” Her words were gentle, and I realized she knew exactly why I hadn’t opened the box.
“I’m good. Thanks.”
“Okay, then.” She cleared her throat, her tone lightening as she said, “And the cleaning? How’s that going?”
I groaned.
“That good? Why didn’t you call me? I would totally help you get ready for the party.”
“I considered it, but to be honest, I wanted something mindless. Something where I wasn’t worrying about demons or my marriage, or the rivalry between Eric and Stuart.”
“Or Allie?”
“Most of all, Allie,” I admitted. “She still hasn’t told Mindy. Not about Rome. Not that Jared’s a vampire.”
“I know. Mindy thinks Allie’s all in a twist because she has a crush on Jared.”
“That’s probably part of it, although she won’t admit it to me. But the bigger part is that she thinks that Mindy will freak. About Allie, I mean. The whole being bred to fight demons thing. Especially since that means there’s something demonic in her. She’s afraid of how Mindy will react. So she’s damaging the friendship by trying to protect it.”
Laura paused on the sidewalk, then shook her head slowly. “I get it, but I think it will be fine. She might stumble a little bit at first, but I did too.”
“Yeah, but I’m just me. I don’t have any supernatural essence running through my blood. Apparently, Allie does. Would that have changed things for you?”
“I don’t think so. I mean, you’re still you. You can’t clean a house to save your life, and before everyone comes, I really want to check your baseboards.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
“Seriously, do you want me to get involved? I could tell Mindy so that she has some time to process before Allie finally gets around to the big reveal.”
I considered that. “No. It’s Allie’s story to tell. But I do think Mindy deserves to know. I’ve been meaning to give Allie an ultimatum. Tell or I will. I just haven’t done it yet.”
“It’s hard,” Laura agreed. “Did you mean it about Mindy being a target?”
“Directly, probably not. But since this whole thing seems to have shifted the demonic focus in this town off me and onto my daughter, that puts you in the clear and Mindy in the target zone.”
“Well, that sucks.”
I drew a breath. “Maybe it would be for the best if they have a rift. Keep Mindy safer.”
For a moment, I feared Laura would agree, but ultimately she shook her head. “No. They’re besties. Once Mindy understands, she’ll be right there at Allie’s side. Trust me. I know how that feels.”
I swallowed the tears that had gathered in my throat. “Thanks.”
“As for the drama that might happen if Allie has a boyfriend—vampire or not—I really can’t say.”
“Mentor,” I said. “Not boyfriend. I wouldn’t even let her go out with a nineteen year old, much less someone who’s crossed the century mark.”
“Crush then.”
We walked in silence for a while, then Laura sighed. “Teenagers. You don’t even have to throw demons in the mix to have drama. How lucky are we to have this extra layer of angst?”
