“That MasterClass said—” he started to say.
“Wait, you really did one of those?”
“Yes. Esther Perel said that every couple’s fights are set by the second date, and it’s true. Three hundred years of you being worried I’ll murder someone, which I’ve never actually done, not for you anyway.”
“You could have prevented Alba’s—”
“I’m sorry that I didn’t.” He pulled me closer. “But I came here because I was worried, because I wanted to be here for you.” He tilted my chin up and looked into my eyes. “I should have asked what you needed. I think Esther said something about that, too.”
“To be fair, I would have told you to stay away and that I didn’t need anything.” But having him here made me feel so much less alone.
He nuzzled the top of my head. “I like the smell of your new shampoo,” he said. “I liked your old brand, too. What was it, Herbal Essences?”
I pressed my cheek to his.
“I’m sorry for hauling you out over my shoulder.” The rumble of his voice soothed me as much as his words. “I missed you, Tiffenie. That’s why I came.”
I missed him too.
Instead of waiting for me to say it, he stood up and clapped. “So, Home Depot. You ready?”
I cupped my hands and yelled up the stairs, “Heaven, get in the car, we’re going for a ride.”
“I don’t want to,” she yelled back.
Vlad shouted, “Getting out of the house will help. You’ve been cooped up for too long, and there are some very nice trees in the area.”
Trees. I shook my head. This guy.
After passing approximately three million trees, we arrived in Burlington. The Home Depot parking lot was nearly empty. There was nothing to see except a lone shopping cart left under a parking light and a Taco Bell drive-through across the street.
“Wait here,” Vlad commanded Heaven.
“Okay,Dad.” Heaven leaned into theDadsarcastically.
“Actually, it’s Grandpa,” I said.
“Grandsire, if we’re being technical,” Vlad corrected. “And if you two would accept your position in the parliament, you know you’re royal.”
“What, am I a princess now, Tiff?” Heaven said sarcastically.
I laughed, but Vlad answered, “You’re both princesses. It’s all about who turns you, Heaven.”
Before we left, I knocked on the window and said, “Lock the doors. Safety first.”
Heaven rolled her eyes and popped her AirPods in.
Vlad and I made it into Home Depot about thirty seconds before it closed. The moment we walked in, I could feel how out of place we were. Vampires don’t do home repairs, but here we were, essentially Neo and Trinity fromThe Matrixmaking a run at domesticity. Our mission: to purchase some composite decking.
A banner over the door announced,Find your Santa’s choice christmas tree here! Smells like cinnamon and lasts three times as Long as any other cut tree.
Wow, Tyrone had really made it. That Home Depot money must be good.
After we found the decking and placed an order, we wandered through the clearance aisle, which was ninety percent Halloween decorations. There were several large inflatables for front-yard display: a dragon, a ghost, and a vampire.
We stopped and stared at the vampire. Slicked-back hair, pale skin, fangs, a cloak. It wasn’t entirely wrong, but it wasn’t right either.
“I don’t know how to feel,” I said.
