Dominic smiled at her gesture and said,
“I’m sorry, miss, this is a private family matter and I just couldn’t possibly
stay. You understand, don’t you?” He said this dismissively as if speaking to a
servant; polite, but not sincere.
Darby saw that Devon was irritated by
his uncle’s rude behavior and was about to say something, when Blake jumped out
of his chair and said, “Sure, Dominic. They understand.”
He glanced at the others at the table and
gave Devon an imploring look, all the while helping
his uncle with his coat. “We’ll speak in the front yard, Dominic. Go back to
your meal, enjoy! We’ll only be a minute,” Blake said rather apologetically to
Darby still standing, stunned, in front of her seat.
Darby looked at the rest of the people at
the table and said, “I’ll get some champagne flutes, to enjoy our lovely gift.”
She excused herself as Devon and Blake led
Dominic to the front yard.
They were almost to the black limousine,
when Dominic turned to the boys. “I’m in need of your help, boys. Anton is
terribly sick and I would like you both to come to Connecticut to help me
determine what is ailing him.”
“I’m very sorry Anton is sick, but that
does not excuse your…” Devon started.
“What Devon is trying to say,
Dominic,” Blake interrupted, “is that we are not boys any longer. We have lives
here, jobs, commitments, significant others. We can’t just up and leave.”
“Yes, I see you’ve hooked up with a lively
bunch of hooligans. Eating at a table with witches and werewolf swine. How
could you? So what, you with your Darby girl, and you with the werewolf
crossbreed creature? Both witches, I presume?”
“Yes. I am with Rowan, but you don’t
understand, Dominic,” Blake said.
Dominic’s eyes grew large. “How despicable,
boy! Didn’t I teach you anything? Didn’t you listen to a word I told you? Your
mother must be turning in her grave in shame. We are a family of noble vampire
blood. What a disgrace to your heritage. Vile. Disgusting!”
“That’s enough, Dominic. You are wrong
about werewolves, like many are wrong about vampires. You are mistaken…” Devon defended.
“How dare you? I am a professor of science.
I most definitely am not mistaken. I saw, with my own two eyes, the horrific
act of a werewolf. They are animals, not people.”
“You’re wrong, Dominic, very wrong. These
are good and decent people. They’ve risked their lives for us on numerous
occasions…” Blake tried to explain.
“Don’t bother explaining, Blake. He won’t
change his mind. He has his view, and that is the only view he’ll ever see,” Devon said.
“I see your manners have been severely
degraded by the company you keep. I demand you come to Connecticut immediately. Maybe
you’ll find your manners there and remember your place in society.”
“I’m not leaving. Not for you and most
definitely not for Anton,” Devon said.
“Oh, grow up, boy. That was ages ago. Let
bygones be bygones already. I won’t take no for an answer. You will both march
in there, pack your things, and come home.”
“Connecticut is not our home.
This is our home, Oljone, California. Right here, with
a bunch of great friends who are waiting for us to continue our Thanksgiving
feast,” Devon said as he turned and headed back to the
house.
“Wait, Devon,” Blake said. Devon stopped and slowly
turned. “Dominic, won’t you please join us for dinner. Get to know these
people. They are family to us.”
Devon said, “Don’t
bother wasting your breath, Blake. Like I said, he’s already made up his mind
about them.”
“It’s Thanksgiving. You said yourself, Devon, Thanksgiving is a
time to be thankful for family, friends and loved ones. Dominic and Anton are
our only blood relatives.”
“Fine. You’re right, Blake, I did say that.
Dominic, would you please join us for dinner?”
“Thank you for the offer but no. I can’t.
No, I won’t sit at a table with two werewolves. I am staying at the
Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco. Here are your
tickets. We are leaving at 10:50 AM tomorrow. I expect
to see you on the plane.” He handed each of them a first class ticket.
“Whoa, wait a minute. I can’t go, Dominic.
I have to work. I have a project due, deadlines, I just can’t up and leave,”
Blake insisted.
“Fine, you will join us when you are done
with your commitments.”
“I’m not going either, Dominic. This is my
home, here with Darby. There is no love lost between Anton and me. I’m sure he
doesn’t want to see me any more than I want to see him. I’m sorry he’s sick,
but for God’s sake, he’s a vampire, he’ll heal. I’m sure he will be fine.”
“No, Devon. He won’t. He is
rapidly declining. You must help me. I demand that you help me.”
“You demand that I help you? There’s
nothing I can do for him. I’m not a doctor; you are. I’m a software engineer.
So is Blake. What could we possibly do for him?”
“You’re his family. You can be his family.
Maybe he will confide in you.”
Books A to Z 