Page 101 of Twilight Destiny

Lena’s eyebrows shot upward. “Jake? That man you introduced us to? He’s a vampire?”

“Yes. And I’m in love with him.”

“Oh, Rosa.” With a shake of her head, Lena pushed her plate away.

“You don’t approve?”

“How can I?”

“But you don’t have a problem with Micah or Sofia.”

“They are my children and I love them,” Lena said in a quiet voice laced with pain. “I will always love them. But how can I be truly happy for them, knowing what they have given up? They have chosen a way of life contrary to nature. Against the way life was meant to be. Sofia will never know the joy of having her own child. Micah will never be a father.” She lifted a hand when she saw the protest in Rosa’s eyes. “I know, Sofia has Jenny and I’m sure she loves her deeply, but it’s not the same as feeling that child grow within you, hearing its first cry, the joy of holding a newborn baby in your arms and knowing that, with God’s help, you and your husband created a new life.”

“I never knew you felt that way.”

“You must never say anything to either of them,” Lena said. “Promise me.”

“I promise. But aren’t you forgetting something? Vampires saved Papa’s life, not once, but twice.”

“I have not forgotten,” she said with a sigh. “One can only hope it was God’s will.”

Later that day, Rosa drove her mother to the hospital. The whole family was in the waiting room, patiently waiting their turn to go in two-by-two to visit Luciano.

Rosa was surprised to see how well her father looked. It was hard to believe they had all been so worried about him. He looked ten years younger, she thought, as she left his room.

Visiting hours were over by the time everyone had gone in to see him.

Her sister, Angela, had invited their mother to spend the rest of the day with her family. Lena, always happy to spend time with her grandchildren, had accepted. Angela had invited Rosa, too, but Rosa wasn’t in the mood for company.

At loose ends, she took her mother’s car and drove to the movies, hoping it would distract her from thoughts she didn’t want to pursue.

Rosa had no sooner settled into her seat than Jake materialized beside her.

His gaze searched hers. “Do you want me to leave?”

“No.” She could feel the tension in him. His hands were clenched, his jaw tight. “Are you all right?”

He shook his head.

Tugging on his hand, she said, “Let’s get out of here.”

He followed her out of the theater, sat stiffly beside her as she drove away from the city. Where to go? She thought it over for a moment, then drove to a small park near a housing tract still under construction. The place was deserted this time of the day. She parked the car and they walked across the grass toward a wooden bench located near a slide. They sat side by side, not touching.

“How’s your father?” he asked.

“Much better. Saintcrow should open a clinic for the critically ill. I’m sure he could make a small fortune.”

Kincaid grunted. “It wouldn’t turn out well. Word would get out. Scientists would want to put him in a cage and test his blood. Fanatics would denounce him as evil and demand his destruction.”

“You are in a dark place, aren’t you?”

“You have no idea.”

“Saintcrow said … ”

“I know what he said. And he’s right. I am afraid of you, but I’m more afraid of myself. And I’m … ashamed of what I almost did.”

“You can’t blame yourself, Jake. You were out of your mind with pain. I could feel it, too, you know? A part of it, at least.”