Page 27 of Vampire so Virtuous

“You know what you should do?” Eve asked.

“Dare I ask?” But she’d take any offered branch right now.

“You should go talk to your dad.” Eve suggested. “Maybe there’s some answers at home?”

Cally looked out of the window, thinking. She was long overdue a visit, but life had got in the way.

No. That was a poor excuse. Her dad had always been there for her, and she’d allowed herself to put him on a back burner. How had that happened?

“You know, that’s actually not a bad idea.”

And while she was there, maybe she could explore the bloodline thing. Put that theory to bed.

Her Mom? A witch? The idea was laughable.

Nine – Cally

Milton, Massachusetts, Present day.

The house never changed. Spring, summer, fall; neat lawns, clean porch, white walls.

She walked up the path and rang the doorbell.

Footsteps sounded inside, the door swinging open soon after. “Cally?”

The fine mesh of the screen blurred his features, but his growing smile was unmistakable.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Hey! This is a surprise!”

“Yeah. Sorry. I should’ve called.”

“Not at all, not at all.” He pushed the screen door aside. “Forgot your key?”

“No, I’ve got it, but didn’t want to walk in unannounced and scare the crap out of you.”

He scratched the back of his neck. “If I’d known you were coming, I would’ve gotten dressed.”

“T-shirt and sweatpants are perfectly fine, Dad. You’re rockin’ it.”

“A hug for your old man, then?”

She smiled and stepped into his arms. He wrapped her tightly in a familiar embrace, the kind that always felt safe, even through her guilt. He held her close, squeezing her as though to emphasize how much time had passed since her last visit. It made her feel selfish for staying away so long.

Cally pulled back, searching his face. “You all right, Dad?”

“All good,” he said easily, but his eyes held a shadow hinting at the lie behind his words.

Cally held up the plastic bag she carried. “Harpoon IPA? Not cold, I’m afraid.”

“I have some in the fridge. Let’s drink mine and pretend they’re yours.”

He led her into the house, and it was the same as ever inside, too. Except…

“New key bowl?” Beside the plant pot on the hallway table sat a darkwooden dish holding his keys, replacing the blue-and-white china one. The only change she could see.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. The other one cracked a couple of months ago.”