Free Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris Page B

days.”
    “Dr. Dinwiddie gave you a due date!”
    “JB just can’t believe how big I’m getting,” Tara said, with an eye roll.
    “He said that? In those words?”
    “Yep. Yes. He did.”
    “Geez Louise. That boy needs a lesson or two in rephrasing.”
    “I’d settle for him keeping his mouth shut entirely.”
    Tara had married JB knowing brains weren’t his strong suit, and she was reaping the result, but I so wanted them to be happy. I couldn’t be all, “You made your bed, now you gotta lie in it.”
    “He loves you,” I said, trying to sound soothing. “He’s just . . .”
    “JB,” she said. She shrugged and summoned up a smile.
    Then Antoine called that my order was up, and the avid expression on Tara’s face told me that she was more focused on the food than on her husband’s tactlessness. She returned to Tara’s Togs a happier and fuller woman.
    As soon as it was dark, I called Eric on my cell while I was in the ladies’ room. I hated to sneak off on Sam’s time to call my boyfriend, but I needed the support. Now that I had his cell number, I didn’t have to call Fangtasia, which was both bad and good. I’d never known who was going to answer the phone, and I’m not a universal favorite among Eric’s vampires. On the other hand, I missed talking to Pam, Eric’s second-in-command. Pam and I are actually almost friends.
    “I am here, my lover,” Eric said. It was hard not to shiver when I heard his voice, but the atmosphere of the ladies’ room in Merlotte’s was not at all conducive to lust.
    “Well, I’m here, too, obviously. Listen, I really need to talk to you,” I said. “Some things have come up.”
    “You’re worried.”
    “Yes. With good reason.”
    “I have a meeting in thirty minutes with Victor,” Eric said. “You know how tense that’s likely to be.”
    “I do know. And I’m sorry to pester you with my problems. But you’re my boyfriend, and part of being a good boyfriend is listening.”
    “Your boyfriend,” he said. “That sounds . . . strange. I am so not a boy.”
    “Foof, Eric!” I was exasperated. “I don’t want to stand here in the bathroom trying to talk terminology! What’s the bottom line? Are you going to have free time later or not?”
    He laughed. “Yes, for you. Can you drive over here? Wait, I’ll send Pam for you. She’ll be at your house at one o’clock, all right?”
    I might have to hurry to get home by then, but it was doable. “Okay. And warn Pam that . . . Well, tell her not to get carried away by anything, hear?”
    “Oh, certainly, I’ll be glad to pass that very specific message along,” Eric said. He hung up. Not big on saying good-bye, like most vampires.
    This was going to be a very long day.

Chapter 3
    Luckily for me, all the customers cleared out early, and I was able to get my closing work done in record time. I called, “Good night!” over my shoulder and hared out the back door to my car. When I parked behind the house, I noticed Claude’s car wasn’t there. So he was probably still in Monroe, which simplified matters. I hurried to change clothes and freshen my makeup, and just as I put on some lipstick, Pam knocked at the back door.
    Pam was looking especially Pammish tonight. Her blond hair was absolutely straight and shining, her pale blue suit looked like a vintage gem, and she was wearing hose with seams up the back, which she turned around to show me.
    “Wow,” I said, which was the only possible response. “You’re looking great.” She put my red skirt and red and white blouse to shame.
    “Yes,” she said with considerable satisfaction. “I am. Ah . . .” She became utterly still. “Do I smell fairy?”
    “You do, but there’s not one here now, so just rein it in. My cousin Claude was here today. He’s going to be bunking with me for a while.”
    “Claude, the mouthwateringly beautiful asshole?”
    Claude’s fame preceded him. “Yes, that Claude.”
    “Why? Why is he staying with