Free You’ll Understand When You’re Dead: Broken Heart Vampires Book 12 by Michele Bardsley Page B

is hysteria , she told herself, but aloud she said, “It gets worse and worse, doesn’t it?” And she laughed some more. So hard, in fact, she snorted and gasped and coughed.
    “Mom? Are you okay?”
    “Kimmie, go get your mother some water,” Matt said. He lifted her onto the Caddy’s trunk. “Are you all right, Natalie?” he murmured, pushing her hair behind her ear.
    “Nope.”
    Bettie, Frank, and Jenny crowded around Matt. Natalie closed her eyes against their concerned expressions. She’d been such an idiot. Why had she let it get this far? She opened her eyes just as Kimmie appeared with a paper cup of water. She gratefully drank the water and handed the cup back to her daughter.
    She didn’t know what to say, what to do. She looked at Matt.
    He turned around. “Everything’s fine,” he said. “Please don’t be concerned. Its just pre-wedding jitters.”
    Everyone nodded and dispersed except for Kimmie. Natalie squeezed her daughter’s shoulder. “It’s okay, “she told Kimmie, “Go on. I’ll talk to you later.”
    Kimmie kissed Natalie on the cheek. “I love you, Mom. I just want you to be happy.”
    Natalie looked at her only child’s sweet face and felt her heart turn over in her chest.
    “I’ll take care of her,” Matt said softly. His words gutted Natalie. They were breaking up tonight, and here he was telling her daughter he’d take care of her. It was impossible. The whole situation.
    Kimmie nodded and walked toward the garage sale, looking back at Natalie every few steps. Her daughter’s obvious concern tore at her.
    Matt put his arms around Natalie. She snuggled into his warm embrace, feeling like a leech sucking out all his comfort, but she couldn’t pull away. Matt didn’t seem in any hurry to end the hug either, so she stayed against his chest remembering how good his body had felt against hers and listening to the sound of his thudding heart.
    Natalie thought about the days after her ex-husband had left. After she’d gotten over the shock of his abandonment so he could join Children of the Night, AKA a vampire cult, she’d felt a vast relief. She’d savored having a Ronald-free life. Her and Kimmie started building new memories, better experiences. Then Ronald went and ruined it by kidnapping Natalie and handing her over to Phil the vampire as a sacrifice.
    Dark One, my ass. Phil had been a ridiculous man, all self-important and pompous because he’d found a bunch of jerk humans who would worship his undead ass. She didn’t feel one bit bad that Ash, the detective who freed her, killed the bastard, for the second and last time, good and dead.
    She looked at Matt and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.” He looked startled, but then kissed her lightly on the lips.
    “I know it’s important that we end this marriage facade, but I don’t want to fight. Not tonight.”
    Natalie didn’t want to stage a fight, either. Not ever. She wanted to live in this new place she’d found with the psychic, but she couldn’t expect him to give up his life to be with her. He was alive, and she was undead. Even if he wanted to date her, how could she expect him choose between becoming a vampire or growing old when she could not?
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    T HE GARAGE SALE closed . Natalie and Matt had separated, though it seemed every time she sought him in the crowds, she found his gaze directed at her. He’d smile and she’d smile, too, feeling like a giddy teenager.
    Speaking of giddy teenagers, Natalie realized Hayden—son of Dr. Wickham—was the object of her daughter’s affections if the way they flirted was any indication. And that meant Jack-hole was not her daughter’s crush. Yay.
    The barbecue geared up, and Natalie, for the first time this night, was told to go away and stop helping. Her fake, impending marriage had sent the town into a weird frenzy. She’d received congratulations and advice all evening, and she was sure Matt had received the same. It worried her. She