Free The Vampiric Housewife by Kristen Marquette

had permanently stained them. Spending an evening with the doctors always brought back a flood of memories from Valerie’s childhood. Her parents had been raised on human ranches too. Even years after moving to Sangre Valley, the human scent lingered strongly upon them. Being around that clean scent—not the sanitized scent of market humans—gave her a sad but happy sensation. Perhaps that was why she liked the doctors so much.
         “Can I take your coat?” Harry asked in a monotone standing behind his mother. The only reason for him to hang out with his parents and their friends was to feast on a human, and since he was being denied that, he certainly did not want to sit through their chit chat.
          “Thank you, Harry,” Dr. Henrick said and handed over his hound tooth jacket.
         “How are you doing, Harry?” Dr. Venjamin asked. “Staying out of trouble?” He ruffled the boy’s sandy locks.
         “Yes sir,” he said sullenly. He obvious did not want to play the role of the cute little boy tonight.
         “We brought you flowers,” Rhett said handing her a boutique of orange lilies.
         “Hi Valerie. You look lovely,” Marie said with a hug and kiss on the cheek. Her black hair curled around her face, her green eyes emeralds on her pale black skin, a pink scarf tied around her long neck . . . she was exquisite.
         “So do you. Come in. Come in.”
         Behind them followed Charlie, a strained smile on his gaunt face. His color was ashen, sickly. He looked even more haggard than usual. He had certainly skipped lunch. He had just learned about this new project today. If it had taken this type of toll on him already, she worried if he would survive the promotion. Maybe he had been trying to tell her that he needed a break. Valerie didn’t want his job to make him ill. They didn’t need the extra money. Maybe Charlie could even cut back for awhile. Surely they could survive on a tighter budget. If it would make him healthy and happy again, there were sacrifices she could make. She honestly did love him. After the dinner party, they would sit down together and talk. Really talk.
         “Good morning dear,” she said and kissed his cheek, lingering a moment.
         He just smiled at her weakly. She lovingly stroked the side of his face. “I love you.” She smiled, took his briefcase and coat, and turned back to her guests. “Have a seat.”
         “Can I go to my room now?” Harry asked with a tad of attitude.
         She ignored it. “Yes you may.” He already had his punishment. She wasn’t going to add to it by making him keep them company. “I’ll call you for dinner.”
         “Whatever,” he mumbled and shuffled back to his room. She almost called him back. Attitude she would let slide. Talking back, she normally would not. But company was already here. She didn’t want to make a scene.
         “Dr. Venjamin, can I get you a drink?” Charlie asked heading for the wet bar.
         “No thanks, Charlie. My ulcers.”
         “I’ll have one. Let me help,” Rhett said quickly. “Honey?”
         “Yes, please.”
         “One eyeball or two?” Rhett asked.
         “After fifteen years of marriage, you still don’t know how I like my highball?” she teased.
         “Two eyeballs, it is,” he said with a bright smile. “Dr. Henrick?”
         “No thank you. Just getting over a bug. I have to be careful.”
         “Valerie. What would you like?” Charlie asked.
         “Just one.”
         With the drinks handed out, everyone settled into the living room, the doctors on the sofa, the Millers on the love seat, and Charlie in his chair.
         “So I heard your boys got themselves into some trouble,” Dr. Venjamin said.
         “Ah, to be a young boy again. To have mischief be your job,” Dr. Henrick said fondly.
         “All boys get themselves into a little bit of