Nick loaded the full clip into his gun, and swapped out the empty clip for the half clip in the other gun. He let out a great sigh. “Ready?”
“I guess.” Thomas was leery of Nick, with due cause.
“Right. Follow my lead. I know my way around this place.”
Chapter 19
B
oth Nick and Thomas jogged up the front stairs to the porch. Nick looked through the side windows, trying to see if there were any undeads roaming inside. He put his hand on the door handle, and sucked in a deep breath.
Nick had a moment of clarity. His parents always kept a spare key under a rock in the front garden. He jogged back down the stairs, hoping that it was still there. After lifting about a half-dozen rocks and garden decorations, he found the key. Then he headed back up the stairs to unlock the door.
He found himself winded, and he wondered if breathing was even necessary for a freak crossbreed like himself. He unlocked the door and it creaked slightly. He looked back at Thomas and held his finger to his lips. Thomas nodded.
They crept into the foyer. The formal dining room was to the right, and the formal living room was to the left. Both rooms were empty of any sign of life, or unlife. It was as neat as a pin, just as his mother had always kept it. Never an item out of place. Never a speck of dust to be seen.
Directly across from the door was the staircase to the second level. Nick opted to go through the dining room into the kitchen. Still empty. He led Thomas through the family room, which was an addition his parents had put on when both he and Elaina were young.
Memories of his childhood came flooding back. His thoughts were filled with holidays, birthdays, and the joys of everyday life. The first time he met Henry was in that house. He chuckled a little.
-January 2013-
After two months of her “no-shows”, Nick and Elaina’s parents, Maria and Ken, had called Elaina, yet again, invited her to join them for their traditional Sunday dinner. Nick was standing outside on the front porch, listening to his voicemails, and watched a blacked out Tahoe pull into the driveway.
“Must be a turn around,” Nick grumbled. “Hate it when people… Whoa…” Elaina got out of the passenger side and some buffed out, GQ douchebag rolled out of the driver’s side. “Perfect.” Nick grinned. He realized that this guy must be the reason for Elaina’s absence at their family dinners.
He jogged down the porch stairs and met Elaina halfway to the house. “And who might you be?” Nick drawled.
“Cut the shit, Nick.” Elaina was already annoyed. Nick chuckled at her.
“You can’t just bring a guy up here without forewarning me first.” Elaina rolled her eyes at him. Nick and Henry were staring at each other. It was obvious neither one was going to back down.
“Like I need your permission to bring my boyfriend to Sunday dinner.”
“Captain GQ” looked rather uncomfortable. He had his hands tucked into his designer jeans pockets, looking between Elaina and Nick. Then he spoke. “Name is Henry. Henry Daniels.” He pulled his hand out of pocket and held it out to shake hands. Nick just looked at it. “Alright then.” Henry put his hand back in his pocket, and rocked back on his heels.
“Henry, this is my brother, Nick.”
“Nice to meet you.” Henry slapped on his best, albeit fake, grin.
“Mom’s going to have a field day with this one.” Nick turned around and walked up to the porch to head inside. He heard them chatting amongst themselves.
“Shit. Maybe I should have warned them. I don’t understand why my family must act like cannibals sometimes.”
“Do you want me to leave? I can swing by and pick you up later. Then we can go out for a few drinks to settle down.”
“Absolutely not. You are with me, and you are eating Sunday dinner with them peacefully, even if it kills me.”
“I don’t want to cause you any stress, love.” Nick shook his head when he heard Henry say that. He opened the front door and slammed it shut.
“Story of my life,” Elaina said under her breath.
When Elaina and Henry walked into the house, Ken met them at the door. Nick hung out in the dining room and listened to the conversation that occurred. “Elaina, nice of you to join us for a change.” Ken’s hair was gray, he was slightly overweight, and he and Elaina were the same height. “Who might this be?”
“Henry, sir. Henry Daniels. I presume you are Mr. Cooper?” Henry flashed that million dollar grin again.
“You presume correctly.” Henry held out his hand, and Ken took it without pause, unlike Nick. He looked Henry up and down. Nick chuckled. Elaina was getting madder by the second. “Your hand seems mighty cold, young man.”