"No." He lets my hand drop, fixes me with a steely gaze. "Just saying, if I was thinking of asking anyone to marry me, I'd have to go some to top this ring. How many carats is it-two, three?"
"Two and a half," Frey answers.
I look at my ring again. I knew it was a good-sized stone but two and a half carats?
"The stone was my great-grandmother's," he continues. "I had it reset for Anna. The original setting was pretty ornate."
I can't believe I didn't think to ask about the ring. Frey is a schoolteacher and it never occurred to me to think how much a ring like this would cost. "Your great-grandmother's stone? Frey, I'm honored. I'll treasure it always. And when John-John finds someone to marry, we'll pass it to him."
David chuckles. "What about when you and Frey have children? There may be a daughter you'll want to have it. Or another son."
Of course, David would assume there might be children in our future. It's obvious Frey can procreate and we're certainly young enough. It's the other biological imperative, that I'm vampire, that makes it impossible. Something unknown to David.
Frey picks up the thread smoothly. "Maybe. We'll have to let nature take its course."
David stretches his arms over his head. "Well, judging by what a good kid John-John is, I'd say you're a great father."
I see a subtle shift in Frey's expression, sadness clouds his eyes. "I can't take much credit for that," he says. "John-John was raised by his mother."
David's expression changes, too, sobering. "I'm sorry. I know Anna told me that John-John lost his mother recently."
Frey shrugs. "Yes. An accident. But Anna and I hope to make a good life for John-John. No one can take the place of his mother, but he'll always know he's loved."
There's a brief pause, a kind of silent acknowledgment of John-John's loss, and then David says, "On a different note. When's the date?"
Frey and I look at each other. We hadn't discussed it yet.
David smiles. "Just remember-if Tracey and I aren't invited, there'll be hell to pay."
Frey holds out a hand to David. "Might even have to tag you for best man duties."
David returns the handshake. "It would be my pleasure."
A squeal of laughter from down the boardwalk captures our attention. John-John is running back toward us, a balloon animal clutched in his hands.
"Look," he says. "It's a horse. Just like mine at home."
And Frey and I exchange another look. Another question we've yet to answer. Home. Just where will that be?
Frey kneels down to examine the "horse" made from brown and yellow balloons while I sit back to watch them. It occurs to me that I can't wait to let my folks know about Frey and John-John. That we'll have to call them when we get back home this afternoon.
That it scares me how much I love Frey. And how perfect my life seems at this very minute.
That I wish I believed it could be like this forever.
My cell phone chirps. I dig it out of the pocket of my jacket and glance at the caller ID.
"You must be psychic, Mom," I say. "I was just about to-"
"It's your dad, Anna." His voice is sober, serious.
My back stiffens.
"Dad? Is everything all right?"
There's a hesitation, dead air on the line as ominous as any threat of peril. My heart races. "Dad?"
His breath catches. "It's your mother, Anna. I think you need to come to France. Now."
"What's wrong?"
Frey looks up at me. He must see the fear and uncertainty in my face because his pales. He stands up and steps close.
I listen to my father's next words. Tell him we'll leave right away and disconnect.
"What is it, Anna?" Frey asks, touching my arm.
I don't recognize my own voice. "My mother. She's dying."
CHAPTER 7
THE NEXT HOURS ARE A BLUR OF ACTIVITY THAT for a time, at least, dulls the pain. I call my pilot, arrange for him to file a flight plan. John-John and Frey have passports but they're in Monument Valley so we plan a layover in Farmington, New Mexico-the closest airport large enough to handle my jet. A call to Frey's friend Officer Kayani and he agrees to pick up the passports and meet us at the airport, a good two and a half hours from their home.
At first I thought it might not be good for John-John to be exposed to a situation so close to what he's recently been through-the loss of his own mother. But when Frey and I sat him down and explained that I had to go to France because my mother had been taken very ill, his only question was when were we leaving? Whether he had picked up on my fear and sadness or whether it was just a child's intuition, he seemed to know his presence and that of his father was something I desperately wanted. I never loved him more.
At two, David and Tracey arrive to take us to the airport. Frey and John-John never had a chance to unpack so it was simply a process of loading their suitcases into David's Hummer. I finished my own packing just as David and Tracey got to the cottage and my single duffle was the last item to get put in.
Jimsair, the private terminal at Lindbergh Field in San Diego, is set apart from the main airport structure. When we pull up, I go inside to let my pilot know I've arrived and he sends a baggage handler out to the Hummer to transport our luggage to the plane. On a pleasure trip, it never fails to impress me how much nicer it is to travel by private than commercial jet. Today, though, all I can think about is how it will get me to my mom that much faster.
My mom. Dying of cancer.
We board after saying good-bye to David and Tracey. John-John gets treated to a tour of the cockpit by my pilot as Frey and I settle ourselves in. The cabin of the plane seats six and we swivel seats around so that we can all three fly facing each other. When the jet engines roar to life, the copilot brings John-John back to us.
He's sporting a pair of wings on the collar of his jacket.
I smile a thanks to the copilot and lift John-John into his seat. He points to the pin. "Look. Just like the pilot."
I buckle him in and give his cheek a kiss. "Just like the pilot."
Frey and I buckle in, too. "Watch out the window, John-John," Frey says. "You'll see we fly right over the ocean."
Excitement shines in John-John's eyes and he turns his face to press it against the glass.
Frey takes my hand. "I don't know what's going to happen in France, Anna," he says. "But you're not alone. We'll face it together."
Tears sting my eyes. A few hours ago I was so happy. I felt positive about the future. Couldn't wait to tell Mom about Frey and John-John. Well, I'm going to get the chance now. But not in the way I envisioned.
It's a relatively short flight to New Mexico. Frey asks the pilot to call ahead. We are told Kayani will be waiting for us when we arrive at the terminal.
Security allows him to come on board. He's in his Navajo Nation Police uniform, looking as crisp and tailored as the last time I saw him. He sweeps a round-brimmed hat off his head. His eyes are serious. Frey told him the reason for our trip on the phone and he expresses his sympathy to me.
For John-John, he has a smile and a hug.
He hands a manila envelope to Frey. "Travel safely, sida," he says. "I will take care of the house and horses while you are gone."
Frey reaches out his hand. "Thank you for making such a long trip. Anna and I appreciate it."
Kayani smiles. "Not nearly as long as the journey you are about to make." He drops Frey's hand and turns to me. "Be well, Anna. I wish the best for your mother. I will remember her in my prayers."
He stoops and speaks to John-John in Navajo. John-John nods solemnly and holds out his arms. Kayani embraces him, and in that simple act, it comes rushing back to me how close Kayani, John-John and his mother, Sarah, used to be. I have no doubt he once looked forward to the three of them being a family the way I look forward to Frey, John-John and I forming that bond. My heart knows it can't be easy for him to see the three of us together.
Impulsively, I follow him to the doorway of the plane. I take his hand. "Thank you, Kayani."
He looks toward John-John. "Take care of the little one. I want only for him to be happy."
"I will. And you will always be a part of his life. Frey and I will see to it."
He releases a breath. "Hágoónee', Anna."
"Hágoónee', my friend."
* * *
WE PUT JOHN-JOHN TO SLEEP IN THE BEDROOM AT THE tail of the plane and Frey and I sit close on the small couch opposite the bar. The jet was outfitted by an old-soul vampire who spared no expense-the bar and tables are teak, thick carpets run along the floor and up the sides of the fuselage, all the seating accommodations are of the softest leather. In the bedroom, there's a full bathroom, queen-sized bed and a dressing table. Where there might be mirrors, original oil paintings fill the spaces. Avery, the bastard, appreciated his luxury.
Now Frey and I are the beneficiaries of his decadence. For a long time, I refused any of the inheritance due me because of the right of blood vengeance. Avery, an old-soul vampire who pretended to want to mentor me when, in fact, he wanted nothing more than to control the Chosen One, betrayed me. I killed him in defense of my own life. Slowly, over the last eighteen months, and because with Warren Williams' death, there was no one else to do it, I took over handling the estate myself. I kept the jet for my own use, agreed to my parents inheriting his winery in Provence and kept Avery's hilltop estate in La Jolla. But other things, his money, for instance, went to dozens of charities and foundations, donated anonymously. His art and a hidden treasure trove of ancient artifacts showed up mysteriously in the collections of museums around the country.