The Vampire (THE VAMPIRE Book 1) (79 page)

He had her out the door and into the car at last. On the drive to the airport, they stopped at a diner and ordered breakfast. She brought the roses inside with her. Their waitress commented on “Some lucky girl deserving such a beautiful bouquet” as she looked from Jason to Carrie.

Jason gave the waitress a weak smile as Carrie beamed, cradling the flowers. They ordered their breakfast favorites.

“Come on, Jason. February recess. I could save some money by then.”

“Absolutely not. Besides, I’m pretty sure I will still be in rehab.” His expression was serious though the words might have seemed frivolous. She laughed lightly.

“You make everything sound so serious and worse than it is,” she chided him. “Why are you so dead set against he and I being friends?” She was buoyant now, and it seemed nothing could dampen her mood this morning.

Jason shook his head. “We have been over this. I’ve explained it; I’m done.” His mood was the direct opposite of hers. She was leaving and now he would have to get back to the business of this new level of discomfort between himself and Augere. Now there was new cause for fresh tension between them. Augere was upset with him about being cornered over the holiday plans and Jason was upset with Augere over what he was already labeling “the Carrie fiasco.” Things had managed to get worse, somehow.

And now he was wondering…
was that the reason Augere did this? To get back at me somehow? By using Carrie as some kind of pawn, for his amusement, just to make me upset?
That speculation seemed highly plausible and disturbed him greatly.

And just how was he supposed to get through the holidays in New Orleans with Augere now with this new development hanging over him?

“He is not a monster you know.” Carrie looked up from her plate of scrambled eggs and bacon. She paused, waiting for him to say something. She had been trying to read Jason’s silence of the past five minutes. Jason remained silent.

“You’ve got this decent job… and it probably pays good money too; a beautiful home to live in with lots of personal space; you get to travel to wonderful places and it doesn’t cost you anything…all because of him.” She shook her head as if he was acting like an ungrateful child. “I don’t know why you find it so hard to like him, Jason.”

“Liking him is not required.”

She was taken aback by his reply and was silent for several moments.

The words were uttered so impulsively they took him by surprise as well. He suspected the frustration, now bordering on anguish, in his words had gone undetected by Carrie. She could not begin to know how far from the truth her comment was.

“Well,
I
like him, even if you can’t. I guess I really don’t understand you sometimes.”

It is the situation you don’t understand
. He expressed a deep sigh.
Now I’ve become the bad guy somehow
.

“There is no reason for him to come between us. He is my boss. My job and my—personal life—which includes you— have to be kept separate. It’s…just the way it has to be, Carrie, Can you understand and accept that?”

She nodded reluctantly. “That won’t stop how I feel about him though.” She waited for a comment from Jason. There was no reply. “He said he ‘remained distant so he would not interfere with our visit. He did not want to cause disharmony between us.’”

“He really said—wrote—that?”

She nodded.

It did sound like Augere’s speech pattern. She wasn’t likely to have just made it up. The sentiment surprised him.

At the airport he got her luggage out of the car and then paused.

“When we say our goodbyes, and it gets all sad, and emotional and tearful—I want you to promise me—you won’t mention him. I don’t want to hear his name.”

She looked mournful suddenly.

“Please. Do this for me. No more about him.”

Boarding pass in hand, they paused outside of the security area. Their hugs were somewhat wooden and hesitant.

They reluctantly moved forward a few more steps. Carrie paused and turned to look at him. “Will you are least
think
about February…?” Her voice trailed off as she took in his fixed expression which silently spoke the word “No” to her.

She turned from him then, and still clutching Augere’s roses, began to walk away, a heavy sadness slowing her steps.

He stood watching her, too upset to speak.

She paused and turned to look at him once more. The pleading in her eyes got to him, but the wounded look that came over her features was even harder to take.

No…Carrie…I don’t want it to be this way between us…

She turned abruptly and disappeared into the throng of travelers advancing through airport security before he could say anything to fix this.

“And…just
how
am I supposed to fix this?”

Chapter 28

Nola Xmas

Jason dropped off the rental car and was given a ride home by the rental company. He checked his cell phone as he entered the house. No calls from Augere but the car was back in the garage now. Augere probably surmised it was safe to return. If he had even actually left. Jason made a cup of tea and took it to his room. He had intended to have a full blown nervous breakdown at the first opportunity, but now he was too emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted to even entertain that idea.

He was acutely aware of the void left by Carrie’s absence. The silence and lack of purpose with her gone weighed upon him. He already missed her company terribly. And it disturbed him greatly they had parted on less than cordial terms.
Damn it! Why did this have to happen?

In two more days he and Augere would fly to New Orleans. This was going to be rough. The upcoming days were likely to be tense. At least he had almost two full days to try to de-stress from this recent fiasco. Then there would be the awkwardness of spending the holidays among strangers, far from home. Things were looking bleak suddenly. As if the situation with Carrie wasn’t depressing enough.

His thoughts wandered to the events of the past weekend, not the most nerve relaxing activity he could have chosen.

Those flowers. They were a nice gesture. And quite romantic really. And by themselves, they were bad enough. Did he have to leave her a personal note as well? One she would not even allow him to read…
damn it, Augere. Are you trying to make my life miserable?

He really couldn’t be mad at Carrie, even if he tried. He didn’t want to be angry at Augere. He tried not to be.

It was too much to hope for that with Augere out of her sight, he would be out of Carrie’s thoughts as well. Not at all likely, he knew.

He was able to nap briefly, something he rarely if ever did, and was awakened after a while by his cell phone. It was Genier’s number, but the caller was not Genier.

“Mr. Genier asked me to call you,” said a vaguely familiar female voice, “since he has been quite busy getting things ready for the holidays. I already sent you an email with the flight information. I’m just calling with some updates now. There will be a car ready to pick you up at the airport. Because the reservations were made at the last minute, Mr. Genier was unable to get hotel accommodation, as Mr. Augere requested, for the first night, so you both will be staying at the cottage…” She paused. “—and then we have you at the Bourbon Orleans for the remaining days. Do you have any questions? Or any requests?”

“No. I guess not. Do I have to notify Mr. Augere of these details?” He dreaded that.

“No. All taken care of. In fact I spoke to him this morning. He really surprised all of us by requesting to fly out a day earlier than planned.”

“Wait—does that mean we are still flying together?”

“Uhmm…not unless you are requesting that…but it would be rather difficult now since most of the flights were already solidly booked and what was left was very limited and hideously expensive…” She paused again. “ And I think Mr. Augere preferred—”

“No, no, that’s okay. I am just a little surprised is all.”

“Okay, well we will see you soon then,” she said brightly, and hung up.

What is her name?
he wondered again. He was becoming fond of her; he recognized her voice now. She had been helpful when he had most needed to hear a kind word; some encouragement, and more. He still didn’t know exactly who she was.

So, Augere had not wanted to fly with him—was that it? Jason had no idea what she had meant by the “cottage” but presumably he and Augere would be staying there together, probably right in each other’s space. But just for one night. At least after that they would be in a hotel and they were sure to have privacy then.

If things remained this tense, the next several days were going to be hellish. And there was no backing out now. Even if he called and said he changed his mind…that would mean he would be in Boston alone. It looked like he would technically be alone in New Orleans too. He would know none of the people, except James, who would be tied up with his family’s events. Besides, he always felt a little awkward in forced social situations. He guessed this was something that would just have to be endured.

He called Zavi as he had intended to do several days ago, before Carrie had suddenly arrived. They had spoken of getting together before she left on the 23rd to fly to London. He was hoping she hadn’t been feeling ignored. It turned out she had been busy all weekend with last minute things she needed to do before her trip, but yes, of course she was free now, she said. They met at a restaurant that had newly become a favorite place.

“What would you like for Christmas?” he asked her. “Do you want to be surprised? Or maybe you have a special request?”

“I think you know what my request would be,” she said, playfully stroking him and laughing when he blushed a little.

He gave her a passionate kiss and held her in an embrace for several moments. “I am so glad to have you in my life.” His serious expression held her gaze.

She stroked his hair as she gave him a smile and a lingering kiss. “I can’t believe you are going to New Orleans again.” She sighed. “You are so fortunate to have such a job.”

He nodded, feeling a little less fortunate than usual. “We need to take a trip together. Somewhere really great—wherever you want to go.”

She nodded, smiling. “I would really like that. We should plan something soon.”

The rest of their evening together was spent in lustful abandon. He ardently clung to her between rounds of uninhibited coupling and her passionate responses equaled his fervor. Sex with Zavi was more satisfying and passionate than any he had known before. He felt more free to explore with her and he opened himself to her in ways he had not been able to with anyone else. They knew it would be a while until they were together again. It was important to make the most of the moment.

He finally left her place, reluctantly, pausing at her door for more passionate kissing, becoming aroused again, and nearly disrobed her at her doorway. The abrupt return of one of her roommates interrupted them and they both laughed. They made plans to get together again after the first of the year.

Once home again, and exhausted now from his amorous evening and already tired from the weekend’s events, Jason found he still could not sleep. He was feeling Carrie’s absence again; her dynamic presence had left a void that reminded him how socially isolated he often was, even if it was usually by choice.

He didn’t know if Augere was really in the house now or not. Even if he was, Jason still felt quite alone. For someone who had grown used to enjoying his own company, he was having difficulty being by himself right now.

He slept in the next morning. He imagined Augere would have left for New Orleans already, that morning probably, and he would have the place to himself. He spent an hour or so packing. His heart was not really in it, but he was determined to make the best of this. He was tense and nervous about what the next few days would bring. But at least he would be in New Orleans. How bad could it be?

Having finished packing he went out to a restaurant for dinner. Then, with last minute motivation, he stopped and bought a live Christmas tree, a metal stand and a string of Christmas lights. He spent a while arranging the lights and admired the effect. He wouldn’t be here to enjoy them for long, but for now, at least, the tree provided him with some holiday cheer and a feeling of having accomplished something to lighten his mood.

He arrived in New Orleans the next afternoon and a car was waiting at the airport as promised. The driver provided him with a key to a small cottage in the Garden District. He got just a quick look at the place, a miniature version of the grander homes that surrounded it, as he quickly dropped off his things; the driver had agreed to take him on to Jackson Square. He headed straight for beignets and coffee.

As he sat at the Café du Monde, in the exact spot where he had last sat several weeks ago, he felt overcome with emotion. Being back in this city again brought to the surface all the feelings of despair and hopelessness that had engulfed him then; he had fought to suppress those feelings then so they would not immobilize him at that time. But he could give vent to them now, having passed through the worst of it and come out the better for it. Still, all was not well. And he wasn’t sure how to make things better.

He wandered the streets, and everywhere he spotted beautiful decorations for the holidays. The weather was slightly cool and mild and his spirits lifted as he took in the sights and enjoyed the ambience of the city he had come to love. It was truly great to be back again. He lingered over a Creole style dinner, and then took a taxi back to the cottage, nervous that he hadn’t paid strict attention to the address. He did manage to find it, with the taxi driver’s knowledge of the area. Now he took some time to note all the details of the place.

The cottage was absolutely charming. Smaller than his quarters at home but compactly suitable. A small porch wrapped around the front and one side of the cottage, looking out over a small tidy garden. The small living room compensated for lack of space by having a cozy feel, done in modern hues of teal and peach with dark wood furniture and soft plush accents in complementary tones to balance the overall effect. Everywhere efficient use had been made of the limited space. A love seat and several comfy chairs were positioned around a wall mounted flat screen TV; a wooden coffee table, two smaller end tables, several lamps and two built in bookcases completed the living room. The cottage had a small kitchen area, little more than a dining nook, with microwave, apartment sized stove and refrigerator. A small table and four chairs squeezed into the space. Two small bedrooms, each with two twin beds, and one shared full bath completed the structure.