"I miss you too."
***
Thursday night, Sarah, Connor, and Jackson were having dinner when Jackson said, "Sarah, I need you to do something for me tomorrow night."
"What?"
"I want you to try to influence Elisabeth."
"Are you crazy? There is no way on God's green earth I am going to influence that lovely woman to do your bidding! You should be ashamed of yourself!"
"Are you done?"
"Quite, you pig."
"If you had given me a second before ripping me a new one, I would have explained that I do not want her 'to do my bidding' as you so eloquently put it. I simply want to know if it is she that can't be influenced or only I that can't influence her."
"Oh…sorry. What would I influence her to do?"
"I don't know, something innocuous like pour a glass of wine and dump it down the sink, or open and close a window. Just something that will tell us for sure whether it worked or not."
"Ok, I guess…I still don't feel right about it though."
"I know. I just have to find out."
After dinner Sarah said, "I'm going into town to buy a new clutch for tomorrow. Connor do you want to come?"
"I'll stay, you up for a game Jackson?"
"Sure." The two were well-matched opponents and their last game ended in stalemate. Jackson poured a drink and a glass of blood, then sat at the board.
Connor asked, "Does blood really taste good?"
"Oh, sorry, does this bother you?"
"No, no it's fine; I just can't imagine it tasting good."
"That's because you are not a vampire."
"I've been thinking about that the last few days."
"What, being a vampire?"
"Yeah."
"What does Sarah say?"
"She doesn't like to talk about it."
"I'm sure she has her reasons."
"What do you think?"
"I think it depends on your reasons."
"I guess my biggest reason is I don't want to lose her and let's face it, when I'm toothless and bald and she is still as beautiful as today, she's not going to want me."
"You're wrong about that."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, unless you screw things up and hurt her, Sarah will stay with you until your last breath, even if it means changing your diapers."
"Well, then there's my biggest reason. I don't want her to do that. She should be with someone as young and vibrant as she is."
"Now, that my friend is a good reason for wanting to turn."
"So, you think I should?"
"I am not going to touch that one. This is between you and Sarah." Jackson actually felt sorry for the guy. His future, as it was, seemed pretty bleak.