"Because I knew what your answer would be."
"Goddamn right!" Jackson's anger stemmed more from the fact that he wanted to ask about Elisabeth's frame of mind, rather than from Sarah going behind his back. He pressed his fingers into his temples.
"Jackson, she's a mess. She kept telling me how sorry she is for everything."
"Good."
"You don't mean that. She is not guilty of anything more than you." He sat on the bed, rubbing his forehead as she continued, "I know she lied, but you did too. You know, neither of us has ever known a werewolf."
"There is a very good reason for that."
"Well, maybe our reason isn't as good as we think. Humans have many misconceptions about us. Perhaps we have some about werewolves. What if they're not all rabid animals hell bent on killing vampires?" Jackson grabbed the bottle and took a long draw, but did not respond. "It couldn't hurt to talk to her. You certainly can't be any worse off than this."
He stared ahead for a while then slowly stood. "I need a shower."
Jackson lingered in the shower; bracing his hands on the wall, letting the water run on the back of his neck. He felt so empty and drained; he didn't know what to think. Maybe Sarah was right and he should give Elisabeth a chance to explain why she let this happen. Could she possibly believe a vampire and a werewolf could have a relationship? When he returned to his room, Sarah had finished cleaning up the blood and glass from the wall and floor. "You didn't have to do that, Sarah."
"Yes I did."
Jackson sat in the chair by the window, taking in the landscape. "I don't know what to do. Nothing seems right." The gut wrenching pain left him unable to process any rational thought.
Sarah held his shoulders. "For once in your life, let your heart make a decision. Fight for your happiness. Go see her, keep an open mind, and focus on what is important."
He closed his eyes, dropping his head back. "I called her a filthy dog."
"I know, she told me."
They heard the front door open. "Miss Sarah, Mr. Jackson, are you home?" Consuelo, their housekeeper had entered. She and her husband, Marc saw to the day-to-day needs of Fairhaven. They were unaware that Sarah and Jackson were vampires, although they suspected things weren't quite normal around Fairhaven. Neither would ever question nor gossip about their bosses. They were paid so well, they didn't need to worry about how to send their two daughters to college anymore. Sarah and Jackson never treated them like employees. Sarah always asked about their daughters and sent extravagant gifts home. Jackson flirted shamelessly with Consuelo, making her feel like a sexy coed instead of a frumpy, middle-aged housekeeper. Sarah met Consuelo on the stairs and kissed her cheek. "How are you today?"