“Oh … uh, did you need something?” Ms. Galen said, stumbling over her words.
Fear brightened her eyes, and seeing it hurt. A couple pints of your blood, Della almost blurted out, because Della could tell from her expression that that was what the woman expected her to say. Forcing herself to play nice, she told the truth. “I was just grabbing another soda.”
“They’re right there.” She motioned downward, her feet firmly planted in the doorway, as if she was frightened to get any closer. “In the bottom drawer.”
Della grabbed a diet drink, then looked back at Kylie’s mom. The fear in her eyes seemed stronger, and before she could stop herself she said, “You know I’m not going to hurt you, don’t you?”
Ms. Galen’s face brightened to a nice shade of embarrassed pink. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m being pretty transparent, aren’t I?”
“Afraid so.” Della popped the top, the fizzing sound filled her ears, and she found herself regretting her bluntness. “But I understand it’s hard to accept. And I appreciate you trusting me enough to invite me here.” With her point made, she started out.
“Your mom sounded nice,” Ms. Galen blurted out, as if trying to make peace.
Della turned around. If the woman was willing to try, why shouldn’t she? “Thanks. And thank you for talking to her.”
Ms. Galen toyed with the bottom of her blouse, obviously still nervous. “She doesn’t know, does she? I mean about you being vampire.”
Della flinched. “You didn’t say anything, did you?”
“Oh, no. Burnett made it very clear I was never to speak with anyone about any of this unless it was cleared by him. I … I was just curious, I guess.”
“Curious about what?” Della asked.
“How it happens.… Did you get bit by another vampire?”
“No. I mean, a few people are turned that way. Most vampires who aren’t born with the live virus, meaning both parents are already vampires, are turned when they have an open wound and they come in contact with another vampire.”
“How does a regular person know if they are a carrier of the virus?” she asked, as if frightened she might be one of them.
“They usually don’t. But the FRU released statistics that less than one percent of the population are carriers. So I don’t think you have to worry.”
Ms. Galen nodded as if embarrassed again. “So I guess that makes you kind of special,” she offered with a smile. This one actually looked genuine.
“That’s one way of looking at it,” Della said, but she wasn’t sure she’d agree. Being “special,” as Ms. Galen put it, had cost her a lot. Her family. Her life as she’d known it.
Right then, Della wondered, if Kylie’s mom could accept this, why couldn’t her parents? Was it possible that someday she could tell her parents the truth?
Ms. Galen walked closer and rested her hand on Della’s shoulder as if to show she wasn’t afraid anymore. But Della still felt the slight tremble in the touch. Not that she didn’t appreciate the gesture; she did. So much so, her heart tightened with unwanted emotion.
“Kylie’s told me how much you and Miranda mean to her,” Ms. Galen continued. “She said you two were her friends when no one else wanted to accept her. I want you to know that I appreciate that.”
“She’s been a good friend to me, too,” Della said.
The woman shifted a bit closer, as if to hug Della. To avoid it, to avoid seeing the shock in her eyes when she felt Della’s cold temperature, she took a step back. “Thanks for the drink.” Thanks for trying to accept me.
“The refrigerator is yours. Take anything you like.”
When Della stepped back into the living room, Kylie looked concerned, as if she’d heard them talking. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” Della said. “I don’t think she’s gonna stake me in the heart tonight now.”
“I wouldn’t have let her do that,” Miranda said, and they both giggled.
“I told you it was going to be okay,” Kylie said. “My mom has her flaws, but she’s not all bad.”
“You’re lucky.” Della plopped on the sofa on the other side of Kylie.
Miranda leaned forward and grinned at Della. “Why is she lucky? Because she has two of the coolest friends ever?”
“No.” Della rolled her eyes. “Because she has a cool mom.” Della recalled the look on her father’s face when she’d tried to hug him. He’d never accept her. She was kidding herself to think he ever would.
“Well, that, too.” Miranda glanced at Kylie. “Your mom is pretty hip.”
“I think I’m lucky to have all of you.” The chameleon smiled. “I love it that you’re here at my house. It’s like I finally get to bring you into this part of my life.” Kylie reached out and squeezed both Della’s and Miranda’s arms.
“Group hug, group hug.” Miranda bounced off the sofa, stood in front of them, and wrapped her arms around both her and Kylie. Della sighed and tolerated it. Then again, it wasn’t so hard to tolerate. Every day the bond between the three of them felt even more special. The warm mushy feeling swelling in her chest made Della reconsider bringing them with her to the funeral home.
What if something went bad? “You know what, guys,” Della said, pulling out of the hug. “I think tomorrow I should go in the funeral home alone. Just let me—”
“No,” both Kylie and Miranda said at the same time.
Kylie frowned. “You promised Holiday you wouldn’t do anything risky. And while I don’t see this as dangerous, going alone is a risk. And that would mean you weren’t keeping your promise. Seriously, what if something crazy happens and it becomes dangerous?”
Which was exactly why Della didn’t want them there. “I think they’d be more likely to talk to me, a vampire, if I’m alone.”
“I can become a vampire,” Kylie said.
“But if two of us go in there they might feel threatened. Let me go in by myself.”
“No,” Kylie said again, and her voice rang firm like it did when she turned into a protector.
Yet, protector or not, she could still be hurt. And Miranda was as defenseless as a puppy. Plus it wasn’t just about them getting hurt. It was about them getting caught and getting their asses put in slings by Burnett. If Della got caught and landed in the lap of trouble, so be it, but she didn’t want to bring her friends with her.