Аманда Хокинг: Flutter

She smiled a little at that, and then Matilda settled down next to her.

“She really likes Matilda,” Mae explained. She pushed past me so she could walk over to her great granddaughter.

Jack stood behind me, taking the whole thing in, but he didn’t say anything. “I’d like you to all meet my great-granddaughter, Daisy. I’m going to be taking care of her now.”

“Oh, Mae,” I looked at her sadly.

“No, don’t do that,” Mae shook her head. She sat down the bed next to the girl, pushing her hair back from her forehead. “I did the right thing, and I know I did. I had to save her. After Jane left, I realized I wasn’t upset about her. I had to save Daisy.”

“Well, Jane is fine, by the way,” I sighed. “But… you did what you had to do.”

“I did,” Mae smiled wanly at me. “Isn’t she precious?” She looked adoringly at the child, and I could see that there had really never been any choice for her. Even if she had to give up Ezra and everyone else, that child meant so much more to her.

“You’re not taking my dog,” Jack said finally. “Come on, Matilda.” Reluctantly, Matilda jumped off the bed and followed him out of the room.

“So you’re leaving?” I asked.

“It seems that way,” Mae said wearily. “I thought he might change his mind when he saw her, but…

It’s alright, though. I already have a plan.”

“What’s that?”

“Australia,” Mae smiled at me. “I’ve never been. Vampires don’t like it there because it’s dry and arid, but it’s comfortable enough, and there’s plenty of uninhabited outback for us to hide away.

There’s still active bloodbanks in places like Sydney, though, so with a short drive, we can got stocked up.”

“So, the two of you are gonna spend the rest of existence hiding out in the outback?” I raised an eyebrow. I had always wanted to go there, but it just seemed like a horrible scenario for this.

“For awhile,” Mae nodded, and went back to staring at her bundle of joy. “But we won’t be alone, at least not at first. Peter is going with us.”

“Peter?” I hadn’t realized that Peter really wanted that much to do with Mae, but then again, he did like running away from me, and he did like suicidal missions, like caring for a child vampire.

“He offered a few days ago,” Mae said. “We’ll be okay, love. Don’t you worry about us.” She might’ve been talking to me, but she was looking at Daisy, and I think that was all meant for her. The second she got Daisy, I think the rest of us really ceased to exist for her. I watched for a moment longer, fawning over the child, but I had somewhere I’d rather be.

When I went upstairs, Jack was already taking a hot shower. I was desperate for one myself, so I got undressed and climbed with him. He smiled at me, but I just wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my head against his chest. There was nothing sexual about it. I just loved how close I felt being with him like that, his bare skin on mine, his heart beating in my ear. He kissed the top of my head and held me to him.

After everything the night had brought, I couldn’t help but cry. Out of sadness and exhaustion and relief. I had never seen anything as brutal as what I witnessed tonight, and I hoped to never see again.

“It’s going to be okay, Alice,” Jack assured me, rubbing my back gently.

“How can you say that? After what happened tonight?” I looked up at him. His soft blues eyes were full of nothing but love and optimism, and he smiled gently at me.

“Because you’re here with me,” Jack said. “Any night that ends with that can’t be that bad.”

“I can’t argue with that logic,” I admitted, and he laughed, sending delighted tingles all through me. I held onto him tighter, pressing my head against his chest, and relished the feel of his arms around me. There was no place in the world I’d rather be.