Chapter Two

We drove up to Edgar's trailer. I remember when we had first gotten married-in 1991-and Edgar had bought a house. Now, he just had a trailer.

I didn't pick the kids up here, per say. But I did pick them up where they were waiting at the bus-stop. Edgar was there, but we didn't really talk. He said goodbye and then told the kids to behave. There were all these anti-vampires signs. Even now it still freaked me out. We stopped, and had a good view of the trailer. It was small, had a large cross on a door that said Frog Brothers and then had a ring of salt all around it. I got out of the car, and walked over to Nicole and Chris's car.

"Okay, call me crazy, but do you really think anyone who lives here would be able to pay you to shape?" Nicole asked. Chris looked at her.

"It doesn't hurt to try." Chris got out of the car, and knocked on the door. When Edgar didn't answer, Chris jogged back to the car.

"Okay, can we go?" Nicole asked.

"No. Hand me a piece of paper and a pen." Chris said. Nicole looked at him, but did it anyway.

"Why?"

"Just in case he doesn't have a phone, I want him to know where to find me." Chris wrote the address down, and walked back up to the trailer.

"Oh, yes. Yes, leave our address at the creepy Texas Chainsaw Massacre trailer. It's a good plan." Nicole was being very sarcastic when she said this. Chris rolled his eyes, and stuck his address in the cross. I walked back over to my car, where Autumn and Nathan were.

"Guys, I want you to go home with Chris and Nicole. I'll stay here." I told them. The two got out, and walked to Chris and Nicole's car.

"Is it okay if we go to your house?" Autumn asked.

"Uh, sure. I guess." Nicole said. Chris got back in the car, and looked at the two. Autumn waved.

"Hi, how you doing?"

"We're going home with you." Nathan said.

"Uh, okay." Chris said. I looked in his window.

"I'm sorry, but I really need to be here alone." I said.

"Hey, Aunt Case, it's cool." Chris said. He looked at Nicole. "I still think it's nicer than our place." He laughed. Then, they left. I saw the blinds in Edgar's trailer open and then close, and thought about walking up to the door. I did, and knocked on it.

"Edgar. Edgar, open the door. It's me. Casey."

"What do you want?" I heard from inside.

"I just want to talk to you. Just open the door... Please." I took the slip of paper out of the cross. "You have mail."

Edgar still didn't open the door.

"Edgar." I said. "Edgar, if I was a vampire, I wouldn't be out here in the sun. Or I wouldn't have picked up the kids. Now open this goddamned door."

The door swung open. I handed Edgar the slip of paper. "Hi." I said. Edgar took the paper, and then looked at it. He placed it on the counter, and walked away from the door. I walked in, and sat on the couch, just looking at my ex-husband. He had tattoos on both sides of his neck, his hair was cut short, and he still wore a red bandana. He wore a black shirt and cameo pants and army boots.

"What are you doing here?" Edgar asked me.

"I came here with Chris and Nicole, and I also kinda wanted to...you know...check up on you. Ever since that incident back in '05—"

"Please don't mention that."

"Sorry. Besides, I have to tell you something." I wringed both of my hands since it was difficult to say. Edgar sat down next to me. It felt like old times. Like before we divorced. I felt so safe and secure, and didn't or care when I leaned on his shoulder and he placed his arm around me.

"What?"

"It's Sam. He's gone."

"What do you mean by 'gone'? Do you mean d—?"

"Missing. Sam's missing. He's been missing since late last year. I think he might have turned." I looked up at him. Lucky bastard. All these years of vampire hunting have been really good to him. I wanted to kiss him, but didn't. Instead, I just sat there.

```~~~LATER~~~```

I walked in to see Nicole and Chris moving a couch. Chris sat down on it as Nathan put in his iPod.

"And what do you think the state of the shower is?" Nicole asked.

"Not good." Chris said, looking at her.

"I think I'm gonna give it a shot." Nicole took her stuff, and went into the bathroom. Chris ran his fingers through his hair, and then walked outside. I sat next to Nathan.

"Did you and Dad talk?" he asked. I looked at him.

"Yeah." I said. "I told him about Sam. Since he used to be his brother-in-law, I figured he ought to know. Besides, they're best friends."

```~~~LATER~~~```

"Can I come?" Nicole asked.

"No, I don't think it's a good idea." Chris said. He had just gotten invited to a surf party, hosted by Shane Powers. I remember when Autumn used to have the hots for him.

"Why not?"

"I don't know. A gut feeling I have, I don't know. I just met this guy."

"Oh, please. You had a poster of him on your wall in high school."

"So I wanna go hang out at his house? He's—He's kind of a...weirdo."

"Weird is good."

"No, weird is weird, alright? I'm not going anyway, so just save your breath."

"What do you mean you're not going? Chris, what are—? No, get up. Okay? Get up. You need a night out."

"No I don't."

"Okay, I need a night out. Let's go. Get up and—"

There was a knock on the door, cutting Nicole off. Jillian came in.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"I don't know if any of you are busy tonight or not, but I have got The Goonies."

Chris and Nicole just looked at her.

"Excuse me?" Nicole asked. Jillian brought out the movie and a Dunkin' Donuts bag.

"The Goonies? Oh, my gosh, you mean to say the two of you have never heard of The Goonies? You are in for a very serious treat."

"As good as a movie as that is—" I started.

"Oh. Uh, mm... Act-Actually, I mean, that—" Nicole stuttered. "I mean, yeah that sounds fun, but we actually have plans."

"Uh, we're going to a party." Chris said.