A soft light was glowing from the living room window when they pulled up in front of the house. Bill, with his arms full of her parcels, walked up the front steps behind Sookie and stood waiting patiently as she opened the front door and walked in to the hallway only to turn to find him standing on the front porch. 'Grans is still up, would you like to meet her?' she was asking while all the while he just stood there holding her shopping. 'Sure that would be nice' he replied but went on standing there.
She raised her eyebrows 'Well?' He looked a little sheepish. 'Umm Bill, are you just going to stand on the porch all night?' He opened his mouth to say something then hesitated …'You have to invite me in.' She looked surprised. 'I can't come in unless you invite me.' She giggled a little as she said 'Oh Bill, won't you please come in' and he stepped inside.
'Grans I'm home' she called as she took the shopping from Bill and led him into the living room. 'Why honey you have been a while, is everything alright, did you get all your shopping done, was it very …?' She stopped mid sentence at the sight of Bill standing behind Sookie. 'Why now, who is this honey?' and she automatically reached up and smoothed her hair as her eyes took Bill in, twinkling with excitement over Sookie bringing a man home with her, and such a good looking man.
'I nearly fell over in the car park and Bill here rescued me, then my car wouldn't start and he kindly gave me a lift home. Grans I would like you to met Bill, Bill this is Adele my Grandmother.' He stepped forward and with deference to her age took her hand and semi bowed over it, her eyes meeting Sookie's over his shoulder. 'Bill, Bill Compton mam' he smiled at her reaction.
'Compton, are you related to old Jessie then? We were all sorry to hear of his passing. You've come here to sort out the estate I expect?' Sookie's head snapped around as she stared at Bill. He was a Compton why that means he, he must be living practically next door, just across the cemetery. 'Sookie girl, now where are your manners, offer Bill something hot to drink, it is so very cold out side and he is a guest in our home' Adele admonished.
Although Sookie didn't really know too much about vampires she did know enough from all the magazine articles that she had read that vampires didn't drink hot drinks, well not the kind of hot drink that Adele had in mind. She had heard that the kind of hot drink they had preference for was bottled and heated in a microwave or … she swallowed, it came pre heated from the source so to speak.
'I thank you Mrs Stackhouse but really no, don't go to any trouble on my account. I really must be going. I only wanted to make sure that Sookie got home with her parcels in one piece. It was lovely meeting you and perhaps' he hesitated, 'perhaps you may be interested in some history that I can discuss with you. I am sure that Sookie will explain.' He took her hand again, bowing with his slight bow and turned to face Sookie. 'I will arrange to have your car fixed and driven back, I have a mechanic that I have used who will make sure that the job is done right and in the mean time, if you need a lift any where please feel free to call on me.'
They had walked back to the front door as he had been talking and as he stepped down onto the front porch he turned to look at her. 'May I call on you some time?'
She nodded as she looked in to his eyes yet again and was lost. 'Thank you for everything' she said softly, 'I really appreciate your help.' He looked at her and again it was him that felt her influence.
'You are more than welcome' he drawled softly, 'Good night Sookie' and in the blink of an eye he was gone.
To be continued…
