Patch pulled the Jeep up in front of Nora's house.
"What did they want with the empty house?" Nora asked. Patch raised his eyebrows.
"You can't guess?" He asked, his hands busy running up and down the small of her back. Nora blushed furiously.
"Oh."
"It isn't empty," Patch added, nuzzling the curve where Nora's neck and shoulders met.
The small red bricked house was a front yard away from Nora's house. Soft, yellowish golden light streamed from behind thick curtains and lit up the foggy, blue tinted windows. A black Jeep – identical to Patch's – sat before the whitewashed, mud splattered steps leading up to the door into the house. Dew heavy grass spread across the front yard, and batches of clovers poked their green heads up through the wet, grassy mess. Rain fell down on the red tiled roof and slid to the ground with soft, pitter patter noises that carried through the quiet. The soft sound of laughter drifted from the door and mixed in with the rain sounds.
"Nora," Patch whispered, pointing to her mother who was standing under the jutted out roof, looking at Nora with a we'll-talk-this-over-later look. Wincing, Nora got out of the Jeep.
"Patch," Nora's mom said evenly.
"Ms. Grey," Patch greeted, dipping his head in a polite manner. Her mom was saved from any more talking to the sound of the newly occupied house's door opening. Ivy swept out all smiles and laughter.
"Nora!" Ivy called. Then she saw Nora's mom, and her beamed.
"You must be Ms. Grey! I'm Ivy, Patch's sister," Ivy said, walking over to them. Nora watched her mom's strained smile relax, and she smiled – a real smile – back at Ivy. She watched Nora's mom give Ivy a once over with her eyes.
"You're related to Patch?" Her mom asked in surprise. A flicker of a shadow drifted across Patch's face, and he hugged Nora closer. Ivy blinked.
"Sister," Ivy said, smiling again.
"She – they – are our neighbors now," Nora added, and watched as her mom huffed, caught with doing the right thing, and the thing she wanted to do. Ms. Grey clearly disliked Patch, and adored Ivy.
"You girls making any plans for tomorrow?" Nora's mom asked, ignoring Patch. Nora nodded.
"Shopping," Nora said. Ivy raised her eyebrow, but Nora went on.
"Ivy wanted some new clothes. She just moved here, and school starts the day after."
"Oh. Well, just make sure you come back on time. I'll be gone for the week. Dinner's on the table," Nora's mom said. When she left, Nora looked up at Patch, who hadn't spoken the whole time.
"She clearly doesn't like me," Patch said.
"And she clearly does," Ivy said, nodding to Nora. Patch smiled, the dark pools of his eyes gleaming, as he covered Nora's neck with small butterfly kisses.
There was the sound of footsteps coming up behind them, a small cough, then a sickly sweet, honey coated voice purred.
"Patch, what are you doing with her?"