Water sloshed onto the counter as I forcefully dropped some plates in the full sink for washing. A fire last year had destroyed the kitchen my family had sat in for generations. The remodelled version contained a dishwasher, but there was something therapeutic about washing dishes by hand when you were upset.
I scrubbed each plate thoroughly, even though they were hardly dirty to begin with. Lunch had been cold cut sandwiches and potato chips. I washed the glasses and cutlery we used as well and placed everything on the drying rack before pulling the plug from the drain. I watched the water empty in a daze then dried my hands on a dish towel and headed outside. I walked around the house to our tool shed where my brother, Jason, and his newly reappointed best friend Hoyt (also newly married to fellow waitress, Holly) searched for shovels.
It was a Saturday and the boys had the day off from work and were here to help me dig up an especially frustrating stump in the backyard that was just in my way. I grabbed some gardening gloves to avoid getting my hands too dirty. While Jason and Hoyt had the day off, I was scheduled to work the late shift at Merlotte's tonight. They located the shovels, as well as a pick and an axe (for the more troublesome roots) and we all trudged farther into the backyard to get to work. Jason, Hoyt and I all loved being outside working in the gorgeous sunshine, so we worked quickly. When we finally stopped for a break, I took a look at my watch and realized we'd been working for 3 hours non-stop. It was time for me to start thinking about getting ready for work. I left the boys to continue, telling them I'd be back shortly with iced teas for them. As I was entering the backdoor to my house, I heard someone ringing the doorbell from the front. I ran to open it, checking the new peephole before swinging the door open.
"Alcide! What a pleasant surprise! What brings you by?" It really was a surprise. I hadn't bothered the read the brains signals from the other side of the door before opening it for some reason. I gave the werewolf a quick hug and moved out of the way to allow him into the house. I hadn't seen him since the pack meeting I attended almost two months ago. While being pack master seemed to agree with him, I missed the old carefree Alcide. He flashed me a smile.
"I hear you and Eric broke up," he stated, cutting to the chase. No beating around the bush when it came to Alcide Hereveaux apparently.
"Oh geez Alcide! Is that really why you dropped by?" I was seriously annoyed. "Since when did it matter to you? Didn't you yourself say we probably weren't ever going to happen? And what does it matter if Eric and I broke up? It's really none of anyone's business."
"I didn't come here to gloat, if that's what you think," he told me. "I came here just to see if the rumours going through the pack were true, which they seem to be. I also came here to offer you protection should you need it. Eric has a lot of power and a lot of enemies trying to take that power from him. Just because you are no longer together, doesn't mean his enemies still won't come after you. I'm just here to offer you, as a friend of the pack, assistance should you need any." Alcide did have a point, though I didn't want him to know it. I just kind of shrugged my shoulders in his direction. My Gran would have lectured me for hours over my response to such a huge offer.
"Whatever makes you happy, Alcide," I told him. What else could I say, no thank you? "Would you like a drink? I have to get ready for work soon, but I have time to share a drink with you, if you'd like." I really didn't want to have that talk with Alcide any further, but my brain went into autopilot and offered my surprise guest some hospitality.
The werewolf shook his head with a small smile. "No thanks, Sookie. I was on my way back to Shreveport from Jackson and wanted to stop in myself, rather than call you about this." He gave me another hug, one that I welcomed, and left. I stood there a moment, slightly overwhelmed at how effective the supe grapevine in Shreveport was. Then I remembered the boys out back and my promise of iced teas. I hurried to get a little tray together with glasses filled to the brim with ice and homemade iced tea and a plate of cookies. I hurried it outside to them and ran back inside for a quick shower before work. I washed my hair quickly, taking the few minutes to shave my legs. It was warm at night now, so I'd be wearing my shorts to work. I blow-dried my hair and stuck it in a high ponytail and dabbed on a little make-up. As I was heading out to my car, I shouted out to Jason and Hoyt that I was headed to work. They waved goodbye before turning back to the stump that was almost finished. I knew they'd work as long as they could. I reminded Jason to lock the door when they left for the night then headed down the driveway.
When I got to work, I waved at Antoine through the kitchen hatch and went to say hello to my boss Sam, who was working on drinks behind the bar, nodding to Holly that I was here to take over for her when she finished dealing with the table she was at, taking drink orders.
"Two Cokes, a white wine and a gin and tonic," she told Sam before turning to me. "Was Hoyt still at your place when you left?"
"Yeah, but they seemed to be almost done when I left. Unless they ran into problems, they should be done before night finally falls," I explained to her. She smiled at me and turned to take her apron off and head home. Sam and I waved as she left.
The rest of the night went quickly and quietly. Even for a Saturday night, Merlotte's seemed quieter than normal. Sam was worried it had something to do with the threats some people have been leaving for Sam, or that it might have to do with him being a shifter. I thought it was mostly because of the new bar, Vic's Redneck Roadhouse, opening up not all that far from here. After finishing up my closing duties of restocking all the salt, pepper and sugar shakers on each table and toping up the ketchup bottles, I waved goodnight to Sam as we parted ways in the parking lot. Sam lived in his trailer just behind the bar. It seemed perfect for him.
I drove up Hummingbird Road and turned down my driveway. As I rounded the house, I saw a blonde figure sitting on my front porch swing. I sighed and pulled around the back of the house. I unlocked that back door and let myself in. I headed for the front door, turning on a few lights as I went and opened the front door.
"You can come in, Pam," I said, inviting the vampire in. I couldn't remember if she still needed my invitation or not, but it was polite to invite her in regardless. She glided in the door, wearing her normal selection of pastel coloured pantsuits. It must be her night off from Fangtasia.
"Sookie, I've missed you," she said, giving me a small hug before sitting down on the couch in the living room.
"A bottle of True Blood?" I offered. She nodded and I headed back to the kitchen for the bottle, popping it in the microwave for a few seconds and shaking it as I headed back to hand it to her. After she accepted it, I sat across from her in my Gran's old chair. I waited for her to start.
"He's been miserable since that night," she told me point blank. I knew why she was here before she even started. It didn't take a genius to figure that one out.
"I know, I've felt it. But he needs to figure out why he's been so cold since Appius Livius died again. I couldn't handle the emotional rollercoaster he was on from that. It seems my leaving didn't help, judging by how I've felt because of him, but I can't go back just to suit him. These past three weeks have been hell for me too, but he still needs to figure things out," I explained. Every word seemed to cut through my heart, but I spoke the truth. Pam just nodded. I assumed Eric sent her here, in hopes that just telling me how upset he was would have me running back to him. She had no answers for what I was telling her. I hung my head, trying my best not to cry.
"I still love him, and I miss him terribly, but I'm sticking to my word. Until he's worked out his problems, I'm not coming back." I felt tears rush down my cheeks and I reached up to brush them away.
"Well, he won't like what you had to say, but I'm sure there isn't much he can do about it," she said, and then got up and left, just like that. Vampires! I grabbed her bottle and rinsed it out in the sink. I checked the locks on all of the doors and windows before changing into my favourite sleeping T-shirt and climbing into bed. I fell asleep almost right away, exhausted from working in the yard all day, then working at Merlotte's in the evening. I knew Eric was furious with what Pam told him, because I had a terrible sleep. I had nightmares throughout the night and once or twice I woke up and thought I could see someone sitting in the chair in the corner of my room.