Vampire's whore…

Heard she sold her body to pay off her debt…

Josie will flip her lid when she hears Crazy Sookie's here…

I'd waited five minutes into the sermon before sneaking into the back of the church. The air, stifling and thick, seemed to close in around me from all sides. I waved the folded pages of photocopied hymns at my neck, but it did nothing to ease the rising flush of indignation. How foolish was I to believe I could escape the notice of Bon Temp's townsfolk by sneaking into church late? They were like vultures.

This morning's sermon focused on Matthew 22:39. Love thy neighbor. Oh… heck. Of course this would be the sermon on today of all days. I tried to conjure some charitable thoughts about my neighbors around me. Tried to think about all the good they contributed to the world and this town. No easy feat when you had what felt like the entire congregation's judgmental musings pressing in from all sides.

For the majority of the people here, and they may not admit it, church was a means to a social end. Half weren't even paying attention to the sermon. Jason was surreptitiously playing Candy Crush on his phone between his legs. And no, Jim Bob Hudson, don't think I can't feel your eyes and thoughts directed my way. I most certainly do not do that in bed with vampires or otherwise! Jesus Christ, shepherd of Judea. How long before the appeal of thinking nasty things about me—salacious or otherwise—would pass? Honestly. Wasn't there better gossip to think about in this town?

The church committee hosted a pot luck after the sermon concluded. I lingered chatting to folks and filled my plate to the brim. I tried to soak up the sunshine; soak up the familiar aroma of good southern cooking on my plate; soak up the sense of goodwill that seemed to flow (mostly) freely during these events.

Maxine Fortenberry cornered me at one point. Everyone already knew about my move… Knew about the transfer of the farmhouse to Jason. Most turned their noses up at the thought of me ditching the small town life for the big smoke. And I'd studiously avoided Sam and Josie the whole morning.

But for once, Maxine seemed pleased for me.

"Adele would be so proud," she said and wrapped me in a tight one-armed hug. "She always wanted something more for you." I blinked until the sting in my eyes faded. "And stay away from those vampers…" she said, finger wag and all.

Michele pulled me aside as I was helping myself to some key lime pie.

"Watch out for Jason," she hissed. "He's in a foul mood. I don't know what's up."

I looked up to see Jason on the otherside of the church function room, arms crossed tightly over his chest and glaring at me. He jerked his head sharply to the right. I gathered he wanted to see me outside, post-haste.

I reluctantly left my plate and met him out in the parking lot.

"Here I thought I was doing something kind and charitable for my little sis. Turns out you were pullin' the wool over my eyes!"

"What on Earth do you mean?" I said.

"Just tell me the truth," he said, his face twisted with anger. "Are you still trying to get a payout for the bar from the vamps?"

"Yes. Of course I am." My hopes were low, but I'd left it for Eric to deal with. He clearly had something in play to get me restitution from Felipe. In the mean time, I would pay the debt back myself, if I had to (which I very much did), but you couldn't blame a girl for hoping the bad guy will eventually be made to pay.

My answer however incensed my brother. "Your little inheritance from the 'other' side of the family wasn't enough? You gotta get this too? Palm the old, falling down farmhouse off to your generous and giving brother, leave me with all its problems, while you get to gallivant around the city with a big pay check and an even bigger pay out!"

"What on Earth are you talking about? Who have you been talking to?"

He scowled and crossed his arms. An image sprang to mind. Sam Merlotte. "Stay out my mind, Sookie!" he said when he saw that I knew and had plucked the answer from his thoughts.

"Did you not listen to a second of that sermon?" I said. I knew was raising my voice in a church parking lot and I knew curious ears were listening everywhere, but I didn't give a damn. "Jason Stackhouse, if you really think so poorly of me then I have to wonder if you have ever paid attention to all the mess and trouble you've pulled me into over the years and just how many times I've had to bail you out—literally and figuratively!" I shook my head angrily. "I guess I just assumed you would have the sense enough to realize that I would, of course, pay you back for the sale of the house. Given that we're family and that's what family do." I parroted his words from the other day back to him. It wasn't a question that I owed Jason big time. His home was worth substantially more than my farmhouse and he gave me all the proceeds from the sale. On top of that, he was planning on making repairs to our old home. Another cost to him. As soon as I had the means, I would repay him in kind. Evidently, I'd been a fool not making that crystal clear to him.

"Oh, it's real convenient of you to announce that now, especially after I call you out in front of all of Bon Temps!"

"And how convenient for you—because now don't have to deal with your baby sister at all," I shouted back.

I swung around and marched back into the church. I scooped up Corbett, covering his darling face with kisses and said a quick goodbye to Michele. She was angry at Jason's behaviour. But what stung most, was her thought that maybe what he said had carried a ring of truth to it.

I slipped from the church and hopped into my rental uHaul. I white-knuckled my way out of Bon Temps' main street and out toward the highway. I pulled off Hummingbird Road to take one last look up the driveway toward my home. I murmured a private goodbye, tears and all, and then drove straight on out of Bon Temps.

I'd like to say without a backward glance… but I'd be lying if I did.

The sky was darkening as I pulled up outside Amelia's ivory white double-gallery home. I swallowed back my searing tension headache that had developed during the five hour drive and hadn't eased with the two roadside coffees I'd grabbed from rest stops on the way. I grabbed my overnight bag plus the box of essentials stowed on the passenger seat, and let myself in the front door with the key she'd given me. The rest of my things were safely locked and stored in the back of the truck and could wait until morning.

I followed my nose, which led me to the scent of incredible cooking in the kitchen.

"You're back!" Amelia swept me into a hug. She had flour all down the front of her apron and on her cheek too.

"Ass! Assooo!" cried Felix from his highchair.

"What's all this?" I asked. The table was set for dinner, the glasses of wine waiting to be poured, and a multitude of pots simmered on the stove.

"We've been waiting for you, that's what," she said. "You can't have a Sunday family dinner without all the family, now can you?"

I dusted the flour off my sun dress as she poured me a glass of wine. A slightly sweet rosé, a sweet and cheap wine she used to buy when she lived with me in Bon Temps. We toasted glasses, though mine was considerably less enthusiastic than hers. Long day.

She seemed to notice this, her bright smile softening with symptathy.

"Now, I just need a few more minutes to finish the chicken and then we're good to go," she said. "So park your derrière down here, I bet you're exhausted."

I did indeed park my derrière on the bar stool at the kitchen island and let out a long sigh.

Felix reached over to me from his high chair with his soggy bread crust in one hand. "Asssoo?" he asked me.

"No thanks," I said to his thoughtful offer. "I think I'll wait for whatever your mommy's making me." He grinned crookedly at me, bread caught between his teeth. I smiled, and then he smiled some more. Laughter bubbled up within me. Sweet and freeing.

I'd been so caught up with how awful it was to leave home, I hadn't realized that maybe I'd found a new one already.

The End

(for now...)