'John?!' exclaimed Elena. 'Is that even possible?'
'There is no proof, but he dated Isobel when she was a teenager,' I pointed out, 'and he was the one who brought her to your dad's office for the delivery.'
'My whole life, I've never liked this man. I...'
'Sorry, I'm sorry. I just...I wanted to tell you before Damon dropped it on you in some typically inappropriate way.'
'No, I'm happy you told me; I just...I hope that it's not true. What am I supposed to do? Do I...confront him and say, "Are you my biological father?"
'I guess when you're ready.'
'I'm never going to be ready. Stefan, I have enough problems with the family that I care about. Jeremy hates me, and why wouldn't he? My journal gave him every single reason to.'
'He's just hurt, he's confused.'
'He will never forgive me for Vicki, for taking away his memories, for lying to him.'
'He's your brother; he'll forgive you. Just give him some time.' She turned away from me. 'Did you get a chance to talk to Bella?'
'No, I haven't seen her since she fainted.' she turned to me. 'Caroline said she and her grandmother have been helping with Matt.'
'That's good; at least we know she's safe.'
'She might be working with Isobel.'
'I doubt it.'
She scowled at my remark. 'Why do you doubt it?'
'Why do you suspect it?'
'All this crap happens when she shows up!'
'Like her parents dying?'
Elena turned away again, arms folded. 'It's a little too coincidental.'
'Perhaps you were fated to be in each other's lives.'
'I don't want her in my life.'
That strung for some reason.
Isobel did give me her number, and I promised to contact her as soon as I could.
And I planned to text her immediately, but Caroline texted me that Matt had broken his arm. I called Gran, and she picked me up from the grill, and we went to Matt's.
I insisted that I help Caroline care for him, and Gran promised to do the same.
Caroline sat with him while Gran cooked, and I cleaned. It was hard going in Vicky's room.
I just stood at the door, staring at her things; a wave of guilt washed over me.
I was partly to blame for this.
If I'd gone to the sheriff from the start, Vicky might still be here.
'Bella.'
I walked out to the living room; Caroline was trying to get Matt to eat while Gran was trying to get her to calm down.
'Bella, what's wrong?' asked Gran.
'Did someone call me?'
'No, no one has called you.'
'I could have sworn I heard someone call my name.'
'Maybe you're tired.' Caroline suggested.
'Maybe I am, to be honest, it sounded like... '
I'm going crazy.
'Who did it sound like?' Matt asked, eager to draw Caroline's attention to something else.
'Vicky.'
'Maybe you are tired,' he stared in the direction of the room, 'maybe I am too.'
'How did you manage to break your arm?'
'The float we were building for the Founder's Day parade, and the damn thing fell on my arm.'
'Are you going to the Founder's Day parade?' Caroline asked immediately.
'Sure.' I smiled.
Caroline looked so pretty in her Founders Day dress, and so did Elena.
I kept hidden from her; I didn't want her and her goons to jump before deciding what to say.
Or, more accurately, figure out why she wants to talk to me.
What did she want with me?
I never really got to talk to Jeremy; we both have been busy. Well, Gran has been keeping me close.
I have been texting Isobel for days.
She prefers Izzy over Isobel.
Beau wasn't homosexual but bisexual.
They did have a sexual relationship; she was his first.
Gran and mom didn't like Izzy from the start, but Gramps did until she and Beau started to have, you know.
I was more curious about her child; she mentioned that she would meet her, maybe it went well.
So, how did things go with your daughter? I texted.
Not well. Was her response.
What happened?
She doesn't like me, but that's expected. I want to know about you.
Me? You're the exciting one.
Because I'm a vampire?
Yes, but because of Beau.
He was a wonderful boy.
Did you tell him about vampires?
No.
So John Gilbert did.
What do you know about John Gilbert?
Not much. His niece and nephew live four houses down from me.
What are they like?
The boy is my friend.
And the girl? What do you think about her?
She's a person.
You don't like her?
Not particularly.
After an hour, she responds with, Oh.
Have you met John's niece?
Yes.
Did you like her?
She's fine.
What is she like?
John's niece?
Your daughter.
What do you want to know?
How old is she?
17. I want to talk about you. What is your life like?
Great, except the people I care about keep dying.
I heard.
How?
Compulsion. I've been keeping an eye on you for a while.
Before or after I arrived in town?
When you got here, I was very transfixed by you.
Why were you keeping an eye on me?
Beau. And the fact that you're hanging around the Salvatore brothers. They are vampires.
I know.
You should be more cautious; your redolence makes you very appetizing to vampires.
Are there more vampires in town?
Yes.
Who?
The Salvatore brothers, that girl I saw you with, the witch opened the tomb, so there could be some you that sit next to in class.
What tomb?
Damon Salvatore was trying to free Katherine Pierce. Katherine was never there—the romantic fool.
How do you know Katherine?
When I turned, she found me.
Why?
Genetic curiosity, I suppose.
Genetic curious? Wait, you and this Katherine are related?! Are you part vampire?
No, Katherine gave birth before she turned.
Does your daughter know?
Yes.
Is that why the meeting went horribly?
Yes and no.
Care to share?
I want to meet you.
When?
I'll find you.