chapter 29

Thomas arrives at the house to see Reese. He is nervous about Roman. He knows he will be on edge after everything that has happened to his sister. He knocks on the door and waits. Kat opens the door.
“Up the stairs and to the left. I have Roman occupied. Make sure she feeds,” Kat says.
Thomas smiles and nods at her. “You got it,” Thomas says.
Thomas runs up the stairs and walks down the hall and to the left. He knocks on the door. Reese opens the door. “I know I look terrible, so I apologize,” Reese says.
“Actually I was going to say you look very beautiful, Reese,” Thomas says.
“Well, Kat has been shoving blood bags down my throat every hour,” Reese says.
“Someone needs to be making sure you feed,” Thomas says.
“Is that your job for the night?” Reese asks.
“It can be,” Thomas says.
“I see. So you are my babysitter,” Reese says.
“I can be,” Thomas says.
Thomas enters the room and Reese shuts the door. “Can I ask you something, Reese? You don’t have to answer,” Thomas asks.
Reese nods, “Sure.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about him watching us?” Thomas asks.
“I don’t know. I guess I was trying to put it all behind me,” Reese says.
“They got you set up in a nice room,” Thomas says.
“Yeah. I think they are planning to keep me here. They pretty much packed up my apartment,” Reese says.
“Probably for the best,” Thomas says.
“We never got to finish our conversation,” Reese says.
“Now we didn’t, “Thomas says.
“Want to go for a walk,” Reese says.
“Sure, but first you need to feed,” Thomas says.
“Ugh. Y’all are killing me,” Reese says.
“We just want you to get better,” Thomas says.
“Okay, let’s go to the kitchen,” Reese says.
Thomas reaches for her hand. They walk hand in hand out of her room and down the stairs. They walk into the kitchen. Reese sits down at the bar while Roman gets her a bag out of the freezer. He pops it in the microwave to heat it up. He searches the cabinets for a glass and a straw for her. He takes the bag out of the microwave and pours it into a glass. He puts a straw in it and hands it to Reese.
“Drink that and we will go for a walk,” Thomas says.
Reese complies. She drinks every drop. “Happy,” she says.
“Good girl,” Thomas says.
“Now can we go for a walk? I need to move around. All I have been doing is sleeping,” Reese says.
“Let’s go,” Thomas says.
Thomas puts Reese’s glass in the sink. He reaches for her hand and the two walk out of the kitchen. “Where are you two going?” Roman asks.
“For a walk,” Thomas says.
“Be careful,” Roman says.
“I will take care of her,” Thomas says.
The two walk through the living room out the French doors into the back yard. “Wow, this is really nice,” Thomas says.
“It really is,” Reese says.
“There’s a pond. Want to walk down there?” Thomas asks.
“Sure,” Reese says.
The two walk slowly to the pond. Roman had a gazebo built for Kat. The pond is full of fish. Ducks are waddling around. Reese walks slowly admiring everything Roman has done for Kat.
“She really deserves all of this,” Reese says.
Thomas stops. He lifts Reese's face up by her chin so she is looking into his eyes. “So do you. You deserve so much more,” Thomas says.
Reese pulls away from him. “Thomas I have a really bad habit of picking the worst men,” Reese says.
Thomas reaches for her. “Don’t pull away from me, please. Just let me finish. I don’t know you as well as I would like. But I know you deserve more than what has been dealt to you,” Thomas says.
“Thomas you don’t even know me,” Reese says.
“Reese, I know you are special,” Thomas says.
Thomas leans in and kisses her. “I came here to get to know you. I came here to be your friend. I know you need someone to talk to. I came here to be with you,” Thomas says.
“Why?” Reese asks.
“I don’t know,” Thomas answers.
The two keep walking toward the pond. “The job offer is still open to you when you feel better,” Thomas says.
“I think it will be a while before I go back to work,” Reese says.
“Take your time. There is a place for you and Kat both,” Thomas says.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” Reese asks.
“Stop acting like you don’t deserve some kindness Reese,” Thomas says.
Thomas stops walking. He reaches for Reese and pulls her into him. He kisses her soft lips. “You deserve someone to be kind and sweet to you,” Thomas says.
“You think you can do that?” Reese asks.
“If you will let me?” Thomas says.
Reese falls into Thomas. “I’m getting really tired,” Reese says.
“Reese you’ve got to feed more regularly after you heal. A vampire should not take this long to heal,” Thomas says.
“I know,” Reese says.
Thomas leans down and picks her up. He carries her in his arms back to the house. He walks through the French doors with her in his arms. She has already fallen back into a deep sleep.
“She okay,” Roman asks as Thomas enters the house with her.
“Yeah. I think the walk was too much. She needs to feed again,” Thomas says.
“I got it,” Kat says.
Thomas carries her up the stairs to her room. Kat comes up quickly behind them with another bag. “This isn’t normal,” Kat says.
“Roman, do you think maybe she needs to be seen by one of our doctors?” Thomas suggests.
“Maybe. If she isn’t better in the morning. I will make the call,” Roman says.
“Do you care if I stay with her? I will sleep on the floor,” Thomas says.
“It’s fine. She probably would prefer you to me peering at her all night,” Roman says.
Roman and Kat leave the room. Thomas wakes Reese and gives her the new blood bag. “You got to drink this,” he says.
Reese drinks every drop. “I am going to stay here with you,” Thomas says.
“Lay beside me,” Reese says.
Thomas crawls in the bed with Reese. He lies on top of the covers and puts his arms around her. “If you need anything wake me,” Thomas says.