It Had To Be You

Chapter 11

Copyright © 2023 Cassey9

Third Person P.O.V

She pulled the cloth from it's hanger and instantly noticed a few free ones next to it. This was a startling surprise. With her aunt's love for clothes and shopping it was hard find free space in her closet yet here she was, staring at the empty suspended hangers. Lea took a step back and examined the walk-in closet more closely. The room looked amiss, multiple clothes, shoes and bags were missing from their usual set place in the room. Something was definitely wrong, Aunt Jillian didn't pack that much for work trips. Lea opened the door to the space that held suitcases within closet and was surprised by her finding, two of largest cases were gone. Panic surged through Lea as her mind failed to come up with any reasonable explanation.

Lea quickly put on the sweater and was engulfed by the familiar scent that was her aunt's. She pulled the sleeves to her nose and deeply breathed in the sweet fragrance. Wearing her aunt's clothes had started out as a game when she was little. Lea would try on the vampire's outfits and walk around the house mirroring the vampire's words and actions.

As Lea grew older though, the habit became hard to break as her desires and actions became more personal. With Aunt Jillian constantly away from her, wearing her clothes gave Lea a sense of comfort. Their beautiful scent calmed her worries down and assured Lea of the vampire's presence even if she wasn't around.

She bounded into the kitchen and was met by her mother and Aunt Amelia talking. Lea halted in her steps when her mother pinned her on the spot with a strong reprimanding gaze. The questions Lea had, disappeared, as she knew what was to come.

"Lea?" Hazel called her daughter. She set her coffee mug down and walked towards Lea. "You went into her room? Again? What did I tell you about wearing your aunt's clothes and without her permission, sweetie? Go take it off!"

"Ma," Lea whined and stomped her feet in defiance. "Aunt Jillian doesn't mind."

Hazel knew her daughter was right. Jillian spoiled Lea too much. Whenever she and Lenora took a stand and delivered a firm no to their daughter's whims, Lea always turned to her aunt. Jillian was her yes 'woman'. "I know that Lea. Still, that doesn't make it right, sweetie," Hazel said cupping her daughter's face. "Now please, go take it off."

"No, Ma."

"Lea, go take that sweater off!"

Her mother's words were met by firm protesting nods as Lea wrapped her arms defensively around her torso. "No Ma. I've already worn it and I like it with my outfit," Lea defended weakly. The ivory, multi striped pullover sweater paired well with her jeans. Noticing her mother's uninterested gaze at the explanation, Lea appealed to her mother's emotions next. "I... I miss her Ma. This," Lea says gently pulling at the sweater, "Makes me feel a little closer to her."

"Well, if you'd woken up a little earlier you could have seen her," Amelia said from where she stood by the kitchen's island, "Why don't you go visit her at the office Lea."

"She came home?" Lea asked in disbelief and watched both her mother and aunt nod in agreement.

"Yes. She gets in late and leaves before the sun is even up," Amelia commented to her niece. "Just go to the office and see her there. Jillian has become a workaholic. Works more than the rest of us combined."

"You're right about that," Lea muttered under her breath. Work had completely eclipsed her aunt's life. Keeping her favorite vampire away from her.

"You can go visit your aunt," Hazel encouraged her daughter. "Don't bother her though, Lea. I know how you get with her, sweetie. Just drop by for a quick hello. Your mother told me that Jillian is starting on something new..."

"I do not bother. I'm sweet Ma. Aunt Amelia, right?"

"Your mother has a point," the vampire quickly uttered supporting Hazel's deduction and dashed out of the kitchen before Lea could make her change her statement.

Life in the Allegra manor had greatly changed with Hazel, Lea and Liam adding to the family. Her adjusting had taken time but Amelia cherished the three more and more everyday. They had taught her there was more to human than the violent things she'd undergone under their hands. Lenora had been right, Hazel, Lea and Liam were family.

~~~~~~~

Lenora ran her hand through her son's hair. He was asleep, his body healing from his intestinal infection. The call from the school and from her wife had been a big scare. Lenora had left an ongoing meeting halfway through and under her Jillian's hands and rushed to Liam's school.

According to the principal, her son had been complaining of a stomach ache. Liam had vomited, twice, and had a fever. The vampire had been distraught at the sight of her sick son. Liam had run tearfully into her arms. Lenora's first instincts had been to bite into her wrist and give Liam her blood to make the sickness immediately go away but she hadn't. In such a public setting, her actions would have raised more questions and suspicions.

Her mate, had been overwrought with worry at the news, constantly calling and asking her for updates. Hazel had been held up back at the clinic. With Dr. Regan attending a conference, her wife had been left to handle some of their patients solo. Knowing it would be hard to cancel everything for the day, Lenora had convinced Hazel that everything was fine with their son after covertly ingesting a little of her blood. He was getting better after all. All Liam wanted at the end of the day,p was his chocolate chip ice cream, and Hazel had promised to bring him some over the call.

Now asleep, and getting better, Lenora stayed and watched her son sleep. She'd made his favorite milkshake and secretly mixed it with her blood. A quick stop at the hospital though, had revealed that Liam was suffering from a stomach flu. Her blood would make him better in no time.

"I'll always be here," Lenora whispered the vow and lovingly kissed her son's temple. "I'll always be here for you, my son."

Liam stirred a little and pushed snugly into his mother's embrace. He'd refused to be left alone wanting his mother to lay with him. Lenora was none the happier to agree. With Liam growing up, he'd wanted to sleep in his room like the amazing, grown up boy he was. The vampire though, secretly longed for the days their children used to grace their bed. Lenora most especially missed the moments she awoke with either Liam's hand or feet inches away from her mouth and nose. Now in the master's bedroom, Lenora held her son close, humming gently to Liams's favorite lullaby tune as she further lulled him to sleep.

~~~~~

The late afternoons were less hectic in the office and Lea had banked on this knowledge and stopped by after her 4 pm class to see her aunt. She watched the numbers ascend until the elevator halted at her aunt's floor. Aunt Jillian shared the floor with a few member of her division but her office and a conference room took up most of the space. Lea straightened up her appearance with the help of the mirror in the elevator just as the door slowly slid open. With nods and polite hellos from the people around, Lea walked towards Terry's desk.

"Hi Terry," Lea greeted the woman concentrating on the the slick iMac desktop. "I brought your favorite donuts."

Terry's head peaked up at the words. Her mouth watered at the box extended to her by the young Allegra girl. The sweet temptation lay only a few inches away. Terry took the box and opened the top. Inside, lay four sour cream donuts. Her greatest and only Achilles heels. "You spoil me," Terry said taking a napkin and picking a piece from the box.

"You deserve it," Lea said sweetly. "Is my aunt in, Terry?"

"No, I'm sorry. She left Lea," Terry answered apologetically after swallowing the bite she'd taken.

"For a meeting? Is she coming back soon?"

"I don't think so. She had me cancelling the rest of her day's appointment."

"Oh," Lea said in a crestfallen tone. Of recent, finding and talking to her aunt was turning into an affair of searching for a needle in a haystack.

"She left with a gentleman though..."

"What?"

Terry leaned forward grabbing Lea's full attention. "He brought her flowers and they soon left together. Maybe for a date? I think?" She said finalizing her words with a not so subtle wink.

The revelation was like a sledgehammer to the abdomen. The urge to vomit hit Lea fast and with a surprising intensity. "What?" Lea breathed out the word again.

"I hope all goes well for her. Come to think of it, I've never seen your aunt go out with anyone, Lea. And I mean anyone. Ever since I started working for her, this has to be the first time I've seen her with a suitor."

The more her aunt's assistant talked, the sicker she felt. Lea leaned against Terry's desk, not trusting her legs to keep her standing any longer. "Where did they go?"

"I don't know," Terry shrugged and took another donut from the box. "But, I'm sure where they will be later in the day."

"Oh, really? Where, Terry?"

Terry's smile increased, her eyes darting around mischievously before finally settling on Lea's. "In her apartment of course, Lea," Terry revealed in a low but excited voice. "Your aunt had me finalize her purchase of an apartment three weeks ago. I guess thinks are getting pretty serious with this guy. Well, I hope and pray they are."

"Apartment?" Her ears had to be playing tricks on her. She had to be hearing Terry wrong. Aunt Jillian had bought an apartment? Why? The manor was more than big enough for their entire family.

"Yes. It's more like a penthouse. Boasts of a 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and it has a.."

"Where?" Lea asked cutting Terry short. She wasn't interested in learning of the places' amenities. She would see it for herself when she eventually got there.

"Along Elm street, it's in the Weinstein Building, it's apartment number 3107. Didn't you know?" Terry asked finally noticing Lea's ghastly face.

"I... um, I did," Lea lied as she bitterly swallowed the revelation she'd just discovered. "I'm more surprised about the date and... about the guy."

"Me too sweetie, me too," Terry chuckled amused. "I hope it's something serious. Your aunt works herself too much. She does some happiness, some romance in her life."

"She really does," Lea agreed reluctantly. "I'm going... I have to go. Thank you, Terry."

"No," said Terry as she held up the box that now had a single donut present. "Thank you for this Lea. You really made my afternoon."

"I'm glad one of us is at least having a better day," Lea muttered brokenly and turned before Terry could notice her now glossy eyes. Lea rubbed at them, not wanting to cry in front all these people. Undoubtedly her parents would hear of it. Lea didn't want to worry them with Liam sick at home.

Apartment?

Boyfriend?

Since when?

Why would Aunt Jillian keep all this a secret? With the address firmly imprinted in her mind, Lea quickened her pace. Now more than ever she wished she was like her mother, a vampire, maybe then, she'd use her supernatural speed and be at the address in a blink of an eye.

The drive through to Elm's street from the office had been a short one due to its close proximity to the company's building but still, Lea felt it to be like an eternity. The elevator too, in the building felt like it was moving up at a snail's pace. Lea's fisted hands and trembling body failed to hide the anger coursing through her.

"Finally?" Lea said and stomped out of the lavish elevator box. The empty hallway screamed opulence but she wasn't there to admire the building. Lea strode to the right door number and ignoring the doorbell at the side, banged on it instead. Her hand hurt from the furious pounding but she was too angry to care.

Lea's insistent knocking grew and at the thought of including her feet into the mix, the door finally flew open revealing what she feared most.

"What in the hell?" A man annoyed voice sounded.

Lea stared at the man as Terry's earlier description of her aunt's 'friend' played out before her eyes. Brown hair, brown eyes, a lightly stubbled chin and his attire. "Who are you?" Lea demanded calmly despite seething inwardly. "Where is my aunt?"

His forehead puckered as he stared at her, "Aunt?"

"Where is she? I want to talk to her!"

"Miss, calm down. You're shaking," the man said to her. "Are you okay?"

"Where is my Aunt Jillian!"

"She's inside. Come in."

Lea pushed past the man and walked in. His untucked shirt, the open buttons at the top revealing his hairy chest worsened the scenarios playing out in her mind. She had many questions and only wanted to see one person. Her aunt.

Lea finally saw the vampire, standing still in the middle of the living room staring her way. Her face was stoic, revealing nothing, "Aunt Jillian?" Lea whispered.

"Lea..."