Makeda blinked as the thought popped into her mind.

How inconvenient.

“He has a hard time connecting with people,” Natalie said. “Not many people understand how his mind works. I’m sure that’s very isolating.”

“His notes certainly indicate that he’s quite brilliant. Now that I’ve managed to interpret them.”

Natalie bit her lip to hold in a laugh. “He can also be a bit of a shit when he doesn’t get his way.”

“Early observations also point to that conclusion.”

“I have faith.” Natalie pursed her lips. “I think you two will find some common ground.”

She wanted to move on to the next subject because her brain was supplying all sorts of inappropriate common ground she might find with the irritating Dr. Thrax. “How about you?” she asked Natalie. “Are you working at the newspaper right now?”

Natalie shook her head and looked over at Jack and Sarah. Jack had finished the puzzle with lightning speed and was wandering back down the hall. “I’m going to have many, many years to write. I get these little people for a blink. I’m going to enjoy every minute.”

“So you’ll turn?”

Natalie nodded silently.

“When they’re young?”

“Probably.” Natalie looked up from a box of cookbooks. “He worries. He never says anything, but it’s constant. And I do too. We live in a dangerous world, and I’m vulnerable. Right now he has to protect all three of us. He says he wants me to wait, but I can’t help thinking that if I were less vulnerable, I could be the one protecting too. And it wouldn’t all be on him.”

As hard as it was for Makeda to imagine wanting to be a vampire, Natalie’s reasoning made sense. The heart of a mother was a fierce thing. Would she give up her life if it meant protecting one of her nieces or nephews from harm? Absolutely. Family was everything to her.

“You’d be separated from them at first, wouldn’t you?”

Natalie nodded. “For a year at least. Which is why it won’t happen right away. Sarah’s too little. But once they’re older… We have friends. Good friends. We’ve been talking to them about how to make things work. Baojia has a few favors he needs to call in, but he has favors he can offer too.”

She smiled. “Politics. Again.”

Natalie nodded. “It’s inevitable. Believe it or not, Baojia is much more like you. He hates politics.”

“But it’s a reality.”

“Yep. And he does what he needs to do to protect the people he loves.” Natalie glanced over at baby Sarah. “I can’t imagine a better or more attentive father.”

Makeda and Natalie both realized at the same time that Jack was being suspiciously quiet. The women stopped and angled an ear to the back of the house.

Springs.

“He’s jumping on your bed,” Natalie whispered. “Do you care?”

“Nope. But we’re not going to tell him he has permission because that would spoil the fun.”

“You are an experienced auntie.”

Makeda smiled. “I am the best.”

A cheerful tap at the door made both women turn their heads.

“Expecting anyone?” Natalie asked.

Makeda poked her head around the corner and caught the edge of gold-tipped brown hair through the glass of her front door.

“It’s Philip,” she whispered. “My neighbor. He’s very… friendly.”

Natalie wiggled her eyebrows. “Oh, is he?”

“I better get the door or he won’t leave.”

Natalie’s amused expression turned suspicious. “Wait, is this guy hassling you?” Leaving the boxes on the kitchen table, Natalie followed on Makeda’s heels. “Because that’s not okay. This is a friendly town, but that’s not an excuse for harassment.”

“No, I don’t want to give you the wrong impression. He’s not harassing me,” Makeda said. “He’s just a friendly, and I’m antisocial. He lives in Mrs. Gunnerson’s guest house, and he helped me move some stuff into the garage last week. He’s been stopping by ever since. He probably saw the garage door open and boxes out.” Makeda opened the door and forced a smile. “Hi, Philip.”

“Mak!”

You are not familiar enough to use a nickname with me.

Shiny white teeth in a tanned face reminded Makeda of a beer commercial. Philip, the quintessential California surfer dude kicking back on the beach with his friends. Probably a volleyball would be involved.

He pointed toward her garage with his thumb. “I saw the boxes out. Need any help? I’m trying to avoid work right now.”

Natalie poked her head around and stuck her hand out. “Hey, I’m Natalie.”

Philip shook her hand, his eyes squinting in the afternoon light. “Hey, Natalie, nice to meet… I’ve seen you at the market, haven’t I?”

“Could be. So, you’re trying to avoid work, huh?” Natalie stepped beside Makeda and crossed her arms. “What do you do?”

Philip looked pleased at the cross-examination. “Software development. I work for a company in Palo Alto, but since all my stuff is remote, I live up here.”

Makeda said, “Philip likes his surfboard.”

“I do.” Another bleached-white smile. “And the north coast may be cold, but the waves are wicked.”