“So what’s it gonna be, George?” Marty asked, tucking her hair behind her ears. “Do you want to stay with us for a few days while you get your feet wet or would you prefer we come to you? We’re a full-service paranormal crisis group. We can pick up and stuff ourselves into your little house without qualm.”
“Welp,” Nina said with a slap of her hands to her thighs. “Seeing as she’s not in any danger, and you don’t need my muscle, I guess you fruitcakes don’t need me. That means I’m out. I have a binge watch waiting for me on Netflix and a hot husband to boot. So, see you flakes around. Good fucking luck.”
She rose from the couch, sticking out her hand for George to shake, but Wanda grabbed her by the arm of her dark hoodie. “Sit your svelte vampire behind back on that couch, Mistress of the Night! As much as I hate to admit it, if anyone could teach George a thing or two about sticking up for herself, it’s you, Flappy Lips. You will not abandon ship. We don’t ever abandon ship. No matter how big or small the job.” Wanda shook a finger at the space beside George. “Sit. Now.”
With a groan, Nina flopped back down on the couch. “All she has to do is learn to use her middle GD finger. Why do you fucking need me for that? Is yours broken?”
Immediately, George felt the need to apologize for her imposition. This really wasn’t necessary. She was a big girl, and she’d been all alone in the world for a long time. She didn’t need a babysitter, despite what the person in charge upstairs said.
Also, this lady was very angry. Scary angry. As angry as she was beautiful. She didn’t want to shit wrong for a year because she’d made this strange but fascinating vampire lady mad.
Tucking her hair behind her ears, she looked at Nina with a wince. “I’m sorry, Vampire Lady. I don’t mean to inconvenience you. You can go home if you’d like. I’ll be fine.”
Nina scrunched up her face, which, even contorted, was still stunning. “Now that right the fuck there is your problem, Angel Wings. Don’t apologize and call yourself a fucking inconvenience. Get a spine.”
“Nina’s right. Don’t apologize. This is what we do, George, and Nina’s in like it or not. That’s how we’ve always done this. All of us. Together. Always. Period,” Marty said with a determined expression.
“But Gladys,” George offered as a weak protest. She couldn’t just up and move into this beautiful house without Gladys.
Marty flapped a hand at her. “We love all beasts great and small. I mean, look at the size of Nina. Five foot ten if she’s an inch, all of maybe a hundred and forty pounds of snarly, growling meaniebutt, and we still love her,” she teased with a giggle.
“Fuck you, Marty. Shows what you know. I weigh a hundred and fucking fifty pounds,” Nina shouted, hurling a pillow that Marty caught with the keen dexterity of a quarterback.
Wanda rose from the couch and stretched. “The point is, Gladys is welcome here. We adore animals, all of them, and we’ve had plenty, including a chipmunk named Baloney. So, you in, George?” she asked, holding out a fist for her to bump with an encouraging smile.
With great hesitance and holding her breath, George held up her fist and lightly bumped Wanda’s. “In.”
For better or for worse.
Even if she still wasn’t sure she believed she was an angel.
Pushing the key into the lock of the door to her small house, her haven, George inhaled the scent of her home as Gladys came lumbering out from her usual afternoon nap on the bed, giving a husky harrumph of glee, her golden fanned tail wagging.
Her house was still decorated for Christmas, too. No one ever really saw it except for her and Gladys, but that was okay. It was her favorite time of year and she loved decorating every inch of her small home.
She’d bought this house all on her own and she was proud of it. Not a single handout had been given.
Gladys launched herself at George, making her forget about her beloved house. She quickly stooped to wrap her arms around her old dog’s neck and give her a hug, rubbing her velvety-soft caramel-colored ears.
“You wanna take a little trip, Gladys?” she whispered, fighting a sudden rush of tears when her dog cocked her crooked ear at the question.
Gladys licked her face, clearly happy to have her mother home, when she suddenly realized strangers had entered her domain.
Immediately, she began that low hum of a growl, warning the women and Dex they were in her house. It was almost hilarious, considering how old and enormous Gladys was. She’d never hurt a soul, but she sure liked making you think she was a fierce attack dog. However, her half ear, torn and crooked when the tip fell toward her head, said she was just a big goof who wanted nothing more than to love and be loved.
According to the vet, his theory was someone had attempted to crop her ears and done such a poor job of it, they gave up. As a result, Gladys had one long ear and one mangled ear. At nine, she was beginning to show signs of her age in the way her golden and black mask had begun to whiten and her gait had slowed.
Yet, she was nothing if not protective of George.
But Nina was the first to respond
