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I brushed off my knees from getting down in the broken glass to look under the car. Then I walked to the front door.

“Ami? Could you and Aran take your aunt to the front parlor while me and Sara get some drinks?”

Pulling open the front door, I shifted to the side to hold the door for the ladies, and saw a look of confusion on the middle child’s face. “It’s the one with the Ikea furniture with the dark blue upholstery.”

Then I had to clarify that a bit more for the tween. “The stuff that looks like it’s made out of old packing crates with the blue cushions.”

She perked up and nodded. “Oh, you mean the living room. Come on Auntie, I can show you the pool on the way there, it’s got plants growing all around it, and rainbow fish!”

I tried to correct her. “They’re betta fish.” But she was already off, dragging her aunt behind her with Aran trailing along slowly behind them.

Looking off down the hall they had gone down, and pointedly not as my eldest grandaughter, for once not wanting to embarrass her. I said in a simple, level tone. “I proud of you.”

She made some kind of sound that I didn’t have a word for, sort of pleased and questioning at the same time.

“If me and your aunt had gotten into it, one or both of us would have ended up hurt. Maybe hurt bad, or worst one or more of you three may have gotten caught up in it.”

I finally looked down at her, to see her looking the other way rather then let me see her face at the moment. “Or even my house.”

She turned to shoot me a resigned look, still red faced, but letting out a sigh in exasperation.

“You stepped up and took on the responsibility to stop a fight. You used just enough force for your aunt to realize she wasn’t going to be able to push you around. All without hurting her.”

“Other then her wallet. I don’t see her as the type to pay for the insurance.”

That got me a little bit of a grin, I put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her in a bit as I started to lead her to the kitchen. All too wise, she grabbed hold of that hand to make sure I wasn’t able to go for her hair when I later stepped away.”

But she didn’t pull away, instead, she vented a bit. “She always has to have it her way, and she and my dad get into these shouting matches. But mom just says it like when me and Ami argue because they grew up together, even in the same house for a while.”

“She’s my aunt, but...”

I gave her a squeeze. “Family. You got to love them, even if you don’t like them.”

Thinking that over, I added. “But at some point you can decide not to put up with them anymore. Their are limits, even for family.”

I let her pull away when we go to the kitchen. The hall was wide enough for two people to walk side by side, but the kitchen entrance, even if it was pretty wide itself, would have been a tight squeeze.

She kept a firm grasp on my hand as she stood clear, almost to the point of putting me into an arm lock. Such a distrustful child. Can’t imagine why.

“At some point you might want to get together with her, just the two of you rather then a family gathering, and let her start to get to know you as just you. Not part of a package with your dad.”

I began looking around the kitchen. “You can decide for yourself if she is worth knowing as a person instead of just family.”

I heard her come up behind me and pause. “So what are you looking for?”

I waved my hand in the vague direction of the big closet between the kitchen and the hallway. “I picked up a silver tea set. I seemed like something a mansion needed, but I got no idea how to serve tea. Plus the tea bags I got are pretty old. I only really drink it when I got a sore throat.”

She walked over to the fridge. “You’re going to want to serve everything is sealed containers. Bottled water, packaged food. It’s how these things are done, according to my mom. Dad doesn't talk about it.”

Hmm, I guess so no one can poison stuff? “But I could put out stuff for me… and you three right?”

The adrenaline was clearing from my system, and I could use some sugar to settle things.

She considered it, and finally nodded. “I guess it would be acceptable if it’s something sealed when we sit down, and then you eat from it first.” She smirked. “Like that’s going to be a problem.”

I shot her a look which she ignored. What? Oh.

“I lost weight as got I older. I think mostly muscle mass, but maybe some bone density. I think I’m so hungry all the time because my body is trying to build me up again to be healthier.”

She gave me a long stare then slowly nodded. “That kind of makes sense, but if that’s true, you should be eating healthier food. Not all that junk food.”

Shoot she may have a point, but still… “I ain’t in that much of a hurry.” that go a very unladylike snort out of her. But she was right, and now that her aunt had tracked her down, a Vampire had sent some goons after me, and some of the locals may not all be friendly…

And someone may come looking for me and mine if I start offering around a lycanthropic cure all, maybe getting into fighting trim sooner then later…

It was something to think about. Later.

From the closet I retrieved the worked silver serving tray, onto which Sara plunked down some of the little white plates that had come with one of the sets of dining ware I had picked up at a garage sale, and had never found much use for. So small. Along with some matching silverware, the stainless steel kind I had gotten from my grandparents, and some paper towel sheets folded in half.

She gave me a look as she placed down the paper towels as napkins. What?

A package of cookies with some apple goop in the middle, the only ones not yet opened, a couple of water bottles and several drink boxes from the fridge completed the tray. Sara only put two of the drink boxes at first, hesitated, then added several more.

I didn’t ask.

She took the tray before I could, and headed for the parlor. Setting the tray down on the big flat topped chest meat to be used as a coffee table. I took a water bottle for herself, opened the cookies, and took a big bite out of one after she sat down.

Her aunt hesitated, then took an apple juice drink box along with a cookie. Which was apparently the signal for the other two kids to descent on drinks and snacks.

I hadn’t even sat down yet, as the two of them, great aunt and grand niece, stared each other down.

Does Sara even realized she had taken on the roll of hostess? Is this something her mom trained her to do, or is this all Sara acting on instinct. What ever was happening, her aunt looked like she was taking the girl even more seriously then after she got knocked on her butt.

I was so wrapped up in how proud I was, and Sara was so intent on watching her aunt’s every move, that Ami had to remind us to call their parents.

“Huh? Oh yeah. Them.” Look at me, Mr Smooth

I made the call and put it on speaker. “Dad?”

Nodding at the phone, I filled him in. “We’re sitting down, we have broken the bread and shared water, well apple juice anyways. Which makes her a guest and safe in my house by the ancient laws. We can talk now.”

That got me an “Is some kind of werewolf thing?” question from another guy on the line who was also somehow invited to a family meeting. While Rosario’s eyes widened a little before she looked down at the juice box she had just taken a sip of to wash down a bite of cookie.

I hesitated over a juice box myself. Who doesn’t like cider? Before cracking open a water bottle. Took a deep gulp if it, then snagging another cookie for myself. I think I may have needed to put some salt on them too for authenticity, but I figured the preservatives had to include some, so good enough.

“So let’s talk.”