Page 4 of Rescued By the Vexed Vampire

Gran’s face lit up. “Oh, how wonderful! That place could sure use a bit of your flair to drum up business again after the prune juice fiasco last summer.”

I smiled, loving how supportive she always was. “I think so too. Plus, the manager asked me to help cater a Halloween party on Saturday night at that old Victorian mansion…”

Gran raised an eyebrow. “You mean the one everything thinks is haunted?”

“Yep, that’s the one. And I have to go in costume.”

She chuckled. “And what are you going to dress as, pray tell?”

“An angel, maybe,” I said, half-joking. At least that way I could pretend I’d have my wings back.

Gran’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “An angel? That’s an interesting choice.”

I laughed, but as I thought about the party, a shiver ran down my spine. Something about this Halloween felt different—like it might just be a turning point somehow. The problem was, my spidey-sense couldn’t tell if that was a good or bad thing.

As we made our way through the living room to the kitchen, I viewed the familiar furnishings—Gran’s favorite armchair, the soft couch with the worn-out springs that brought back memories of all the times I’d sat there, wrapped in one of her hand-knit blankets, sipping tea or hot cocoa while we talked about anything and everything. I stopped to put Twilight, purring like a motorboat now, down on the Oriental rug, and gave him a scratch behind his ears. Moonbeam, ever the aloof diva, strutted by, flicking her tail in disinterest but still keeping a watchful eye on me from the corner of the room.

Gran bustled ahead of me to the kitchen, her gait a little slower than it used to be, but still full of purpose. The tomato soup was just coming to a boil, and we set about making the grilled cheese sandwiches. A few minutes later, we settled ourselves at the dining room table with our lunches and dug in to the meal, pausing between bites to continue catching up.

“Now, tell me more about this new job of yours, “ Gran said, shaking a bit of pepper over her bowl of soup.

I grinned, swallowing my bite of sandwich. “I think it’s going to be fun, but the place really is in pretty rough shape.The current manager, River, is on his way out. Apparently, the corporate office is sending someone to replace him, but in the meantime, I’m just happy to help however I can. It could be a really charming place, you know? It’s got potential.”

“Oh, I have no doubt about that,” Gran said, patting my hand. “You’ve always had a knack for adding a little magic to whatever you touch. That shop’s lucky to have you.”

I felt my cheeks flush with warmth at her words. Gran had always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. “Thanks, Gran. I just hope I don’t mess it up.”

“Mess it up?” Gran scoffed, leaning back in her chair with a dramatic sigh. “Oh, child, you could never mess up anything. And even if you did, what’s the worst that could happen? You pick yourself back up and try again. That’s how life works. Besides, you’ve got that spark, Bethany. You just need to see it for yourself.”

I smiled, feeling a knot of tension loosen in my chest. Gran always had a way of making everything seem so simple. “I’m trying, Gran. Really, I am.”

“And you’re doing just fine,” she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. “You know, I always knew you’d make your way back here and find your footing. Sweetberry Hollow is in your blood. It’s where you belong.”

There was a truth to her words that I couldn’t deny. As much as I’d wanted to prove myself by going off to college and trying to fit myself into the same box as everyone else, maybe I didn’t have to do that after all. Was it possible I could find a way to belong just by being me? Doubt niggled my insides.

Gran took a bite of the steaming soup, savoring it for a moment before speaking again. “So, you said something about a Halloween party at the old Monroe mansion. Tell me more aboutthat. Who’s throwing the event? I didn’t think anyone lived there anymore.”

I shrugged, still a little unsure of the details myself. “I’m not really sure. Someone’s hired Sugar Rush to handle the catering, in any case. It sounds like it’s going to be a big deal though.”

Gran raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Interesting,” she mused thoughtfully as she munched her grilled cheese.

There was something in her tone that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Gran always had a way of knowing things before they happened, like she was tuned into some cosmic radio frequency the rest of us couldn’t hear. I tried to shrug it off, but the unease lingered.

“Well, I hope it turns out okay,” I said, trying to change the subject. “It should be fun, at least. I just hope the mansion isn’t actually haunted.”

Gran chuckled. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much about that. If there are any ghosts, they’re probably just as excited for a good party as the rest of us. Besides, Halloween is the perfect time for a little mystery and mayhem, don’t you think?”

“I guess so,” I said, giving a half-hearted laugh, not sure any more mayhem was quite what I needed.

Gran reached out and squeezed my hand, her expression softening. “Whatever happens, Bethany, just trust yourself. You’ve got more strength and courage in you than you realize. And if that haunted mansion has any surprises in store, well... I have a feeling you’ll handle it just fine.”

I smiled, feeling a swell of affection for her. Gran always knew how to say exactly what I needed to hear. “Thanks, Gran. I’ll try not to let any ghosts spook me too much.”

She winked at me, then leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile on her face. “That’s my girl.”

As we finished our lunches, I couldn’t help but feel a little lighter, the weight of my uncertainties lifting with every word of encouragement from Gran. No matter what happened—whether the candy shop turned out to be a disaster or the Halloween party was filled with ghosts—everything would be okay. Because, as Gran had reminded me, I had a second chance at a future, and I wasn’t facing it alone. Maybe this Halloween would be the start of a whole new adventure I’d been waiting for all along.

Chapter Two

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