Sookie 13.5 After Dead by Charlaine Harris Read Free Book Online

SOOKIE STACKHOUSE married Sam in December, but a year later than Sookie had imagined. They really did take their time, and by their wedding day they were as sure as any two people could be that they were suited to each other. The entire Merlotte family attended the wedding, and of course so did Jason and Michele, Remy and Erin and Hunter, Alcide Herveaux, Mustapha Khan and Warren, Hoyt and Holly, and many other friends from Bon Temps and Wright. Though Sam had attended the fundamentalist church in Clarice for a few months, they opted for Sookie’s Methodist church for the wedding and attended it thereafter, though not every Sunday. They discussed having the wedding at night so their vampire acquaintances could attend, but instead chose to have it in the day. (Pam threw them a party at Fangtasia on a night soon afterward. Weirdly, it was Thalia’s idea.)
    Sookie wore white because it was traditional and she looked good in white, what with her tan and all. Sam wore a suit. Sam’s brother, Craig, was his best man, and Tara was Sookie’s matron of honor.
    Sookie was startled to get a wedding gift from Eric, a very expensive and very impersonal silver flatware setting for twelve in a simple and elegant design. It took her an hour to write a thank-you note. Pam delivered the gift, at the same time requesting that Sookie wear her wedding dress to the vampire reception at Fangtasia. Heidi took several photographs at the reception, and Sookie suspected who would be looking at them.
    Sookie was quite proud of her silver service and hauled it out on holidays for years. One morning after the wedding, Sookie found a rose blooming in her backyard—in December—with an envelope attached. Niall gave the couple an invitation to the Summerlands when they “went through the human veil,” as Niall put it. They’ve put that in their lockbox at the bank.
    Sookie and Sam had four children, the last being a complete surprise. Neal and Jennings came first, followed by Adele and their “bonus baby,” Jillian Tara. Though comfortable financially, Sookie and Sam wanted to be sure they could put four kids through college, so they started renting the bar for wedding receptions, and with Antoine’s successor’s help, they began to cater parties. All four of the kids worked as teenagers, since Sookie was determined they’d all learn how to be self-sufficient. This led to some yelling matches with the girls, especially when their mom’s rare but impressive temper came into play. Jennings, to Sookie’s dismay, inherited the family “disability.” Mr. Cataliades showed up after each birth, though Sookie certainly never told him when she’d had a baby. He did tell Sookie that after this generation, his favor to his friend could be retired, and Sookie said, “Thank God.”
    At least Jennings, Marie, and the somewhat older Hunter had each other to talk to and commiserate with, though it was impossible for them to play games together.
    All the Merlotte children grew up tolerant, since they all knew their dad was a shapeshifter and Uncle Jason a werepanther. The children also learned to accept vampires but to remain very wary in their presence. They thought “Aunt” Pam was hysterically funny. Go figure.
    Sookie and Sam are still happier than many other couples because they talk about their feelings and they are great with compromise. Sam looks a little tense when Eric is on television, and for a while he wasn’t too happy when Bill came over to visit, but gradually he became secure in Sookie’s love and loyalty.
    They’re still thinking about Niall’s offer, but not too seriously.



Vampire THALIA had such a fan following that she finally refused to come to Fangtasia any longer because people wanted to talk to her and have their pictures taken with her. Bill taught her how to blog. Thalia’s Thoughts was a huge success in Internet terms, and Thalia actually enjoys writing about how inconsistent and ridiculous humans are. She was asked to