Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith Read Free Book Online

done, and then I’ll be in. Go ahead, I’ll be right behind ya.”
    “Dad? Please take a break. Come in. Now.”
    “Jenny, I’ll come in when I’m ready,” he huffed. “I’m a grown man, don’t nag me. You’re not your mother.”
    That stung so much she let it drop, and against her better judgment, she went into the house.
    It was cool inside, as it always was, even on such a scorching day. Quiet. Maude was at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. The sun shone cheerily through lace curtains, throwing delicate, golden-filigreed patterns over the kitchen walls.
    The kitchen was the beautiful old-fashioned kind with high ceilings and wood trim everywhere. Oak cabinets, polished to a high shine and smelling of lemon furniture polish, lined two walls. Soft carpeting in shades of brown sponged under her feet. Fresh flowers had been placed in the center of the large lace-covered table. Two large trailing ivy plants hung from macramé hangers in the corners.
    On the cherry wood table sat three plates with fat sandwiches on them and next to them tall glasses of lemonade. Jenny plopped down gratefully across from Maude.
    Unlike Jenny’s own mother, Maude was still an attractive woman for her age, with sharp blue eyes and short wavy white hair she had permed regularly. Today she wore a soft flowered summer dress, and the blue in the pattern matched her eyes. She never wore makeup; she didn’t need to, she had lovely skin.
    “You didn’t have to go to all this trouble, Maude,” Jenny exclaimed, touched by the woman’s thoughtfulness. “I brought a lunch.”
    Maude’s white eyebrows shot up. “Anything left in your father’s old rattletrap of a car on a day like this is probably a melted lump of debris by now.”
    She pointed to the meat on the sandwiches. “While this is sliced from a whole ham I baked last night, cool from the ice box, and much better than those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches your dad and you probably brought along.”
    “Cheese sandwiches.” Jenny laughed then and nodded her head in full agreement as she started gulping down the sandwich. The lemonade was frosty and felt good going down her parched throat.
    “Thanks, Maude. This is scrumptious.”
    “Glad you like it.” Maude smiled graciously and paused. “Where’s that father of yours?”
    Jenny raised her shoulders, a resigned expression on her face, and took another sip of lemonade. “Said he would be right behind me. You know him, a real workhorse when he gets going.”
    “Yeah, an old workhorse.” Maude chortled lightly and then as swiftly her eyes grew troubled.
    “I hope he’s along pretty soon. Being out too long in this killer sun is no place for a man his age to be. It’s ninety-nine degrees out there and climbing. Your dad’s not looking well, either.” She hesitated uncomfortably, catching Jenny’s eyes. “I wasn’t sure about giving him the job.” There was doubt in her soft voice. “The way he’s been acting lately.”
    “Tell me about it,” Jenny moaned. “I’d do anything to get him to quit. Take it easier. I worry about him, but,” Jenny gazed thoughtfully out the kitchen window, “he can’t.”
    “Needs the money too much, I know. The story of his life.” Maude’s compassion was evident on her face. “That’s why I went along with it when George proposed him for it. We know he’s having hard times right now with Estelle gone and all; we’ve been friends for a long time. We wanted to help, but we don’t want him to kill himself. You two take your time. There’s no rush.”
    She perceptively read the frightened look in Jenny’s eyes.
    “Don’t worry. I can give you the money up front if you need it. We trust you.”
    “Thanks, Maude.” Jenny lowered her eyes, feeling like a beggar anyway. She went back to her sandwich.
    Maude continued reading the paper.
    “By the way, where is George?” Jenny inquired as she was mopping up crumbs with a wet fingertip.
    “Downstairs in the