It Takes Two

Chapter 14

“I just can’t believe you’re doing this. Are you sure it’s a good idea, cher? You’ll be going so far away, I fear about what might happen to you in the city.”

Sookie rolled her eyes for what felt like the millionth time since being home. “I love how no one in this town thinks I can take care of myself. I’ve practically been doing it ever since my parents died. Yeah, I had Gran to look after me, but I’ve always been a very independent person. I’m more than capable of surviving in the big city, and I’ll have Eric with me. He’s a good man, Sam. I know you can’t understand this now, but I hope you can accept it. I would hate to lose your friendship.”

Sam shook his head. “We’ll always be friends, and if you feel that you need to do this, I won’t stand in your way. I’m just gonna miss you.”

She gave him a hug, kissing him on the cheek. “I’ll miss you, too, but we’ll still keep in touch. Just because I’m moving, it doesn’t mean I’m putting my entire life in Bon Temps behind me. This town and everyone in it will always be important to me. Well, almost everyone.”

He smiled. “That man better treat you right, or I’ll come up there and give him a piece of my mind.”

Sookie laughed. “I have no doubts.”

* * * * *

“Is Sookie coming soon?”

Eric smiled at his youngest. “Yes, my love, she’ll be here in just a few days. Are you excited?”

Emma nodded adamantly. “Can she braid my hair every day for school? You don’t do a good job, Daddy.”

He laughed. “True, I can barely braid my own hair. Of course, I’m sure Sookie would love to, but it might not be every day.”

“That’s fine with me,” Emma claimed, running back to her room.

“That woman has them whipped already, and she’s not even here yet. I must know what her secret is,” Pam said.

Eric shook his head. “There is no secret; she’s just an amazing person.”

She raised her eyebrows. “It sounds to me like my dear brother is in love.”

Eric blushed, which wasn’t something he did often. “You might be right about that, Pamela. I don’t know how anyone could spend more than a day with her and not fall head over heels in love. This feeling is like nothing I’ve ever known before, not even for my Felicia, and you know how devoted I was to her. She will always hold a special place in my heart, but Sookie is quickly filling up the void. I never knew anyone could mean this much to me again. I can’t screw this up, not just for my sake, but the girls as well. If things don’t work out with Sookie, I fear it would be ten times worse for them.”

Pam patted him on the back. “Trust me; she’s just as head over heels with you as you are with her. What woman would move to this city for a man she didn’t love? I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

This was one of those rare occasions where he prayed his sister was right. Eric meant what he said about never letting Sookie go once she arrived, even though it may have seemed like he was joking at the time. He couldn’t wait to see her again, and knowing she was here to stay made it all the more better.

* * * * *

It was officially done. She said her goodbyes and didn’t get much crap from anyone else; all of her packing was completed. All she had to do now was book her flight, and she couldn’t wait to finally return to Eric. It was amazing how much he meant to her already.

“I am so sick of you.”

Sookie turned at the voice, surprised to see Lorena standing in the parking lot of Merlotte’s, the last person she ever wanted to see again, aside from her ex. Sookie was there because she promised Sam that she’d help him with one last shift, it was the least she could do for leaving so abruptly. The new girl wouldn’t be starting for another week. “Excuse me?”

Lorena stepped closer to her, a scowl on her face. “I was hoping with you out of the picture, Bill would finally realize the error of his ways and come back to me. But no, you’re still all he talks about. Sookie this and Sookie that, it’s enough to make me wanna heave. I don’t understand what he could possibly see in you, but I’ve about had enough. Bill Compton will be mine, and you’re not going to stand in my way any longer.”

Sookie would have laughed at the situation, if she wasn’t so terrified of what the woman meant by that. “Are you kidding me? I want nothing to do with Bill, you can have him. I’m leaving town in a couple days, anyway. You sure as hell don’t have to worry about me taking Bill back.”

“Leaving town, a likely excuse. I heard about that, but do you think even that would stop his obsession with you? He’ll end up going to New York again just to convince you that you made a mistake by walking out on him. I’ll never be free of you, even in another fucking state. I was pregnant, did you know that? I figured that was enough to convince Bill we were meant for each other, but he said he wanted nothing to do with me or the child. Well, I wasn’t about to raise a baby on my own, so I terminated the pregnancy. And all I heard about during that time was how much he loved you,” she spat.

Sookie backed away when Lorena actually pulled a knife out of her pocket, holding her hands up in protest. “Okay, you’re obviously not thinking very clearly right now. I know Bill did you wrong. He did me wrong, too, but this isn’t the answer. You need to get help.”

“What I need is to be free of you, bitch!” she yelled, charging at Sookie with the weapon raised.

Sookie dodged the first swipe, but the second caught her right in the arm. She yelled out as the knife slashed her, kicking Lorena away with all the strength she possessed. The crazy woman kept coming at her, she plowed into Sookie hard, knocking her to the ground and smacking her head against the concrete. After that, everything went dark.