Blood Land by J.R. Lawson (top ten ebook reader TXT) 📖

then reluctantly opened her eyes and turned her head to look in the mirror to her right.  What she saw there made her gasp slightly.  Not only did she absolutely love the dress that Caroline had picked out for her; a navy blue, knee length, A-line dress that also had navy lace covering it except for the long sleeves which were just pure lace, but she almost couldn’t believe that she was actually looking at her own face in the mirror in front of her.  Her hair was down, maybe for the first real time in years and as it fell down around her shoulders she was amazed at how great it looked.

“How did you get my hair to do that?!” Nora found herself blurting the question as she reached up to feel incredibly soft it was as well. “My hair has never looked like this!”

“It’s called product, honey,” Caroline chuckled. “Just takes a little.  Run it through your hair and…tada!”

Nora laughed a bit as well.  “This is why I need you here.”  She then took a minute to look at her own face.  Caroline had done her makeup but Nora didn’t feel like she was really wearing it.  It didn’t look too much like she was wearing it either.  Just…certain features of hers were played up and Nora looked at herself for the first time in the mirror and was astonished that she, for once, didn’t feel like groaning. “I like the makeup you did too.  A lot.” Nora smiled at Caroline through the reflection of the mirror.

Caroline smiled back.  “Well, now you just have to go show Kale,” she eagerly stated.

Nora abruptly turned around to entirely face Caroline.  “Oh…uh yeah…is he ready with dinner already?” she felt her voice shaking slightly and she tried her hardest to control it.

Caroline nodded reassuringly. “Yep.  He told me he’s ready when you are.  He’s waiting outside.”

Nora shut her eyes for a moment and took another deep breath.  As she let it out, she opened them and looked straight ahead of her as she then said, “O.k.  I guess I’ll go now.”

“Remember, just relax and act natural.  It’s not a big deal…this dinner,” Caroline comforted.

Nora nodded and smiled at her. “Yeah I know.  Thanks, Caroline.”

“Just go on,” Caroline smiled.  Nora then did as instructed and exited her room.  The walk through the house to the backyard door seemed like the longest walk she has ever taken.  She felt herself getting more and more nervous as she approached.  Once she got there and finally gained the courage to touch the doorknob, she paused for a moment before attempting to open it. “Cool it, Nora,” she then spoke to herself, “It’s not a big deal.  Just calm down.”  She then nodded once to herself and finally opened the door.  She stepped out into the cold winter air and saw the beautiful patio and pergola that covered it.  She also took in the sights of the lights that intertwined it and the smells of the dinner that sat on the small French table in front of her.  She then turned to look a little to the right and saw Kale, standing with his back to her.  She sighed as she then decided to take another step outside and softly shut the door behind her.  The sound of the door made Kale jump a touch and Nora saw him start to turn around to greet her.

“Wait!” Nora then shouted, causing Kale to pause his rotating.

“What is it?” Kale asked, while not looking at her.

“Before you turn around,” Nora slightly nervously said, “You have to promise you won’t laugh.” Kale just chuckled at her statement.

“I’m serious!” Nora reiterated.

“O.k., I promise I’m not going to laugh!” Kale agreed, “So can I turn around now?”

Nora paused for a few minutes as she attempted to stand up straight and then said, “Yes. O.k. you can look now.”

Kale then finished his turn around until he was completely facing Nora.  A look of surprise could instantly be seen on his face as Nora then looked at him with probably the very same expression.  After all, she was looking at an image of Kale that she had never seen before.  He wore a black suit with a black necktie and his hair was combed back with what looked like a little bit of hair gel, which Nora noticed, really made his red eyes pop more than normal.  She never really noticed how big his eyes were until his hair suddenly wasn’t messily in his face.  The two of them just stood, silently taking in each other’s appearances until Kale let out a small chuckle.

“Hey!” Nora complained, “You said you wouldn’t laugh!”

“I’m not laughing!” Kale argued while smiling, “I mean…I’m not laughing at you.  I mean….your hair…it looks….”

“What?” Nora instantly and nervously asked as she reached up to feel her hair with her fingers. “Caroline did it.”

“No it’s….it’s great,” Kale reassured, “I just…never see it down like that.  It looks…nice.  You look…really nice.” Kale ended his compliments with a sincere smile.

Nora smiled back and looked down for a second bashfully and then, looking up again, said, “Well you look very nice too.  I didn’t realize you could clean up so well.”

Kale shrugged. “Well, you know…” he then gave Nora that all too familiar smirk of his and she found herself blushing.

“Well…shall we eat?” he then said, cutting the small awkward silence that had suddenly occurred.

“O.k.” Nora agreed as she then went to take her seat at the small table.  Kale pulled out her chair for her as she approached and she gave him a shy smile as she seated herself.  Kale took his seat across from her and then lifted the covers off of both their plates, revealing bowls of soup underneath.

“Oh, soup!” Nora happily exclaimed.

“Yeah, I thought soup would be a good idea,” Kale replied, “Since it’s so damn cold out here.” He finished his sentence with a chuckle.

Nora laughed back. “Yeah it is a bit cold.  Although…” she then added, “I’m surprised how much I haven’t been that cold lately.  The times I have been outside.  I mean, considering it’s been snowing.”

“Yeah?” Kale acknowledged.

“Yeah,” Nora went on, “Is that a vampire thing?”

Kale shrugged. “It might be.  It does seem that we vampires aren’t as susceptible to the weather as humans.  It still affects us of course, but just…not as much.”

“Hm,” Nora noted as she then nodded.  It was then that the two of them took no time to begin eating their soups.  They spent the rest of the time talking every once and a while in between bites until they had finally finished their whole dinner. Then the two of them sat quietly in their seats, each most likely wondering what was to happen next.

“Well…” Nora then spoke up, “That was a great dinner…thank you.”

“Oh yeah…well…the night’s not over yet…” Kale then began to suggest.

“What else can we do?” Nora asked, looking over at him curiously.

“Well…” Kale then started to say as he stood up from his seat and made his way to standing right in front of her. “We could maybe…dance a little.” He then held out his hand for her to take.

Nora took one look at it and then up at him with some disbelief on her face. “What?  No…”

“Aw come on, why not?” Kale tried appealing to her as he gave her that self-assured expression he always had.

“There are a couple of reasons why not…”

“Like?”

“Like…I can’t dance.”

“What are the other reasons?”

“I….can’t dance!  That’s enough for ten reasons!” Nora argued, still seated and still looking up at him.

Kale laughed. “Oh come on, no one really knows how to dance.  I promise you all it is, is swaying back and forth anyway.”  Nora gave him no response but twisted her face into a thinking expression.  Kale continued, “Come on…” he urged.

It was then that Nora finally caved with a sigh. “O.k. fine…I guess…” She then looked back at Kale’s hand that was extended in front of her and put her own in it. He gently squeezed it and pulled her to her feet, leading her a little ways over to an empty part of the patio.  He then brought her hand up to rest on his shoulder and Nora did the same with her other as she felt Kale put both of his hands on her waist.  She suddenly felt herself getting nervous again and tried her hardest to suppress it.  The two of them instantly began to sway back and forth, to no particular rhythm, and in a small circle.

Kale looked down at Nora and smiled. “See?” he said warmly, “I told you, it’s nothing.”  Nora gave him a soft laugh back. “Besides,” he then continued, “The girl doesn’t really have to do anything anyway.  Just follow.  As long as she has a good partner, she can be a good dancer.”

“And where did you learn how to dance so well?” Nora asked, smiling and looking back up at him, “You’re wedding?”

Kale instantly laughed. “Ha no.  More like…middle school dances.”

Nora couldn’t help really laughing as she then said, “You do realize we don’t even have any music.”

Kale made a face like he was deep in thought and then said, “Well, I could sing.”

“You sing?”

“No.  I can’t sing worth a shit.”

Nora laughed again. “Well, I’m not singing either!”

Kale laughed back and it fell silent between them for a couple of beats.  It wasn’t but a second later that Kale began to whistle.  Surprisingly Nora recognized the tune as being “Don’t Worry Be Happy” and she giggled even more.

“Is that better?” Kale took a pause during his whistling to say and Nora nodded. “Yes, thank you.”  It then fell silent for a moment again as they continued dancing.

“You know,” Kale said breaking the small silence, “That dress looks really nice.”

Nora smiled. “It’s Caroline’s.  You don’t recognize it?”

“She never wore it around me.  At least…I don’t remember,” Kale said, “But I’m sure it looks better on you anyway.”

Nora rolled her eyes playfully and giggled. “Well, you look pretty good in that suit.  Where did you get that?”

“Oh it was uh…the suit I had for my dad’s funeral,” Kale answered, “I don’t own many suites.  It was honestly either this or my tux from my wedding which, I thought might be a little much.” He chuckled.  Nora just laughed again.

Kale then went back to his whistling as he suddenly stretched out his arm with Nora still holding his hand and prompted her to spin.  Nora did so, not sure if she was even doing it right and then Kale brought her back in again, close to him. “That was good!  See you can dance, I don’t know what you were talking about.” Nora just smiled up at him a she resumed the position of her arms being around his neck and the two of them went back to swaying.

It was then at this instant that Nora noticed a somewhat serious expression on Kale’s face as he looked at her.  “Kale?” she then asked, “What is it?”

Kale shook his head a little as he tried to clear his thoughts and then said, “Oh, nothing I was just thinking…”

“Thinking about what?”

“Thinking about…” Kale hesitate a bit before he went on, “About how seriously stupid your parents were.”

Nora was a little surprised by his comment and then asked, “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about what an amazing person you are, Nora,” Kale said, seriously, “You’re parents were fucking stupid not to want you.”

“Kale…” Nora said turning away slightly.

“I’m absolutely serious, Nora,” Kale said, trying to get her to look his way again.  Eventually she did and he went on, “The person you have become, this amazing person, is more than any parent would be proud of.  I mean, you’re brave, and smart, and strong….and…..” Kale looked right into her eyes as Nora looked back. “And….beautiful…”

Nora felt her face flushing as she stared at Kale’s very serious expression that gazed right back at her.  She felt his hot breath as she swallowed nervously, noticing now that their faces