Chapter 14

Sookie
Day 2011
Day 190

I shifted uncomfortably in the leather chair, I was thirty-five weeks pregnant, sore and glowing according to Eric who was a touch delusional, “this is too much,” I whispered to Eric, looking over the remarkably large settlement offer.

Godric snorted, “Dad,” Eric scowled, shooting his father a look, I didn’t understand.

“What? If you ask me we should take them to court and sue them until they have to claim bankruptcy.” He said darkly. I blinked and shook my head but I understood his pain, he had lost five years of his son’s life, he had spent years grieving him.

Eric rolled his eyes and squeezed my hands. “We don’t want that, you know that,” Eric scrawled his name across the documents against his father’s wishes and passed the pen to me. I swallowed and took a deep breath before I signed and just like that, I became extremely wealthy, with more zeroes to my name than I could wrap my mind around.

I held back a yawn, the past week in New Orleans visiting Eric’s family had left me feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. They were welcoming, passionate, and seemed to move with the beat of the city. “Thank you, Mr. Northman,” I stated quietly.

Eric held out his hand to me, I let out an unladylike grunt as he helped me up to my feet.

Godric smiled and stood, he came around his desk and hugged us both, “you’re welcome, sweetheart. You kids, be safe on your travel home. Call me when Sookie goes into labor.” He requested as he showed us out of his building.

“Of course,” Eric promised, rubbing my shoulders, “we’ll see you soon, Dad.”

I walked, or as Eric would say, waddled my way down to the new SUV that we traded his truck for. I shot him a glare as he chuckled as I adjusted my pillow after putting on my seatbelt. I turned the air conditioner on full blast and wrapped myself up in a soft blanket and drifted off as we headed out of the city.

I woke as the car slowed and turned off the highway and started down a graveled road into the middle of what felt like nowhere. I glanced at the clock, we still had two hours before we reached Bon Temps.

“Where are we?” I asked, reaching for my water bottle.

“Almost there,” Eric said, flashing me a quick secretive grin.

I raised an eyebrow and asked slowly, letting my southern draw roll off my tongue, “almost where?”

“You’ll see,” he smirked, slowing down to take a curve.

I let out a small gasp, the large mass of water seemed to appear out of nowhere, it was calming and still. I instantly loved it’s mossy green color.

I hardly noticed Eric parked. “It’s beautiful,” I murmured as he helped me out of the passenger seat. I wandered to the shore. The area was quiet, my ears search for and couldn’t find the hum of the highway or any traffic.

I smiled as I took in the buzz of the insects and the trickling of the stream running into the lake. The green grass and clean air smelled utopian.

Eric squeezed my shoulder and tucked me back against him. “Where are we?” I asked quietly.

“Home,” Eric murmured against my ear.

He turned us so I was looking at a new two-story house, it was sleek and modern. Very Eric. Handsome wood and stone that blended nicely with the rustic landscape. I could only blink as he tugged me up towards the house. The porch was the length of the back of the house, screened in, with with a few ceiling fans. I could already imagine many nights sitting out here with him, watching the sun sink down over the horizon.

I sucked in a deep breath as Eric twisted his key into the lock and pushed the back door open.

I stepped inside and gazed up at the vaulted ceilings, the floor plan was open, cozy with an abundance of natural light from its enormous picture windows that overlooked the water. The kitchen was a dream, it somehow managed to be both modern and southern at the same time. I soon noted the lack of a fireplace or grill. Which was fine by me, I could go the rest of my life without eating something cooked over a fire.

“I didn’t decorate much. I wanted you to add your own touches, pieces. Make this our home,” He explained, placing a set of keys into my hand. “We can’t keep staying in that rundown old duplex in Bon Temps. You waitressing and me temporary teaching for Mrs. Banes class. But the last few months have made it real clear, at least to me. We don’t want that life. I don’t want to return to teaching. It’s been great, getting to know your family.” I heard the silent but in his voice.

“Bon Temps isn’t for us,” I agreed, surprising myself as I turned to look at him.

He ran his fingers through his blond locks, “but, I think I’ve found or know what I want to do,” he said. He pointed off to the trees towards a walking path into the woods. “There’s an old abandoned camp up that trail. We already own it, but it’ll take time, money, a lot of planning..”

“Eric,” I paused, looking out over the water, across the lake I saw only a few scattered houses. “How much land did you buy?” I asked curiously.

He pulled out a map and drew a wonky circle, “just this half of the lake.”

“Half a lake?” I covered my mouth to hide a snort. I shook my head, but I was pleased to see Eric smiling. A light back in his eyes, a plan forming in his mind. We had both struggled with readjusting, with stress and anxiety. The upcoming arrival of our child kept us grounded, happy but we were both searching trying to figure out what we would do with the rest of our lives.

“Well, the camp takes up a most of it.” He added, giving me an almost sheepish grin.

I nodded and rubbed the back of my neck. “You want to run a summer camp?” I asked, not really seeing what he had in mind.

“Sort of, but not really,” he stated, pulling me onto his lap and resting his hands on my stomach. “I want to do something that will really make a difference, but like I said, it’ll take a lot of planning. I thinking more along the lines of foster children, older kids.”

“Right,” I smiled, placing my hands over his, “we’ll figure it out.”

He grinned into my neck and planted a few lazy kisses, “we always do. What do you think?”

“I’m not sure if I should strangle you or hug you,” I teased him, he chuckled deeply and wrapped his arms around me. “If it wasn’t so perfect I’d lecture you,” I warned happily, lifting one of his hands to my lips and so I could kiss his knuckles.

“I have more to show you,” he said, moving us both to our feet and I trailed after him, taking in the rest of the house. I laughed as he tugged me away from our master bath, I was ready to crawl into the large clawfoot tub and never leave. “I know you’ve been fretting over the nursery furniture you ordered, I had it shipped here,” he smirked and opened the last door, the room was decorated in soft browns, sandy tans, and gentle turquoise.

“Oh Eric,” I could barely speak past the lump caught in my throat. Over the crib was a series of professional pictures taken of our Island.

“Do you?”

“I love it,” she turned, circling her arms around him. “It’s perfect. Better than I imagined. Dreamed.”

He pressed a kiss to her lips and scooped her up in his arms and carried her down to their new bedroom.

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