Sookie 13.5 After Dead (14 page)

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 endorse high-end security systems and an online dating club for opinionated supernaturals. She enjoys testing the security systems, but her dates have a way of vanishing.

DAVID
and
GENEVIEVE THRASH
finally tracked down Sookie years after she’d warned them in time to escape disaster at Sophie-Anne’s party house in New Orleans. After they reconnected with her, there were never any problems with Merlotte’s state licenses.

TIJGERIN
, Quinn’s mate—at least for a time—persisted in her plan of birthing and raising her child in secrecy. She did keep Quinn up-to-date. They had a boy named Diederik.

The weather witch
JULIAN TROUT
disappeared from Channel 7 in Rhodes (and the supernatural scene) with his wife, Olive, following his realization that he could have saved lives in New Orleans by predicting the severity of Katrina . . . if anyone besides supernaturals would have listened to him. It took years for Trout to come to terms with his conscience. After that, he got a job at the Weather Channel, where he does his best to avert disasters.

Barmaid
INDIA UNGER
drove up to Iowa with physical therapist Gwen Long to get legally married. They adopted a child, a baby boy with a cleft palate. He had a few surgeries, but he became a handsome young man. India kept her job at Merlotte’s until she began working at a Denny’s and eventually became the manager. She and Gwen had a few bumps in the road facing homophobia and racism, but they remained together. Their son became a hospital administrator.

JUDITH VARDAMON
continued to drop in on Bill every ten years or so, to “see how he was doing.” Sadly, he never found it in him to return her affection.