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of Jack and laid the photo album on the table.
    “I can’t believe we have to do a baby album on the first day,” Jack groaned. “Surely we could’ve worked up to this.”
    “No way. This is fantastic.”
    The album had pictures ranging from Jack as a baby, through a toothy toddler, a gangly little boy, and then barely a picture of his teenage years, until his mom had started adding newspaper clippings of his early acting accomplishments. Charlotte turned the pages, slowly, almost to the end. “Well, after a while there were too many things to cut out and stick in here. My baby boy had made it.” Although I had a feeling Charlotte had a box somewhere stuffed with all Jack’s clippings, I couldn’t imagine she’d let one pass her by.
    Jack leaned over and gave his mother’s shoulder a squeeze. She leaned into him.
    “Oh, I worried so. Me being so far away and you being at the mercy of all those… vampires.” She sniffed, then laughed at herself. “I’m so glad you came home. Both of you,” she added to me.
    “Thank you for making me feel welcome,” I murmured, feeling a little overwhelmed. Jack turned his hand that was on my thigh palm up and squeezed my hand. “Looks like I should get some real pictures of you and Jack this Christmas, instead of newspaper clippings, so you can add to the album,” I offered.
    “Oh yes, that would be wonderful!”
    Nigel stood. “All right, you lot. A man can’t sit around on his arse all day. There’s work to be done. I’m picking up some rich Russian footballer in a few hours. You’ve got my mobile, eh? Just gimme a shout when you need a ride.”
    “Yeah, man. Thanks.” Jack stood too.
    “I know you said you’d like to take Keri Ann to your friend Max’s place down in Hastings for lunch one day. That still on?”
    Jack shifted uneasily and glanced at me. “Um, I don’t know. It might be a bit much if we’re seen out.”
    “Oh,” said Nigel. “Well, I can understand that. Max’ll be disappointed though.”
    Did Jack feel like he couldn’t do anything when I was with him because I was so leery of the press? I hated that for him. Like I was holding him back from going out and doing fun things. Especially seeing some old friends of his. But I couldn’t deny I was nervous we’d blow our cover and our peaceful plans for Christmas would be shot. I resolved to bring it up with him later.
    We all made our way back through the house to see Nigel off.
    “You can always borrow mine or Jeff’s car if you want to go for a drive or something,” Charlotte offered. “You don’t have to wait on Nigel.”
    “Where is Jeff?” I asked. I’d heard a lot from Jack about the man who’d made Charlotte so happy.
    “At work, I imagine,” said Jack.
    Charlotte nodded. “He’s a solicitor. Works in the city still. Though I wish he’d cut back on his hours. He’s up at five every morning to get the train in. But he gets home by six, so that’s good.”
    We waved Nigel off, and then Jack grabbed our stuff that was still piled by the door. “Where are we sleeping?”
    “Oh right, come on. You probably want to freshen up. Then Jack, you can take Keri Ann on a walk around the fields, show her the land. Maybe it will help give you guys a second wind so you can stay up until Jeff gets home.”
    “Sounds great. I’d love a hot shower,” I said and literally felt Jack willing me to catch his eye. No freaking way. I didn’t need to have hot naked showers in my head when I looked at him right now in front of his mother. My cheeks warmed as I flushed. It had to be so obvious that Jack and I were jonesing for some alone time. But, God, I didn’t even know what the sleeping arrangements were. What if Charlotte wanted us in separate bedrooms? Surely she wouldn’t.

 
     
     
    CHARLOTTE TROTTED UP the wooden stairs, ahead of me. “Don’t try these old stairs in socks. They’re so smooth and worn with age, you’ll go flying. I even slipped in shoes once. Anyway, maybe