The sound of breaking glass echoed within the space of the two car garage as Vincent quickly shattered both the single 80 watt garage light bulb as well as the electronic garage door light through the plastic shield. Tiffany and Vincent then hung back in the darkness of the space while Barbara surveyed the crowded street.
“It won’t be easy trying to get people to move for us,” Barbara said, still holding onto Rebekah. She just sat silently within her mother’s arms, casually eyeing the pretty lights and watching the water works next door.
“Think of something!” came her reply from behind.
“And just what would you have me do exactly?” she chided.
“I do not know. Shall I ask your children what they would have their mother do? It would only take a moment.”
“Mom,” said Jerod suddenly as the sound of screeching tires could be heard in the distance. “Is that Aunt Vanessa?”
“What?” she asked, turning to face her son. He pointed behind her toward the street. Following his finger, she caught her best friend leap out of her car, leaving the lights on and heading their way.
Oh, God no! she thought, but said nothing as she watched the woman run toward them. She looked hysterical, and Barbara could only imagine what had been going through her mind all night while she attempted to locate Mark. What she would find upon reaching the driveway would be worse in so many ways.
“Who is it?” Vincent demanded to know from just behind her in the darkness.
“Vanessa Jackson. Her husband may have died in the fire.”
“Oh, splendid,” the vampire said hoarsely. It was probably meant to be a whisper but came out sounding one thousand times worse. “This just gets better and better. Good of her to leave her car on for us, though!”