Mike grinned as the smallest girl, Antonia, immediately declared she was hungry; he remembered Sophie at that age…such a spirit, just like this little one. Milagra, the older girl, chastised her younger sister and played it safer, looking to their father for direction. She was wise, this one, Mike thought, she would keep them alive, if they were ever separated from Al-Adil. The tall, dark-haired man’s hazel eyes twinkled as he gave Antonia a conspiratorial wink, knowing that Al-Adil would, of course, consent to them eating. When the consent came and gratitude expressed, Mike grinned in the small girl’s direction and announced, “After our meal, if you will allow, my friend, we have ice cream in 3 flavors, vanilla, chocolate and pineapple…”, he looked at the girls, “…sorry if you expected strawberry, but we didn’t have any strawberries on hand”.
“Ummmm…”, Mike shuffled a bit, “…just a minute. There’s someone I’d like you to meet”. He ran to the bottom of the stairway and called up, “Mrs. Van Meerlo! Could you join us, please?”. It wasn’t two minutes later that a tall, attractive, blonde woman, roughly Mike’s age came down the stairs and joined Mike, smiling at him shyly, “I see your gusts have arrived. Oh what pretty girls”, she looked at the girls and smiled and then gave her smile to Al-Adil, “How do you do, I’m Sonja Van Meerlo. Please, call me Sonja”. She looked deeply into the vampire’s eyes and studied his face for a moment, “Dilectu?”, she asked.
Mike’s cheeks colored a bit, “Yes, Al-Adil is Dilectu and one of the finest men I know”. He knew Sonja meant no insult; without Sonja, these past days, weeks would have been impossible. Sonja had lost her husband to a lycan attack six months ago and now, she was helping him get through the loss of his wife. She had moved in to the B&B, much to Sophie’s chagrin, and was taking care of him…feeding him, sewing his clothes, washing his clothes, cleaning for him, talking with him for hours, nursing his wounds…who knew what would come next. Sonja smiled and touched Al-Adil’s hand, “I apologize if I was intrusive. I have known some Dilectu in the past and know them to be a people of integrity and conscience”.
Seeming strangely awkward around Sonja, Mike asked Al-Adil, “What would you like for lunch, my friend? We have fish, poultry, many vegetables. We can make fine salads and dressings, sandwiches, soups…whatever you like”. He smiled at Sonja and then averted his eyes. “I was thinking that perhaps Sonja might take the girls with her to the kitchen while you and I talk, my friend”, he looked into his Dilectu friend’s dark eyes, “…if this is suitable with you”.