Dead in the Family

but I sure wanted to find that old book. Halleigh was nice enough to do some checking for me.”
    “As a matter of fact, this book was on my coffee table,” Bill said gently. “Mrs. Bellefleur—Caroline—my second child was a daughter, Sarah Isabelle.”
    “Oh my goodness,” said Miss Caroline, to indicate she was listening. She didn’t seem to know where this was headed, but she was definitely attentive.
    “Though I didn’t learn this until I read the family page in this Bible after I returned to Bon Temps, my daughter Sarah had four children, though one baby was born dead.”
    “That happened so often back then,” she said.
    I glanced over at the Bellefleur grandchildren. Portia and Andy weren’t happy that Bill was here, not at all, but they were listening, too. They hadn’t spared a glance for me, which was actually just fine. Though they were puzzled by Bill’s presence, the focus of their thoughts was the woman who had raised them and the visible fact that she was fading away.
    Bill said, “My Sarah’s daughter was named Caroline, for her grandmother . . . my wife.”
    “My name?” Miss Caroline sounded pleased, though her voice was a little weaker.
    “Yes, your name. My granddaughter Caroline married a cousin, Matthew Phillips Holliday.”
    “Why, those are my mother and father.” She smiled, which did drastic things to her scores of wrinkles. “So you are . . . Really?” To my amazement, Caroline Bellefleur laughed.
    “Your great-grandfather. Yes, I am.”
    Portia made a sound as though she were choking on a stink-bug. Miss Caroline disregarded her granddaughter entirely, and she didn’t look over at Andy—which was lucky, because he was turkey-wattle red.
    “Well, if this isn’t funny,” she said. “I’m as wrinkled as unironed linen, and you’re as smooth as a fresh peach.” She was genuinely amused. “Great-granddaddy!”
    Then a thought seemed to occur to the dying lady. “Was it you arranged for that timely windfall we got?”
    “The money couldn’t have been put to better use,” Bill said gallantly. “The house looks beautiful. Who will live in it after you die?”
    Portia gasped, and Andy looked a little taken aback. But I glanced at the nurse. She gave me a brief nod. Miss Caroline’s time was very near, and the lady was fully aware of it.
    “Well, I think Portia and Glen will stay here,” Miss Caroline said slowly. It was evident she was tiring fast. “Halleigh and Andy want to have their baby in their own home, and I don’t blame them one bit. You’re not saying you’re interested in the house?”
    “Oh, no, I have my own,” Bill reassured her. “And I was glad to give my own family the wherewithal to repair this place. I want my descendants to keep on living here through the years and have many happy times in this place.”
    “Thank you,” Miss Caroline said, and now her voice was barely a whisper.
    “Sookie and I must go,” Bill said. “You rest easy, now.”
    “I will,” she said, and smiled, though her eyes were closing.
    I rose as quietly as I could and slipped out of the room ahead of Bill. I thought Portia and Andy might want to say a few things to Bill. Sure enough, they didn’t want to disturb their grandmother, so they followed Bill out onto the gallery.
    “Thought you were dating another vampire now?” Andy asked me. He didn’t sound as snarky as he usually did.
    “I am,” I said. “But Bill is still my friend.”
    Portia had briefly dated Bill, though not because she thought he was cute or anything. I was sure that added to her embarrassment as she stuck out her hand to Bill. Portia needed to brush up on her vampire etiquette. Though Bill looked a little taken aback, he accepted the handshake. “Portia,” he said. “Andy. I hope you don’t find this too awkward.”
    I was busting-at-the-seams proud of Bill. It was easy to see where Caroline Bellefleur had gotten her graciousness.
    Andy said, “I wouldn’t have taken the money if I’d known it came from you.” He’d evidently come straight from work, because he was wearing all his gear: a badge and handcuffs clipped to his belt, a holstered gun. He looked pretty formidable, but he was no match for Bill, even as sick as Bill was.
    “Andy, I know you’re not a fan of the fang. But you’re part of my family, and I know you were raised to respect your elders.”
    Andy looked completely taken aback.
    “That money was to make Caroline happy, and I think it did,” Bill