to settle back down and join them.
Jonah kept his eyes on the sand as he slowly built a little
sandcastle for RaeLynn. He'd participated in and won several of the local sand
sculpting contests and he could build most anything without any tools other
than his two hands. "I tried calling, Dia. You didn't answer the phone. I
called a half hour later and then again. When the third call went unanswered I
got concerned and came to make sure everything was okay." He was full of a
smug reasonableness that made Diandra want to punch him.
"First of all, Jonah, I told you that nickname is not
for you. We're not friends or lovers; we're a former couple trying to raise a
baby without being together. That's not friendship, it's being good parents.
Second, I am a vamp, too. If something was wrong I could take care of it
myself. I do not need your help or anyone else's. Third, if you show up again
without my okay I will ban you from visiting RaeLynn. There are rules that will
be set up for visitation and you will follow them or lose out on the right to
see her." Diandra was pacing restlessly as her voice grew louder. She was
mad as Hell and he needed to know she meant business. This wasn't his home any
longer, regardless of what he thought or how he acted. He had no right to show
up and disrupt all their lives whenever he had the urge to.
Jonah watched her warily, trying to judge what had her so
angry. "Did you and Lizbeth have a fight?" Her eyes blazed and he sat
up straighter from where he'd been slouching in the sand. "I just thought
if you two weren't getting along it would explain why you're so…
irritable."
Diandra shrieked through her teeth, trying to get a handle
on her anger before speaking. "Oh, we've fought all right. We've fought
because of you, just like you wanted us to. You think I don't see what you're
doing? You're trying to worm your way back in like
nothing ever changed."
Jonah smiled, angering her further. "Diandra, if
Lizbeth is so insecure with our friendship she may not be right for you. It's
okay to end it now before this gets any more out of hand." He scooped up
another handful of the cool, wet sand and pressed it to the ever-growing
creation.
She glared at him coolly as he watched the sand in front of
him, totally negating her presence and her anger. She pulled her arm back and
punched him in the shoulder as hard as she could. It made a popping noise and
he bellowed more at the suddenness than the pain of it. His left arm hung
useless. She grinned now, knowing it would remain that way until it healed
itself. It wouldn't take long but she'd enjoy it while it lasted.
"You know," he began as he felt his shoulder begin
knitting itself back together, "you've really become rather violent since
you changed. I don't know that that's a good thing for RaeLynn to grow up
with."
Diandra bared the tips of her fangs at him. "Don't you
even go there, you bastard. You made me this way. If you'd died the way you
were supposed to none of us would be freaks right now. Don't you make threats
you'll never get close enough to follow through on." Her last words ended
on a hiss.
Jonah stood up, his movements awkward as his shoulder would
take another few minutes before returning to its previously undamaged state.
"I suppose I'll just come back when you're feeling a little more
yourself," he said as he brushed the sand off with one hand.
"No, you'll listen now. If you want visitation with
RaeLynn then you have to play by the rules. Rule one is do not show up unless I
invite you over. Rule two- if you want to go on an outing with her than Lizbeth
and I will be coming along. There's probably more but I'll let you know what
they are when I figure them out." Diandra smiled but there was no warmth
in it.
Jonah glared back at her, angrier than he had been since the
day he changed her. "I refuse to share my visitation time with my daughter
with that bitch."
Diandra nodded. "Okay, that's fine. You need not see
Rae at all then." He
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