downstairs. When I reached the foot of the stairs, I caught a glimpse of Elsa in the living room in the middle of her usual morning ritual of yoga and stretching.
“Good morning,” I said softly, as I padded into the kitchen for espresso. I made her a cup of tea before walking back to the living room. “Do you want to come into the office today to listen in on these briefings?” I asked. “There may be something that turns up that interests you about Halbert and his demon.” Elsa was bent in a sun salutation and did not respond immediately. I set her mug of tea on the coffee table and waited patiently. There was no rushing a time-walker. Finally she came out of her pose and looked at me, grabbing the tea I’d made for her.
“I would like to get a good look at the demon if he comes around again,” she said.
I nodded. “You’re welcome to come with me wherever I go,” I said, pausing. I was about to say, “Except when I’m with William,” but I decided we were having too cordial a conversation to muddy the waters. “I mean, you can come with me whenever it interests you.”
“You were going to mention him,” she said, not bothering to use his name.
I smirked.
“Look, I wouldn’t ask to come on a date with you either,” I said, trying to make light of the situation.
Elsa made a quick sound of exasperation. “As if that is ever going to happen,” she said. “Besides, I often think I prefer the company of women to men,” she said.
“Are you saying that you’re a lesbian?” I asked, not really caring one way or another about her answer.
Elsa shook her head. “No, I bed men, but I am saying that after I’m finished, I prefer the company of women.”
I laughed. “Elsa, that is a very common sentiment among women, regardless of the century.”
We both finished getting ready and left the house together for the day. Elsa stayed with me for the majority of the briefings, but then left after receiving a call from Aidan. The two of them were spending an ever-increasing amount of time with each other. I began to wonder whether he was interested in Elsa for more than her experience with weapons. Given her lack of ability to read the bigger picture, I was certain she would never have a date in this century without some serious intervention on my part. I resolved to ask her more about it when I saw her next.
As I had predicted, the day flew by and I was able to make it back to my house to shower and change before the doorbell rang. I stood upstairs listening to the chimes. There was a vampire ringing my doorbell, something I could not have imagined a few short months ago. I quickly ran downstairs to open the door, delighted by the sight waiting for me. William was wearing faded Levi’s, a navy t-shirt and a brown cord jacket with a lamb’s wool lining. He wore a brown wool ski hat sat on top of his head, pulling his red hair close to his face. I didn’t imagine for a moment he was cold. I assumed he did it to fit in, since the night air was growing increasingly chilled as we approached winter.
“Come in,” I said as I opened the door wider. When he was inside, I shut the door and turned to kiss him. He pulled me into an embrace and kissed me deeply on the lips.
“Now that is much better than a text message,” he said, keeping me close to his body.
“Mmmm, I agree,” I said, enjoying his touch. We stayed in our embrace for a moment and then I pulled back and asked him if he would like a drink.
“No, thanks,” he said. “I thought would we take a detour someplace first before we start our official date, if that’s OK.”
“Sure,” I said. “What did you have in mind?”
“A friend of mine is having a jewelry show at a gallery on Polk Street,” he said. “I thought we might go and take a look.”
“OK,” I said. “Then are we going to the lake?”
William had a playful smile on his face. “Actually, I’d like to take a rain check on the lake. I have someplace else in mind I’d like to take you, if you’re up for a surprise.”
I didn’t really care about the destination as long as I was with him. “I’m