Sookie opened the door, pulling it towards herself so Bill could enter the house. Gran watched him move across the threshold, her excitement outweighing any of the previous trepidation she might have felt. His face was relaxed, a calm and genuine smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. He strode up to where Gran was perched on the couch, his hand outstretched with an air of easy self assurance.
“Hello ma’am. Thank you for welcoming me into your home. My name is Bill Compton.” Gran stood and grasped his hand with a steady grip. Bill’s hand was warm and smooth, exuding a gentle pressure around Gran’s hand that reminded her of how alive this man seemed to be.
“Bill, I’m Adele Stackhouse, Sookie’s grandmother as you well know. I am so very pleased to have you here to speak with! Thank you for taking the time out of your evening to come over!” Gran smiled at him exuberantly, the warmth of her welcome twinkling brightly in her eyes.
“Well Gran, you go ahead and ask your questions. I’ll head to the kitchen and make some tea,” announced Sookie as she strode out of the room, leaving Bill and Adele to their conversation.
The two settled into their respective seats, Adele on the large, worn out couch and Bill in a red cushioned arm chair across from her. She scanned him with curious eyes, not knowing where to start. She wasn’t sure if vampires abided by the same social rules as living humans and she certainly didn’t know if certain questions would be off limits or too invasive. The last thing Adele wanted to do was offend the vampire that so intrigued her. Bill could provide her with knowledge before her time, a more in depth understanding of humans and the world they live in than any being with blood pumping through their veins. She chose her words with careful consideration, smiling as she spoke them.
“I’m thrilled to be given the privilege of speaking with you. I have so many questions that I’m afraid I don’t know where to start! As Sookie may have told you, I belong to a group called the Descendants of the Glorious Dead. Our purpose is to memorialize those who were killed during the Civil War but also to uncover the history behind the Civil War itself. Many of us had relatives, a grandfather or great-grandfather, who died fighting for the South. Though we may never personally know those who fought, we believe the best way to honor them for their sacrifices is to speak of them and keep their memory alive!” Gran paused at this, her face alight with excited anticipation. Bill waited patiently for her to continue.
“Sookie told me that you were alive during the War. As someone who experienced what we can only attempt to dream up, I would love to have you speak at one of our meetings. Of course, it would have to be a night so you could actually come speak, but we would be ever so delighted if you’d come and share with us!” Adele smiled eagerly, careful expectation bubbling in her demeanor.
“Ms. Stackhouse, it would be my pleasure. Anything I can do to assist your society and enlighten those about our previous struggles” Bill replied, a hint of amusement edging into his voice over the enthusiasm Gran expressed.
This woman wasn’t like the humans Bill had so often encountered before. Kindness and consideration poured from her, filling the room with a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere. Adele was old no doubt, but her chipper attitude was like that of a child playing his favorite game. The stress of life had not weighed her down, despite the loss of her daughter, Sookie’s mother. No parent should have to deal with the death of their child, a fact that Bill knew well. And yet, here was Adele who had done so much. She had raised two children during what were suppose to be her twilight years and had done her best to instill good moral values in both. If either Sookie or Jason ever grew to be as upstanding as Adele Stackhouse, it would be an ultimate win for Bon Temps.
As this thought passed through Bill’s mind, he was suddenly overcome with a desire to spend more time with this woman. She possessed an old soul, just as he did. She cherished the past but still looked towards the future; the future of Sookie, of the community, and of Bon Temps as a whole. Bill leaned forward in his seat, hands clasped upon his lap and his brilliant white teeth peeking between his lips in a small smile.
“I’m glad that there are still those who have a mind for examining the past. You just tell me when and where Ms. Stackhouse.”
“Please,” chimed Gran, “call me Adele.”
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