She’s never going to be my best friend, but she’s a good worker and she’s willing to come in two evenings a week after she gets off her day job at Norcross. “You want me to leave?” I asked.

“No, that’s okay.”

“Sorry, Tanya. What do you need?” Sam asked, smiling.

“I need you to change my name on my paychecks,” Tanya said.

“You changed your name?” I must have been extra slow that day. But Sam would have said it if I hadn’t; he looked just as blank.

“Yeah, me and Calvin went to a courthouse across the state line in Arkansas and got married,” she said. “I’m Tanya Norris now.”

Sam and I both stared at Tanya in a moment of silent astonishment.

“Congratulations!” I said heartily. “I know you’ll be real happy.” I wasn’t so sure about Calvin being happy, but at least I managed to say something nice.

Sam chimed in, too, with all the right things. Tanya showed us her wedding ring, a broad gold band, and after going into the kitchen to show it to Antoine and D’Eriq, she left as abruptly as she’d arrived to drive back to work at Norcross. She’d mentioned they’d registered at Target and Wal-Mart for the few things they needed, so Sam dashed into his office and picked out a wall clock to give them from all the Merlotte’s employees. He put a jar out by the bar for our contributions, and I dropped in a ten.

By that time, people were coming in for lunch, and I had to get busy. “I never did get around to asking you some questions,” I said to Sam. “Maybe before I leave work?”

“Sure, Sook,” he said, and began filling glasses with iced tea. It was a warm day.

After I’d served drinks and food for about an hour, I was surprised to see Claude coming through the door. Even in rumpled clothes he’d obviously picked up off the floor to pull on, he looked breathtakingly gorgeous. He’d pulled his hair back into a messy ponytail. and it didn’t detract.

It was almost enough to make you hate him, really.

Claude slouched over to me as if he were in Merlotte’s every day. and as if his kind and tactful moment last night had never been. “The water heater’s not working,” he said.

“Hi, Claude. Good to see you,” I said. “Did you sleep well? I’m so glad. I slept well, too. I guess you better do something about the water heater, huh? If you want to shower and wash your clothes. Remember me asking you to help me out by handling some things I can’t? You could call Hank Clearwater. He’s come out to the house before.”

“I can go have a look,” a voice said. I turned to see Terry Bellefleur standing behind me. Terry is a Vietnam War vet, and he’s got some awful scars—both the kind you can see and the kind you can’t. He’d been very young when he’d gone to war. He’d been very old when he returned. His auburn hair was graying, but it was still thick, and long enough to braid. I’d always gotten along real well with Terry, who could do just about anything around the yard or in the house, by way of repairs.

“I would sure appreciate it,” I said. “But I don’t want to take advantage, Terry.” He’d always been kind to me. He’d cleared away the debris of my burned kitchen so the builders could start working on the new one, and I’d had to insist he take a fair wage for it.

“No problem,” he muttered, his eyes on his old work boots. Terry survived on a monthly government check and on several odd jobs. For example, he came into Merlotte’s either very late at night or early in the morning to clean the tables and the bathrooms, and to mop the floors. He always said keeping busy kept him fit, and it was true that Terry was still built.

“I’m Claude Crane, Sookie’s cousin.” Claude held out his hand to Terry.

Terry muttered his own name and took Claude’s hand. His eyes came up to meet Claude’s. Terry’s eyes were unexpectedly beautiful, a rich golden brown and heavily lashed. I’d never noticed before. I realized I’d never thought about Terry as a man before.

After the handshake, Terry looked startled. When he was faced with something out of his normal path, usually Terry reacted badly; the only question was of degree. But at the moment, Terry seemed more puzzled than frightened or angry.

“Ah, did you want me to come look at it now?” Terry asked. “I have a couple of hours free.”

“That would be wonderful,” Claude said. “I want my shower, and I want a hot one.” He smiled at Terry.

“Dude, I’m not gay,” Terry said, and the expression on Claude’s face was priceless. I’d never seen Claude nonplussed before.

“Thanks, Terry, I’d sure appreciate it,” I said briskly. “Claude’s got a key, and he’ll let you in. If you have to buy some parts, just give me the receipts. You know I’m good for it.” I might have to transfer some money from my savings to my checking, but I still had what I thought of as my “vampire money” safely stashed at the bank. And Mr. Cataliades would be sending me poor Claudine’s money, too. Something relaxed inside me every time I thought about that bit of money. I’d been balanced on the fine edge of poverty so many times that I was used to it, and the knowledge of that money I’d be able to sock in the bank was a huge relief to me.

Terry nodded and then went out the back door to get his pickup. I speared Claude with a scowl. “That man is very fragile,” I said. “He had a bad war. Just remember that.”

Claude’s face was slightly flushed. “I’ll remember,” he said. “I’ve been in wars myself.” He gave me another quick graze on the cheek, to show me he’d recovered from the blow to his pride. I could feel the envy of every woman in the bar beating against me. “I’ll be gone to Monroe by the time you get home, I suppose. Thanks, Cousin.”

Sam came to stand beside me as Claude went out the door. “Elvis has left the building,” he said dryly.

“No, I haven’t seen him in a while,” I said, definitely on auto-mouth. Then I shook myself. “Sorry, Sam. Claude’s one of a kind, isn’t he?”

“I haven’t seen Claudine in a while. She’s a lot of fun,” Sam said. “Claude seems to be. more typical of the general run of fairies.” There was a question in his voice.

“We won’t be seeing Claudine anymore,” I said. “As far as I know, we won’t be seeing any fairies but Claude. The doors are shut. However that works. Though I understand there’s still one or two lurking around my house.”

“There’s a lot you haven’t told me,” he said.

“We need to catch up,” I agreed.

“What about this evening? After you get off? Terry’s supposed to come back and do some repairs that have piled up around here, but Kennedy is scheduled to take the bar.” Sam looked a little worried. “I hope Claude doesn’t make another pass at Terry. Claude’s ego is as big as a barn, and Terry’s so. You never know how he’s going to take stuff.”

“Terry’s a grown man,” I reminded Sam. Of course, I was trying to reassure myself. “They both are.”

“Claude isn’t a man at all,” Sam said. “Though he’s a male.”

It was a huge relief when I noticed Terry’d returned an hour later. He seemed absolutely normal, not flustered, angry, or anything else.

I had always tried to keep out of Terry’s head, because it could be a very frightening place. Terry did well as long as he kept his focus on one thing at a time. He thought about his dogs a lot. He’d kept one of the puppies from his bitch’s last litter, and he was training the youngster. (In fact, if ever a dog was taught to read, Terry would be the man who’d done it.)

After he’d worked on a loose doorknob in Sam’s office, Terry sat at one of my tables and ordered a salad and some sweet tea. After I took his order, Terry silently handed me a receipt. He’d had to get a new element for the water heater. “It’s all fi xed now,” he said. “Your cousin was able to get his hot shower.”

“Thanks, Terry,” I said. “I’m going to give you something for your time and labor.”

“Not a problem,” Terry said. “Your cousin took care of that.” He turned his attention to his magazine. He’d brought a copy of Louisiana Hunting and Fishing to read while he waited for his food.