“So, World War I. That was—a mess, right? I mean, all those trenches and bombs and stuff. Had to be brutal. I feel really bad for anyone who had to fight during that war,” Cadence commented trying to sound nonchalant as she looked over maps of the city with Christian, Stormy, and Jamie.
The doctor looked at her with a puzzled expression on his face. “Uh, yeah, I guess so,” he replied before exchanging amused glances with Christian. “What brought that up?”
“Oh, nothing,” Cadence said as she studied a depiction of the City Center area from several decades ago. “I was just thinking about how you guys have lived through so many historically significant events, and how interesting that must be.” She hoped she still sounded like she hadn’t been planning the conversation for days, but she had a feeling they were on to her.
Christian snickered. “You don’t really think that’s interesting at all, do you?”
“Of course I do,” Cadence said defensively. “It’s very interesting. I mean, you fought the blue coats….”
“Red coats,” Christian corrected her.
“Damn,” Cadence muttered. She was afraid she would mess that up. “Right, the red coats, and that had to be a really amazing time to be alive, you know—the birth of our nation.”
Stormy let out a groan from the other end of the table. “I ain’t got time for this nonsense,” she muttered. “I’m going to go check in with Morgan.”
Cadence’s jaw dropped open at her rudeness, but she was actually secretly happy to see her leave. She’d never been a fan. Once she was out of the room, she turned back to Christian and said, “So exciting times, right?”
“Well, Valley Forge wasn’t that much fun,” Christian reflected. “But it was a time in my life I’m very proud of.”
“Right!” Cadence agreed. “And you must be very proud of… some of the things you did, Jamie.”
“Yes, I am proud… of some of the things I did,” Jamie laughed. “Tell you what Cadence, we’ll tell Aaron you attempted to get to know our history a little better if you promise to stop talking about it right now, okay?” he asked.
“Why?” she asked, sitting back in her chair confused.
“Because I really don’t want to hear your thoughts on how President Kennedy handled the bombing of Pearl Harbor or how King Arthur should have gotten rid of the Stamp Act.”
Cadence’s mouth dropped open. “I am offended, sir,” she replied. “I know a lot about history. Just because I didn’t live it doesn’t mean I don’t know anything about it.”
“During the Civil War, who was the president…” Christian began.
“Lincoln!” Cadence interrupted.
“Of the Confederacy?” he finished.
Cadence thought for a minute. Finally, she said, “Jefferson?”
“Jefferson…?” Jamie said.
“Thomas Jefferson?” Cadence asked.
“Oh, and I was just about to stand corrected,” Jamie exclaimed.
Christian shook his head. “I say we stay focused on the maps,” he suggested.
“What? Was I close?” Cadence asked.
“In what way?” Jamie asked. “Chronologically? No. Patriotically? No. But his name was Jefferson… Davis.”
“I knew it was a Jefferson!” Cadence exclaimed, and then more quietly, she repeated, “I knew it was a Jefferson.”
“Yes, you should be very proud,” Christian replied, shaking his head.
“Proud of what?” Aaron asked as he entered the room, followed by Andrew.
“Cadence was just asking us some questions about our lives,” Jamie explained.
“And amusing us with her vast knowledge,” Christian added, eliciting a chuckle from Jamie and a glare from Cadence.
“Say no more,” Aaron replied. “Are we ready to head out?” he asked, looking from Christian to Cadence.
She wasn’t ready to change the subject just yet. “Hey, I’m not as dumb as you think I am!”
“No one thinks you’re dumb,” Jamie assured her. “It’s just… different… when you’ve lived it, you know?”
“I’m sure you know all sorts of things about other subjects that we know nothing about,” Christian agreed.
“Like what? Boy bands? College football? Thanks,” Cadence muttered. “Fine. I’m ready to go. Will we get to see the Liberty Bell?”
“Maybe,” Christian smiled, looking impressed again.
“Good!” Cadence replied, walking out from behind the table. “And the Statue of Liberty?” She heard Jamie gasp and punched him in the arm playfully. “It’s a joke!” she assured him. “I know we aren’t in Washington D.C.,” she added winking at him.
“She’s still joking!” Aaron exclaimed taking her hand, “I think. Jamie, keep looking at the maps, and we’ll be back in a bit, okay?”
“Okay,” Jamie agreed. “Although I’m not sure I know what I’m looking for.”
“Anything unusual,” Aaron reminded him.
“Right,” Jamie said. “If I see any Vampires drawn on the maps, I’ll let you know.”
“That would qualify as unusual,” Aaron assured him.
They made their way down the stairs to Andrew’s awaiting SUV. “Aaron, you want to sit up front so I can point everything out to you?”
“Sure,” he replied, opening Cadence’s door for her.
Christian went around the back and got in, and as Andrew started the car, he said, “You two behave back there. No funny business.” The passengers all looked at him as if he’d grown two heads, and he said quietly, “I say weird things when I am uncomfortable.”
“Dually noted,” Aaron replied, without bothering to point out Andrew had been talking about his fiancée. “Anyway, if you would take us to the hospital, I don’t think we need to go in, but I would like to retrace the route Giovani’s henchmen took when they left the hospital last night, all right?”
“Got it,” Andrew said, heading in that direction.
“Does it look a little different now than it did when you were growing up here?” Aaron asked Christian, who had squished himself as close to the door as possible after Andrew’s comment.
“Very much so,” Christian nodded. “There are a few buildings that are the same, but not many.”
“How long have you lived here, Andrew?” Cadence asked.
“Nice! That was a good question!” Aaron said only to her.
