When I returned, she drank the whole glass. “I’ll be sorry in five minutes because I’ll have to go to the bathroom,” she said. “All I do is pee and eat.” Tara had big rings under her eyes, and her complexion was not at its best. Where was the glow of pregnancy that I’d heard so much about?

“How much longer do you have to go?”

“Three months, a week, and three days.”

“Dr. Dinwiddie gave you a due date!”

“JB just can’t believe how big I’m getting,” Tara said, with an eye roll.

“He said that? In those words?”

“Yep. Yes. He did.”

“Geez Louise. That boy needs a lesson or two in rephrasing.”

“I’d settle for him keeping his mouth shut entirely.”

Tara had married JB knowing brains weren’t his strong suit, and she was reaping the result, but I so wanted them to be happy. I couldn’t be all, “You made your bed, now you gotta lie in it.”

“He loves you,” I said, trying to sound soothing. “He’s just . . .”

“JB,” she said. She shrugged and summoned up a smile.

Then Antoine called that my order was up, and the avid expression on Tara’s face told me that she was more focused on the food than on her husband’s tactlessness. She returned to Tara’s Togs a happier and fuller woman.

As soon as it was dark, I called Eric on my cell while I was in the ladies’ room. I hated to sneak off on Sam’s time to call my boyfriend, but I needed the support. Now that I had his cell number, I didn’t have to call Fangtasia, which was both bad and good. I’d never known who was going to answer the phone, and I’m not a universal favorite among Eric’s vampires. On the other hand, I missed talking to Pam, Eric’s second-in-command. Pam and I are actually almost friends.

“I am here, my lover,” Eric said. It was hard not to shiver when I heard his voice, but the atmosphere of the ladies’ room in Merlotte’s was not at all conducive to lust.

“Well, I’m here, too, obviously. Listen, I really need to talk to you,” I said. “Some things have come up.”

“You’re worried.”

“Yes. With good reason.”

“I have a meeting in thirty minutes with Victor,” Eric said. “You know how tense that’s likely to be.”

“I do know. And I’m sorry to pester you with my problems. But you’re my boyfriend, and part of being a good boyfriend is listening.”

“Your boyfriend,” he said. “That sounds . . . strange. I am so not a boy.”

“Foof, Eric!” I was exasperated. “I don’t want to stand here in the bathroom trying to talk terminology! What’s the bottom line? Are you going to have free time later or not?”

He laughed. “Yes, for you. Can you drive over here? Wait, I’ll send Pam for you. She’ll be at your house at one o’clock, all right?”