Reposted from 2014 but hey, why not.

MY FUNNY VALENTINE

When it comes to romance (hey, it is February) my brother Valentine is right up there as the guy every girl would like to be with, even if it is just for a few hours.

My brother Valentine is one of the most relaxed creatures I’ve ever met. Describing him brings up traits like low-key, mellow, friendly, happy, smooth and of course funny.

If you didn’t know him you’d never in a million years guess he is a Vampire.

Then again putting everything out there, the what-you-see-is-what-you-get attitude has never seemed smart or true to me. It somewhat lacks in a certain sophistication. I’m not saying to be false, one just doesn’t have to wear their underwear on the outside for everyone to see.

So I said to him, “Val, tell me about your perfect Valentine’s Day.”

Val leaned back in the chair and smiled as he told his story. “February 12, 1941. There was a full moon. I was in London working for the American Military, as we all were. The usual super secret Vampire stuff. Anyway, that night Jo, you remember Josephine McClintock. Well, Jo and I were strolling around the city in the dark. We’d dined on a group of British officers who never knew their guests were Vampires. We were just a couple of funny Yanks with a lot of good jokes and sources for good booze.

Jo was always in a good mood, except that night she was a little off. She’d seen someone she was crazy about with another woman. What made it worse was that the other woman was a beautiful Norwegian Vampire. Her plans for the evening under the moonlight were crushed. Jo took it all in stride. To this day she is still one of the most level headed good humored Vampires I’ve ever met. She was the best companion I could have had that evening.

I’d also been crushed in a slightly different way and was feeling sorry for my self in the worst way. I’d run into Gloria. I know you remember Gloria – the Vampire who’d taken my heart but would never give me hers.  I wasn’t good enough for her, yet she always came to me, to my bed but nowhere else. I was in love with her. She was in lust. We’d parted ways months before but then I’d run into her while at the library. I was hopeful she’d changed her mind about me, but she told me she was in love. I told her some sort of lie about how I was doing great. Then we both said have a nice life and she left. An hour later she returned to where I was still doing research. She said she wanted me. Not forever. Just for now. Just for a few hours of sex. She said she couldn’t stay away from me.

I told her that I wouldn’t be with her because I would never betray another man like that. I said that it was out of respect for him that I wouldn’t touch her. She said she understood and respected me for that. I gave her a hug and I never saw her again.

I’d lied to Gloria. What I wanted to tell her was that I didn’t have sex with her wasn’t because she was in love with another man. The real reason was because she wasn’t in love with me. Now after all this time I wish I’d told her that, but I can’t go back.

That night in London, Jo and I found ourselves under the moonlight talking about how love never lasts and how useless any efforts on love were all stupid and a waste of time. We found ourselves laughing at funny stories about love and romance. What fools we are, especially us Vampires were for thinking that love could work and last for anyone.

From the window of a dark house that had once been grand, but now was in slight decay, came the faint sound of Artie Shaw’s Begin the Beguine. We quietly went inside the unlocked door and down a dark hall to a large hall. A wind up phonograph was on the floor. A couple danced cheek to cheek in the center of the room, alone, in love. He stopped the dance and kissed her under the moonlight that flooded through stained glass windows. Time seemed to stop. They were the only two people that existed in our war torn world. Their hearts would never be broken.

We backed out as quietly as we entered.

Jo linked her arm in mine and gave me a smile, “We were wrong Val. That was Jeremy and Samantha. They’re legends in the Modern Vampire movement. I’m sure you’ve heard of them.”

I smiled back. “Somewhat.”

“They’ve been in love for around 250 years. Real love.”

I laughed out loud then told her “I know all about their love affair. Jeremy and Samantha are my parents.”

We left Mom and Dad alone and went off to seek fun elsewhere. A few nights later the bombing started again. Jo was assigned to another post and I didn’t see her again until 1950 at a party in Santa Barbara. I saw her again last week. She’s doing great.”

“Mom and Dad are still in love,” I said to my brother.

“Yes they are. Every day is Valentine’s day for them.”

And I hope every day is Valentine’s Day for you, my readers.

~ Juliette aka Vampire Maman