Chapter Twenty-One
Her intention had been to quietly with no fuss, just leave.
Her intention had been to just quietly disappear.
Her intention was thwarted at every attempt.
The front door was almost permanently open with Jonathon, Matt or one of the medical three all coming and going all morning.
The driveway cleared of vehicles, but people and equipment remained.
She watched from her bedroom window, feeling like a prisoner of circumstance.
She was free to leave, had the means to leave, if only it wasn't for him. Matt was almost constantly at the front, almost as if he was guarding the way.
There was a timid knock at her door, and after taking a quick look to make sure Matt was actually still out front, she turned to call. "Come in, it's not locked!"
Sandra peeped around the door as she opened it. "I'm not disturbing you, am I?"
"No, no of course not, come on in... what can I do for you?"
Sandra leaned against the door as it closed and smiled a little.
"Nothing, it's nothing wrong, just..." she hesitated. "Well... Mr Richards, he said, he said that we should not do anything different, that this is and always will be our home, and safe place..."
"Yes," Trudy nodded. "that's right, that's as it is and should be."
"Well, that's all well and good, but with all the coming and going, downstairs - it's hard to know where to settle!"
"It is a little crazy down there," Trudy smiled apologetically. "But they are already setting up a habitat thing out on the green, so once that is in place -- they will all move over there... probably by the end of today."
"Yes? It will be good to get the house back to ourselves," Sandra said with open relief.
Trudy studied her thoughtfully for a moment. "I think that things are going to change around here though," she said carefully. "But Seline will always put you girls first, and so it's important for you to all be honest with her. If it makes you uncomfortable now, how will it be when these young men come along?"
"But they won't be staying here in this house. As long as we know that this is ours and only ours then everything else is -- cope-able."
Trudy felt a rush of affection for this young woman, who had already been through so much in her life. She reached out to hug her affectionately. "And you will always have me as well, I will always be at worst -- a phone call away."
"Yes, I know," Sandra whispered. "And I still thank the Gods every day for you coming into my life and rescuing me."
"You rescued yourself, I just encouraged you." Trudy laughed lightly. She looked seriously into the younger woman's eyes. "You are much stronger than you give yourself credit for."
Sandra blushed and looked away. "Yes, well... anyway I did come up for another reason... You weren't at breakfast, and lunch is almost finished?"
As if on cue Trudy's tummy gave a rumbling sound and she realised that she was actually quite hungry.
Sandra laughed at her, and Trudy blushed and then laughed too.
"Come on then, let's go and find some food."
As they walked down the stairs, the front door suddenly opened and Trudy's heart did a summersault in her chest, only to drop back down like a rock, when Jonathon walked in.
He didn't look up at them, just walked into Seline's study and closed the door behind him.
"Well, he certainly seems to have made himself at home!" Trudy muttered under her breath.
Sandra cast her quick look of surprise and then blushed a little. "He may not be Matt -- but I rather like him... he was just so patient and gentle with the younger girls this morning, so concerned for their -- for all our welfare."
"Yes," Trudy conceded. "Jonathon does concern himself with the wellbeing of all and everyone -- that is what has always made him such a great elder and leader."
*
The dining room was empty, but there were still plates along the side with sandwiches and a sliver covered bowl keeping the soup warm.
Trudy sat down to enjoy the hot food and Sandra joined her with just a mug of coffee.
"I had something before I came up to see you," she explained at Trudy's questioning look. "But I am happy to keep you company with my coffee."
Trudy shrugged her acceptance of her offer and tucked into the food.
She was almost finished when there was a rush of cooler air and the sound of the front door opening and then closing.
"I'll take your plate and my cup through to the kitchen while you enjoy your coffee," Sandra smiled at her and scooped up the bits before heading for the door.
She passed Matt as she left and smiled up at him brightly. "There's still some food left if you want any. Trudy will sort you out, I'm sure."
"That would be very nice of her," Trudy heard the smile in his voice, and she ducked her head so that he wouldn't see her expression when he walked in.
He strode in only to stop in front of her and breathe in deeply. "Something sure smells good,"
Trudy shrugged keeping her gaze firmly on her drink. "Marcie's soups are always something special."
He sighed deeply and she could not stop herself from glancing up -- only to have her gaze captured by his melting brown eyes.
"Please," he begged huskily. "Can we just be friends even for a little while?"
The eyes, the tone, the way he looked and the way he smelled to her.
She stood no chance, and her face was an open book of emotions to his searching gaze.
"Can I get you a refill?" He asked turning away abruptly.
Trudy blinked and concentrated on downing the rest of her coffee, so as to allow her flaming cheeks to fade.
"Yes, please." she murmured, holding up her empty cup.
The brush of their fingers as the cup changed hands was a shock of electricity.
The air in the room thickened immediately, and Matt gave a low groan as he put the cup down and reached for her instead.
His memory was still fractured and splintered, and hazy thoughts and images jostled around.
"Trudy... my Tru sunshine girl." he murmured distractedly.
The air turned cool again along with the sound of the front door opening and closing.
