The Hermit & Heir | A Short Story

Part 7

The man had introduced himself as Gene. Gene and Felix led Vera and Ted to their home on the outskirts of the village. Outside the family's home stood the little girl from before and a woman, assumingly Gene's wife.

Felix went running to his mother who shared the same blonde hair that the children had. Gene followed Felix to the door. It was a heartwarming scene for the travelers.

Ted had noticed that Vera was unusually quiet, not that the girl spoke much anyway. He patted her on the back and whispered, "Are you alright?" She nodded back hardly able to look at him. Her nonverbal reply slightly worried Ted. He didn't press that matter any further.

The rescue of Felix had been the scariest moment of her life. She tried to shake the feeling of being held at knifepoint out of her mind. She realized Ted's hand lingered on her back as they approached the now happy family.

The woman of the home introduced herself as Molly. She greeted the two into her home and said that dinner would be ready in a bit. It was an early dinner. Vera and Ted were given drinks and were sat at a large dinner table where they began to talk to Gene. Molly excused herself to the kitchen to finish working.

The little girl came to stand next to Vera's seat and examine her. Vera felt eyes scanning the side of her face and turned to meet the brown eyes of the young girl. Vera shifted awkwardly in her seat.

"I'm Petunia," the girl said.

"I'm Vera."

Vera stifled a cough and tried to think of what to say next. Petunia examined Vera's face and then pulled on her sleeve.

"Can I show you something," Petunia asked. Vera looked back at the table where Gene and Ted were talking and drinking and allowed to Petunia drag her from the table. Gene and Ted continued their conversation.

The young girl brought the woman to a small room with a bed. There were toys and colorful pencils scattered on the floor. Vera guessed this was Petunia's room. Petunia sat on the floor and motioned for Vera to follow. She did. Petunia began to fill wooden cups with fake tea from a small wooden teapot. She handed Vera a cup.

"It's lavender tea," Petunia urged her to drink. Vera took a small sip and pretended it was good. She remembered playing this game with her mother. Petunia smiled and sipped from her own cup contently.

"You're very pretty," Petunia said shyly, "Is that man your husband?"

Vera almost choked on her fake tea. She shook her head.

"Oh, well he is very handsome. I thought he was a prince or something. None of the boys at school look like him,"

"We are travelers," Vera added trying to change the subject.

"Where are you traveling to?"

"I'm following him back to his home to deliver a package,"

Petunia thought about this information. "Is he a messenger?"

"Sort of," Vera lied. She didn't really know who Ted was or what package he was delivering. She didn't know much. There were many questions he hadn't answered for her. Most of all, she wanted to know why he carried two of the same necklaces in that pouch of his. It was a curious thing to carry around especially in duplicates.

"What is his name?" Petunia asked.

"Ted."

Before Petunia could ask another question or refill Vera's cup, Molly called for the two to join them at the table. Vera set down her cup and followed Petunia to the larger room where Ted and Gene still sat. Molly brought in a large ham ready to be cut and set it on the table. Felix and she brought small side dishes onto the table. Gene did not hesitate to start cutting the ham and place pieces of it on his guests' plates. Ted and Vera did not lift a finger as both of their plates were filled by Gene and Molly.

Vera was grateful to have a meal supplied for her instead of having to make her own for once. The family and their guests began eating silently. Halfway through their meal, Gene began to tell Molly about what had happened in the market and the forest where Felix had been captured. The table hung on to every word he said. The travelers realized he had embellished some parts of the retelling to make the scene more dramatic. Molly listened intently making faces of shock and anger appropriately. She looked to Ted and Vera with warm eyes and began to place more food on each of their plates.

Petunia, who sat diagonally from her mother began to whisper to her while looking at Vera. The young woman watched their secret conversation and awkwardly looked back at Petunia.

Molly giggled and looked at Vera, "Petunia asked me if I could start doing her hair just like yours." This brought a smile to Vera's face and Ted chuckled. He reached over and picked up Vera's braid in her hair saying, "It's quite intricate, isn't it?"

Vera almost began blushing at the attention. She had never gotten a complement on her hair before. "I can braid it for you the way I do it," Vera shyly offered, and Petunia smiled widely. Gene laughed at his daughter's antics and began recounting his conversation with Ted,

"Ted here was telling me how he is traveling back home with Vera to get married."

Ted coughed and Vera's eyes grew wide.

"I knew it," Petunia shrieked. Molly reprimanded her daughter for her outburst, and Felix seemed embarrassed by his sister. The table became silent. Vera didn't know whether to correct Gene or not. Ted glanced her way giving her a knowing look.

"Yes, we're getting married soon. We went to receive an important wedding present from a great aunt of mine and are on our way home," Ted explained. Vera, although shocked, was silently impressed with his quick cover up.

When dinner had finished, Gene invited Ted outside to have some drinks and talk some more. Vera stayed to help Molly clean off the table and wash dishes. Molly insisted that Vera didn't have to help her, but Vera couldn't help herself. While she had never had dinner at someone else's house before, she supposed this was the appropriate thing to do.

As she and Molly washed the dishes, Molly asked, "Are you ready to get married?" Vera's face grew hot. She didn't have Ted here to keep the narrative going for her.

"Yes," she said in a quiet voice, not making eye contact with Molly.

"I was nervous to get married at first," Molly replied, "but it's not so bad when you marry your best friend. Gene is my best friend."

Vera had never thought about getting married. She always imagined herself living a solitary life. The men that lived in town certainly never took a liking to her at all. Petunia shook Vera out of her thoughts by grabbing at Vera's skirt. Vera leaned down to her level.

"Can you braid my hair like yours?" the little one whispered. She nodded.

Vera quit the dishes and pulled up a chair. Petunia stood still in front of a seated Vera, and she began working. Petunia's hair was sectioned several times and quickly braided down her head. Vera decided to make the style more intricate than hers for fun. She never got to braid anyone else's hair. She was gentle and swift with the young girl's blonde strands.

When Vera finished, Petunia ran to her mother for her to see the hairdo. The little girl excitedly ran outside to Gene and Ted to show off her hair.

"I think she likes you," Molly chuckled.

A little while later after the food and dishes and been cleared away, Ted and Gene came back inside. The sun was getting low, and the sky was lit in brilliant pinks and oranges.

"I think the two lovebirds are going to set off now," Gene announced. Ted went to shake Gene's hand, but the older man placed a coin bag in his hand. Gene mouthed a thank you.

Ted came to Vera's side and asked her if she was ready. Vera stood and thanked the family for their hospitality. Just before they went out the door, the children promptly went to hug them tightly. Ted chuckled and patted both their heads.