Taken by a Stranger (Meadema)

Chapter 21 - Awkwardness vs Comfortableness 🤷🏼‍♀️

Viv decided to take Myle from Beth, knowing that the dog often needs some time to get used to people. She knew that it was unique that the dog had such a good bond with Beth right away. Slowly a blurry figure appeared behind the window of the door, who opened the door and looked at Beth and Viv with a friendly smile, although Viv also seemed to see a hint of surprise in his eyes. 'Dad...'. Viv abruptly let go of Beth's hand, while Beth flew into her father's arms. 'I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you and mom. I hate myself for not doing it. I love you so much dad'.

Beth immediately burst into tears in her father's arms. 'It's going to be okay babygirl. You're safe here with me and Rona. You and the baby are going to be just fine. I love you too sweetheart'. Viv had never heard the blonde cry so hard, every sob seemed to cause a tear in her own heart. She wanted to comfort her, wanted to have Beth in her arms while she would gently rub her hand over Beth's cheek and wipe away the tears from her eyes. But she also knew that she had to give Beth's father the space and time with his daugther now.

As Viv stood awkwardly with Myle and Beth's suitcase in front of the door, Beth's sobs seemed to stop, which resulted in a moment for Rich to finally pay some attention to the other woman standing at the door. 'Well... I assume you're Vivianne? I've seen you on TV before'. Beth abruptly shot out of her father's arms and started leaning against Viv instead. 'Oh Viv, I'm sorry. Yes dad, this is Viv, the woman who saved my life and much more than that. And this is Myle, her dog'.

Rich shook Viv's hand. 'Welcome Viv and Myle, come in and make yourselves at home'. With Myle in one hand and the suitcase in the other, she walked into the hallway, slowly feeling the tension rising, feeling the anxiety seeping into her fibers. She always had a hard time just walking into a stranger's house, but with all her feelings for Beth, it felt even harder to enter her childhood house. It felt almost as if she was walking in the house of their in laws, but the reality was so different...

Rich opened the living room door, from which an enthusiastic dog came running into the hallway. 'Hey my fluffy favorite. Have you been a good girl for dad?'. Immediately the dog walked around Beth's legs, licking her on all sides of her face, until she got a view of Viv, especially the dog that was lying in Viv's arms. Viv carefully brought Myle a little to the ground, Rona, who was held back by Beth, stepped softly towards her. 'Rona, be gentle with Myle. She is still a baby'.

Slowly the dogs started to smell each other, they walked around each other a little. Myle hung around Viv, stood a little anxious between her legs, while Rona took a good look at who this stranger was. 'Hey you big girl, you are a good doggy too. Come on Myle, this dog is very sweet'. Viv carefully picked Myle up from under her and let her a little closer to Rona and slowly the dogs walked closer and closer to each other. They even walked into the living room together, after which Beth and Viv also entered the living room together.

And despite the fact that Viv felt a little uncomfortable at first, she felt the warmth that hung in this room. The wall was covered with pictures of the family, of Beth's parents, of Beth's brother and sister-in-law and of herself. 'Dad, can I please take this off the wall? I don't want to see this picture ever again'. Viv hadn't seen it yet, but it was a picture of her with Steve, standing in each other's arms, the only one of them hanging in the house. 'Of course babygirl, do what you need to do to forget this situation as soon as possible'.

Beth abruptly pulled the picture off the wall, she looked at Viv happily. 'So, this spot on the wall is now reserved for a picture with a man who does care about me. I can't wait for the moment that this spot is filled up again'. Viv nodded, tried to look away from Beth a little, to prevent Beth from seeing that she was visibly disappointed, almost hurt from the words that left Beth's mouth, but it failed miserably. 'Viv, you okay? What's wrong?'.