Heart of Stone

Protector

Eloise had indeed woken up feeling much better the next morning. She went about her usual routine of letting Luna out and feeding her. Violet helped her cook a homemade breakfast of eggs, avocado, toast, fresh fruit and coffee.

"So, LouLou, what are your plans today? Might you be seeing Alexander?" Violet asked after taking a bite of her pancake, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

Eloise chuckled.

"I'm not sure. We usually share some morning texts so if I don't hear from him soon, I'll send him a message. He was worried about me last night." She said.

"Might I suggest that you think about what you want to do going forward first? I'm not trying to sound like my dad or anything, I'm just worried about you here all alone. He clearly cares about you, and you care about him. You guys are already married so...maybe it's time you thought about what it would be like to live together." Violet said.

Eloise nearly choked on her coffee.

"Okay, it's true that if we were a traditionally married couple we would be living together, but that is not the case. There are other things I have to consider before doing something like that. What about his family?" She pointed out.

Violet sipped her coffee, contemplating for a moment.

"I think they'll like you, LouLou. They've never been anything but nice. Plus, if you're making Alexander happy and doing right by him, they'll have no reason not to like you." Violet said.

"You know what, you're right. Thanks." Eloise smiled at her cousin.

"Besides, you know I'm always here for you. Everyone else can shove it. Especially my dad with his dumb comments." She said.

Eloise chuckled, finishing off her food.

"Yeah, that was a bit much. But that's how our family is. They mean well." Eloise sighed.

They finished their coffees and food in comfortable silence, and the sound of a vehicle pulling up in the driveway reached their ears. Luna perked up, looking towards the front door.

"Speak of the devil." Violet said, checking her phone.

"Thanks for coming over so last-minute last night and staying with me. I think Alexander would have forced himself to come back if you didn't." Eloise said as she cleared the plates away.

"Of course. LouLou, we're cousins. That's what I'm here for." Violet said, smiling warmly as she got up from her chair.

Luna growled softly as the front door opened, then ran up towards Bernard excitedly, licking his fingers and wagging her tail. He greeted the dog with a friendly pat. He walked into the kitchen, hugging Eloise with more warmth than he'd showed her last night.

"Ready to go, Vi?" Bernard asked his daughter.

"Yep, just let me grab my bag." She answered, disappearing down the hallway.

Bernard turned his eyes on Eloise again.

"Take better care of yourself, Lou. Remember, if you need anything we're just a phone call away." He reminded her.

Eloise smiled warmly.

"Thanks, Uncle Bernie." She said, a bit of comfort flooding her chest.

As Violet and her father left, Eloise and Luna watched them go from the front door. She felt a mix of emotions, recognizing that lately her apartment felt unusually empty and hollow every single time someone left her there alone.

Eloise spent the morning resting after a nice hot shower. It eased the left-over aches in her bones, and she felt refreshed. She made herself a cup of hot lemon and ginger tea with raw honey and freshly chopped garlic, just like the one Alexander had made her last night. She sat outside curled up in her chair sipping it, Luna laying at her feet. The liquid soothed the pain in her throat, and she sighed in content under the warm sun.