Eastern District School

Chapter 9 - Room 108

"Your grandmother?" Rose's voice shook.

Rich nodded. He picked up her travel mug on the floor and came back to her then. "Jennifer Lawson, as she was known then. She married later on, to my grandfather Peter Stork. Obviously my paternal grandparents." He rested the travel mug on the side, since she hadn't taken it off of him.

"And her?" she pointed to the other woman and her hand shook. Rich took the photo slowly from Rose and gently pushed her hand down to her side.

"As I said, I'm not completely sure. There's so much speculation. I'd rather investigate further."

"So you have some idea?"

"Rose, it could be anyone!" he said, his voice soundly slightly agitated, and his hand went to the back of his neck, as he rubbed it.

"Don't give me that!" she spat. "It could be anyone, could it? So why does she look exactly like me Rich? Exactly like me!"  She couldn't hold it back anymore, tears rolled down her face.

Rich genuinely looked concerned. "Rose I'm sorry, I only have a handful of names that I think it could be. She may be related to you, but I won't lie. I really don't know who she is."

"Okay." She believed him, but she was still most upset.

"I don't know Rose, but I will help you find out. Now please. Go find your hotel details out from Bill and get some rest. We can talk again tomorrow about it."

That was something she had to admit: she did need some rest. "Okay. I'll go find Bill." she said.

"I'm gonna see what's holding them up with that box. It might be a start." he backed away from her slightly. "Will you be okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Thanks." She forced a smile and quickly wiped her face with her hands. 

He was just heading out of the cabin door, when she called after him. "Rich?"

"Yeah?" his head popped back around the door.

"Could you let Benny know I'm okay, and that I'll message him later."

He nodded and left, closing the door behind him.

She grabbed her coffee mug and took the lid off, downing the contents, considering it had cooled down considerably. She washed it up then and left the cabin room, and walked into the other cabin.

"Hello?" she called out, but no one was there. She looked through the paperwork on the noticeboard but couldn't see any list of hotel names where they sometimes were. Sighing, she walked back out of the office and looked around. Everyone was rushing around. Bleeping, humming, drilling: the nosiest place to be. This was usually home for her. But now as she looked up at the building, she saw it in a different light. Before this building held memories and secrets. Now she realised it was holding secrets from her. She was connected to this building, she just knew it. Rich could do his digging, but somehow she knew, this was part of her history. 

She saw Bill and Benny coming towards her now as she stood there staring up at Eastern District. She was pleased to see Bill, for she knew it would mean she could be on her way. As for Benny, she wasn't sure she wanted to face a hundred questions from him right now, she just wanted to rest.

"Rose, Rich said you need the hotel details?"

"That would be great, it is time for me to shoot off, get some rest, ready for an early start." she said, trying her best to sound positive.

"Of course. I'm just dishing them out. Within the next hour everyone will be packing up for the day anyway." 

Rose hadn't realised it had gotten so late already. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was almost five p.m. Bill gave her the details on a little slip and proceeded to give Benny the same, with that he made his excuses to leave and left Benny alone with Rose.