ALISON ✔️

Chapter 19

Alison

Henna and I went to the store to buy some groceries for the house, it was 4.30 in the afternoon and it felt nice to get out considering I didn't do it very often.

Henna picked the items on the list while I trailed behind with the cart,

"Speaking of raisins, What does Mr. Hertz like to eat?" I might as well get something out of her, I thought.

"Mostly steaks." She answered while reaching for some fresh fruits on the pile, "But, lately I've been slowly incorporating salmons into his meals."

Henna had known him longer than I had, she knew him in and out.

"What's his favorite food?" I asked.

"Crockpot Pepper Steak."

"Would you teach me how to make it?"

"Of course." She replied and then stopped to look at me, "Ali, what's this sudden interest in Mr. Hertz? What other mischief are you up to?"

I stuttered...

"I..I am just getting to know him, he's so reserved and quiet, I barely know his name, wouldn't you want to know if you were me?"

She wasn't buying it,

"It can't a crime to be curious about my guardian.." I added and pushed the cart forward.

She gave in with a sigh,

"Ali, if you really need to know why don't you ask him yourself."

"I'm asking you. You know we don't see eye to eye, I'm almost convinced he hates me." I said and did the sad face thing to sound convincing, "I wish my parents were here."

"You've never talked about your parents?" The mood went awfully sour after that,

"That's because I don't remember them.." I replied in the same tone, "They are a void memory in my head, the photos Mr. Hertz keeps on the halls provide me with an image of them, and without those photos, I wouldn't know what their faces look like."

"David must have thought of that...."

"Yeah, he's always one step ahead," I muttered in a proud whisper, but Henna misinterpreted it.

"Ali, David is very stubborn about his rules, but he's a very good man and he cares so much about you, that man would go to the end of the world just to keep you safe. I hope you know that."

"I do.." I smiled profoundly.

She went on and on about him.

"David is a man of few words, he doesn't say much about anything unless it concerns your safety."

And I just had to ask, "Henna, do you have feelings for Mr. Hertz?"

Henna almost choked.

"Alison!!!"

"What, I just assumed because you always have all these nice things about him to say about him. And I just had to be sure." I walked around to face her with an impending gaze, "I really want to be wrong?"

"You're wrong. Don't ever utter such nonsense ever again? I respect David so much, I can't imagine him hearing about this." She looked very offended.

"Okay, I get it, I'm sorry. I just had to clear that up."

"Okay..." She dropped everything and turned to me with a questionable look, "What's this really about?"

"What?!"

"For a second it felt like you were threatening me."

"What, I don't know what you mean."

She paused and stared at me mistrustfully for a beat.