Eastern District School

Chapter 39 - Thomas

"I can't believe you're really going to stay at my Nans!" she said once she had fastened her seat belt in the safety of his car. The storm certainly did look like it was in for the night, even though it did not seem as fierce as it was when they were out in it earlier.

"I can't believe she asked me!" his voice still sounded in utter shock.

"She must really like you. She has a big thing about first impressions. You must have made a real big one!" she smiled, even if silently she was worried about the situation. For so many different reasons.

"Can you direct me please?" Rich said as he started the engine.

"Sure."

She directed him back to the farm, and discovered quite a lot of light emiting from the windows.

Had her mother not lost any power?  Rose was puzzled. Perhaps it was just because of the tree at her grandmother's, that had knocked down some mains lines.

"So you really came all this way just to tell me about something you found out at the school?" she asked. She found it hard to believe. What could honestly be that important?

"It's not just something I can tell you about, but I've brought it with me. Well actually I brought all six letters with me. I found something quite interesting and rather than going straight to him...well..." he paused, "It's better if you just read them. It will explain a lot, as well as bring up a few more questions."

What was new about that? This week she started off with one question Why is this man following me?  Now at the end of the week - the same question had reappeared in her mind. As for in between...well a round guess of about 100 others had arisen, at some point.

"You want me to read them? Here?" Her voice at a slightly higher pitch than before.

"Unless you wanted to read them to your mother?"

There was a pause.

"Okay, let me see them!" She said, almost reluctantly.

"You do know I only opened one. As soon as I read it, I knew I had to come and get you!" 

He sounded so serious!

"Get me?" she asked puzzled.

"Well, you know...I mean I had to come and find you...to show you!" 

He reached behind her, leaning closer to her, to reach for his briefcase which was situated behind the passenger seat. He pulled out a wad of letters.

"These are the last six, right?" she asked as he held them. He was looking down, obviously trying to find the one he was referring to. The dim light from the maps light offered very little in his car.

"Right." His eyebrows burrowed as he twitched his mouth - a look of concentration. She hadn't seen that look before. That wasn't to say that he hadn't been..

"This one!" He pulled out a brown envelope. "It's addressed simply to 'Johnstone' on the outside...but just read it!" He passed it to her, but his impatience was very clear.

She frowned as she took it from him. Slowly, she pulled out the letter, her hands shaking as she did so. Evident that she was indeed afraid to read it. He had just travelled across the country for her, so she could read this letter. Her eyes suddenly stung and threatened to leak, and a lump in her throat, the size of a golf ball was suddenly forming.

"Do you want me to read it?" he asked softly.

This did nothing to aid her nerves. 

" 'Pete,' "