Eastern District School

Chapter 41 - Breakfast at Penny's!

"Ready!" Rose said, standing in the kitchen doorway, although not having as grand an entrance as Mr Stork. 

Rich and her mother exchanged a look before Rich rose to his feet from the kitchen table. "Okay then, let's go shall we?"

Rose's mother stood too and shook his hand, which Rose thought rather strange. She then turned to Rose. "We'll talk later."

There was a warm look in her eyes, and it was all that Rose could do but nod her head in response. She turned on her heals and made her way to the front door of the house. She opened the door herself, before Rich was even close enough to try his usual stunt. The same thing with the porch door.

Riches car was parked clearly in the drive. It was only know that the realisation that she could be without a truck for a while hit her. That was her independence being taken away. Her baby!

"It's unlocked." he called out behind her, and she practically jumped in the car, closing the door and thankful for the dark shade of the tinted windows Rich had. 

Rich climbed in the car with a lot more elegance than she had. He started the engine and reversed out of the drive way. 

Her mother stood there waving, Rose could see but she kept her own head low.

"That eager to get away huh?" Rich smiled seemingly slightly amused. 

Rose shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to get anything from her Rich. What ever she knows, she's never going to tell me." She said softly. Her voice clearly proved her pain, even if she denied it. "I just have to figure this out on my own." she sighed.

"You're not alone Rose. We will work out what's going on here. Okay. I promised didn't I?"

Rose was silent. 

"Rose, I wasn't lying. We're in this together. Which is why I didn't open the rest of the letters. I know this is something we need to do together. There are another 5 letters we could get something from. Think of how much we've been able to put together with the help of these letters."

"And your Gran!" she said, barely more than a whisper.  She still couldn't get her head around the fact that although their history had brought them together, Rich was prepared to sacrifice a lot of time to help her. The thought of hiring a private investigator had crossed her mind a few times. They would definitely had been quicker, but he was right... they had done quite well with the letters. 

"Yes a little I guess, but this latest letter brought my dad into it. I'm sure of it. I mean if you want more evident, I can get something with his handwriting on to check the handwriting."

"If we have to. The thing is Rich, if your father is in on this massive secret that surrounds me, than is he here to help or 'deter' me now?"

"He wouldn't hurt you Rose!" he said seemingly defending his father.

"No, I didn't mean that. I just want to know if he will help me to understand what's going on, or will he push me away from it?" she frowned at him, but his eyes were still on the road in front of them. 

"He got me to you didn't he?" he said simply, and then desperately tried to rephrase his words. "I mean he was the one that referred your company to me, I contracted you in. He got you to E.D!"

There was that fact!

"Where are we going then? Did you bring me to fix my truck or to read the letters?" she said, smiling at him and gently shaking her head.

"Both!"

Rose frowned with the puzzlement that went though her mind. 

Rich risked a quick glance at her and laughed. There it was, his famous smile!