Redemption

~12~

Issy grinned, welcoming the morning, the sunlight lit the room. She felt glorious!

What a wonderful dream, she had had. Bounding out of bed she scurried to her office in her pyjamas then slipped behind the typewriter and set about relieving the dreams and the feelings she felt. Even in the daylight, they still floated along in her body like a lazy river and her fingers near hummed as she pound away at the keys.

"Good morning" John boomed like a foghorn on a harbour.

Issy scrambled after bouncing a whole foot in fright; covering the page in the typewriter with her body, hiding her notes, hands slapping down over the pile of pages stacked beside her. She felt and looked exactly like a naughty, naughty girl and John was well pleased he got the reaction he did. He liked putting people off kilter and she was so easy to set off. He dropped the cup of coffee he had made and left her to her secrets.

Slipping out the front door he needed a fag....and a drink. Sure she was entertaining but needs, were needs. He also realised that he hadn't touched a drop the night before.

The scotch bottle still lay on the worn floor carpet of the jeep and he took a swig as he leaned his arm on the roof of the jeep. It was like a different dimension out here, the trees of a expansive forest hugged the lake and many more stood and swayed close by the house. They stood tight making the rest of the world disappear. He could sort of see why she liked being so far away from everything, it had it's merits.

He took another swig and walked back inside dropping on the couch, letting his eyes work over the room. Warm timber, deep upholstered chairs, photographs on a mantle over what would be a roaring fire in the cooler months. The kindling was set ready and if he could find some bigger sized firewood he would have got it going, sure it was getting stinking hot out but what a beauty of a fireplace it was.

Changing his mind he knelt, lit the kindling and waited for her curse. Rising back up to full height he decided to bind his time while waiting for Isabelles squeal about the lit fireplace by perusing the many photos of Sally, Julian, and Ivy too. The new family unit were sat proudly, front and centre, on the mantle.

"John, are you burning Norwegian Wood!?!?!" She yelled from the top of the stairs, banging down them like an elephant but jumping from the second last to the floor like a cat. One big cat like bounce. Hey! Where are the cats?

"Where are the cats? They were all over me last night, like someone else I know. Little flirty mermaid" John smiled broadly at how he so easily ruffled her feathers, making her eyes flash and spark. She wandered over to the fireplace to look at the destruction of the previously, neatly laid, fire. It was crackling away nicely.

Instinctively she warmed her hands then rolled her eyes when she met his gaze.

"One- the cats are lounging out on the deck. Two- I laid this ready for a cold snap. Three- last night, in your dreams mate, and four- stop talking 'bout last night!!"

John pointedly tipped his head and sculled more of the scotch, she flinched ever so slightly but never said a word.

"Why are you still here?"

"Thought you could use the company... and we're the granddies! Need to get along don't we Isabelle?" He set the bottle down and Issy swiped it up quick smart and skulled, knocking it back like a dehydrated sailor "Hey, leave me some of that!"

"Plenty in the cupboard" she pointed the bottle behind her "Knock yourself out for all I care"

"I thought you were the good one and me the bad, if you're changing the positions you have to tell me first so I can plot"