Eastern District School

Chapter 54 - Alone

"Rose, wake up we're here!"

Was she dreaming? She hadn't even remembered falling asleep. It was dark as tried to open her eyes. 

"What? Was I sleeping?" she muttered. 

Rich laughed, and Rose knew she wasn't dreaming then. It was his laugh! She just wasn't sure when she had actually drifted off. She had remembered drinking the rest of her coffee, thankfully, as otherwise she no doubt would have been wearing it in his car!

Having already stopped the engine, Rich opened his door, instantly letting the interior lights come on. 

"Okay, okay, I'm awake!" she said, covering her eyes. She blinked a few times and caught sight of his father's house. They were in the drive of Thomas Stork's house. She was amazed that she hadn't even woken at the sound of the car on that gravel!

It took a few seconds for something else to click. 

"Your Gran Rich?" she asked simply. It was clear she was at a hospital and he had come all this way, a day early, well, actually just half a day earlier than he was going to because she had been rushed into hospital. So why were they outside his father's house?

"I thought, since you were so tired. You would want to settle." he said, the look on his face seemed that he was almost begging her to stay. 

She was hurt that he wanted to leave her behind, but then who was she to them? It was his Gran! She didn't want to push him. 

"Oh. Okay." she nodded but didn't add anything in acknowledgement. She didn't want to bite at him again. 

Rich got out of the car, not even stretching  and came around her side to open her door. As Rose stepped out, she had a strong urge to stretch as her legs were quite stiff, but she didn't want to appear weak in front of him. He then went around to the back of the car, and opened the boot. He picked up all her bags, IN ONE HAND, before he closed the boot with the other. It wasn't that impressive, she reasoned. She and Tracey only carried half each to lighten the load as they walked together. Something she often did for Tracey, as she more often went shopping than Rose. 

Rose followed Rich up the steps to the front door. To her surprise, instead of knocking he unlocked the door with keys from his pocket. As they came into the house, Rich immediately took his shoes off and left them on a mat that seemed designed and situated just for resting shoes. She followed his lead and removed her own. 

"This way," he said pointing up the stairs. 

She felt nervous. She hadn't even had a tour of this place before, and now Rich was just casually leading her to the room she would stay, without even seeing the home owners, his parents. In fact, she had not even met his mother yet. 

As she climbed the stairs behind Rich, she realised that if her mother and Nan were going to meet his parents tomorrow, then she too would be meeting his mother for the first time. Had he had time to speak to his parents? Would they too be caught up in their trickery? Would he bring them in on the plan?

"Rich, I think we should call this off!" she said in a hoarse voice behind him. 

He had reached the landing now and whipped his head around to her so quickly he almost lost his balance. "What?" He looked completely confused. He moved aside to allow her to climb the last few stairs. "What do you mean?"

"Rich, I'm just so worried that your parents as well as my own mother and Nan are going to completely hate us come tomorrow or the day after, when they realise all this is a facade to bring my mother out of her own lies."