Reflection of Fire

Part II Chapter 4

The walk back to the house was silent as Rey agonized over whether to tell Master Skywalker about seeing Kylo Ren or not. If she did, what would Master Skywalker do? Probably tell her to stay inside, where it was safe. But the man had done nothing to imply he might hurt her, so Rey didn't feel like she was in danger. Surely it would be easy enough to avoid him in the future?

B.B. was waiting on the front lawn and smiled when she saw Rey. "I'm glad Uncle Luke found you!" she called, waiting patiently for them to get closer.

"I'm sorry for my absence," Rey replied earnestly. She stopped when she reached B.B., while Master Skywalker headed in the house. That was good – perhaps she could talk to the girl privately about sending a letter.

"We weren't looking for long. Uncle Luke just worries." B.B. shrugged and turned toward the door. "Did you like breakfast?" she asked over her shoulder.

Rey followed her, wondering where they were going. "Yes, the fish was excellent. I didn't know you enjoyed fishing." It wasn't a particularly ladylike pursuit, after all.

It was clear that B.B. was agitated about something, but she stopped to look up at Rey almost imploringly. "Uncle Luke shouldn't be so alone. He needs to keep busy."

"So you take him fishing? To keep him busy."

She smiled hopefully and nodded. "Do you think it's working?"

"I'm sure it is. That's very kind of you, B.B."

The girl looked relieved and led Rey down a narrow corridor to open a pair of doors. Inside, there was a gallery of paintings, though they were covered up to keep from being damaged by the dust. Rey frowned slightly, uncertain that they should be in here. Still, B.B. crossed the room confidently to a spot near the window. There, a little work space had been set up.

"Do you like to paint, Miss Rey?"

"I'm afraid I haven't much skill," she replied.

B.B. sat down in the chair and turned the easel to show Rey. It was a painting of Master Dameron's house, and, though clearly done by a student, was quite lovely.

"It's beautiful," she told her pupil earnestly. "I can see you've been practicing."

At home – well, at Master Dameron's – B.B. had done some painting. But Rey had never seen her work before. She leaned closer to inspect it, surprised at the skill already obvious in the young girl's brushstrokes.

Silently, blushing a little, B.B. moved that painting aside to show a different one. The second wasn't nearly as good, but rendering people accurately was more difficult than a landscape. Still, Rey could recognize Master Dameron and Finn and B.B., with Master Skywalker and a woman she didn't know in the background.

"That's very good, B.B. Is this a present for your papa?"

"Yes. I started it this morning, but it's not done yet," she answered shyly.

"I think he'll be very happy with it," Rey told her reassuringly, ignoring the pang she felt at not being included in the portrait. It was a family portrait, she told herself. Of course she wouldn't be part of it. "Have you written to your papa today?"

"Not yet."

Rey bit her lip, wondering if she should broach the subject or not. She might as well. "I was wondering if perhaps I could send our direction to some friends of mine. Just in case they want to reach me."

B.B. frowned up at her. "I don't know, Miss Rey. Papa is the only one who writes to Uncle Luke. Not even Grandmama does, and no one visits but me."