Eastern District School

Chapter 89 - Ultimatum or choice?

Please don't faint, and look all damsel in distress like! She told herself. 

Silence remained for a few minutes had passed, no one had left that room. She wondered if she should wait for them to retire, and hide from their view in the kitchen. Or perhaps they would just come straight into the kitchen and find her there...eavesdropping onto...onto what...a confession? A secret? Was he going to tell her? Is that what they were talking about? 

Another wave of what seemed like cold blood swept throughout her. What was he talking about? In the back of her mind she knew but didn't want to bring it too close to the surface of her mind. She couldn't say the words!

She should make a dart for it! They had stopped speaking, perhaps just stood there staring, trying to intimidate the other more. She could run? Or would they find her? She knew she was wasting time just thinking about it, rather than acting on it. 

Just as she was about to move toward the door, she heard the clicking of the handle and moved to the side, hopefully out of sight. 

"I'll let you get a couple of hours sleep." Thomas' voice came as a whisper now that the living room door was open. 

Rich almost coughed a laugh. "Right, like I'm going to be able to sleep."

She heard a slight thud, the sound of Thomas patting his son on the shoulder. "You have my blessing son."

There were no more words, but then she heard the footsteps on the stairs above, and she suddenly let out a sigh, only then realising that she was holding her breath  for such a time. 

"You can come out now, he's in his room!" Thomas' calm voice sent chills down her spine. It wasn't just he fact that he somehow knew that she was standing there...and for how long had he known that, she wondered. But it was also the fact that he always seemed to remain calm. 

Rose stepped forward slightly into the light of the hallway he was stood in. He stood there with his hands in his pockets, a soft smile on his face. He said nothing more, just stood there smiling. Rose felt guilty just standing there in front of him, it was like he was expecting her to say something. 

"What about you?" he suddenly said, as though the conversation with his son had continued but just shifted from his son to Rose. 

"Me?" she asked, her voice shaking noticeably. "What about me?"

Thomas nodded and shifted himself to the tip of his toes and back again. He sighed with a smile. "I want to know how you feel about my son? I know you heard the conversation and I know what kind of plan had been laid ahead of you. I am aware you know."

It was as if he was peering deep into her, searching for her answer himself. This of course made her nervous. 

"I couldn't sleep, and I heard Rich come in..." she began, not realising she hadn't thought what to say beyond that. "My mum will be leaving in a couple of hours."She said simply, almost blurting words out at this point.

Thomas nodded in understanding once again. 

"You'll want to see her off, for sure. You have all had a lot to deal with. Perhaps you might like to head back up with her?"

Rose was taken aback by his suggestion but not altogether displeased with it. Perhaps she could head back up. It would give her time to talk to both her Nan and mother. It would also give her a break from Rich and not having to face him right away felt like huge relief at just thinking of it. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to look him in the eye after what she had just heard. She could also find word on her truck, although that would probably need Rich's assistance, considering that he took the ball in getting it fixed. Another way of him showing that he cared, that he wanted to look after her, that he loved her.

Cutting her work week short was something that she didn't do. Bill would wonder why she wasn't coming in for the rest of the week, and he would probably ask why, for which he would have good reason. However, what was she supposed to tell him? My father who has been dead for over 20 years has suddenly come back into my life, and your current boss thinks he is in love with me. Sure that would go down well. Also, why was Thomas suddenly suggesting such a thing? Why was he even encouraging her to think of it herself? She thought that she gave off the notion that she was honest and trustworthy, hardworking too. Someone who is hardworking doesn't give up!

She swallowed quite audiablly, at the realisation that Rich was a hard worker too. He wouldn't give up...but he hadn't actually told her, had he?

She stood staring, not giving Thomas a reply. He waited patiently and just simply smiled at her when she lifted her gaze and met his eyes, sudddenly coming out of whatever zone she had disappeared into.

"I'm not actually sure that she needs me that much right now, she just needs my dad." She said  softly, her mind still in some thought if not completely away with them.

Her mind once again reminded her of what that wish would entail, and took another loud swallow of air that seemed to be choking her.

Thomas' earie smile was starting to make her feel nervous, and she wiped her sweaty hands on her pyjamas. It was as though he could see right through her. Like he was staring at her, staring through her and into her all at the same time. Was there something he could see.

Unvoluntarily, she turned around briefly, just to be certain that there was nothing behind her that was getting Thomas Stork's attention.

Seeing nothing there, she turned back around to him, in mind to do her best to excuse herself from this awkward moment.

"I'm going to try and get another hour before my mum heads out." Thinking of it, she wouldnt be surprised if her mother was actually awake now, sorting her things and preparing herself with a nice hot bath or shower. She imagined for a moment walking up the stairs and coming face to face with her mother, and having another awkward moment. What was there to say? How should she know what to say, not only had she never been through these strenuous circumstancs before, but she was quite sure that no one else had either.

There was no book on how to behave or what to expect when your father whom you had thought dead all these years, suddenly turns up not quite at your doorstep, but definitely at the doorstep of your work, explaining to you that because of his detailed work in some kind of secret service organisation you were doomed to live his life in repeat. Or what to do when you find out that these past 20 odd years he has been fighting for your right...your right to live your life as you please, so that you don't have to follow his suit. Nor when you find out that he has succedded his work, and that all that needs to complete his work is for you to be married.

What a book that would be!