Eastern District School

Chapter 90 -Breakfast at Abel Pastor

Thomas had simply patted Rose on the shoulder and turned away. He didn't ask any more of her, possibly seeing the strain on her face. Leaving her to head up the stairs towards her room.

She tiptoed up the stairs, although she was certain within an hour other people would start to awaken, her heart beat loud in her chest from the events of the things she had just heard...and thought.

No sign of her mother, no sound from her either she realised as she got closer to her own door. The only sounds she heard were the sound of her own heartbeat and the morning song of the birds that were starting to waken in the trees around the house.

"You're awake?"

His voice did not hold back from how surprised he felt. At the same time it seemed a statement as well as a question. He was tired too.Well that is how Rose assumed him to be, as she scanned him briefly, as though seeing him in a new light. He had been awake a long time, he seemed to be sleeping less than herself. Despite how often she reasoned that it was her family life and her worries as she stared at him now (because that is what she was clearly doing right now not having given him a response), it was clear that he was also concerned.

A sudden pressure in her chest made her reach her hand out to touch his arm, almost in automatically.
"So are you!" she said simply, her voice soft with the consideration of those still sleeping.

Rose literally saw his shoulders heave with the sigh that escaped him, which lead her to wonder once again where he had been before his discussion with his father downstairs just now. He clearly would have been tired before returning to Abel Pastor.

"Did you want a coffee? I can make you one..."

Rose shook her head. "No, no. I'm fine. I couldn't sleep much either, and mum'll be leaving soon. I don't want to be reaking of coffee before I see them off. My Nan will most certainly have something to say about that!"

They both smiled at the thought. It seemed he already had such an understanding of Sylvie, as well as an appreciation.

"My Gran was the same." he said, the smile still lingering but a sadness in his eyes as he thought of his loved one lost.

He had lost a great woman from his life, and she had gained a great man in hers. One who had spent  a large portion of his life working to free her own, and yet here before her still, stood a man who had stood by herside throughout his own troubles to help her find her way to her father. The steps she had to take to be where she was now...the process of finding and once again meeting her father.  What a precious gift in that alone, not to mention finding a true friend that would be by yourside, no doubt working ways that she didn't know of. Even the thought of her truck brought to mind how hard he was working for her. As if he wanted to take a load from her own worries.

Was that all he was though? Just a friend?

"I was just doing a little researching... he said, obviously feeling the need to explain his appearance to her now that silence had once again consumed them. He gestured behind him toward the small study overlooking the front of the house.

Rose nodded slowly wondering of the truthfulness of that statement, being that she had just been listening in on his conversation with his father just a short while before.

"Do you need any help?" she asked as casual as he could.

Rich smiled, but not his usual confident smile. Was that nerves she noted? He rubbed the back of his neck as his eyes darted down to the floor between their feet. Well that could be taken into proof, she thought.

"Honestly, I think you have helped me already."

Rose blinked, taken aback from his words.  "I've helped you? Are you serious?" her voice rose slightly in her pure shock.