Runaway Slave

Let's Paint

 The next day Alexander came to get Claire then they were off again to their final destination his house. What was even odder is that he put chains on her. She didn't understand that, he took them off just to put them back on her again.

"When we get into town, don't look or say anything," says Alexander.

"Master?" asks Claire.

"Don't." says Alexander.

She blinked but nods agreeing to the odd request, when they get into town she keeps her head down not looking at anyone or anywhere. He stops the carriage in front of a tall blue house with a tower attached to the side the windows were brimmed out in white but what was even more peculiar was there was not plantation. She went into the house wondering what the plan was. She looks around to see that there was hardwood throughout the house with a spiral staircase and the walls were bare for the most part.

"I would like you to help me Claire," says Alexander.

"With what, Master?" asks Claire.

"Alexander please, and with decorating the house can you do that for me?" asks Alexander.

"I can try my best Alexander...I'm sorry it will take me time to get used to calling you that...you bought me to be your slave?" asks Claire, confused.

"No no not at all, but I don't want you to go to some ruffians. I would have just set you free like my other slaves but it isn't safe. So I ask a favor of you," says Alexander.

"What is that?" asks Claire.

"I need you to help me decorate my house slowly help me pick things out for the house, please," says Alexander.

"I can try," says Claire.

"Thank you!" says Alexander.

"Fresco," says Claire.

"Excuse me?" asks Alexander.

"I need fresco samples, sir. I can't think straight with these bare walls," says Claire.

"Oh right, my apologies, I will be back in a couple hours. Please don't answer the door no matter what," says Alexander.

He runs out the door, leaving Claire to herself, she explores the house wondering what she could do to decorate this house to make it less boring, she doesn't even know the man. She notices that there is a kitchen, living room, office and bathroom on the bottom floor. While on the second floor there is a huge entryway with six bedrooms and a huge master room with a bathroom then a bathroom in the hall. She goes up to the tower and notices that he is starting to turn it into his library. She is stunned by what she finds in the books are a lot of exploring with maps and mysteries as well. She finds a copy of Huckleberry finn in a glass class.

"So he likes books like these and mysteries.." says Claire.

She looks in the master room where she finds that he is very organized and he likes to play chess as there is a game already set up. By the way the board looks well taken care of but worn this is one of his favorite activities. She goes outside in the back to stay out of plain site to find the garden. He has a big green thumb looking at the plants hidden in the garden she finds a bike. She picks it up to find that the bed like the bike and the house is blue.

"So his favorite color is blue, he likes chess and he likes to read...I might be able to do something," says Claire.

She comes back inside locking the door just as she hears the front door jingle to life. She goes in front where she finds Alexander with fresco samples.

"I got the fresco samples is there anything else you need me to do?" asks Alexander.

"Help me move these photos into the living room for now so we can get started," says Claire.

"We?" asks Alexander.

"Yes, if I am not your slave then you are going to help me like I am helping you," says Claire.

"I like your attitude let's begin shall we?" asks Alexander.

The two start by moving everything into the living room which takes about two hours to do so. They head into the kitchen for a glass of water when she notices that the floors need redone.

"Mr. Alexander have you ever considered, changing the floors?" asks Claire.

"Actually yes, why?" asks Alexander.

"We need to get some tile," says Claire.

"Uh..sure...how about tomorrow I go to the store?" asks Alexander.

"Or we can together, I'm not sure what I want and we need men to do it for us because we will be doing the entrance," says Claire.

Alexander smiles liking her spunk, he agrees that tomorrow that they will go get some men and tiles at the store tomorrow. That night Alexander gets her a bedroom set up in the back of the house near his room after dinner. Which Claire learns quickly that Alexander shouldn't touch the stove ever. She manages to whip up some potatoes and corn for the two of them. The next morning the two go to the store and get what they need. She produces the chess board to the men as soon as they make it to the door.

"My Master requests that you do the floor like this, he is resting now but we will be doing some painting in the entrance if you would need us, thank you in advance from my master and I," says Claire.

They nod setting to work on the floor determining it would take two days to do the floor exactly like a checkerboard and two days to tear out the wood without creating foundation problems. She informs them to take as many days as they need just put the sink back where they found it along with the stove. She gets Alexander and they start painting the entrance beige yellow to sort of be inviting but not be a yellow that is tooo "in your face". This process took about five days on it's own with how big the entrance was. They painted the stairs white to keep it simple, which kept them trapped downstairs for two days while the fresco dried. Claire did everything to keep Alexander out of the kitchen even giving him black paint to paint the cabinets and the table. While she painted the wall white then put everything back in the kitchen herself. She covers his eyes leading him into the kitchen.

"Okay, one, two, three!" says Claire.

She uncovers his eyes to which his mouth dropped with excitement. He looks at everything with such delight. She smiles finding it quite adorable that he was this excited over a kitchen.

"Do you like it?"

"Like it? I love it! It's like a chess board!"

He runs over hugging her tight. Then starts questioning how she knew that he loved chess, they talked a lot while they were painting but it was more of: "What is your favorite color?" "What was your dreams growing up?" "What is your favorite food?" never once did they mention hobbies.

"I found a chess board in your room."

"I thought I put it away, I haven't played it in years.."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No no, I am glad you found it this looks beautiful just as the entrance, I can't wait to see what else you do!"

He smiles happily hugging her once more, she smiles hugging the big man back. She could see herself actually being happy here. Alexander goes out for the next couple of days for meetings in the town hall leaving Claire to the decorating, while he is away they do exchange letters back and forth. She paints the bathroom first finding that would be the easiest to paint, she chooses a light grey so it would be easy to change if anything goes wrong. There was white tile around the tub and toilet along with white floors. She gets creative painting little black triangles on the floor where she could reach and keeps out of that bathroom for a while. She does the upstairs bathroom the same way but leaves the master bath alone for now. She gets a letter the next day stating that he was going to be out for two more days sending his apologies and some daisies.

"He..remembered...such a small silly detail.."

She smiles to herself then goes into the living room, she is glad she had the furniture already moved out to make painting easier. There was fresco coming off the walls and around the fireplace, the floor was covered in dust suggesting that no one has even set foot in this huge room in ages. She shakes her head thinking about what she could do fresco wise before she starts going with Alexander to get some decorations that will really liven up the place.