The Lioness: Change

Analisa's POV

written by rachelisnotawriter

        I stepped out of the hospital with Tree, who was as silent as a tree.
        
        "Is he eating?" I asked, breaking the awkward silence.

        "Quite," said Tree, whose manner surprised me. It was not flirty, but serious. "I fed him some cream and corn which he spat out."

        We walked down the road again, with the silence curtain hanging between us. Tree seemed to want to keep it that way. We did not talk all the way until we reached home. Dianne was sitting on the porch, staring out into the fields beyond.

         "Hi," I called, waving my hand.

        Dianne caught sight of me and waved back. I moved over to her and sat on the step below.

        "Hi," she answered, leaning her head one one of the wooden poles which sustained the roof of the porch.

        Tree moved closer and managed a small smile.

        "What did ya do today?" I asked, putting my hand on Dianne's shoulder.

        "Well, after I left the hospital...," Dianne suddenly seemed interested with the hem of her shirt.

        "What?" I encouraged.

        "I just walked about," she answered, still fingering her shirt.

        "And?" I pressed on.

        "Nothing," she said, standing up.

        Tree bit his lip. We both sensed that she was hiding something.

        I stood up too, and headed after Dianne.

        "Coming?" I asked Tree.

        "No thanks," he shook his head. "I need some time alone."

      I shrugged and went in after Dianne. My dad (I mean stepdad) was splayed on the sofa, aa cigarette clamped between his teeth. I recoiled at the smell, despite myself. When we locked eyes, Dad pulled the cigarette from his ridiculously white teeth (cigar smokers should have yellow teeth) and stepped on it. Mrs. Turner stepped into the room instantly with a disapproving expression on her hard face. She pulled out a Filipino helper and ordered her to clear the cigarette from the sparkling clean floor.

        "My dears, " said Dad, spreading his arms wide, his green eyes sparkling with fatherly affection.

        I wrinkled my nose. The smell of smoke was still lingering inside the room.

        Noticing my face, my father frowned and said, "Oh! I will go change into a new shirt for my darling."

        Dianne was silent the whole time.

        "That's my dad," I said, grinning.

        "I know," she said quietly. "I met him."

        "Oh?" I was taken aback. "When?"

        "When I was strolling," she said, shrugging.

        She seemed to want to avoid that topic, so I changed it.

        "Well, at least Trafalgar's better," I said.

        "Yeah," she seemed relieved.

        We talked about Trafalgar and poor Tree for a time, and at last, night fell and we went to the dining room to get a bite, with me still pondering on what she was hiding from me and Tree.