Sorting Through Life's Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 7

                Tom was working with a few of the men as they were checking the water works. He remembered the last time they were here, they didn't have any water. He was happy to see they had finally gotten an irrigation system and a couple of wells dug to help supply water for the cooking. He knew the women still went to the river to wash and he was hoping to help find a way to get a third well dug with a solar pumping system so they could have more in the compound for better cleanliness and sanitation. He was sure the kitchen would appreciate it as well.

"Tom!" He turned at his name and saw Shawna stalking towards him. "What have you done to my friend?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about." She snagged his arm and drug him behind her. He was impressed as she was considerably shorter than him. When he saw they were headed to the kitchen he noticed that a few people were gathered at the door and whispering to themselves.

"Come on guys, it's not like she's dangerous." Shawna pushed him to the front and the vision before him made his heart burst with warmth.

There, with a smile on her face and moving about to the music she had coming from somewhere, was Maeve. He noticed a couple of women in the room with her and they seemed to be surprised but happy with this change in her demeaner, Happy expressions on their faces, though not quite smiles. He realized he had seen them in the infirmary with the mother the other day and figured they had come to help with the days' work.

"I don't know what the two of you talked about yesterday, but it sure sparked a change in her," Shawna whispered into his shoulder. He nodded in agreement. He heard the music change, watching in fascination as her dancing changed with it. He couldn't hold himself back and walked through the doorway, wrapping his hand around his angels' and joined her. Her gasp of surprise was followed by her wide eyes meeting his as he led her around the room in the waltz the music was meant to be. She followed his lead, but her body stayed tense in his arms the entire time. When the music stopped, she quickly went to a CD player that was stashed in the corner and turned it off.

"Thank you, Tom, that was lovely. Are you ready to get started today, or do they need you to help with the water a little longer?"

He Refrained from acknowledging her using his name instead of Mr. Hiddleston. "I can join you now. What are we doing today?" The others didn't miss that they had stayed close together, the women nudging each other and the men confused at the actor and the crazy witch from the kitchen.

"Just more of the same but, the women have brought some vegetables from their gardens and someone brought some fruit we can cut up."

"Alright, where would you like me to start?"

Maeve was surprised that he had asked-twice. This change from him pushing in was throwing her off. "If you help the women with the cutting, I can get the rice and beans on and then we can get lunch up to the school." She still looked wary, but he saw she was warming to him.

He was halfway through what the women had given him and the whispers were starting to get to him. "Qu'est-ce qui est si secret que vous ne pouvez pas partager?"

"Vous semblez s'intéresser à notre petite veuve." Both women looked at him expectantly. He glanced over his shoulder to see Maeve hadn't heard them speaking. He knew she couldn't speak French, but he still didn't want her to think they were gossiping.

"Je vous assure que c'est plus que de l'intérêt. Tu devrais venir plus souvent, la température est considérablement plus chaude avec la compagnie."

"Ce n'est pas parce que nous sommes ici, nous vous assurons." The women giggled and returned to their work sneaking looks back at Maeve as she hummed to herself while she worked with the large pots at the stove.

"Que voulez-vous dire?"

"Nous ne l'avons jamais vue sourire comme ça." He turned back towards her and saw a small smile playing on her lips like a symphony. He didn't notice the women grin as he leaned over when she turned, just to continue watching that smile and when she moved around her station, he followed the movements with his own ever so slowly moving towards her.

When he was right next to her, she stopped humming and he could see her trying to ignore him. "I'm taking you to dinner. I'll pick you up tomorrow night at seven." Her gasp as he kissed her cheek wasn't missed by the women and he made his way out of the work space.

'Where the hell does he think he's going to take me?" The women just giggled at her tone and went back to work.

*What are you not sharing?

*You seem to have an interest in our little widow.

*I assure you, it is more than an interest. You should come more often the temperature is considerably warmer with company.

*It's not because we are here, we assure you.

*What do you mean?

*We never see a smile like that.