Little Redhead

Chapter Five: Lessons in Violence

When Luce first woke up she was worried that something had happened. The room was unfamiliar, filled with garish walls and the odd ornament that looked as though it might possibly be haunted. The wardrobe could have hidden other worlds in it and the blanket that she had kicked off was so lumpy she assumed it had been knitted by someone that had no idea what they were doing. The soft sound of the wireless, a voice singing along with the lilt of the almost unfamiliar, however, assured her things were fine. Cece's voice, amongst all the other accents Luce was getting accustomed to, was a reassurance in itself.

The shop had been too quiet, or too loud. She hated the long hours there when she was practically alone but also disliked how early everything happened. If she was being honest, it wasn't too different to the pub, it was just that she hadn't chosen it. It felt too much like a cage, and she was determined to get out of it. Even trips to the yard with Hal hadn't helped to dispel her feelings of imprisonment; a lack of Stanley at the yard had made the whole thing something of a chore if she was being completely honest.

With a sigh, Luce slipped out of bed, hastily got changed and went downstairs. She was greeted by the clattering of cutlery.

'Did Henry wake you with his heavy-handedness, annwyl?' asked Cece, barely glancing over her shoulder as Luce padded into the kitchen.

Luce raised an eyebrow. For some reason, she'd never really thought about Hal being called anything but Hal. She shook the revelation from her thoughts. 'No, I just woke up.'

Cece nodded, calmed by the reassurance.

'Do you need a hand?' Luce asked, stepping closer to where the other woman was cooking.

Cecily's blue eyes were steely when she looked to Luce this time. 'You're our guest, I don't expect you to do anything,' she said warmly. 'Why don't you sit down at the table.' The suggestion came out with very little room for argument.

'Tea?' Hal asked before she could argue the point. He held out the kettle, a tea towel clasped around the handle to protect him from the scorching metal.

'Please,' Luce said, shooting him a small smile. She could see the look of uncertainty behind his eyes, wondered if he'd already told the Shelbys that she was there. Would they try getting her to go back to the shop? Remind her that, in their infinite wisdom, they thought it was the safest place?

Hal bobbed his head and started pouring, but his gaze kept shifting over to her.

She fidgeted slightly as she slipped into a chair.

'What's the plan for today then, Lucinda?' asked Cece, dishing up the food already. 'Break a few boys' hearts?'

Luce felt a flush rushing to her cheeks as she spluttered her protests. But Cece shot her a wicked grin as she put the plate down on the table. She patted Luce's shoulder. 'I know you're not like that,' she assured her. 'But seriously, what were you planning?'

'Charlie's yard, I'd suspect,' said Hal as he put the kettle back on the hob.

'Day off,' Luce said, her attention on the food in front of her: toast and bacon. After grabbing food to go as she headed to the yard a proper breakfast was something of a novelty; one that she hadn't truly appreciated back home. She forced her attention back to the others. 'I was thinking of going on an adventure,' she said, trying to ignore how sharply Hal looked at her, the way that Cecily had to put a mollifying hand on his arm.

'How about,' suggested Cece, a bright smile on her face, 'you come shopping with me? Have you ever been on a motorbike?'

'Ce, I don't think –'

'No... I mean, yes, and no, I've never been on a motorbike,' said Luce quickly, the words barely tumbling out of her mouth before the next ones fell out too.