The Cadet

A Night to Remember Pt. 2

SPOCK POV
I was rather surprised at the strength Evelyn used to pull me into a taxi. She rattled off an address to the driver and turned to look at me with excitement in her eyes.

"There's an open air market that isn't too far from where I grew up." She said.

"You grew up in San Francisco?" I asked, trying to relax as the driver sped down the streets.

"Born and raised, dad met my mom when he came to Starfleet. Not too long after I was born. When he died I moved in with my nan." She explained.

The driver stopped the taxi and Evelyn shuffled out, handing him a few bills. I looked around at the street. There was graffiti everywhere, and questionable looking people loitered on stairs and in alleyways. Evelyn led me up the stairs into one of the several rundown apartments. We climbed a few flights before reaching the top. She knocked on one door, a sudden look of anticipation overcoming her face.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

She nodded, "Yeah, I just haven't been home in a while."

Before I could ask her what she meant, the door swung open to reveal a short, elderly woman with stark white hair.

She looked up at Evelyn, then between both of us.

"Are ye pregnant?"

Evelyn started stuttering profusely and I felt immense heat rise in my cheeks.

"No! Nan, we just needed a change of clothes. We missed our train." She explained quickly, deep crimson covering her cheeks.

Nan muttered something under her breath and beckoned us inside.

"Uprooted myself and moved my whole life out here for ya, and for what?!  Not hearin' from ya in five years and then suddenly showin' up at my door with some strange lad! What else was I supposed to think? I 'aven't heard from ya in a long while!" Nan shouted, her Scottish accent thick, "Why I have a right mind to-"

"Nan, I'm sorry." Evelyn said quietly, giving her a pleading look. I had never seen her so soft and gentle. Evelyn was like a fire, roaring all the time with great emotion. But now, with her family, she was soft, flickering gently like the flame of a candle.

"Oh you bet your noggin' yer sorry!" Nan cried, shoving some clothes into my arms. "Here ya go dearie, you can change just through there." She said sweetly, pointing me towards a room.

I thanked her and disappeared behind the door, thankful to be free of the awkward situation. I could still hear her yelling through the door though.

"My god, child, have ye even eaten?! You're all skin an' bones!" Nan cried.

"Yes, Nan, I eat." Evelyn replied, seemingly exasperated.

"Are ye still boxin'? I would have a right mind to come see a match if I only knew when they were!"

"Nan, you've been to one, you said you hated it."

"No, I said 'I don't understand why you'd go and muss up that pretty face of yours just to have a few blows at a fellow'. An' I still don't."

There wasn't a reply from Evelyn, so I assumed she had left the room and changed. I had been given a pair of jeans and a flannel that I was surprised that fit. Not my typical attire, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

I peeked out the door and found Evelyn's grandmother muttering to herself in the kitchen. I quietly entered the living room, taking a chance to inspect the area. There were several pictures of a family on the walls. A little girl, I assumed Evelyn, gave the camera a toothy grin as a man lifted her over his shoulders.