The Stranger In My Bed

Captured

Arthur seemed very cautious about what he asked me after that. I felt bad, I was being a difficult assistant today. Luckily, he didn't seem that deterred either.

"What kind of scenery do you enjoy most?" He asked.

"I suppose things like the garden," I said thoughtfully. "I love flowers, forests, and sunsets. Oh, and anything to do with water, especially lakes or rivers."

"I couldn't agree more!" He said excitedly. "Shimmering waters, plants bursting everywhere, landscapes bathed in the reds and golds of a setting sun. Honestly, it's a photographer's dream."

"I prefer to picnic when I'm there," I said, laughing, "but it's beautiful either way really."

I heard as he snapped a couple more photos. He looked down and scrolled through what he'd taken so far.

I was actually having fun talking with Arthur this way. Like a talk with a good friend. Why did it feel strange for some reason?

The realization struck me suddenly. Had Mr. Weston and I ever had a real conversation? We'd talked before, but it was usually about his past or the nature of our relationship. Was Arthur really the first personality I just talked to? I didn't know how to feel about that.

"We should go together sometime," he said casually.

"Go where?" I asked, still half-absorbed with my realization.

I glanced up. He fidgeted with the camera in his hands. He gave a slight shrug.

"To a lake or river, on a picnic," he said, not looking up.

Leave the mansion? That was a bad idea. Did Mr. Weston ever leave? I'd have to ask Thomas. Arthur looked at me expectantly.

"Oh, umm," I tried searching for words, "well, why don't we just have one in the garden sometime? It would be difficult to get all your equipment to another location, and I'd hate to imagine if it got wet."

"There's a river that runs along the border of the property. I can fit the essentials in a backpack. It's really no trouble," he muttered, looking down again. "That being the case, would you like to go sometime?"

There was a river on the property? I felt the panic vanish. That was much more reasonable. He almost seemed like he was pouting. I guess he really wanted to go. I never took Arthur for the outdoors type, garden excluded.

"Sure," I said, smiling. "Only if you promise to eat though."

His face lit up. "Of course!"

My smile grew bigger. Arthur's energy really was contagious. His passion seemed to radiate out and capture everything in its path, me included. He placed the camera back on its stand and lined it up.

"Tell me about your friends," he said cheerfully.

"I only really have one close friend," I sighed. "Sara, she's Thomas' niece."

"Really!" He exclaimed, snapping another picture. "I didn't know Thomas had a niece."

"Well, technically she's his great-niece. I guess Thomas started asking his family for help when he had trouble finding a replacement," I said, shrugging. "She's how I heard about this job actually."

"Amazing, what did she tell you about it exactly? I'm curious about how Thomas spun this position."

I paused. Right. Arthur didn't know he had a caretaker. I was his "assistant." I thought carefully. What would Thomas say about Arthur if he was posting a job for him?

"That there was a position open as an assistant for a passionate photographer," it sounded good, but it needed some brutal honesty to make it believable. "She mentioned that it was difficult to fill because the photographer could be demanding. There would be times I may be forced to be on my feet for hours or even skip meals. Also, I'd have to look over his health because he sometimes neglected it."