by Lois Kay
“Why don’t I bring Jody and Alice a cup of tea as well?” Trishia suggested. “I’m sure they can use one.”
Sam nodded and poured the fragrant liquid into two more cups, handing them to Trishia on a small tray. “I’ll be here. I don’t think crowding Alice would be a good idea.”
“Thanks, Sam.” Trishia took the tray and placed her own mug on it as well.
She was about to leave the kitchen when Fiona’s voice stopped her. “Last door on the left,” she helpfully provided. “Unless you want to scare the living daylights out of Mom.”
“Thanks, Fi.” Trishia chuckled, leaving the kitchen and disappearing in the hall.
“Mom is still asleep?” Lucy asked. “Amazing.”
“She had a rough day.” Fiona yawned. “She could hardly keep her eyes open after dinner, didn’t you notice?”
Lucy mumbled something unintelligible and took another sip of her tea. She didn’t want to admit it to Fiona, but she hadn’t noticed their mother being so tired. Her thoughts had been occupied with Trishia and how wonderful it would be to spend the night together. It made her feel guilty, but admitting that to Fiona, of all people, wouldn’t be a smart thing to do. She’d remind her about that until the end of time.
Fiona cast a curious look at Lucy and shrugged. Some things never changed, and Lucy had always been the one who had difficulty waking up.
*
Trishia opened the door, careful not to spill any of the hot tea. She smiled at Jody and looked around for a place to put down her tray. Jody pointed at the night stand. “Thanks, Trish, you’re a lifesaver,” she smiled.
“Don’t thank me,” Trishia objected. “Thank Fiona, she made it. I’m just the delivery person.” From the corner of her eye, Trishia had noticed that as soon she had set foot in the room, Alice had tensed. Her blue eyes had darted between Trishia and Jody and the expression on her face had become one of caution.
Jody had noticed the change in Alice as well. She had felt Alice ‘s hand painfully squeeze hers. And the body that had finally relaxed went rigid again. Jody had felt it in the shifting of the muscles in Alice ‘s arm. She wondered why Trishia had that effect on Alice, especially since she had been nothing but kind to her. As far as she knew, there was no reason for Alice to fear Trishia. Maybe it was something that had happened in the past. It was possible that Alice ‘s previous experiences with law enforcement had not been friendly at all.
Alice became aware of the fact that she was still squeezing Jody’s hand and although Jody didn’t show any signs of discomfort, Alice knew that the vice-like grip had to hurt. Quickly she let go, shooting Jody an apologetic look. But Jody smiled and gently patted Alice ‘s back.
“She knows,” Alice thought to herself, feeling sadness well up from deep within her soul. “Jody knows that Trishia scares me. Damn. Why do I always have to make such a mess of things?” She cast down her gaze so she wouldn’t have to look at either Jody or Trishia. Her fingers nervously drew circles on the cotton sheet.
“Here, Alice, have some tea,” Jody’s gently encouraged.
Alice was about to take the mug Jody was handing to her, and only then she noticed her hands were shaking. Jody’s quick reflexes prevented the hot tea from spilling and burning Alice’s bare legs underneath the thin cotton sheets. Ashamed, Alice bent her head, and Trishia and Jody heard a soft, but heart-wrenching sob.
Jody closed her eyes and swallowed hard. It wouldn’t do Alice good to see her cry, but her heart ached for the young girl who had been so severely damaged in life already. She shot Trishia a questioning glance, which was answered with a pained look.
Trishia debated with herself on how to proceed. She was responsible for Alice, and briefly, she wondered if it had been such a good idea, after all, to take the girl with her to Murrook Farm. But the thought of a murderer on the loose who was possibly looking for Alice, quickly convinced her that her decisions had been right. Besides, it was evident that Jody had already formed a connection with Alice and Trishia didn’t want to take that away. Alice needed all the support she could get. It was apparent that, for an unknown reason, Alice didn’t trust Trishia. Every time she came near the girl, her whole demeanor changed. She visibly tensed, clammed up or became gruff and defensive. It was clear she had to gain Alice’s trust. Until that happened, Trishia knew she had to rely on Sam and, especially Jody, since she seemed to be the only one who could reach the girl. Having made a decision, Trishia looked at Alice ‘s bent head with a look of calm determination. No matter how many times the girl would push her away, she would do her utmost to keep her safe. “I know you don’t trust me, Alice,” her calm voice broke the silence. “I’m not sure if that’s because I’m a police officer or for some other reason. But I’m here to help you and—.”
“You just want to send me back,” Alice interrupted. Her voice was a mixture of anger, sadness, and despair. “You’re all the same.”
“Send you back where, Alice?” Trishia asked.
Alice clenched her hands into fists. She could feel the anger rise. It was intense and hot, and it made her feel like she could erupt at any moment. Part of her wanted to do that. It would be such a relief to jump up and scream at Trishia to leave her alone. To tell her to mind her own business and stop pretending she wanted to help. Another part of Alice tried to calm her racing heart, while a soft, soothing voice in the back of her mind kept telling her repeatedly that it was not Trishia’s fault. She only wanted to help. Like Jody. And Sam. And Joan and Fiona. Alice could feel the surge of negative energy subside, and gradually her body relaxed. It wasn’t Trishia’s fault, she knew that. But somehow, being around her was hard, and Alice didn’t know why. If only she could explain why Trishia had that effect on her.
“You don’t like me much, do you, Alice?” Trishia said, interrupting Alice ‘s musings. Her voice was calm and held no sign of accusation. She was merely stating a fact. It had the desired effect because Alice’s shoulders slumped.
“No,” Alice finally answered and then added, almost inaudible “Sorry.”
“No worries,” Trishia responded. “You don’t have to like me. I understand you’re pissed at me because I make you do things you don’t want to do. And I know you might not believe it, but I am concerned about you. A girl your age shouldn’t roam the streets, with no place to stay. It’s not safe.” Trishia took a sip of her tea and studied Alice’s, still bent head. It was hard to tell what the impact of her words was, but Alice’s body language indicated that, at least, she was listening.
“I didn’t get up this morning, actually, yesterday morning, with the idea to get a kid off the streets and annoy them to death. Because of the assault on Joan, our paths crossed and now I am responsible for your wellbeing, Alice. I know you don’t like it, but it can’t be changed. All I ask of you is to try and answer my questions to the best of your ability. We don’t have to become friends, but it would be good if we could work together.” Trishia took another sip of tea and gave Alice a few moments to digest her words.
“I don’t remember much,” Alice finally answered. This time her voice held no trace of hostility.
“I know,” Trishia responded. “We will work with the things you do remember and just take it from there. And it’s amazing how much dreams can tell us.”
Alice shot Trishia a quick look and for a moment their gazes locked. There was only honest concern in Trishia’s eyes, and Alice felt a sense of relief. Somehow, she knew that Trishia would not push her.
“I know it’s hard for you to tell me about your nightmare,” Trishia said, sending Jody a quick smile. “But if it is alright with you, maybe Jody can tell me about it later.” It was important to Trishia to get Alice’s permission. She wanted her to know her opinion was important and realize that Trishia would not mistreat her.
Alice softly snorted, and when she looked up again, both Trishia and Jody could see a hint of amusement in her eyes. “You’d make her tell you anyway.”
Trishia smiled and was
pleased with Alice ‘s unexpected display of humor. “I could,” Trishia admitted with a grin. Glad to see some of the recent tension had dissipated. “But your cooperation matters a lot to me.”
“I… it’s just that… it’s hard,” Alice stammered. “My dreams are not exactly… normal, you know.”
“I understand it’s hard for you to talk about it. Is it okay for Jody to tell me about them later?”
Alice did not look up, but Trishia saw her nod, and she silently congratulated herself on this tiny victory. “Good. Is there anything I can do for you right now, Alice? You need to know I’ll call our psychologist in the morning and set up an appointment. I think it’s a good idea to talk to her.”
“I don’t need a psychologist,” Alice mumbled, but she didn’t sound convinced.
“I know I can’t make you, all I ask is to see her once. Then you can decide for yourself. Alright?”
Alice shrugged and bit her lip. She wanted to refuse. The idea of letting a stranger inside her head frightened her. But Trishia had promised she only had to see her once. So maybe she should go with the flow and do just that. Once. “Okay,” she finally mumbled.
“Thank you,” Trishia said softly, before smiling at Jody and leaving the room.
Jody stared at the empty space where just a moment before Trishia had been standing. Her head was spinning. Lack of sleep, combined with stress, worry, and a million different thoughts, made it hard to think. She decided to not even bother. Her priority was to get Alice settled in and then get some much-needed sleep. Jody’s thoughts drifted to Sam, and she smiled when she felt a familiar warmth spread through her body. Even though they were not in the same room, Jody could almost feel her presence. If she closed her eyes, she could feel Sam wrap her arms around her and pull her close. She was safe in Sam’s arms. Jody knew that Alice didn’t have that. There was nobody who could provide her with comfort, or listen to her. There was nobody who could offer a shoulder to lean on or lend a hand for support. Nobody. At all. Looking down at the blond head Jody felt tears sting the back of her eyes when she realized how lonely Alice must be. Her thoughts returned to Trishia’s story about the murder and the possibility of someone trying to hurt Alice. She couldn’t help thinking about the ‘what if’s’. What if her mom had not tried to help Alice, by giving her food? Alice wouldn’t have been in the park in front of The Reef when her mother was assaulted. Their paths wouldn’t have crossed, and maybe the killer would have been able to hurt Alice. Jody felt a shiver run down her spine, and she reached out to gently rub Alice ‘s back. It was like she needed the contact to reassure herself that the teenager was safe. Nothing had happened to her. But what if it had? Would anyone have cried over Alice?
The warm hand, slowly rubbing her back had a soothing effect on Alice, and she could feel her eyes grow heavy. The day had left her exhausted, and the nightmare combined with the outburst of emotions had drained her. Alice tried to suppress a yawn, but failed miserably, which made Jody smile.
“Are you ready to try and go back to sleep?” she asked, brushing away a strand of hair from Alice ‘s forehead, without even realizing she was doing so. It was something she had done hundreds of times with Fiona.
The caring gesture almost brought back tears to Alice’s eyes, but she was able to blink them away. She mentally slapped herself for almost losing it again and wondered what was wrong with her. Usually, Alice would try to analyze her lack of control, but she was too worn out. Her body felt heavy, and all she wanted to do was sleep.
“Go to sleep, Alice,” Jody said, watching the teenager sink back into the pillow.
Eyelashes fluttered when Alice tried to keep her eyes open, but it was a lost battle. With a deep sigh, she finally closed her eyes and Jody watched her fall asleep. Within moments Alice’s breathing was deep and regular, and when Jody got up from her seat on the edge of the bed, Alice didn’t even move. Careful not to make any noise, Jody collected the mugs and tray and turned off the lamp on the nightstand. Quietly she made her way to the door, not needing a light to guide her way. Before closing the door, she cast one last look at the peacefully sleeping girl. “Sleep well, sweetie,” she whispered. “I promise we’ll do anything to keep you safe.”
*
“I’m getting old,” Lucy mumbled when she and Trishia made their way back to the guest house. “There were times I came home when the sun was rising, after partying all night and I still had some energy left. Right now, I feel like a wet tea towel.”
Trishia glanced aside and smiled. The darkness of the night was fading, and the blackness of the sky had turned into a dark gray. The horizon had become a soft pink. Soon it would be daylight.
“If it’s any reassurance, you don’t look like one,” Trishia’s low voice rumbled.
Lucy let out a chuckle. “Thanks.” She reached out and grabbed Trishia’s hand. She looked up at the slightly taller woman and answered the smile that was sent her way. “You know, Senior Sergeant Waters, we should walk up that hill and watch the sunrise.”
“Oh, my, Miss McDonnell,” Trishia feigned shock. “Are you a closeted romantic?”
“You know I am,” Lucy snorted, standing still, wrapping her arms around Trishia’s waist and burying her face against her shoulder. “Don’t you remember our first kiss?”
“Oh, yes, I do,” Trishia answered with a husky voice, all traces of her teasing had disappeared. “How could I ever forget?”
“It was so nice,” Lucy mumbled dreamily. “On the beach, with the sound of the waves, the feel of a gentle breeze and the soft sand.”
Trishia’s arms slid around Lucy’s body to pull her closer. She rested her cheek on soft, dark hair and closed her eyes. “It was incredible,” she said, feeling her heart rate pick up just remembering. “You are amazing.”
Lucy raised her head from its comfortable spot and looked up at Trishia. Their gazes locked and for a moment time stood still. Without breaking contact, Lucy reached up and lovingly traced Trishia’s face with her fingertips. There was enough light to see the growing passion and desire in her eyes, and Lucy swallowed hard, feeling her body respond to the look of want that was directed her way. It would have been so easy to give in to the feeling, to capture Trishia’s lips and kiss her senseless. But Lucy felt that something was happening between them, and she was reluctant to break the spell that allowed her to reach into Trishia’s deepest feelings. It was a breathtaking moment that touched a part of her heart that was unknown territory. The feeling was so profound it brought tears to Lucy’s eyes. The look on Trishia’s face showed her she was deeply affected by the moment as well.
“I’m falling deeper and deeper,” Lucy finally whispered, feeling a tear roll down her cheek.
Trishia’s eyes followed the wet track with a look of wonder, and she raised her hand to brush away the single, salty drop. She could not explain what had just happened, but she did know it was something unexpected and beautiful. Her heart was pounding in her chest and ready to explode from the abundance of love and happiness she felt. There were so many things she wanted to tell Lucy, but when she finally spoke, the words came straight from her heart.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“And I love you,” Lucy answered, knowing she had said it before, but this time it was different. It was deeper, stronger and all-compassing.
They both smiled and without breaking their gaze, Lucy pulled Trishia’s face down. Only when their lips touched, they closed their eyes and let themselves drift away on a wave of tenderness and quiet passion that gradually increased in intensity, until they were both softly moaning. Their bodies were pressed so close, only Trishia’s strong arms and legs prevented them from falling over. After what seemed like an eternity, they breathlessly broke apart and looked at each other with unveiled desire.
“If we don’t get back to the guesthouse right now, I will most likely do something that will scandalize my family,” Lucy warned in a voice that was rough with emotion.
Trishia swal
lowed hard and tried to clear her mind, which was hard because the idea of lowering Lucy down in the fragrant, cool grass and ravishing her right there and then was very appealing to her. “Or I will,” she croaked, which made Lucy smile.
Lucy untangled herself from Trishia’s arms and grabbed her hand, pulling her along. “Come,” she encouraged.
“Definitely,” Trishia joked, having regained some of her composure.
Lucy chuckled and took in a deep breath of fresh morning air. Trishia obediently followed her to the guest house, and as soon as the door closed behind them, she lifted Lucy into her arms and carried her to the bedroom. A pair of trusting dark-green eyes looked up at her with so much love and desire, it took her breath away. All fatigue and lack of sleep forgotten, Trishia lowered Lucy down on the bed and immediately felt a pair of impatient hands slip underneath her shirt.
“I thought you wanted to sleep,” Trishia teased gently, feeling her desire grow when Lucy’s hands cupped her breasts.
“I do,” Lucy breathed. “Later…much later.”
*
After Lucy and Trishia had returned to the guesthouse, Sam and Jody had finished another cup of tea. And after sending Fiona back to bed, they were finally able to crawl back into their comfortable bed themselves.
“Oh, this feels so good,” Jody sighed. She closed her eyes and felt her body relax. “What an incredible night this has been.”
“Yes,” Sam admitted with a yawn. “And I’m afraid it’s only the beginning. I don’t want to preach doom and gloom, but I really think this is a dangerous situation we’re in.”
“Poor Alice,” Jody whispered sadly. “You know, Sam, that girl has seen a lot of bad things, I’m sure of it.”
Sam scooted closer and wrapped Jody in her arms, trying to supply her with the comfort she apparently needed. “Does it bother you that Trishia suggested talking about it in the morning? I mean, if you want to talk about it now, you can. You know that, don’t you?”
