He awoke to the sound of the gulls calling, and the sound of gentle waves lapping at the rocky sand of the beach where he and his daughter now reside. He hardly stirred as the wind pushed against the bungalow, creaking the wood and shaking gentle their house. Edmund Reid was at peace at last, he heaved a contented sigh and rolled over on his mattress, the springs creaking under his weight. The cot was little better than the one he'd had in the corner of his office at Leman Street, but it felt like home and that was all that mattered.
Reid just kept his eyes shut tight against the weak rays of light that filtered through the filmy glass. He didn't even stir when he heard the soft footfalls of the only other inhabitant of the little place.
"Mathilde..." he murmured and a smile quirked at the corners of his mouth and he forced open his eyes. He met the eyes of his little girl, clad in a pretty white dress with her hair all done up.
"Good morning, my daddy. I thought perhaps you would like some breakfast...?" The young girl requested sweetly, offering up a plate of bread and jam, and what looked to be a sausage. Edmund honestly could not recall the last time he'd eaten anything that could possibly be classified as breakfast, well, he supposed he would- wait...
"Mathilde, where did you get this? Our pantry is bare and I told you we'd go to market today..."
Mathilde took an uncomfortably long time to reply. 'I went out,"
Edmund sat up so fast his head spun and he groaned slightly. "M-Mathilde, you know you are not allowed to go into the city without me by your side." He said sharply and he watched his daughter wilt before his eyes. His sharp gaze softened and he reached out to take her hand, "I am sorry, my love, but you know the dangers I have tried oh, so hard to keep you from. Next time, wake me...or wait." he insisted in a voice hardly above a whisper as he stood up.
Mathilde only nodded and looked him straight on, about to say something but he set aside the plate and stood.
"I know you have wanted me to join your antics by the seaside. Get ready, my dear and we shall go." He gently ushered her from his small room and closed the door behind her, carefully lowering himself back upon the cot. He rubbed his forehead and heaved a sigh, wishing -and not for the first or last time- that Emily still lived. However, Reid could not complain too much as he decided he had everything he'd ever wanted, Mrs. Reid was gone from his life a long time before and he'd made his peace with that. For now the tired inspector rose once more to dress himself, easing the nightshirt over his damaged shoulder and let it fall to the floor. He picked up a loose, light, linen shirt and a snug-fitting vest that he left unclasped. Next he chose a pair of trousers, old and worn, not his usual attire of course, but now, he decided he could afford to go beyond his norms. He sighed and stretched his arms cautiously, trying to work out some of the stiffness, which only resulted in a sharp gasp of pain and a quick collapse back on his bed where he sat for a moment, recollecting himself and he wondered if he'd be able to keep his promise. For his daughter anything...