This...cause I can't seem to get anywhere on the ones I've started. UGH! You know...reviews always wanted, needed, coveted! :)
"Are you alright Mrs. Hughes?" Mr. Carson closed the door to her sitting room and took a seat. It was late or early, however you looked at it. The calm of night had been interrupted by frantic shouting. A fire. The most devastating of all disasters had come upon this great house. Fortunately, it was relatively small and contained to Edith's bedroom only. However small, it had caused a fair amount of panic among the members of the house, upstairs and down. Mrs. Hughes had decided on a cup of tea, knowing her mind was too full and her body just a bit too shaky to go back to sleep. Mr. Carson walked straight to her pantry after getting the rest of the group upstairs, he knew where he would find her.
"I'm fine Mr. Carson, just cold." She shivered. "Are you..okay I mean?" She handed him the cup she had already laid out for him, knowing he would be there soon.
He sniffed his robe and wrinkled nose. "I'm alright. We'll have that smell to deal with now!"
"At least we aren't dealing with finding a new home!" She quipped and took a sip of tea.
He just raised his animated brows and nodded in agreement. "True."
They sat quiet for a bit, both thinking. Finally it was he who broke the silence. "It's a strange thing, Mrs. Hughes. What this kind of thing brings to your mind." His voice was low and thoughtful. She tilted her head and observed him. He didn't look at her but he was talking at her, she could tell. "...it makes you think doesn't it?"
"It certainly does Mr. Carson. I'd like to know what it makes you think about." She dared.
His face flushed hot suddenly and he glanced at her, hoping she couldn't see the blush on his face. "Well...life, the future." He took a sip of tea. "If my life has mattered and..." He stopped abruptly.
"...and what?" She encouraged sweetly.
"...what I have to show for it." He swallowed and looked into his tea cup.
She longed to reach over and take his hand. Her heart ached within her to tell him how much he means to her, how much his life, these last 30 years, have meant to her. "Mr. Carson, you matter greatly, to a lot of people." She settled on a stock answer.
"Do I Mrs. Hughes? Because I'm not so sure when it really comes down to it. I have no family to speak of and no friends...save for you." Before she can answer he speaks again. "Oh! Don't listen to me. It's late and I'm being sentimental and you know how I feel about that." He forced a smile and downed the rest of his tea. "I will bid you goodnight Mrs. Hughes. We better get a couple hours of sleep in if we can." He got up and gave her a sad smile before leaving.
She sat, stunned somewhat, sad for him, sad for her. 'Damn him..' she thought. She would never sleep now.
TBC