CHAPTER ELEVEN
SUSPECIOUS MINDS
"Meep! Fash! To me now!"
Jareth stood in Sarah's bedroom waiting patiently for his two subjects to arrive. Out of the air two creatures fell gracelessly to the floor. They were completely disoriented. "Get up! Get up," he ordered. "I have a few things I need to discuss with you both."
The red haired Meep and the spectacle wearing Fash righted themselves and stood timidly before their king. "Sire?" they both asked.
"Our lady is in some trouble," Jareth explained leaning against the bed. "You, Fash and Meep, are two of my most intelligent and loyal subjects. Also the bravest- no other goblin broke the house rule."
"Guilty sire," admitted Meep rubbing a sore elbow. "When we heard that there was a possibility the lady was with child-,"
Jareth held up his hand to silence her. "I'm not looking for excuses. Thank goodness Sarah didn't wake up though. It's enough of a bother that her brother spotted you. Brave… though insubordinate," he added with a nod. "I need to know does Pinch still frequent that banking establishment next to the donut shop?"
Fash answered, "I believe so."
"Find out. Now," he looked at his two goblins. "Which one of you would like to live as a human for a few weeks and get to spend some time near our lady?"
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For the past week Toby had been spending less time with his sister and more time at the library. The excuse he gave was he had some school research to do. His sister had smiled at him proudly and told him that it was more important for him to keep his grades up then spend every moment with her. He bit his lip feeling a tad guilty. Research was his agenda, but not for school.
His first day there the librarian had led him to the section of books he required. He now walked the familiar area looking for more information. After skimming through most of the books he quickly learned that most of the information was generalities. He checked the few that looked promising.
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Sarah pulled the box of Caramel DeLites out of the cupboard. Ten resumes, seven maybes, and three "not at this time"- that was all she had to show for her troubles. She ate a cookie. Every afternoon or evening she'd come home and Jareth would smile and hand her a cup of tea. No snide remarks or more insisting on her not working- just that smile and that tea. She crammed another cookie into her mouth. Such degrees of niceties made her just a tad suspicious of him. Nice, but suspicious.
"Hello sis!" called Toby from the foyer.
"Hi Toby! In the kitchen!" She took another cookie.
Toby came in. He hefted his backpack onto the counter. "Hey, can I have one?" he nodded towards the green box.
"Sure. Jareth seems to have an endless supply of them. How's the research going?"
"All right. I think I may need to go to the down town library though for more information."
"Internet not working out?"
"Nah, I need some kind of obscure information."
She put the box away. "What exactly are you researching?"
"Uh some history, legend stuff. You'd find it boring."
"What do you mean? I love stuff like that-,"
He suddenly jumped up. "Look I just stopped by to say hi. I got to go."
"Toby-,"
"Yep, see you later!" He picked up his backpack and made for the door. He stumbled into Jareth who was just coming in. "Excuse me Mr. Choblyn," he muttered and then ran out.
Jareth watched the boy go and then shook his head. "What spooked Toby?" he asked coming into the kitchen.
"Don't know." She pulled a face puzzled by her brother. "All of the sudden he said he had to go. He hadn't been here for longer than five minutes. Say, do you have any objections to pizza for dinner?"
"So long as there no anchovies."
"Nope, just pineapple and ham."
"Ugh." He wasn't sure which thing he had a greater distaste for. "Better make it a half and half then."
She smiled and patted her stomach. "Where have you been today?"
"Oh here, there, and every where; had some issues to work out with a few subjects and then a dragon to slay, and a village to plunder." They exchanged amused glances. "You?"
She shrugged. "I held up a few banks demanding money."
"I take it," he paused approaching the subject with caution. He watched her flip open the Yellow Pages. "today was rather unsuccessful… again?" Her answer was to look down at her growing stomach and clear her throat. "Sarah." He went to her. She felt him put his arms around her from behind. "It is going to be alright." His voice was calm and even. "I'm here."
"Yeah, well, unless you have an extra treasure chest lying around with a bunch of gold and rubies inside, your presence alone won't solve my problems." She leaned against him feeling secure in his arms.
"I don't have any extra gold or rubies. Will silver and pearls suffice?" Her quiet laughter was pleasing to hear. "I would not have made demands about you not working, unless I had some sort of alternative plan of action."
"Jareth," she turned from him and leaned back against the counter. "I appreciate everything you've done- the emotional support and help with the baby's room. But financial help-,"
"Is well within my means," he told her. "and within the boundaries of your wish. You could very well ask me to do anything Sarah." He reached out to tuck hair behind her ear lingering near her face. "I'd do it, no matter what."
His hand on her cheek felt the same as his touch had in her shower dream; the same it had well over two years ago. It had only been two months since Will's passing and here she was falling all over Jareth. She touched his hand. "I know, and I'm trying not to take advantage of that."
"You're astoundingly strong willed Sarah," he complimented her with a crooked smile. He leaned close. "You're not taking from me. I'm… offering."
"Offering?" His tone and stance was a bit forthcoming. "Why do I have a feeling that we're not just talking about money any more?"
"Like I said: anything." He touched forehead to forehead with her.
Outside Toby lingered. Through the living room window he saw into the kitchen where his sister and Mr. Choblyn stood. Why didn't he just kiss her already? He rolled his eyes. Adults were so fickle. Something hissed and darted through the grass. Startled the boy fell away from the window nearly stumbling to the ground. He had to find out if his sister and Mr. Choblyn were safe, if the baby was safe. If goblins were about…unable to fathom the thought Toby hefted his backpack and turned to go home.