It was strange to be in her old room in her parents' house, in the little village of Marigold. Even after two days there, she was still pinching herself each morning and evening that this was real. Not a dream or hallucination or anything of the like. The moment she walked in through the front door with her brother just behind, she was brought into a tight hug by both her joyous father and crying mother. Elaine joked to herself that the fact her ribs didn't break was a small miracle.
Elaine had wanted to call work and see how soon she could return. Her family however were insistent that she rest though, though Elaine kept making excuse to try and be alone with the house phone or to even touch it. It got to a point where her mother had taken the phone out and hid it somewhere.
Elaine still had yet to find it. From what she had been able to do, she was sure that the search could be narrowed to somewhere outside the house, or perhaps the attic. It could have been the latter since the small key hook where the key to the attic usually was found was vacant last time Elaine noticed it.
But right now, it was night time. Elaine laid awake in her bed. She stared up at the ceiling with an apathetic look before she sat up and looked out her window into the back garden. It was interesting to see a pond in it now. There wasn't one when Elaine first came here at fifteen, but her mother really wanted there to be one. Said it would make the garden look more tranquil or something. Elaine couldn't recall what her exact words were. She had never been the gardening type.
Tomorrow would be another day of rest. To Elaine, it would be another day of being forced to think. To remember. To feel mentally sick and some slight paranoia. If she was back at work, none of that would be problem because she would be too busy working to think. It was perfect logic and a good solution in Elaine's opinion.
Still. She would get to see her cousin Madeline tomorrow. Once she got her train here from Monte d'Or. Elaine didn't even need to think too hard on how she looked because surprisingly enough, there was a bit of resemblance between the two cousins.
The only differences was that Madeline was taller and her long, curly hair was just a few shades away from a pale blonde. There was also a few light differences in their faces but it was mostly the hair that enabled people to tell them apart with ease.
Elaine leaned her elbows on the windowsill and looked up at the night sky. It was perfectly clear, showing the tiny white dots of stars, though the moon was but a mere slit of light in the darkened sky depths.
Creak.
Elaine turned her head sharply to her door, tensed but at the sight of her father's figure she relaxed. He was in his late fifties, with some wrinkles starting to show on his face though mostly under his blue eyes. His once barely tameable dark hair was close to complete grey.
"Sorry. I wasn't sure if you would be awake or not." The family tended to speak French in the house when it was just them. A way to stay connected with roots back home in France.
"Don't worry. I wasn't too tired anyway, daddy." Elaine's father, Christophe, walked carefully into the room. Possibly preparing to leave if Anne, Elaine's mother, showed up.
"Still thinking about what happened?"
"How can I not?" Christophe sighed as he sat on Elaine's bed and put a hand on her shoulder.
"I know there isn't anything I can do to make it all better, Princess." Elaine smiled a bit. Even as an adult, her father would call her that. In private of course.
"I'm just glad to be back though, daddy."
"Aren't we all?" He gave a slightly cheeky grin. "And yet here you are wanting to go back to work. You're turning into a terrible workaholic."
"It'll help me forget and move on." Elaine insisted. "How am I supposed to do that if I'm doing nothing but being forced to think about it?" Christophe sighed as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Princess, you know we care about you…"
"I know…"
"We're just concerned about how all of this will affect you."
"That doesn't mean I can't work." retorted Elaine.
"After everything that happened I'm surprised you aren't put off archaeology." her father remarked.
"How could I be? I love it too much to simple just stop" Elaine scoffed. It was quiet for a moment before Christophe spoke up again, though sounding hesitant.
"Well… If it means that much to you… There might be a way. But I'll only tell you if you promise two things."
"What are they?" Elaine asked quickly. Ready to grab any chance to go back to work.
"First of all, take this week and next week off. Even if you're going back to London." Elaine frowned a bit. She just wanted to go back to work already. But if she had to make this sacrifice, so be it.
"What's the other thing?"
"You have to see a therapist."
"What?!" Elaine couldn't believe it. A therapist? What good would that do? Elaine wanted to forget, not tell everything to some person who was being paid to listen to her talk!
"I'm afraid you don't have much choice sweetie." Christophe sighed. "When I was out earlier, I borrowed a friend's phone to call your boss."
"Chappy?"
"Yes." He paused for a minute. "How much does he love cats?"
"A lot, but you were saying?"
"Ah, yes. Well, I told him that you wanted to come back soon, and he is willing to let you do so."
"That's great!"
"Well, yes. But he thinks it would be best that you see a therapist first. Or at least see one twice a week before work." Elaine grumbled under her breath as she folded her arms.
"I'm guessing the two weeks off was his idea too?"
"No, that was your mother and I." Elaine gapped as he father smirked and tapped her nose. "It's a deal you're going to have to accept, Princess. Otherwise, you'll be waiting much longer to go back." Elaine frowned as she thought her options over. Either way, she would be stuck with something miserable. At least with the therapy option, she could be in work. Christophe gave a light chuckle and patted her head.
"I think I have a good idea what your choice is. But let's leave the rest of the talk until tomorrow, yes?"
"Yes, daddy."
"Good girl." He gave Elaine a tight hug before he stood up. "Try to get some sleep. Good night, Elaine."
He then left. Leaving Elaine alone in her room again. Think it over, she briefly considered if maybe the time off would be good for her. She looked out the window one final time before lying back down.
No. Elaine still disagreed.
