Authors notes: Thanks, as always, for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. It's great to hear how you feel about this story and Betsy. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Jane looks across at Betsy, who's laid her fork down even though she's only eaten a fraction of what's on her plate.
"I know you're anxious to see the house but we're not going until I've finished eating dinner so you might as well eat while I'm eating."
Betsy looks at Jane's plate and then stares at her own for a while. Jane can literally see something click inside her head and a slow smile crosses her face. Jane's heart leaps, he knows something significant is happening here but he doesn't know what it is. The look in her eye is almost playful, edge with a little fear. She looks at him again and he sees her confidence grow and she picks up her fork and reaches across and stabs at his French fries and successfully nabbing a couple, she puts them in her mouth. She looks at him warily wondering what his reaction will be. He smiles at her and pushes his plate between the two of them.
"Okay we can share fries but eat some of your own burger."
She happily reaches across again and takes some more, then after eating them she takes a bite of her burger. Jane can't help smiling at her. He knows that this simple act marks a big step. She's showing a part of her personality that she's probably never shown before, except maybe to Katie. It shows her trust in him that he won't hurt her, and she's comfortable and confident enough with him to risk herself.
Together they finish off Jane's meal in record time and Betsy takes a couple of bites of her burger. Jane claps his hand together.
"Okay, what do you want to wear to look at the house?"
Betsy jumps down from her chair and runs to her drawers, she turns to Jane to check he's following to open them for her. She waves him over to encourage him to move faster.
"I'm coming, I'm coming."
Despite her anxiousness to see the house it takes Betsy a while to choose what she wants to wear. Almost everything is out the drawers by the time she's happy with her choice.
"You look fantastic Betsy, the perfect choice."
Betsy smiles shyly at him.
Jane's phone rings and when he answers it's with the news that the taxi is waiting for them. He puts on his jacket.
"How do I look, do I look okay?"
Betsy nods her head.
"Okay, time to go. The taxi is here. Are you ready?"
Jane can see that Betsy's now feeling nervous, he crouches down to her level.
"It'll be fine. We just going from here to the car and then to the house and the same back. The driver will be in the front of the car while we're at the back and there'll only be us and Lisbon at the house. Do you think you can do it?"
She searches his face and then nods her head. She holds out her arms and Jane scoops her up.
"Let's go see if we like this place."
Jane requested a woman driver and Betsy sits pressed up against him for the first five minutes of the drive. Jane's giving a commentary of the things he can see out of his window. He can feel her body gradually relaxing until finally she moves slightly away so she can see herself. Her eyes never leave the window after that, as Jane points things out to her. As they stop at some lights she recognises a logo from a mexican take out place they've eaten and is excited to show it to Jane. She beams when he congratulates her.
They come to a stop.
"Here we are, and look there's Agent Lisbon."
Jane opens the door and climbs out instructing the driver to wait for them. He picks Betsy up and takes a quick look at the street as they quickly walk up the path to get Betsy indoors, she's clinging on to his neck as she buries her head in his shoulder. Lisbon has the key and has the door unlocked ready. They step into the house.
"Here we are Betsy, shall we take a look around. There's no one here but us."
Betsy slowly raises her head, she turns her head and has a look before pushing off Jane and he puts her down. She takes his hand. They are in a square hallway which has a hallway leading off at both sides towards the back.
"Which way shall we go first?"
Betsy turns towards the right. This leads to the living area, kitchen and dining room. There is a large window on the front of the house and patio doors at the back. There's a decorative fire-place on the wall to the left of the window. The rooms are open,, a slight turn back to the left takes them into the kitchen. Betsy stands in the middle of the room between the living and dining area and makes a full circle, slowing looking at everything. Jane moves towards the patio doors. He beckons Betsy.
"Come look at this."
She's hesitant at first, but with added encouragement she moves towards him.
"Look this is our yard and no one can see us. Look just some trees behind us and there's fencing to separate us from our neighbours."
Jane points towards the left.
"Can you see what's over there?"
Betsy presses her face against the glass so she can see. She smiles.
"Shall we go have a look?"
She takes his hand and nods her head. I bet Lisbon would love to see how you can swing, you want to have a go."
Betsy looks to Lisbon.
"I would love to see you swing."
Jane opens the door and they step outside. Betsy has a look around her, there's no one in the adjoining gardens, and when she's happy with what she sees she moves to the swing. Jane lifts her on and pushes her. She closes her eyes and lets the air wash over her, it brings a smile to her face. Jane looks at Lisbon and she smiles at him.
"What do you think?"
"It's a nice place Jane. It's good that there aren't too many neighbours, that should make it easier for Betsy and the swing is definitely a bonus."
"I think it'll work."
He turns to Betsy.
"Shall we look at the rest of the house?"
Betsy nods and he slows down the swing and helps her off. They hear a sound coming from the garden on the left. Betsy clings to Jane's leg. He looks towards the garden and smiles.
"It's all right Betsy, it's a puppy. Remember the story we read about the dog who likes to dig holes? It looks just like him."
Betsy cautiously loosens her grip and turns towards the fence. Jane bends down and points to the puppy.
"It's over there looking at us.
Betsy stares at the puppy and then slowly walks towards it keeping a hold of Jane's hand. As they are within a yard of the fence she stops. The puppy has seen them and is up on its back legs pawing at the fence. Jane crouches down besides Betsy and talks to the dog, the dog whines.
"It wants to say hello. Shall we get just a little closer so I can stroke it. Dogs love to be stroked. You do. of course, after make sure it's friendly first, and this one looks very friendly. Betsy moves a step closer and it's enough for Jane to reach through the crack in between the fencing and stroke the puppy. Betsy smiles as the puppy moves it's head frantically under Jane's hand enjoying the touch.
"You want to stroke it?"
Betsy shakes her head.
"That's fine, maybe another time. Shall we go back inside."
Betsy takes another look at the puppy and then waves at it before turning around. They go back in to the house.
We haven't heard from Betsy's point of view for a while, so next chapter we will get her view of the house. (I'm saying this now so I can't back out. Her view is always makes for a challenging chapter.)