CHAPTER 2- A Confrontation

The men arrived home at quarter passed 11. Fifteen minutes late. Ms. Emma de Mauier sat at a long table tapping her fingre against a piece of china. She was obviously annoyed that the boys weren't home yet. The old woman's grey hair sat neatly in a bun at the top of her head. She wore a purple dress with pouffy shoulders and tight sleeves. There were six teacups untouched. "Probably cold" she thought. Her head jerked to the doorway after hearing the door opened. James hung up his jacket on the coat-rack, while Michael burst into the dining room.

"Michael, boys, how nice of you to join me for tea. What took you so long?" she asked sweetly, yet slyly.

"Uncle Jim met a girl!" Michael exclaimed.

James eyes opened wide, and Emma raised her eyebrows apparently amused. But before James could say anything, Emma beat him to it.

"Did he now? What's the girls name?"

"Rose O'Malley." George said sounding and looking smart.

James wiped his forehead and bit his lip. The boys sat down politely and began to eat their tea, jam, and bread.

"I see... Well, lets not let this fine tea go to waste." Emma smiled and sipped her tea, glaring at James the whole time.

"James, that girl has gotten all but mediocre roles in unsucessful plays since she was 18 years of age."

"You're point?"

"She isn't up to your level of expertiese, James! Heaven knows, she could be using you to get parts in sucessful plays like yours."

"She would never do that. And you know i'm not a man of delicasies! I don't need rich, well-known, actresses to make me happy!"

There was a pause between the both of them. It was now 8:30 pm. and the boys were all asleep after a long game of "Pirates and Indians." James and Emma stood in the kitchen obviously arguing.

"And who says i'm even going to like her? We just met for Christ's Sake!"

"I can see it in your eyes James. She is apparently somone special to you, even though you just met." Emma seemed to be letting up a little and becoming a little more understanding. James looked surprised at her change of tone. He sighed.

"All i'm saying James, is that you best be careful because things could easily get out of hand. People will think you are desperate for a lady companion! Think of the rumors that could spread. You could put all of us in danger, James. And you will have to get us out of it. Remember that." The woman walked out of the kitchen

James stood there one hand on the counter the other on his hip. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. He opened the door and was surprised to see Rose standing there holding his book. He reached for his pockets and sure enough it wasn't in there.

"You left this at the park on the bench. I thought i'd return it to you by the end of the day."

"Thank you Rose." James said quietly with a smile.

"Your welcome Mr. Barrie." and she turned to leave.

"You can call me James. I wouldn't mind."

"Alright.. James. Good night."

"Goodnight, Rose."

And with that, she walked down the road, shall covering her shoulders. Emma watched the two from her bedroom window the whole time. A look of nervousness came over her, and she stood up and went to bed. She very much hoped that this wouldn't become a problem. After all, she did want James to be happy...