Chapter 12

Cole spent the day packing boxes. The papers for the sale of the house were to be signed in three weeks and there were numerous things that had to get done. Boxes had to be packed, a house inspection had to be passed, and most of the furniture had to be sold. The dark-haired girl sighed.

The sun went down very quickly that night; the last of its light was not able to seep through the tiny attic window so Cole's surroundings were swept in darkness. Even when she could barely see her fingers reaching for the roll of duct-tape she didn't stop. She was too involved to quit now. She was to the point that she didn't even know what she was picking up, she was just throwing it into a box. The clock in the front hallway seemed to tick unbearably slow and all too quickly at the same time.

Lost in the endless task in front of her (more like all around her) she didn't notice the creak of the steps or that there was another presence in the room until a firm hand gripped her shoulder. Her heart jumped into her throat and she gasped for air.

"Geez, Darrel, what are you trying to do?" She asked, harshly once she realized who it was. She was a little irritable from doing suck tedious work all day.

"I'm sorry," he said, but she didn't think that he actually meant it.

Cole could not make out his face in the darkness, only the outline of his shoulders against the gloom of the attic as he sat down beside her.

"I knocked, didn't you hear?" He asked.

"No," she said, "I'm not really paying attention."

"How can you see up here?" he asked as she pulled another box closer to her, "Cole stop," he insisted and grabbed her arm, "You've been working all day, haven't you?"

"Fine, I'm done," she groaned, falling back onto the unfinished wood floor and stretching her arms above her head, "What time is it?"

"Almost nine," he said.

"Really?" she asked, "Come on. Let's go get something to eat, I'm starving."

"I brought you a burger, I figured you hadn't eaten," he waved a paper bag in front of her and she sat up to grab it.

"Mmm, thank you," she said, once she got a whiff of the greasy goodness. Reaching for him in the darkness, she wrapped her arms around is neck and kissed him softly on the lips.

He pulled her closer to him, engaging her deeper in the kiss. Pushing her back until her back rested on the floor, he lingered over her until she pushed him away.

"Darrel," She said breathlessly, "I love you, but we can't do this now. I'm starving."

Darrel was reluctant, but moved away.

Cole sat up again and adjusted the hem of her shirt.

Later, after finishing her meal in what seemed like one bite, they both sat in the darkness. She was drifting to sleep on his shoulder until there was the sound of a distant knock from downstairs. She sighed.

"What the hell?" she grumbled and she stood up. Darrel laughed and followed behind her as she hurried down the stairs, but he held back when they reached the foyer. He didn't want to intrude.

Cole's expression went entirely blank as she swung open the door and Darrel, from whom the mystery knocker was hidden from sight, thought that maybe no one was there at all. Just as these thoughts began to run through his head, though, her eyes lit up.

"Tom!" She threw her arms around a tall black-haired man's neck. He couldn't have been older then Darrel.

"I've good to see you, Cossette," He said after he kissed her cheek.

"Come in," Cole insisted, "Please, come in."

He did as he was asked and she shut the door after him.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't know you had company."

"Don't be sorry. Darrel," She appeared at Darrel's side and took his arm in her freezing hands, "This is Tom, my brother."

Tom nodded in his direction with knowing eyes. Cole would never give of description of Darrel's status in her life, but she didn't need to.

"What are you doing here?" She asked him.

"I missed you," he stated, not to answer the question but to avoid it.

"Are you here alone? Where is Mumma?" Cole asked.

"She could not come, they only saved enough to send me," he said, "but they have sent me to take you home."

"Home?" She questioned, suddenly alert, "Where? Vietnam?"

"Yes, Vietnam. Can we sit down somewhere?"

"Yes, of course," She said, slightly out of breath. She looked back at Darrel with full eyes and he knew right there; she was leaving.

Yes, I know. Very short. Not so sweet. I love reviews, though! The next chapter will be the last, but I am considering a sequel. Thanks all!

Avenging Angel