"You talked to Lydia?" Daphne gasped.
After Lydia had extended her invitation for them to visit Shaggy informed his friends of his past meetings with Lydia. They were surprised to put it simply but they agreed to meet up with her anyways. That's where they were headed to Lydia's secret hiding place. The road to Lydia's place was hidden by a thick forest. Fred had very nearly missed the turn.
"Yes I talked to Lydia," Shaggy replied simply.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Velma asked.
"Like, I don't know I just didn't." Shaggy shrugged with indifference.
"Well, here we are" Fred announced as the van pulled up to the ranch-style house.
The gang filed out of the van and climbed up the porch steps. Shaggy knocked on the door. When there was no response he called out.
"Lydia it's only us,"
The curtains in the window moved slightly.
"Just a moment," Lydia replied quietly.
When the door opened Lydia stood there with her hood concealing her face like usual.
"Come in"
The gang followed Lydia inside. They took their seats around the open living room and took in their surroundings. Light filtered easily through the lacy, white curtains hung in the massive windows. There was a glass coffee table in front of the cream colored couch, which Shaggy and, Lydia were seated on. On the coffee table was a stack of books and a coffee cup. Lydia had been reading before they'd arrived Shaggy concluded. Fred was seated in the beige colored rocking chair to the right of the couch. Velma was seated in a light green chair and Daphne was sitting on the ottoman that went with the chair. Scooby was stretched out on a green rug nearby. A silence fell over the group as no one was sure what to say next.
"Lydia could you please put the hood down we know it's you," Daphne said finally.
"No," Lydia responded quietly.
"What's the point of wearing it then?"
Lydia's hands began to shake. It had been hard enough explaining to Shaggy she didn't want to have to do it again. Shaggy reached over and took Lydia's hand giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Do you want me to tell them?" he asked.
"Yes"
"Well, tell us," Daphne urged.
So Shaggy told them what he knew.
"Tha-that's horrible," Daphne gasped with a look of sympathy.
"Why would they do such a thing?" Velma asked.
"I have no idea," Lydia replied quietly.
"You can trust us, Lydia we won't judge you," Fred added.
"I don't want you to see," Lydia said her voice cracking.
"You don't have to show us, Lydia," Shaggy replied glaring at Fred for even suggesting it.
"What happened afterward?" Velma asked pushing her glasses up.
"My parents sent me away to live with my aunt Clara. I finished school at home, took college courses online. I kept to myself," Lydia explained.
"So what exactly do you do for a job?"
"I'm a professional artist and an author"
"Can we see some of your work?"
"Follow me," Lydia said standing.
The gang followed Lydia down the long hallway. Eventually she stopped in front of the last door and slowly opened it. They stepped inside and looked around. Reference pictures were tacked to a board above a desk actoss from the door. Artist pencils were scattered across the desk with a sketchbook laying open. To the left of the desk was an easel with a blank canvas sitting on it. Any art supplies were neatly kept in storage containers in a closet near the door.
Lydia went to the desk and pulled a folder out of the top drawer before handing it to Shaggy. Shaggy took a seat on a nearby stool and opened the folder. Pencil sketches of castles, horses, dogs and people. In the left pocket of the folder were computer drawn and colored counterparts to the sketchs.
"These are amazing Lydia," Shaggy commented.
"Thank you"
"What kind of things do you write?" Fred asked.
"Children's books"
"Cool"
"Guys we have a case," Daphne announced looking at her phone.
"Thank you for coming today" Lydia said as they returned to the living room.
"You're welcome, see you soon Lydia"