Happy Holidays!
I hope you all are having a wonderful winter season.
It's been crazy for me, with finals and exams, but it is all over now!
I can finally focus and get this story finished!
Enjoy this chapter! And stay tuned for more!
8 oclock am
Josie sat at her dressing table slowly brushing her hair. She'd been at it for almost an hour, mindlessly combing through the short waves. She hadn't slept all night and it showed. Her eyes were heavy and she looked positively grief-stricken. But she was fine. Or that's what she tried telling herself, anyway.
A soft knocking at her bedroom door caught her attention and she quickly broke from her daze.
"Yes, come in," she muttered and turned with a faint smile when Meryl poked her head in.
"Breakfast is waiting if you want to eat something before work," the girl said, walking inside the room slowly, "The boys went out with Nanny to the park and the girls are playing in the back garden, so no one will bother you."
Josie reached out her hand to Meryl, "You are a sweet girl, my dear. Thank you."
Meryl took her hand and held it tightly, "You do not look well. Should I have Emily call for a doctor?"
"No… no, I am alright," Josie assured her, turning round to face the mirror, "I don't look it, but in five minutes, I shall be myself again. Do not worry."
Meryl nodded and watched silently as Josie began to pin back her hair.
"What is it?" Josie asked, seeing a concerned look in Meryl's eyes.
She shrugged and tilted her head, "I heard you and Papa talking last night. You sounded upset. I just thought…" she looked down, fidgeting with the hem of her jumper, "That is, I know how he can be sometimes and…and I just hope he hasn't said anything too horrible."
"Oh, my darling," Josie stood and embraced Meryl tightly, "I am so sorry you heard all that. It was nothing, I promise you," she stepped back and sighed, "I was upset about something, but it was not his fault. Your papa was trying to help me and - "
"It was about that man, wasn't it?" Meryl asked quietly.
Josie blinked and fanned a curious smile, "What man?"
"The one that used to stay with you," Meryl explained with an embarrassed shrug, "Miss. Agnes told us about him that Christmas we first came to live here. Arthur asked why we couldn't go into that room in the hall. She tried explaining, but they didn't understand, and neither did I," she looked up and smiled sadly, "But I think I do now."
Josie took a deep breath and patted Meryl's hands, "You are right. It was about that man - "
"You loved him, didn't you? Like you love Papa."
Meryl's innocent question made Josie's heart ache. It was something she'd never really thought about.
No. That wasn't entirely true. She did think about it. She thought about it all the time.
"I do not know," she whispered and then cleared her throat as she sat back down to her dressing table, "It was different."
"How?"
Josie turned, determination in her eyes, but words failed her.
"Well, I was...I mean, he didn't..." she smiled sadly and shook her head, "Love is not black and white, my dear. Authors and poets write it out so beautifully, but it is difficult to explain when you are the one living it."
Meryl nodded in understanding.
Josie went on with her morning routine as Meryl continued to ask more and more questions about the mysterious man.
"Was he a soldier?" she asked, laying face up on the bed with her head hanging upside down over the edge.
"No," Josie stated, pausing a moment as she applied a layer of lipstick, "He was a musician. A violinist, actually."
"Why was he here? Couldn't he get his own flat?"
"Well, no," Josie explained and powdered her nose, "He was a refugee. His home was destroyed before the war and he had no money, no one he could stay with - "
"Oh, I remember!" Meryl exclaimed, turning over to lay on her stomach, "The Germans invaded Belgium, right?"
Josie nodded and wrinkled her brow, "Yes, that's right. How did - "
"We've learned about it in school," Meryl said with a smile, "The history exams were terribly tricky this year, but I did well. "
"That's wonderful, dear…"
Josie let out an exasperated sigh as she attempted to fasten on a pearl necklace. Meryl moved from the bed to help her.
"Belgium must be beautiful," Meryl mused, day dreaming like any young girl as she clasped the necklace and smoothed down the collar on Josie's dress, "I'd like to travel there someday, you know. I could practice my French and - Oh blast!" she blurted with a laugh, "I could have spoken to him in French! How stupid of me to have forgotten!"
"Who are you talking about?" Josie asked, dabbing perfume on her wrists.
"That man I talked to yesterday that was asking for you. He said he was from Belgium and I wish I'd thought to use my French. I do not know what help it would have been, but I could have tried," she giggled, "He was really very handsome. I wish you could have been here. I was cautious as first, of course, because he was a stranger, but he was incredibly kind. He said he had come a long way and he was very upset that you weren't here. Did you see him at the store? I told him he could ask for you there."
Josie was silent. Her heart beat a steady rhythm but she felt it increasing ever so slightly. Though she heard Meryl's question, she could not utter the words to answer it.
"Aunt Josie?" Meryl asked, "Have I upset you? You look terribly pale."
Josie blinked and shook her head, "No, of course not, my dear. I've only just realized how late I will be if I do not hurry."
She stood and moved to gather her hat and gloves when she heard the front door open and thunderous footsteps climb the stairs. Her bedroom door was flung open and Roger stepped forward.
"Papa!" Meryl shouted, rushing to embrace him, "Where have you been? I've been worried sick!"
"What are you talking about?" Josie asked Meryl, but seeing the distraught look on Roger's face and the disheveled state of his clothing, she turned her attention to him, "My dear, what has happened? Are you alright?"
Roger shook his head, catching his breath. He was horribly troubled, that much was obvious. He was white as a sheet and could not look her in the eye for more than a few seconds.
"I cannot explain it all now," he said quietly, "You will never believe me. But we must leave. Now."
He turned and hurried out of the room and towards the stairs. Josie followed him a ways but remained in her bedroom doorway, watching him.
"Roger - "
"Please, we cannot wait," he urged, gesturing for her to walk down ahead of him, "I have a cab waiting outside."
As she continued forward, Josie exchanged a glance with Meryl, who was just as confused and worried as she.
"What about work?" Josie asked, descending the stairs with Roger right behind her.
"Emily, please telephone Mr. Crabb at the store," Roger commanded when the maid appeared from the dining room, breakfast tray in hand.
"Oh course," Emily muttered, setting the tray on a side table and hurrying to the telephone, "What shall I say, sir?"
Roger sighed as he grabbed his coat from the rack by the door, "Say we hate to leave him in the lurch, but Miss. Mardle and I cannot possibly come into work today — "
"Roger?" Josie exclaimed, "What is the matter with you? It's the biggest day of the winter promotion! Fashion will be a mad house without me."
"Tell him we have a family emergency," Roger continued his instructions, ignoring Josie's questioning remark, "If he asks for particulars, tell him I will explain everything as soon as I am able."
"When will you be back?" Meryl asked, helping Josie put on her coat.
Roger checked his watch and shrugged, "Who knows. But really, we have to leave this instant."
Josie began to follow him to the front door, but turned back to Meryl and Emily.
"I will call if I can," she whispered, taking Meryl's hand, "Do not worry. All will be well."
"You don't know that," the girl murmured and looked passed Josie to Roger, who stood in the door, waiting impatiently, "I've never seen him like this. What if something is wrong? What if - "
Josie swallowed hard as she slid on her leather gloves, "I said don't worry. Please, just…"
"Josie, please, the taxi is waiting," Roger implored.
She gave Meryl a quick kiss on the forehead before she began again towards the door.
Roger lead her down to the cab and threw open the door. He extended his hand to help her in, but withdrew it before she had a chance to thank him.
Josie watched him carefully as he closed her door and then walked around the taxi. She wanted to unravel the mystery behind his behavior, but it was impossible. He was guilty and frightened - But why?
Whatever troubled him was something horrible, something he could not forgive himself for. And Josie hated that she could not help him.
"Driver, please, take us back to the hospital," Roger stated quietly, entering from the other side.
"Roger -"
"Don't…" he begged harshly.
The silence which fell between them as the cab drove on was heavy with fear and doubt. With each passing moment, Josie felt as though the trust and understanding they had built over the last five years was disappearing. And she did not know why.
Oh dear...what has happened?
Something terrible, that's for sure! Mwahahaa
New chapters to come!
Please review!