sorry this wasn't posted sooner.
well, anyways. read and review.
you guys are much awesome.
-------------------------------------
Same Hour, same seats, same solemn expressions. Jude looked nervously from her mother's face to her father's. First they said nothing, just breaths and sighs filled the stuffy dining room. She looked down, playing with the edge of the lace tablecloth. Her mind was only half on the subject at matter, the rest was on what had just occured in the sitting room. He wanted to kiss her, she could see it in his eyes and she knew she wanted it just as much as he did, but he hesistated and she didn't understand why. Was it her? Or was it him? She concluded it was probably her, she was always quite awkward around the boys whom did admire her.
"Well, last night Victoria and I talked and talked about the safety precautions, among other things." Edward started carefully, his strawberry blonde hair glistening in the light hanging overhead. "We've decided it too dangerous to have all three of you staying here, especially now with rationing and random checks." he gestured towards Jude and Thomas, who sat beside eachother, refusing to look at one another. "We, more I than her, decided that we are to send the younger bunch away." Jude's face registered his words in shock, and she shook her head furiously tears springing up in her eyes.
"No! I agreed to this..plan, but I never agreed to leaving!" she said, slapping her hand on the table as her eyebrows knitted together in frustration. Edward placed his hand over Jude's, and raised his eyebrows looking at her. "Listen, this is for the safety of all of us. I can see if we didn't have Katinka or Thomas here, but we do and that is too much of a risk to get caught." he said seriously, hoping she would listen to the plan. He hated sending her away, but it was what was best at the moment and he couldn't risk the gestapo coming.
Finally, she sighed and slid her hand from under his to set it in her lap. "Fine. What is the plan?" she said, her eyes glossed over. Edward relaxed back in his chair, unbuttoning the buttons of his suit jacket and rested his wrists on the table. "You and Thomas will go by alias'. Same first name..just different last ones. You two will be newly married, and Katinka will be your sick sister." he explained as Jude stared at her hands, listening. "You all will travel to the summer house, on the outskirts of town. Stay there: don't cause attention. You know the area pretty well Jude, and don't let Katinka leave or run off anywhere besides the meadow." she looks up at him, nodding. She had to be the brave one right?
She watched as her father slipped off his wedding ring and handed it over to Thomas. "Even if you are just acting..treat her well." he said placing the platinum band, purchased forty years earlier, and enclosing his fingers around it. She turned her head to see her mother holding out her engagement and wedding rings over to her. She reached forward, her hands shaking, and taking them into her own hands. She brought them to her chest, looking into her mothers eyes, and mouthed 'Thank You'. Her mother nodded, tears sliding down her cheeks without sound.
The seriousness of the matter hit Jude as she slid the bands onto her left ring finger. She was the exact same size as her mother, surprisingly, and she held out her hand to examine the ring in the light. It looked beautiful on her finger, but she was only sixteen. Sixteen and already married, even it was just pretend. Out of the corner of her eye, she seen Thomas sliding the ring on his finger, same size as her father, with a smile spreading across his face. She ached to know his thoughts as she turned her head to survey the faces in the room.
Her father stern, but relaxed at the same time was looking at her mother, who played with the pearls around her neck, that belonged to her late mother, tears glistening in her eyes and sliding down her cheeks. Marguerite Dutoir, with the face of an angel although slightly overweight, leaned into her husbands shoulder, shoulders shaking as she cried. She couldn't stand to see her son go as much as Victoria see her girls go. Hermann Dutoir, arm around his wife rubbing her back softly, sat with a tight frown on his face determined not to cry.
She looked down at her hands, wondering when they'd have to leave and what would Thomas be like. She knew they were going to kiss if Katinka hadn't danced through, and without their parents around something was bound to happen. Although, she had to admit to herself that the idea of being 'married' to Thomas, even though a ruse it was, was extremely exciting to her.
"You all will leave in three days, which is when we get your new papers in, and travel by train to the summer house." he said after a long period of silence, although in everyone's mind thoughts were being screamed. She nodded, and knew she had to begin packing. "We've told Katerena already..just start packing. Nothing too frivolous, and be sure to pack for the cold weather." Jude just nodded again, and licked her lips as she looked over at Thomas.
After everything else was settled, Edward stood up excusing himself. "I must get up early..you are welcome to stay. This is soon to be your home.." he said, gesturing towards the Dutoirs and stilfed a yawn. Jude nodded, following suit and standing. "I must go to bed as well..good night, mum. daddy. Thomas and Mr and Mrs. Dutoir."
Victoria got up from her chair, and embraced her oldest daughter tightly. She kissed both of her cheeks. "I love you." she whispered in her ear. "I hate to do that..send you off, but I hope you do understand." she pulled away, and stroked her daughters cheek. Jude nodded, sniffling. "I understand, Mummy. I love you too."
She sauntered to her room, stripping her dress as soon as she shut her bedroom door. She wished she had her own room, so she could think to herself, cry even if she wanted to. But she shared a room with Katerena, and it made her even more sad because she knew that she wouldn't see that room for however long she'd be gone for. She put on her nightgown, slid the headband from her hair, and fell into her bed her arm immediately going for the teddy bear. She kissed it's head as she snuggled it in her chest, and pulled the covers to her chin, almost immediately falling asleep.
------
sorry it's sort of short. I'll try to update by sunday.
review PLEASE!
