AN: I know it's been awhile, so I thought I would try to make it up by posting these two chapters.

Chapter 8. Awkward Arrivals

Leah had spent the afternoon shopping with Jay. After many hours of carrying around bags, having other men carry around the bags, and eventually just throwing them in back of Jay car before getting a few phone numbers, Leah was done with fun for the day. Her legs ached from her high heels that she felt would be great to wear in the morning, and the tiger that had began the day had now dimmed down into a timid kitten.

Though the rocks had pierced her bare feet when she went to the stables, it had felt great for her feet to be able to breathe again after all of the tension and pain she had suffered throughout the day. She had made sure to wipe her feet on the mat a few times before entering back into Mrs. Hendrickson's house and boiling a pot of water for hot chocolate and an evening in front of the fireplace as she settled for soap operas or some cheesy sitcom rerun.

"Maybe it would be better if Mrs. Hendrickson were one of those old ladies with cats," Leah remarked when she noticed how alone she was in this house. "Then I wouldn't be in this empty house by myself."

As if answering her prayers AN: PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR SUCH A CLICHE OCCURENCE, the doorbell rang.

Ethan gaped at Leah clad in a short black dress. A halter top that hugged her curves to her hips before falling about three-quarters of a foot past her waist in waves looked like a dress more suited for a girl working at a club than something a girl might randomly wear spending an evening at home with herself. Blushing for her, Ethan gaped at her, unable to take his eyes off of her face once they settled there.

"Ethan…" Leah's breath caught at the hard stare he gave her, not taking his eyes off of hers. "Did you…"

"I got your letter," Ethan looked down finally to retrieve the letter from his pocket.

"Oh…" Leah felt suddenly ashamed of her letter, not sure how to explain herself. "How about you come in. You can sit down if you would like. I think that would be more comfortable than standing with your crutches."

"Thank you," Ethan took a seat at the sofa that Jay had sat at twenty-four hours ago. "I have missed you, Leah."

Leah stopped her movement, assembling together two cups of hot chocolate, at Ethan's words. She knew it was a common thing for men to say to women they haven't seen in awhile, but she was so used to the old Ethan telling her candid replies with no strings attached, she had no idea how to take it.

Lost in her contemplation over his words, Ethan proceeded on, finding the silence uncomfortable.

"Charity got married," he cursed himself silently in his mind at how he had changed the topic from her and moved on to his sister. "She has a son. His name's Patrick James. He looks just like Charity in many ways. She is a good mother."

"I believe it," Leah handed him a cup of hot chocolate and smiled, taking a seat on the armchair by the fireplace. "I'm glad Charity has a nice hold of her life and that she is doing great. How about yourself? You doing alright?"

"I am not married," Ethan told it more to the cup in his hands than to Leah. "Everyone waits for me to announce my engagement to Martha."

"Martha Dewberry," Leah smiled at the memory of her, but Ethan could see the smile was not one of happiness. "Is she doing well?"

"She is patient," Ethan shrugged, not knowing what to say of her. "I fear that if I do not do something soon, I will ruin her reputation. It does not settle well when a young woman remains unmarried for so long."

"If that were the case out here, I could only imagine what people might say of me." Leah stopped laughing when she realized Ethan had not caught onto her humor, or at least made it known that he had. "Sounds like everything s going well with you, too."

"Yes, that is what it sounds like." Ethan's feeble reply made Leah's head jerk up, once again not knowing how to take his words. "Is your life doing as well?"

"My life…" Leah knew it was useless to lie, considering she had only sent him a letter needing his presence there to help her make meaning of everything. "It is not going so well, I guess. There is a whole ton of things I would love to discuss with you, but I don't think they're things that I should just flat out say all at once. For tonight, can we just pretend that everything is fine and superb and we couldn't be happier?"

Leah imagined in her head Ethan saying he did not understand the reason to pretend when everything was obviously not going well, and she did not hide the surprise she felt when he said otherwise.

"If that is what you want."

"Alright…" Leah sucked on the bottom part of her lip, thinking of something to say to bring back some sort of normality between them. "How long do you think you will stay?"

"As long as it takes," Leah could feel blood rushing to her head, imagining Ethan staying with her and the whole situation had her head spinning to the point she thought she might faint.

"You can stay… in the other spare room." Leah laughed saying it, realizing she was staying in someone else's house and the absurdity of the entire situation that she had put herself in.

"I'm sorry that I do not have any other clothes than these," Ethan said, looking down at his Amish attire. "I might not appear up to standard to other English people."

"That's what shopping is for," Leah felt as if she were a dream, picturing her going out into the world once more beside Ethan again. "That is, if you want to go shopping tomorrow."

"If that is what you feel we must do."

"Well… how about I show you to your room?" Leah suggested, far too antsy to remain sitting down for much longer. "It sure isn't much, and it isn't exactly a masculine room…"

Leah blushed at the painted pink walls with the floral wallpaper that wrapped it up like a little girl's present. A full sized bed, complete with lavender pillows and a flower printed comforter, greeted them both as Leah imagined Ethan moving around in the morning, looking at his reflection in the paper white vanity in front of the window.

"It is a nice room…" Ethan couldn't even help grinning at the room in front of him. "Thank you for the place to stay, Leah."

"Thanks for being here," Leah smiled at him, wishing to reach out and be in his arms again. "It means so much to me."

"I am glad to be here," Ethan smiled and looked down at her, not sure what to do now.

"I guess I will see you in the morning…" Leah took a step breath, exhaling. "Any preferences for breakfast?"

"No preferences."

"Then I will take you out for breakfast," Leah grinned. "Good thing, too, because I sure am no cook."

"Alright," Ethan took another step into his new room, making the distance between them greater. "Goodnight, Leah Lewis-Hall."

"Oh yes…" Leah nodded. "Goodnight Ethan."

"It still is the same?"

"What?" Leah turned around. "What's still the same?"

"You are still Leah Lewis-Hall, right?"

"No man has me tied down quite yet," Leah laughed awkwardly. "Maybe someday."

"Goodnight then," Ethan grinned. "Leah Lewis-Hall."

"Alright," Leah shook her head at how unbelievably uncomfortable they have both made this small conversation. "Goodnight, Ethan Longacre."