To everybody thank you so much for the support I truly appreciate all of you and on with the story
In the months following Tom's departure there was no sunlight for Lizzie. It would be 35 degrees Celsius outside but there was a dark cloud hanging over her and while people sweat in the blazing sun she shivered with the strain of heartache and pain.
But this morning the sunlight trough the gap in the curtains was a welcome guest. It was particularly inviting mingled with the scent of fresh coffee and something new yet familiar. She had smelled this scent before, she turned to where it was more potent and inhaled.
Confused and groggy from just waking up she walked from her room, even the minimal tank top she wore was becoming too much in the heat of the city.
She moved toward the smell of the coffee as if it had her spellbound. Surely it wasn't Audrey she thought the woman she had hired to help her clean shortly after Tom left. She couldn't cope herself and Audrey usually communicated with her from the bedroom door as Lizzie lay curled physically unable to get up. Even when all of Tom's things were packed and shipped Lizzie kept her on.
'Everybody's gotta make a living right?' her father's voice echoed in her head.
Ya even if that living is at the expense of other people, she thought of Red and as she spoke of the Devil so shall he appear.
He stood in the immaculate clean shirt he had worn yesterday and it all hit her like a wave on a windy day. She froze on sight to gain composure.
'ah Lizzie' he still had his back to her as the coffee beans churned beside him.
'your awake, good morning'
He still didn't turn around sensing she needed the time
She smiled at that. She really liked that about him, he had pushed her so many times to the precipice of sanity and yet was so giving and kind when she needed it.
Without thinking and without reticence her legs walked towards where he stood at the cooker and wrapped her arms around him.
She close her eyes as she took a deep breath of his scent.
She felt him tense and then relax and when he finally turned to face her he had the biggest grin on his face. He kissed the crown of her head and with a slight chuckle said
'you surprise me again Lizzie'
She laughed too as she realised he must have thought she was going to attack him and not embrace him as she was. She chose neither fight nor flight in this matter she chose nurture.