"eric," irene began while linda was in the kitchen getting tea: "what are you going to tell my parents about. About um. This? Cause you're the first person I've told and. God your parents are nice. So nice. And I want to enjoy that."
"well what. Do you want me to tell them?" I asked giving her back the power.
"i. I don't want you to tell them about. Um. What you know about. Just ask. Like if I can. Stay awhile. If they ask I need someplace to stay but you're not-"
"I'm not at liberty to say what."
"I'm trusting you w/ this. And I don't want to get hurt again."
"do they hurt?" I asked pulling her close.
"yeah. They do I've dealt w/ t hem for few days though."
"just cause it is doesn't mean it should be."
"not now ok?"
"ok."
"and won't um. Won't linda get jealous?" she asked quietly.
"linda is, not a v. jealous person. She and I've been together and she knows how loyal and helping I am."
"oh. He'd get jealous."
He's not here I thought although I didn't actually know this.
"by the way my mom. Is dating someone new. It's a lady actually er she's a lady. Isabella and I don't know how cool you are w/ that. Cause some people. Wouldn't be."
"after the events that transpired before I cam here. I'm in no position to judge. As long as she's good and cool to be around."
"she's nice. She's like from brazil or something."
"oh ok."
I wondered how long irene had been seeing this guy. My sister morgan had recently gotten out of that kindof relationship. I wondered how she was doing but like w/ irene. I knew they'd come to me when ready. When I'd asked morgan had told me she'd be ok. But I wondered when.
"knock knock," linda asked smiling poking her dark head into the living room.
"oh tea great thank you," irene said seeming happy about this.
"yeah," linda said coming and putting it onto the coffee table.
She then sat down.
"I don't think we've actually met. I'm linda," she said.
"hi irene. Eric knows me from."
"right before he went to college."
"ya know…." Irene said gathering up her courage while we waited for the tea: "you're really lucky to have a guy like eric."
Next to me she swallowed hard.
"I never thought mhuch about it but yeah I guess I am," linda said.