Thanks to WillowTree1221 again for your review, they always make me smile, it's good to know my writing isn't terrible.
Just like Millard had said Aurora's ankle felt much better when she woke up the next morning. Sure she wasn't ready to run a marathon but she could at least walk on her own again. She quietly got dressed and made her way to the kitchen where she found her mother rocking her baby brother. Little Noah was ten months old now and was the light of her life. Aurora sat in the chair next to her mother and watched her little brother giggle as she tickled his tummy. Their peaceful moment of bliss was interrupted by her father storming into the kitchen.
"Breakfast Aurora." He demanded as he sat at the table and opened the newspaper.
"Yes sir." she muttered and went to the stove. She got the last couple of eggs they had and started on breakfast. When she was finished she split the helping of eggs in two for her parents and nibbled on some dry toast for herself. She'd have to go to the market later and see what she could scrounge up. Her father looked up from his plate to where Aurora stood leaning against the kitchen counter eating her toast.
"Well, don't just stand there girl. There's laundry to be done. Go, get on with it!"
Aurora finished her toast in three bites and rushed out of the kitchen. Her father had been like this since the war started, after Noah had been born it only got worse. Since her mother had gone from being very pregnant to being very busy with the new baby her father had decided all the work should land on Aurora's shoulders. At first she didn't mind, she'd always helped her mother as a child, but after awhile it started to feel like she was more of an in-house maid then his daughter. Still, she stayed quiet and got her work done; when they had moments alone her mother would tell her to be courageous and kind, that was the only way to live in a perilous war torn world like this.
By noon Aurora had finished washing the laundry and had hung it up on the line out back to dry. She had a quick lunch, just some crackers and cheese while her parents had sandwiches, then her father had her sweep and wash the floors, clean the windows and mend the clothes that needed sewing. Once she had finished her chores it was almost dinner time, the sun was just starting to set, so she went back outside with the wicker laundry basket to retrieve the dry clothes.
About halfway through she felt a tap on her shoulder, "Millard!" she said as she turned and saw clothes and no visible body, a smile spread across her face.
"It's good to see your ankle looking better."
She opened her mouth to respond but before she could get any words out she heard her father yell from inside the house, "Aurora!"
She quickly grabbed Millard's sleeve and pulled him into the shrubbery at the edge of the yard. She peeked between the evergreen branches and watched her father come out the back door and take a look around the yard. He called her name again still looking to see where she'd gone.
"Well this is different." Millard whispered beside her, "Usually when I need to hide I just strip naked." He said nonchalantly. Aurora, however, looked away from him as she felt her face blush a deep red again. She noticed how Millard had a way of constantly making her blush. She looked back up just as her father shook his head then stormed back inside.
"I should probably get inside, before he gets any angrier." She said stepping out of the bushes.
"Are you going to be alright?" Millard asked her concerned.
"I'll be fine." She assured him.
She heard him take a deep breath, like he was plucking up the courage to ask her something. "Do you know that park a few blocks over?"
"The one off that dead end street? La Follettiere?" his cap nodded, "Yes, I know it."
"Would you be able to sneak out later? Meet me there?"
"Like a date?" she asked nervously, though the question seemed to drain Millard of his confidence. She noticed his cap angling down and his shoe was drawing circles in the grass. His jacket shrugged.
"If you'd like it to be."
She put her hand on his arm causing him to look back up at her.
"I'd love to." She said smiling and Millard's confidence seemed to return.
"Great. What time do you think you can get away?"
"Well, we'll be starting supper soon, then the dishes need washing, I need to turn down everyone's beds, then help mother put the baby to sleep. . . probably around nine?"
"Nine it is then." He took her hand and kissed her fingers, "Au revoir." He bid her before leaving the yard.
"Aurora!" she heard her father call again; she grabbed the basket of laundry and dashed inside.
oOo oOo oOo
Aurora leaned against the doorframe as she watched her mother tuck Noah into his bassinette. She placed a gentle kiss on his head then crept out of the room. Once the door was shut she turned to Aurora and rested her hand on her shoulder.
"Sweet dreams, honey." She said giving Aurora a kiss on the cheek before making her way to her bedroom. Once she was alone Aurora quickly got to work, she started stuffing pillows and blankets under her bedspread to make it look like someone was asleep in the bed. Once she was finished she opened her bedroom window, sat on the ledge and hopped down into a flowerbed, luckily her house was only one story.
She walked at a fast pace down the street until she reached the park. The only light came from the lampposts that circled the perimeter, but she could still make out the outline of a person sitting on a picnic table by the swing set. When she got closer she knew for certain it was Millard. She watched him lean back until he was laying completely on top of the table.
"What are you doing?" she asked once she had gotten closer. She saw his cap tilt in her direction as he sat up on his elbows. He extended an arm in her direction, beckoning her closer.
"Come lay with me."
She took his hand and sat on the table with him.
"Lean back." He said as he pulled her against his chest. When they were both laying down again she understood why he wanted to do this. Above them were hundreds of stars lighting up the sky and suddenly everything, even the war, felt small.
"It seems so vast and endless." She whispered, "It's beautiful."
"Beautiful." He agreed, but when Aurora turned her head to look at him he wasn't looking at the stars, he was looking at her.
oOo oOo oOo
Aurora could have stayed with him and looked at the stars for hours, but it was getting late and Millard insisted she get some rest, tomorrow would be another day. As he walked her home from the park she could hear music coming from a nearby building. She'd heard rumors about it, some of the teenagers from the neighborhood had taken over one of the abandoned shops and turned it into their own getaway. Late at night a band would play swing music and they'd all pair off and dance the night away. Aurora knew what it was like to want to forget all the horrible things happening around you but she had never gone, she had responsibilities at home.
She and Millard stopped and peered inside, the large display windows had been covered with fabric but they could still see through a tear in the curtain. The people inside looked happy and carefree as they enjoyed whatever hours of bliss they could grab onto. The band played so loud that the music could be heard dimly in the street. Aurora felt Millard's hand take hold of hers.
"Would you like to dance?"
She shrugged, "Crowds have never really been my thing, I always get so nervous and jittery."
"Then how about right here?"
"In the street?"
"Sure, why not?" he replied as his hold on her hand pulled her into the road with him. He spun her around back and forth, never letting go of her hand. Their feet tapped against the pavement as the swing music played on and on. Aurora marveled in the joy of it, no one had ever asked her to dance before; she was surprised that she hadn't fallen already, but Millard kept a tight grip on her hand and when she was close enough he kept a tight grip on her waist as well. Soon their laughter joined the sound of feet tapping and music playing. Eventually the fast upbeat music turned soft and slow and their dancing became just swaying back and forth in each others arms.
"I don't want to go back." Aurora muttered against his shoulder.
"You'll see me again tomorrow."
"Promise?"
"You have my word." And even though they both knew they had to let go Aurora still felt Millard's arms wrap tighter around her.