Chapter #2
“I was just coming out here to ask you how old the newspaper
was.” Lacy replied, with a slight frown, “Who is this?”
“Must you be so rude?” Her father reprimanded her, jokingly,
“This is Christopher, and he lives next door.”
Lacy nodded her head respectfully, “Pleased to meet you. I’m
Lacy.”
“So I’ve heard.” Christopher said. His voice was a rich deep
voice, a voice that would be hard to disobey. He was wearing clothes that marked
him out. He wasn’t sort of person to get dirty hands through working. But more
than that, he was handsome, in a slightly-older-man sort of way. The way he
held himself said he was of some importance to the community, but at the same
time, there was a touch of controlled anger and ice in his eyes. As if he was
daring her to do something stupid.
“Lacy?” Her father called out to her, the voice came through
muffled, and she panicked for a moment. “Lacy, did you hear what Christopher said
to you?”
“No dad. I didn’t. I apologise. I was away with the faeries.”
She replied, curtly, yet humbly.
“No matter.” Christopher cut in, sensing an argument could
erupt at any moment, “I simply asked if you know any of the history of the
area, and of your house. I’d be happy to take you off your father’s hands for a
while, if that’s okay with you?”
‘He’s older than you.’ She chided herself, not wanting to
give away that she thought he was handsome in her face, ‘At least 7 years
older. That’s still significantly less than dad but still.’
Out loud she replied, “I’d love to. I always liked history
myself.”
“That’s settled then.” Christopher laughed, “I suspect you
may be a little wary of me, yes? I can see it. I’d like to host you and your
father for dinner tonight, and get to know you both a bit better. The history
tour can wait until later in the week.”
Lacy smiled, knowing it was just a false smile. This man
gave her feelings like she’d never had before. She liked him, yes, but at the
same time, there was a touch of something...not quite right about the whole
affair. She let it slide, trusting in her father’s judgement.
She made her excuses and left the pagoda courtyard and went
back into the house, cleaning the bench and tidying away her mess.
“Lacy, Christopher is very important to me and to the
business. I must implore you not to go against him.” Her father’s voice was worried
and almost pleading as she turned around. But upon seeing her, his face broke
into a smile. “Christopher Newson wishes to entertain my daughter! You are one
lucky girl.” His voice was that of jubilation as he danced her around the
kitchen.
“Lucky?” Lacy exclaimed, “I’m 19, and this older man is
taking an interest in me?” She broke free of her father’s hold and turned to
him, her voice raising slightly. “Thats not lucky? That’s just creepy. Don’t
you see it?”
Paul grabbed her wrist as she headed towards the stairs.\
“Don’t mess this up for me.” He said softly in her ear, “This...this
is bigger than just you. If he chooses to entertain you, let him entertain you.
The future, our future is riding on this. I won’t let you mess this up for me.”
“For you?” Lacy’s voice was that of confusion and anger, “For
you? Right? So I don’t matter in this equation?”
“For us.” Paul corrected, but the damage was done. Lacy flew
out of his reach and up the stairs. “It was for us, Lacy. Sweetheart, I didn’t
mean it to come out the way it did.”
The only reply he got was a slammed door from upstairs.
Lacy was still lying on her bed when the moon rose over the
horizon. She decided to get up and turn the lights on, and close the curtains.
She did the former, but not the latter because when she went over to the window
there was a silhouette in the house next door, looking across at her window.
The silhouette was unmistakably Christopher’s, with broad shoulders and the air
of which they were carried. He carried a
glass in his hand, probably brandy or whiskey and he raised the other one to
wave at her.
Lacy was torn; she found him attractive, but at the same
time, undeniably creepy. She wanted nothing more than to wave back, but still
she held back for a few moments, trying to decide what to do.
Should Lacy wave back
at the man who seems to be Christopher, OR should she close the curtains and
try and forget about him?
© Samantha Millar
Until next time,
Atra du evarinya ono varda,
(May the stars watch over you)
(May the stars watch over you)
Samantha.
'Paul grabbed her wrist'. - I don't know why you changed from her father to Paul. I would've kept it as the same, formal pattern. From the seemingly respectful relationship, it's unlikely that she would refer to her father by his first name. Also, an apostrophe is missing.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the questions at the end, it seems that Lacy is undecided with what to do. She is young and captivated enough by Christopher to forget what he said to her at the very first moment they met. She is also respectful towards her father and knows that it could be important for him. However, she still doesn't like the fact, and is hurt, that her father is possibly putting their livelihood before her happiness. Certainly the dancing with her is a strange thing to do! No father that wants the best for his daughter would be dancing while thinking about what sort of 'entertainment' could happen. Instead, he's possibly distracted by offers of financial gain.
If she waves back, she is being polite.. but also encouraging attention. If she closes the curtains, that is a signal of.. resistance.. that he won't get everything his own way. If she chooses to do nothing and retire to bed, then she is leaving her options, and her curtains open.
B
Thank you for the kind reply. I will edit as needed. Thank you for bringing up my faults.
DeleteAs to your reply to the question...yes, that is how the answers could be recieved, however it does not give me any idea of how YOU want the story to go. That is the whole point of this. how do YOU want the story to go?
Many thanks.
Samantha