Emmeline carefully noted, the nightgown, she had made sure she cleaned, the warm weather was able to dry it fairly quickly. She thought, she would make sure to clean the rest of the clothes and fix his clothes while he slept this evening.
She watched him eat, he appeared to like it enough. She looked at his movement, it appeared stiff, the injuries, she thought to herself. She didn't want to disturb his meal when it had been a while since he had eaten anything.
Emmeline sat patiently across from Matthew. Her hazy green eyes watched him. She wanted to know, did he know something was off? She then turned her gaze from Matthew to the dining room. While he had been in the tub taking a bath, Ania assisted her in cleaning this room, so it looked less desolate. The dust was gone, the drapes as well, temporarily at least, she would have to clean them. Emmeline slightly shook her head, put her fist under chin and looked out the window. She really wished she had maintained the Octagon House and didn't let it fall into such a terrible state! But, there was nothing she could do to change the past, she would maintain the house moving forward. Especially, if the boy stayed. If not, they could alway receive guests in the future!
Emmeline could feel Matthew's eyes on her, she turned her attention to the boy sitting across from her. Matthew shift his eyes to the ceiling, from the screeching/and thumping above them. Emmeline smiled, "They are moving furniture," Emmeline offered.
"Who all lives here?" Matthew added, he wanted to know who the 'we' Gregory had referred to and who the 'they' Emmeline was referring to.
Emmeline paused for a moment before answering, it was a completely logical question, but she had to put effort into how she answered, because she didn't want to have additional questions from Matthew, that she wasn't prepared for or didn't want to answer at this moment. In all due time she thought.
"Well, you already met Gregory, he lives here. Then there is Ania, you are still recovering from your injuries, I didn't want her wild self to be too much for you. She is about your age I would guess. Then myself of course."
Matthew nodded.
Emmeline smiled, "are you done?"
Matthew nodded again.
"Okay, I'll get Gregory for you, to help you up the stairs?"
"I can do it," replied Matthew.
Emmeline raised her brows, as she watched Matthew struggle. He must have been trying to save face, but he was hurt, there was no need to act so foolishly. Emmeline tutted and gently waved her hands, "You stop that now, let me get Gregory to assist you, you'll wait here?"
Matthew nodded, he had been defeated before he even began.
When she had left the room, barely making a noise, Matthew looked around the room. His injuries were painful and he would need help. But, why she was gone he took a look around the room. He was in the Octagon House, someplace he had never heard before. He struggled to stand up and walk to the window, the moon illuminated the drive and there he noticed the black car. All his memories in the last 72 hours came rushing back to him. He used the window sill to steady himself. Okay, he didn't go back in time.
He recalled Gregory and Emmeline, their weird clothes, the lack of electricity. Something was off, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Maybe if so much brain power wasn't being used to do simple tasks and his pain wasn't so encompassing, he would have known what they were.
Meanwhile, Emmeline went to the master bedroom, "Ania, please remove some bed linens from the line, if they are dry. Bring them to me." Ania nodded and headed out, making sure to steer clear of the dining room.
"Gregory, dear, Matthew is done eating, will you help him up the stairs?" Emmeline asked sweetly, her voice like honey.
Gregory nodded and headed back to the dining room, he passed Ania who flew past almost in a blur.
Ania held a ball of linens in her hands and set it on the bed. "All dry!!"
"Ania! Why would you ball the linens like this?"
Ania bit her lip and dug her foot into the ground and answered sheepishly, "I knew you were just going to make the bed, why bother folding?"
Emmeline shook her head and shooed the girl out of the room.
"You promise, tomorrow, right?"
"Yes, Ania we'll have breakfast together?" Ania was pleased, she really wanted to play with the boy her age. But she had been dead long enough to understand the wisdom in Emmeline's actions.
Emmeline was still straightening out the bed, when Gregory and Mathew entered the room. Emmeline turned and smiled to Matthew, "Almost done. How are your bandages, do we need to change them?"
Matthew shook his head, "They are fine now, I think. But uh, I need to go to the bathroom?"
Emmeline furrowed her brows, "You need another bath?"
Matthew blushed, "I need to pee."
"Oh, Gregory, will you show him the water closet?"
Gregory nodded and guided Matthew to an adjoining room. Gregory observed his confusion, this was far more outdated! No toilet, he could understand, he would have been confused too had he not know. "The chamber pot, over there." Gregory went over to a vase, "Yes, there is water in here, to wash you hands when you are done."
Matthew blushed again. If he hadn't seen the car outside, he would have thought he was definitely in a different century. "Thanks."
Gregory watched the boy hesitate, "Do you need assistance?"
Matthew quickly shook his head back and forth, "Nah, I'm okay, thanks."
Gregory nodded and left the room giving Matthew privacy. When Matthew had exited the bathroom, he walked over to Emmeline.
She noticed him and looked at him, "You'll sleep hear, if you need anything all you have to do is call out. We are just on the other side of the door."
"If you don't need anything, I'll take my leave."
Before Emmeline could leave, Matthew reached out and grabbed her hand. Emmeline jumped, it had felt like a wave of electricity shot through her body. She turned around and faced Matthew looking into his soft brown eyes. Before she could say anything, he said, "Thank you."
Emmeline nodded, "You are most welcome."
He let go and climbed into bed painfully. Emmeline turned and left. She was careful to use the door and not just float through. She closed the door and leaned up against it. She gripped her clothing in her fist above her heart. It almost felt like it beat once or twice...almost.