Roy stepped back. Clearing his throat.
"Caroline," He said.
"What are you doing here?" Olivia said when Caroline appeared.
She wore a brown coat, a black scarf, sandy vest and jeans. Her hair_ in a long time was wispy with threads floating about in the evening breeze.
"I came to talk,"
Roy felt out of place and unsettled by Caroline's presence yet relieved but she didn't even pretend to notice him. Counting on how she had always been that way. Head over heart.
"Carol,"
"Trust me, Roy, I'm not here to talk to you,"
He looked startled. "Oh,"
"Caroline," Olivia said when Caroline held on to her shoulders nimbly and led her toward the door.
"I'm trying to help,"
"I didn't ask," She said blankly trodding.
"Aren't you going to tell me what's going on around here?" He raised his arms and dropped them.
"Nope,"
They broke into the stairs and Odetta protested as they took the elevator.
"Caroline,"
"Trust me, you don't need to sacrifice your identity to save my relationship,"
"I don't think Roy's a little boy anymore,"
"Please," She muttered standing casually by the corner, her head leaning on the wall, arms folded.
Odetta took her hand "I know you're scared,"
"Oh please, I'm fine, I just don't want you to_"
"You don't trust Roy," Odetta said brushing her bubblegum blue hair away from her eyes.
Caroline huffed "Can't trust anyone, neither should you,"
Odetta softened.
She straightened with her arms folded still.
"There are other ways of settling this but not at your cost,"
***
Derek paced about dialing Odetta's number, where could she be? He called Caroline and she wasn't available. Today, he was taking a leave after all the calls, consultations, lectures and emergencies.
"She's gotta be kidding me,"
He hardened when he called Jake_ Whom he didn't approve_Fortunately, he was equally concerned.
"She's out of the hospital?"
"Nevermind," He cut the phone and called another person.
***
Aunt Dinah looked around the shop, the locks were still where it was.
Derek stood there impatiently and took over. She grunted stepping back while he opened it and slipped in.
"Odetta!" He called.
"I don't think she's been here," She remembered quite frankly where she kept her old bowl of foam impaled with needles.
"I think that's what she wants," He said coldly climbing up the stairs to her room.
He stood there and stared. "You can't hide forever..." No response. He touched the door "I'm coming in,"
He barged in expecting her to yelp but what he saw ached him.
"Derek?"
An old machine, rags everywhere, he crouched to pick up a piece, it was sparkly and blue.
Aunt Dinah was surprised to see such a piece and her dresses on the tailor's dummy. They were all sparkling.
"Did you put these here?" He asked whirling to her.
Aunt Dinah squawked "Goodness, no. I'd never be able to make these, they're so original...and expensive! Is that organza?"
She raised a piece.
Derek exhaled with his hands on his hips "So this is what she was doing."
Aunt Dinah hesitated. "I thought she would be of good help,"
He raised a hand and walked to the closet, he rattled the door.
"Derek," She beckoned.
"Do you have the keys?"
"N_no but_"
He found a crowbar and broke the lock, opening it ajar. Taken aback by what he found.
Dinah gasped at the wardrobe, the candleflower was an even bigger delight. These were magnificent, it seemed like the clothes were made for angels.
"I can't believe this,"
Derek stuttered gazing at her works. "Well, neither can I,"
***
Odetta grabbed her bags from the trolley she replaced and grabbed her grocery shoving the cart into the train.
"Took you long enough,"
She stumbled at Edward and gulped. She watched him leave his flashy black Mercedes and stuttered.
Her hand clenched on her bag and she pushed her spectacles. He was talking to someone on an earpiece.
She felt cornered like a mouse shielding her face with a magazine she bought. Walking around him.
He walked past her and stiffened for a second. "Turn around."
She laughed sheepishly and dropped her magazine, feeling more silkier than ever.
"Ed,"
He smiled and her breath caught at his dark eyes and steely gaze, her eyes lowered to his neck and she swallowed. How could she still feel this way about him even when she was with Jake?
She denied her feelings and flapped it off with her magazine.
"Surprise, surprise,"
He gazed at her sardonically, he was a feet taller and she stepped back when he came forward.
She brushed her hair aside and gasped when he held her waist pulling her to his side. He pecked her on the cheek.
He looked serious but his eyes held amusement.
"I didn't expect to see you here," his voice dry and rumbly.
She pretended that it was just a polite kiss and she preferred to maintain professional grounds.
Her groceries were starting to feel heavy.
"Um...Ed, sir...I uh...,I," She stared at him intently, he was hot and tempting.
His eyes pulled commanding her to stare back, she winced when he urged her to the store.
"You have to help me search,"
"I...don't, I'm in a hurry,"
She didn't want to be seen with Mr Bigshot here, they would grab attention.
"I gotta go, I'm kinda in a hurry, so...,"
"So, relax, I'll take it from here," He took her grocery bag and she snapped out of her trance. Reaching for it.
"No,"
"You seem to know what you're doing,"
She blushed and realised how sillier she felt.
"I don't know what I'm doing_I mean," She hated stumbling.
"Come with me," He said with a mild air of command that had her following, suddenly she was at the office again and he was reaching up the shelves for groceries.
He looked big, the aura around him was magnetic, she watched dumbfoundedly as he filled up the trolley.
He wore a mild sky blue polo shirt, cargo pants and boots. Like he was going hiking instead.
She pursed her lips holding on to the big box of wet napkins.
He passed her a glance "Is something funny?"
She perked up in alarm "No, no, why would you assume something was wr_funny?"
"Because you're smiling at me. Is there something on my face?" He asked casually as though it would not be alarming if he found out why.
She blew a breath "Nothing's on your face, Ed, I thought you'd be sending one of your servants_"
"Why?"
She was tempted to swallow 'because you're rich?' She wanted to say. That would be shallow.
"You have so much...work on your hands," She balanced herself on her one foot. It was itchy.
His eyes rolled down and his well carved eyebrow quirked. "Are you okay?"
"Umph...cramps? On ma foot," She said quickly adjusting and groaned falling into the trolley.
It scooted off a little 'great, the final embarassing touch,' She huffed and turned red.
Edward dropped an air freshener and snorted. Helping her out of the crate.
She dusted herself "Great, mock me,"
"Those cramps are plenty serious, Odetta, should I take you home?"
Her eyes rounded "No, no, I might trip over your car, break a headlight, you don't want that,"
"So, no cramps? None at all,"
"There... aren't any cramps, Ed. I lied,"
Edward thought she was funny, she was someone good to have around.
He kissed her temple "I won't take your word on that,"
"You think I'm lying," She put a hand to his chest to restrain him and her phone buzzed.
Great timing. She thought and picked up.
"Jake," She perked up at his voice and she groaned turning away.
He said her dad was unto her and she hadn't gone home since Tuesday.
Shit. She checked her watch. "I'll be right back,"
Edward's nostrils flared. "Give me that,"
"No,"
"Hi, Jacob, it's me, Ed...yeah, he hung up,"
She glared up at him "I've got this under control,"