Chapter 9

 

Usually, Saturday mornings around the house were Becky’s favourite times of the week. Today, though, things weren’t quite so pleasant for her. Instead of hopping out of bed and happily making her way into the kitchen to sip coffee and sift through flyers with her housemates, Becky waited until she was sure they had vacated the house before emerging from her bedroom.

In fact, she spent the entire long weekend, hiding out in her room, reading her books, concentrating on her studies rather than be anywhere near her inhospitable housemates.

No turkey dinner for her, she thought with a despondent sigh as she stared up at the ceiling. The saddest part was, hoping to make herself feel better, she had called her grandmother, only to be informed that the dear old lady’s health had taken a nasty turn. The nurse on call also warned Becky to prepare herself for the worst.

Suddenly realizing that Granny might not make it, Becky was on the verge of an emotional meltdown. If Granny died, not only would she miss her terribly, Becky also realized that she would be all alone in the world.

 

***

 

“What exactly did you do to upset Becky?” Crispin asked from his horizontal position on the couch.

“Only what had to be done,” Kell said with a sigh of resignation.

“Not that I care, but perhaps you shouldn’t have led her on in the first place,” Crispin said with a disapproving scowl.

“Why do you care?” Kell growled back.

“Like I said, I don’t care. You see, at least, I’ve never pretended to like the girl. You, on the other hand, led her to believe that she meant something to you. Only to stomp on her little heart. Cruel bastard…”

“Shut the fuck up, Crisp. What’s done is done. She’ll get over it. If not, she can leave. Isn’t that what you really want?”

“Well, not anymore,” Crispin said, sitting up indignantly. “The cheeky little dormouse has grown on me.”

“Oh, I get it. You were only pretending not to like her,” Kell challenged.

“I don’t like her,” Crispin said, his voice climbing an entire octave. “I just don’t need to be rid of her quite so much.”

 

***

 

Halfway through the following week, Becky still hadn’t received any good news regarding Gran’s health. In fact, the attending nurse had informed Becky that she should plan to visit her grandmother very soon just in case.

That could only mean one thing. Granny was dying and there was nothing Becky could do about it. She was getting desperate. She hadn’t spoken about her situation to anyone. She’d been tempted to approach Dorian, but she just didn’t think she could. The last thing she wanted was to be bothersome.

Deciding to take matters into her own hands, she spoke to her professors and warned them that she would be leaving for a few days. Given the circumstances, they were all quite accommodating. At least, she wouldn’t have to worry about missing classes.

Thursday afternoon, she purchased her train tickets with every intention of leaving for Toronto on the weekend.

Friday night, while the Goths were out, performing in a local college bar, Becky quietly packed her suitcase. She then dragged it down the steps and placed it by the front door. In the morning, she would simply call for a taxi and leave.

She then got ready for bed. She hoped to fall asleep quickly so that she would wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the long journey.

Unfortunately, her frazzled nerves got the best of her. Becky spent the early hours of the evening, tossing and turning, getting herself even more upset. Soul destroying feelings of loneliness overtook her. Could she do this on her own? Would she even make it to the train station without losing her mind?

She would have to no matter what. She didn’t have a choice, she realized with a stifled sob.

She did eventually doze off, only to wake hours later. It was still only three o’clock in the morning, she realized miserably. What now? Shivering uncontrollably, she began to panic. Desperate and beyond consolation, Becky did the only thing she could think of.

Resolved to the task, she quietly got up and crept into Kelley’s room. It was the closest bedroom to hers, thankfully. She sighed with gratitude at finding him there in his big old bed. Seeing his sleeping form underneath the covers, she was both relieved and scared to death. Would he think she was crazy? She wouldn’t blame him if he did.

Very quietly, she padded across the floor until she was right beside his bed. She hesitated at first, nearly changing her mind. Then she looked at him. He didn’t look like the angry hurtful Goth from the other day. In fact, he looked calm and peaceful. She only wanted that same sense of calm and peace for herself.

This was the Kelley that she needed right now. The very same Kelley that had looked after her when she was sick. She couldn’t stand to be alone with her thoughts a minute longer.

Surely, he would understand her reasons for crawling into his bed. Holding her breath, she dared not get too close. It was enough to just be there beside him, hearing him breathe.

 

An hour or so before her alarm clock was set to go off, Becky stirred awake. Good, she thought without actually opening her eyes, hoping to leave Kell’s bed before he noticed her there. She started to creep out when she realized that not only was Kell well aware of her presence in his bed, he was also the very reason she’d woken up in the first place.

Opening her eyes one at a time, she found him right up beside her, leaning up on his elbow, staring down at her with a bemused expression on his handsome face.

She immediately started to apologize, expecting him to be angry at her, but then he did the most wondrous thing. He wrapped his arm around her and buried his nose in her hair. “What you doing in here, love?” he murmured sleepily.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Becky started to sputter and cry.

“Aw, don’t cry, Becky,” he said, pulling her into his warm chest. Whatever it was that brought her to his bed, didn’t matter so much at the moment. He was just simply glad she was there. He was also very glad that he’d been too tired to take off his pants before falling into bed. “I’m sorry I was mean to you.”

When he had found her suitcase by the front door the previous night, he had assumed that she was leaving because of what he’d said. He had slept on pins and needles, hoping to catch her before she left. “Please stay.”

The more he talked, the more she cried. She was so relieved and grateful for his presence in her life at that moment. Whatever the other day had been about, it was absolutely forgiven as far as Becky was concerned.

“Kell…”

“Kelley,” he murmured, cradling her sweetly in his arms. Oh, how he’d missed the sound of his name wrapped in her sultry little voice. “Call me Kelley, please.”

“Kelley… I didn’t know what else to do. I was scared and I couldn’t sleep,” she sobbed, pausing for a series of hiccups. “Granny…”

Suddenly realizing the situation for what it was, Kell drew away from her to better look at her face. “What happened? Did she…?”

“Not yet, but I’m afraid she will… soon.” She couldn’t quite bring herself to say the word out loud. “I have to go see her before it’s too late.” She started to sit up in a panic, looking around for a clock.

“Becky, what do you need? How can I help you?” he asked, noting her agitation.

“What time is it? I have to catch a train. I have to get up.” She made a move to get out of bed when he pulled her back in beside him.

“Sh…” he whispered, calming her. “Forget the train. I’ll drive you there myself.”

“Really?” she asked, half afraid that he’d change his mind.

“Yes, of course. I won’t have you go alone, dragging that big old suitcase behind you.” He placed a chaste kiss on the back of her head and drew her into his arms. “For now, close your eyes and relax. It’s still only five o’clock in the morning.”

“Kelley, I don’t want to leave it too late,” she whined.

“We won’t, I promise. Just another hour.”

“Thank you so much, Kelley.”

“You’re welcome, so much.”