Page 113 of Theirs to Take

“It’s the best kitchen I’ve ever seen,” she said. “Kitchens back home aren’t this grand.” Her father and she lived in a little two-bedroom flat that she had grown up in. Their kitchen hadn’t been remodeled since it was installed back in the nineteen fifties, but she loved it. It felt like home every time she closed her eyes to think about it. Her mother loved that kitchen and when she died, they kept everything as she had it. Her father insisted that they didn’t change a thing, and she felt the same way about their place.

“My family’s home back in Scotland can completely fit into this first floor,” she said, looking through to the open family room. She had never seen an open-concept home. Most homes back in Scotland were very compartmentalized because they were so old.

“I’d really love to visit Scotland someday,” Evan said.

She smiled up at him, “Here I am trying to run away from Scotland, and you want to go there. It is beautiful if you don’t have some crazy, drug-dealing ex-boyfriend coming after you,” she was teasing, but it still made her sad to say the words out loud, because they were so true.

“I’m sure,” he agreed, “I’ll show you up to your room and you can settle in while I warn up dinner. I’d ask if you’d like a glass of wine,” he said.

“I’d love one,” she moaned.

“But, how about a cup of green tea instead?” he asked.

“You have hot tea?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said. “I drink it at night to help me relax. I drink too much coffee, so my doctor got me to switch to tea after three in the afternoon.”

“I miss coffee too, although I’ve read that I can have one cup a day. I usually try to grab it in the afternoon, to help me get through the rest of the day. I start to drag after lunch. Hot tea sounds wonderful.”

“Great, your room is this way,” he said, pointing to the stairs. She followed him up to the second floor and nodded to the first room at the top of the stairs. “That’s me,” he said, “and you’re down this way.” He led the way to the last door on the floor and opened it.

“It’s lovely,” she said, peeking into the sparsely decorated room.

“It’s just a bed, nightstand, and dresser. The blinds will help keep the morning light out.”

“I’m an early riser,” she said, “I usually get up before the sun here. I haven’t been able to sleep past six in the morning since moving here last week. I guess the time difference is really an issue for me.”

“Well, maybe the hot tea will help you the way that it does me. Either way, please make yourself at home,” he offered.

“I appreciate it,” she said. “Would you mind running me back to my place in the morning so that I can grab my car?” she asked.

“I’ll arrange to pick it up. If your ex is watching the parking garage, he’ll spot you, and then, your new secret hiding spot will be found out.”

“Right,” she said, “are you sure it’s not too much trouble?”

“Not at all,” he said, “I’ll get my brother, Eli, to give me a hand. Do you mind having to ride into work with me in the morning?” he asked. She worried that her cousins would see the two of them arriving together and then, what would she tell them? “I promise, no one will see us. In fact, I can let you out at that coffee shop on the corner if you want. No one will know that we’ve carpooled.”

“Okay, I appreciate that,” she said. “I know that I sound like a broken record, but I’m just not sure if telling Alex and Rod is for the best. I don’t want to put them in danger,” she said.

“They’re big boys,” Evan said, “I’m sure that they’ll be able to handle some trouble. Besides if you can’t lean on family in time of a crisis, who can you lean on?” he asked. Carrie wasn’t sure if she had the answer to his question, but apparently, she could lean on her new boss, and she was very grateful for that.

Evan

Evan got up earlier than usual, hearing Carrie wandering around his kitchen. She wasn’t kidding when she said that she got up early. The sun wasn’t even up yet, but his house guest was.

“Sorry,” she whispered, “did I wake you?”

“No,” he lied.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “I was just looking around for some coffee filters.”

“Oh, they’re built in,” he said, opening up the back of his coffee machine. “I should have shown you around better after dinner last night, but you seemed to be exhausted.”

“I was,” she agreed, “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to learn where things are if I’m going to stick around,” she said.

“You’ve decided to stay?” he asked.

“Just until I can figure out what to do about my ex. But Mina is right, I can’t keep running. I like it here and I like working for my cousin’s firm. So, if you don’t mind a houseguest, I’d like to stick around,” she admitted.

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