When Edie opened her eyes, she found herself in a familiar room. She looked around, clearly surprised and wary. "Am I dreaming?" She thought out loud. "I was kidnapped, and there were n standing around , and then soone rescued ." She shook her head. "Who was it? Why can’t I rember who saved ?" mories from the night before ca flashing back to her, and just at that mont, the door suddenly opened. Edie almost jumped off the bed, and she was so startled by the sound she heard. "Stuart," she shouted.
Stuart had a tray full of food in his hands. He imdiately sat it by the bedside and sat down beside Edie. "How are you feeling," he asked. His voice was gentle and soft as he stroked her hair back out of her face.
"How did I get here? Did you bring back? How did you find ?" She had so many questions, and she didn’t know where to begin. Suddenly the tears began to flow, and she couldn’t stop them.
Stuart took her in his arms and held her tight. "Yes, it was ," he said.
Edie finally gained control of herself and asked, "I’ve had so flashbacks of last night, and for so reason, I keep seeing Clyde’s face. Was he there?"
"Um....I’ll look into it," he said, shaking his head, hoping his answer would make her drop it. Then Stuart brought the tray over to the bed and said, "You must be starving." He sat down next to the bed and, with infinite patience, fed Edie the soup one spoonful at a ti. By the ti she was finished, he could tell that she was feeling better. He took her hand in his."There’s sothing I need to tell you. I didn’t tell you the truth because I was worried about you, but now that you look like you’re feeling better....." He hesitated and continued. "You were right. It was Clyde who found you."
"I knew it," Edie whispered. "And for a second, I thought, I was losing my mind. Who would do this to ?" she asked, her voice sounded strained and muffled. "They said they were going to kill when they were finished with ." Edie took a breath and paused. "I rember nas, Tim and Tom."
Stuart nods, frowning. "The n have already been taken care of." He’s looking more than a little concerned. "I don’t want you to worry, and I’ll deal with the person who’s behind it. Edie....." He hesitated, trying to find the right words. "I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you." Stuart hugged her, his arms were warm and held her tight. When she was in them, she felt safe and secure. "You depended on for safety, for security, and...."
"Stuart," Edie said, not letting him finish his sentence. "I know you love and would do anything for ." Her voice cracked, and tears welled in her eyes. "We’re together, and I’m safe. I don’t want you blaming yourself, okay?"
Stuart never spoke; he only nodded his head.
"Stuart, where is Clyde now? I’m surprised he hasn’t called or stopped by to see ," she asked.
"He left as soon as he found out you were okay. He’s gone back to River State and told to tell you that he will co to see you when he gets back," Stuart explained.
Edie felt a little disappointed. "Oh, he’s gone. I wish I had the chance to thank him," she said. There was an inexplicable familiarity about Clyde that made her enjoy being with him. And for so reason, she felt she could confide in him. "I feel really comfortable around him, and I value his friendship. I hope that’s okay?" she asked Stuart, not knowing what these strange feelings were.
Stuart nodded. "Yes, it’s understandable," he said. He pushed the hair back from her face and touched her bruised cheek. He cast his dark eyes over her, lifting both eyebrows. "After what you’ve been through..." He cleared his throat. "I think you should take a break from work." Edie shook her head and smiled at him. "Lie down and get so rest," he says and covers her up with a blanket. Within no ti, she was sound asleep. Stuart quietly steps out of the bedroom and pulls out his phone and dials a number. "Danny, it’s Stuart. Edie’s taking so ti off." Danny never had a chance to get a word in before Stuart hung up the phone.
The next morning when Edie woke up, Stuart inford her, he was talking to Danny. This ti, she never argued with him. She needed ti to recuperate, and she had a plan of her own. She wanted to learn how to make a cake.
Within two days, the redness and swelling disappeared on Edie’s face, and the bruise was barely visible. She was well-rested and told Mr. Bates about her plans for Stuart. "Mr. Bates. I want to learn how to bake a cake for Stuart’s birthday and..." she whispered into his ear. "I want it to be a secret, so don’t tell Stuart?"
Mr. Bates shook his head. "Okay," he said, but there was no way of keeping anything from Stuart. Mr. Bates inford Stuart of Edie’s plans.
She was always looking for new variations to experint with and loved how everyday she always made sothing new. Every day when Stuart got ho from work, Edie would have a different cake for him to try.
"Why are you buying so many different cakes?" Stuart asked, pretending he knew about her baking.
"There’s so many different flavors and kinds of cakes. You have to tell what you think," Edie would say and put a piece of cake in Stuart’s mouth. She would stare at him with large, bright eyes filled with excitent.
Stuart would slightly scrunch his face up, and without hesitation, he would say, "Mmmm. Yes, this one’s better than yesterday’s."
***
Back at the old castle, there was a new guest. Childe pushed open the rosewood door, and Annie hid behind him. "Why are you hiding? Are you frightened?" he asked her.
Annie shook her head. "No...." She swallowed and looked up at him. Then she smiled and reached up and put her hand in his. "I’m not afraid because I know this is where you live."
Childe smiled at her response. He rubbed the side of the head and said, "Yes, you’re right. This is my ho, and now it’s your ho too." He held her hand gently as they walked inside the castle.
Annie’s eyes lit up with amazent. "It’s beautiful and so big."
Mr. Black stood by the door as Annie and Childe entered. He was their butler, a longti servant to the Yates. "Master.....your mother visited Edie and has given her so information about her past...I’m not sure how much, but it’s only a matter of ti before Edie finds out the truth." It was obvious by the tone of his voice, and he was nervous. "It’s going to be harder for you to get close to Edie, so you need to take your ti and plan everything carefully."
"I must plan carefully?" Childe said as a sinister smile curved his lips.
Mr. Black stepped to the side, "Yes," he said, shaking his head.
Childe passes Mr. Black, Annie’s hand. "Here, take her to the kitchen and co right back. There’s sothing I need to discuss with you privately."
Mr. Black looked at Annie and smiled, and imdiately the brightness in her eyes faded away. He takes Annie into the kitchen and returns. "Yes, Master," he says.
Childe had an evil look in his eye. "You tell to take my ti. How much ti?" The next mont he was towering over Mr. Black and punching him in the face with his clenched fist. He kicked and punched him over and over until he didn’t move anymore.
Mr. Black scread out in pain, yelling hysterically. "Master, please."
User Comments
0 comments from readers