Iris' reaction to the name TideWater cuased Rusty and Trevor some concern. Did she remember something, or is she trying not to?
After Iris ran from the room, a concerned Rusty started after her, but Trevor stopped him. "let her be. she needs to rest. I don't want to push her too much, this has been a pretty busy morning for the girl", Trevor said as he stared at the closed bedroom door. Rusty raised an inquisitive brow at that news, but Trevor shrugged it off. It was none of Rusty's business! "We can try again later this week. I expect I should go in to talk to the cops, before they decide to come out here. Just pretend I remembered something all of a sudden".
Rusty nodded and started for the door, then paused, looking back at the closed bedroom door, where a frightened young woman lay, crying her eyes out. He looked at Trevor in concern. "Trev, you take care of her, okay?". Trevor smiled reassuringly and nodded. "I will, old man. you get on home before Naomi starts calling for you!", Trevor chided his dear friend. After Rusty left, Trevor thought it a good idea to try and calm Iris down. He poured a snifter of brandy and walked to the door, knocked softlyand waited. He could hear soft sniffling and sighing on the other side of the door. A warning went off in his head, that he should not go in that room! Not while she's all sad and vunerable! Damned if I do, damned if I don't!, thought Trevor. He knocked lightly, but she didn't respond, just kept crying. Trevor knocked again, then turned the knob when she whispered for him to come in. Tentatively, he stepped inside with the brandy glass. She was laying on her side facing away from him. He could see her small shoulders trembling in the soft amber light of the room. The room was warm and cozy from the large candles Trevor used to light it. He missed his room! Oh, and he really missed his big bed! "here Jane, drink some of this. it'll help you relax and calm down", he said. He spoke softly, hoping she'd hear the concrn in his voice. "go away, Trevor. I just need to be alone", she said sadly. Trevor tried again. "no, you don't need to be alone. I won't leave until you have a drink with me. come on, shorty, just one drink", he smiled when she raised up and turned towards him. Trevor handed her the glass, but cringed when he saw the anger in those cat's eyes of hers, then she flung the glass across the room, smashing it against his lampstand. Angry fire flashed in Trevor's eyes. He wanted to grab her slim little shoulders and shake her til her teeth rattled! Ungrateful little vixen! They sat on the bed, mere inches from each other, staring in sheer, raw anger. Neither said another word. Trevor rose slowly, picked up the broken glass, and walked out.
The next three days, they avoided each other. Trevor left the house at 5:am each morning to jog. Iris made sure she ate breakfast and was bathed, dressed and back in the bedroom before he came back. She took her lunch in the room, but shared dinner with Trevor in the dining area. Neither said anything past the nessesary cordialities. The eve of the fourth day, Iris approached Trevor and apologized. Trevor did the same. Once more, they were at ease with each other, talking again. Iris asked him about the photos on the mantle. Hesitantly, Trevor told her about his broken engagement. "it wasn't meant to be. she was in love with the idea of a grand wedding to a successful writer. the minute she realized she would be stuck with me for life, she turned and ran for the hills". He made light of being jilted. His bright smiled was a pleasant surprise for the young woman. He eagerly told her about his books, even the one he was working on. She seemed genuinely interested in his work. She absorbed every word, like a curious child. Trevor told her more than was allowed, for an unfinished book. She demanded to clear the table, and while she stacked dishes in the dishwasher, she said, "sorry about your engagement, but you deserve better. someone who'll love you for your strengh, your gentleness and honesty, not because of what you do or how much money you have". The room fell silent. This was a revealation for them both: that she seemed to know him better in 7 days, than Adrian had, in 3 years! Trevor's pulse raced. He knew he had to leave the room right away, before he grabbed those small shoulders, pressed that petite little body against his, and kissed her blindly! Damn it all, but this wasn't going to work!
In a near-future Baltimore, an unemployed bipolar journalist and a teenage hacker are the last hope for a dystopian world controlled by a giant media corporation.
Corporal Travis dreamed of partnering with a police dog, but Fate handed him a faery and something unexpected instead.. As his normal world spirals into chaos, he is thrust into a centuries-old conflict with stakes higher than he ever imagined.
