Red Dust Dreaming by Eva Scott Page B

differently to the way they raised her. The difference was Luke would have her there to stand up for him, even though she worried she’d have little say in the way his life would be arranged. Still, he would have advantages in New York he certainly didn’t have here. She comforted herself with this logic. It would all work out, she’d make sure it did.
    Guilt drove her feet out of bed and over to her handbag which lay crumpled on a chair. She rummaged through it until she located her phone. Turning it on she waited to see if there were any messages from home. She was rewarded with a stream of them, a constant bombardment had occurred while she’d been busy fighting with Caden. She read a few, mostly from her father. They wanted news, an update, and a photo. What was Luke like? Was Caden putting up a fight? Had he located a will? They sounded concerned enough although there was no enquiry as to how she was faring.
    Elizabeth flicked the phone off. Her parents weren’t to know if there was reception out here or not. She’d simply tell them she’d been too isolated and had no signal. Right now weariness overrode any desire to communicate with home. Caden had upset her more than she cared to admit. He’d stirred long dormant feelings in her. All she wanted to do was go back to New York, back to her job, her dull daily routine and feel safe again. Luke would go to school and he’d survive to go on and do something useful with is life just as she did.
    Yawning she crawled back into bed and switched off the bedside light. The darkness soothed her. Her life may not be very exciting but it was a good life nevertheless. She didn’t have to defend herself or her family to Caden. All she had to do was take Luke and get out of there. The sooner the better.
    Content with her logic she let the tendrils of sleep begin to claim her. Only to be awoken by a sharp knock on the door. She sat up, disorientated for a second, and fumbled for the light. How long had she been asleep, minutes or hours? She slid out of bed and approached the door. If Caden was on the other side waiting to apologise she’d send him away. She was a long way from ready to forgive him for all sorts of reasons. She placed her hand on the door knob and hesitated. Taking a deep breath she pulled the door open.
    Thelma stood on the other side with an armful of books. “Hello, did I wake you up?”
    â€œNot at all,” Elizabeth smiled quickly as she mentally adjusted her attitude down a few gears. “I was just getting ready to go to bed.”
    â€œGood,” said Thelma brushing past Elizabeth on the way through the door. “I thought you might like to take a look at these.” She dumped the books on the end of the bed in an untidy pile.
    â€œWhat are they?” Curiosity got the better of Elizabeth. She closed the door and came closer.
    â€œPhoto albums. Mrs. Carlyle liked to record the goings-on around here. These particular ones are filled with photos of your sister and nephew. Thought they might help fill in some gaps as Angela isn’t here to do that herself.” Thelma regarded Elizabeth with her head cocked to one side, her eyes bright like a magpie’s.
    â€œI don’t know what to say.” Elizabeth cautiously touched the cover of one of the albums, pulling her hand back as if scorched. What would she find inside? She wasn’t sure she was ready to see pictures of Angela happy in a life with Luke… and Caden.
    â€œThank you is enough for now,” said Thelma. “If you’ve got any questions you can ask me tomorrow. I’m for bed; dead on me feet.” And with that utterance Thelma trundled to the door, flung it open and departed.
    Elizabeth roused herself from her second big shock of the night and closed the door again. This time she drew the old fashioned bolt across. Not that she expected any more visitors more from a desire to feel safe from any other