Chapter 57

Shirley

I’m not sure what to do with myself. I woke up this morning, overwhelmingly aware of Keith’s parents being here as the house sounded more lively than usual. It’s not that I don’t want to see them - I actually think they’re lovely people. However, I’m not sure how to face them.

They think Keith and I are together. I don’t know how to proceed, how to navigate this whole thing. Part of me wishes I could talk to Keith about everything, but I didn’t have the chance last night and I haven’t heard his voice from beyond the door this morning.

So I’ve kept myself cooped up in here for hours, working away on my computer as I try to keep myself at ease. Only, I find myself losing focus any time I hear any noise or my mind slips back to the previous night. I wonder what Keith said to them when I’d left…whether he admitted the truth or just pushed it off. Maybe he didn’t have the heart to tell them they were wrong - I don’t think I would.

It all has me in quite a daze, leaving me to try and focus more and more on my work - my usual escape. Only, after another hour, my attention is officially pulled once I hear a knock on the door.

I assume it’s Keith, which causes me to quickly rise to answer his call. However, when I pull the door open, I find Ruth waiting for me instead.

I pause, for some reason feeling caught as I face the woman. After a moment, it dawns on me that she’s smiling, but it’s a little sadder than the one she’d worn the night before.

“Hello,” I finally say, gathering myself. “It’s nice to see you, Ruth.”

It dawns on me then that Ruth has just come to find me in the guest room…a different room than she’d first assumed I’d been staying in. It causes me to gently swallow as I try to address the situation playing out in front of me, wondering what her discovery means.

“Morning, Shirley,” she finally replies. “I hope I’m not interrupting. I just wanted to talk.”

I nod in response. “Of course. No problem.” From there, I step back - feeling a mix of eagerness and anxiety as I welcome Ruth inside. She thanks me and enters, taking a chance to take in the state of the room as she walks in.

Now there’s no denying the fact that I hadn’t just stayed in the room last night. It’s clear from the way my things are placed and scattered that I’ve been occupying the room for a while, that I’ve made myself comfortable. I can tell Ruth picks up on it all.

Closing the door, I turn to her, waiting as she continues to study her surroundings. But then she finally turns to me, and there seems to be a sense of remorse in her gaze.

“I just wanted to apologize,” Ruth tells me. “About last night.”

This time, I shake my head. “Oh no. There’s nothing to be sorry for,” I insist.

“But there is,” she comments. “I think we both know that I had thought you and Keith were…well, together. But after you left last night, he explained everything.”

So he had told her the truth. I can’t help but thank the Goddess for Keith’s willingness to set the record straight.

“I hope I didn’t offend you,” Ruth continues. “I just jumped to conclusions after I saw the two of you together. I mean, based on the way things looked…”

Yeah. I’m already nodding. I know - I know exactly what she means. After all, I’d already addressed that concern myself. It wasn’t absurd for his mother to jump to those conclusions.

“I understand,” I tell her. “Honestly, I probably would have thought the same thing. I’m sorry we gave you the wrong idea.”

In turn, Ruth offers me another smile, but this time it seems a little more thankful than sad. However, I can then see the way she stops to study me, seeming to think about something before I notice her eventually waving it away.

“And he told us about the fire,” Ruth says instead, again sounding sympathetic. “I’m so sorry about what happened. But I want you to know that you’re welcome in our home - however long you need. What’s ours is yours.”

Her words hit me like a pin in the heart, sending an unfamiliar sensation through me. I almost want to gape at her, but keep myself contained. It’s just…her kindness, the genuine nature behind her statements is so different from anything I’ve ever experienced from a parental figure. My own parents were cold, dismissive. Ruth’s warm welcome is so strange to me, which causes my smile to twitch as I try to sort out my inner turmoil.

“Thank you, Ruth,” I say, my voice somewhat off. “I really appreciate that.”

Ruth gives me one last smile, crossing the distance between us before she can take my hand. And then she squeezes it.

“I can tell you’re a strong girl,” she says to me quietly. “I’m glad that you’re here.”

Again, I’m struck with that same dizziness as she extends her sweetness. But I can hardly react before she pulls away and exits the room. I’m left standing there…wondering how she can tell I’m strong, how she can say she’s glad I’m here….

When she doesn’t know all the lies I’ve told her son.

~

I spent the remainder of the day alone. I didn’t mean to be so anti-social and I hope I didn’t offend Keith’s parents, but spending time alone has always helped me.

And it was beneficial. As the day slipped by, I was able to relax again, shaking off my thoughts of Keith and our complicated situation. I reminded myself that I had my reasons for lying - between getting Jean to safety and benefiting my career, they were necessary.

But that still didn’t mean they didn’t call for a few bumps in the road here and there. I mean, there was no denying that Keith and I had found ourselves in a few interesting predicaments and I keep questioning what it all means.

However, I’m trying to push that all away. For now, it’s just me locked up in my room as I’m once again snug under the covers with a book. The house is much warmer tonight and I figure that can be blamed on the heating being turned on.

Only, I barely get the chance to read one line before I hear my phone chime from the bedside table, causing me to look over to see if it’s Jean. However, my interest is further drawn in when I see the name across the screen.

Keith is texting me…and it’s past 10:30 PM. It seems like an odd time for him to reach out, which inevitably causes me to grab the phone so I can see what he needs.

Keith: Sorry about last night. I explained everything to my mother once you left.

My fingers hover the keyboard as I read his apology, soon typing out a reply.

Shirley: That’s okay. She actually came to talk to me this afternoon. We cleared everything up.

Keith: Good. She means well, but it seems she got ahead of herself. Wishful thinking.

That makes me wiggle slightly, thinking about the assumptions his mother had laid out, and how I’d understood them. But still, I feel a little flattered by her “wishful thinking” and that she thinks I’d be worthy of her son.

Shirley: Well, I can’t say I blame her. I’m quite the catch.

Oh my. I couldn’t help myself from offering the gentle tease, not knowing how else to reply. It seems I’ve chosen humor as a way to overcome the situation.

Keith: She thought so too. And my father. Little do they know - you snore like an eighty-year-old wolf.

My mouth falls open at that, my fingers typing swiftly now - dismissing his parent’s approval as I focus on the insult.

Shirley: I do not! Besides, how would you even know?

Keith: I can hear you from my room.

Shirley: Liar. I think you’ve been sneaking into my room at night and watching me sleep. Creep.

Keith: Easy with the name calling.

I can practically hear him saying the last text aloud, making me quietly giggle to myself as I imagine that amused, deep voice. For some reason, it begins to make me wonder where he is now.

Shirley: Are you in bed?

Keith: I am. Why?

Oh, so he is home.

Shirley: Just wondering. You were gone most of the day.

Keith: I was looking into the missing she-wolves with Sam and a few others.

Shirley: Any luck?

Keith: No.

His last response makes me frown, feeling sorry for him. However, as disappointed as I am by his lack of findings, I know it probably only frustrates Keith more. So I abandon the topic, knowing my sympathy won’t make him feel better.

Shirley: Are you happy your parents are home?

Keith: I am. My mother has been fussing over me, but it’s nice to have them back.

I feel a slight smile come over my lips, remembering the way the two of them looked last night.

Shirley: I can tell she loves you very much.

Keith: I’d hope so. She’s my mother, after all.

I give a slight huff at that, my smile smoothing. Little does he know…parents don’t always have to love their children. I’m a perfect example of that.

Keith: She likes you.

Keith draws me right back out with his message, causing another breath to ease out of me. I don’t know why his written words mean so much…but they do. Even despite all the complications.

Shirley: I like her too.

Keith: Good. Or else you’d be sleeping outside right now.

Shirley: If you kicked me out then I’d just sneak back in. But I’d take you room.

Keith: Is that your way of saying you want to get into my bed?

His response makes me laugh again, but the sound fades as I give a yawn, my eyes growing heavy.

Shirley: As much as I know you’d LOVE that - I won’t get your mom’s hopes up.

A smile remains on my face as I send the last message, partly realizing the underlying flirtiness in our texts. Or maybe I’m delusional, misreading the tone as I’m growing tired. My eyes even flutter shut then, too heavy to open as I hear my phone chime again.

Instead, I drift off to sleep, enjoying the warmth of my bed…but also thinking about how comfy Keith’s might be too.