Centuries of Sin : Book IV

5

Elizabeth didn’t have a chance to ask Sawyer if she had said the wrong thing before someone knocked on the front door, and she left him staring at the wall to answer it.

She was surprised that Linnea had shown up, but the young woman was holding Lily and she thrust the cat at Elizabeth as soon as the door was open.

“I took care of her for you but I assume you want her back now.”

Elizabeth put the cat back down on the floor and smiled at Linnea despite her confusion.

“Thank you. I know Sawyer will appreciate it.”

Linnea nodded, once, but hesitated as she began to turn away.

As Elizabeth started to close the door, Linnea spun around and cleared her throat.

“I…don’t suppose you have seen my father?”

There was no way Linnea didn’t know where Jonas was. Everybody in this pack knew where he was, and why he was there, but Elizabeth shrugged anyway.

“Not this morning. Why?”

“No reason. I just…” she rubbed the top of her arm, and Elizabeth opened the door a little wider as an offer for Linnea to come into the house.

“You just…?”

“You know what… this was stupid. I’m sorry; just pretend I didn’t say anything.”

She reached for the door again, but Elizabeth raised her eyebrow and stepped in Linnea's path to block the way.

“You just what?”

“I wanted to congratulate him. He wasn't exactly father of the year before he moved away - I really don't think he cared whether he was my dad or not, no matter what he tells people - but he actually seems to care about the new baby, so… I'm happy for him. And her, I guess. I'm sure they'll be a wonderful family now…"

"...are you seriously jealous?" Elizabeth had to bite her cheek to avoid laughing at the girl, and she felt rather guilty about it.

"I'm not jealous. I just know there's no point pretending he might actually want anything to do with me now that he has a kid he actually cares about. I don't think he even knew my name for months, and I know he didn't come to see if my mom was OK after I was born, but when that woman was having regular labor pains he acted like it was the end of the world. I wanted to tell him I'm happy for him, and that I think it's better if I move away now he's going to do the whole 'proud first time dad' thing every time it does something new."

'She… the baby is a girl, not an it. And he was worried about Francesca because her mother died during childbirth - I don't think it was unreasonable of him to be afraid that he might lose her the same way." Elizabeth stepped aside and gestured for Linnea to leave. "I'll tell him that you want to talk to him, if I even see him before you do."

"Don't bother. Just... tell him I left if he notices."

Elizabeth closed the door and went through to the living room, ignoring the fact that Sawyer and Klara were both staring at her as she collapsed onto the couch. 

"Elizabeth…" she expected Sawyer to berate her, but when she rolled her eyes he actually smiled at her. "It was nice of you to stand up for my sister; I appreciate it.'

"I wasn't standing up for Francesca, I just didn't like the way Linnea was acting; she’s framing this as if she’s a victim. Maybe Jonas should have stepped up when she was born, but it sounds like her mother didn’t want him to; it isn't exactly Francesca's fault he didn't make more of an effort, and it definitely isn't the baby's fault. Linnea's a really spiteful kid sometimes and she came here searching for attention I wasn't in the mood to give her - I guess she's lucky it was me she spoke to, I can't imagine you would have been kind about her referring to your niece as 'it', and if she said that to Jonas I think he might have killed her."

Sawyer leaned forward a little in the seat he had been relaxing in. 

"What makes you say that? He wouldn't kill Linnea over something petty like that. I would definitely not f**k with the guy, but he's not quick to kill people, and she is still his daughter."

"I don't know," Elizabeth sighed, and regretted saying anything about it. "It's just a feeling. I know I would be protective in his position. Francesca could have lost the baby before they even knew about it if Linnea's stupid idea to split them up had worked. I know you would have killed Cordelia if she tried to get near…" 

"...that is not even remotely the same. And if I ever see that woman again, I will kill her."

Sawyer was looking so sternly at Elizabeth that Klara felt deeply uncomfortable. She had no idea what was going on between the couple, but she stood up and went through to the kitchen rather than ending up in the middle of an argument.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, I just think Jonas might be especially protective right now, regardless of who is talking to him. You're the one who said that the baby is something special, and that she needs protecting; Linnea might be Jonas' daughter, but she is definitely not going to get away with threatening the baby and I don’t think she’s going to take it well when she finds out the truth. Her dad reappeared after 14 years and immediately settled down to build a home which doesn’t include her - now it turns out the new baby actually is special enough that everyone she has ever known will be fussing over it. That’s likely to make her volatile. "

Sawyer relaxed a little, and ran his hands through his hair. 

"You didn't offend me, it was a knee jerk reaction...and you're right. This is why they don’t want anybody to know yet - there are going to be some people who aren’t happy about this, and we need to know they aren’t going to be a danger.”