Hand Me Downs

Chapter 6-3

NowThe deeper rumble of the car as John downshifted pulled Branwen back from her half-dream.

From that first day she knew he saw all of her, even the socially unacceptable and inappropriate parts her mother disapproved of, and he accepted all of them. She’d found an ally, strong and true, her first besides her father since she was a teenager.

Not one day had gone by since that they hadn’t at least spoken on the phone.

When she asked later why he’d fallen for such an obvious ploy to get his attention, he’d said he’d been too distressed at being attacked from behind. And that he’d been in love with her from that moment on.

Surprised by a tear rolling down her cheek, Branwen wiped it away before he could notice. They’d always been able to talk about anything, and now when she needed his understanding and help the most she was terrified to let him in.

John squeezed her hand, then dropped it to navigate up the long drive to her grandmother’s house. In rainy weather, the entire house looked dark and foreboding. Today in the bright sunlight, the smooth stone blocks blended into a warm light brown. The dark gray slate roof sparkled.

The ground floor was tall with grand leaded windows, the second floor smaller making the bedrooms easier to heat. About half the trees rising up the steep hill close behind the house had lost their leaves, a contrast with the dark green of the pines.

The graveled parking lot just to the left of the stair leading to the front door was empty, so there would be no crowds of relatives to deal with just yet.

Branwen sat forward, glad to finally be able to see the few small attic windows on the third floor. Through her panic about the bad timing of this trip, she wanted to go exploring up there. It was huge and tall, filled with the most fascinating things. She doubted anyone else had been up there for years.

She had to figure out a way to distract John so she could have some time alone to think. He was too good at reading her. She needed to work this out with herself before she faced him.

If she ever did.