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bloodsong1Needless to say, Rae and Sher swore up and down they’d be just fine, but I saw the looks in their eyes as we went downstairs. Carol is in SO much trouble!
Tea was lovely. Susan has this divine tea-set, fine china with cabbage roses and gold trim. We had scones with clotted cream, raspberry tarts, spinach and cucumber sandwiches and a strong tea Susan called Irish Breakfast. After tea, Sher and I were put in charge of doing dishes while Susan and Rae drew up a schedule of chores. They sat at the kitchen table while we washed and we happily tossed times and duties back and forth. Ok, so Sher had that look on her face that meant she was just being polite and as soon as she was free screaming would start, but I was having fun! I ended up having dish duty for the entire vacation. Sher took vacuuming and dusting, Rae insisted on doing all the yard work and we were all put in charge of washing clothes on Fridays. Sher muttered how thankful she was this vacation was only lasting a month. I grinned. Marketing had to be done every day; we divided up the days fairly evenly to go with Susan. Mornings were devoted to housework, then we’d have the rest of the day free. Susan assured me I would have help with the tea and supper dishes if I needed it.
Sure enough, once we were back in our room, the ranting started. In Japanese, while pounding away on her laptop. She’s scary-fast at typing and when she gets going; I think smoke comes out of her fingers. I grabbed my bath basket and a robe and fled to the bathroom. There is just no talking to Sher in that state. I opened the bathroom door and gasped at the cloud of steam rolling out. A quick glimpse of bare back, the door slammed shut and I ran downstairs, nearly crashing into Susan.
“Och, Candy-lass! What be troubling ye so?” She asked, steadying me.
“Rae…bath…” I gasped, my heart pounding. Susan chuckled and led me back into the kitchen. She poured me another cup of tea and added a shot of brandy.
“I don’t drink.” I said, calming down.
“Hush. It’ll help ye sleep.” Susan said, handing me the mug. I put my bath gear on the chair next to me and sipped my tea. “Nearly saw Raphael nekkid, did ye?”
“Yes. How utterly mortifying.” I buried my face in my hands.
“Tch. These things happen. Did ye not have co-ed baths in yer dorm?”
“No. We were on the girls’ floor for that very reason. Sher didn’t want to be bothered.” I sighed, lowered my hands and drank my tea. Cradling the cup in my hands, I studied Susan.
“It’s difficult, losing yer best friend to a bloke.”
“I set them up, sort of.” I said. Susan cocked her eyebrows. “I dragged Sher to a formal dance. That’s where they met. I also insisted that they dance. In an hour Sher was running away, but numbers had been exchanged. I could tell Rae was simply fascinated and did everything I could to encourage Sher. She didn’t take it very well. I did all our laundry for two weeks because of pushing her to dress up for him.” Susan chuckled.
“I could tell from the look on her face she isn’t thrilled with the room.”
“You’re good.”
“Experienced. I’ve hosted many a student and not every bird is happy with a feminine room. Same with the blokes.” Susan poured herself a cup with extra and joined me at the table. “Now, tell Mother Susan what’s really bothering ye.”
“I’m envious.” I blurted out. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want Rae. He’d chew me up and spit me out. I’ve been looking for three years now and I haven’t found anyone! Then I drag Sher to a dance and she finds The One. They were attacked at a con last October.” I shivered.
“I found them lying on the floor, bleeding and unconscious. I was so scared I screamed my head off and brought people running. I wouldn’t let anyone touch them until the paramedics arrived, just knelt there beside them, checking pulses and begging them to wake up. Sher did just before the medics arrived. She didn’t even see me. All she could see was Rae.” I stared into my cup, reliving the horror. “A Father Anderson cosplayer gave me a ride to the hospital and I paced the waiting room until their parents arrived. Then I had to wait for permission to see them. I managed not to cry until I saw them cuddled in bed looking like Hell.” I sniffed back tears. Susan handed me a tissue.
“After that it took some sneakiness to pull Sher out of her depression. I had to force her into costume for Halloween, but it worked. She cheered up after seeing Rae in a tux.” I grinned and wiped up a stray tear. “So now they’re blissfully happy and I’m still single with no prospects.”
“Have ye ever been in love?” Susan asked. I tipped my head to the right, thinking over my various dates and occasional two week relationship.
“No.” I concluded, sighing heavily. “In romance, yes, but not love. Not like that.” Susan patted my hand.
“Drink.” She ordered. I finished my tea. “I’ll tell ye what me mum told me. Stop looking. When ye’re ready, love will find ye. That’s how I met Gregory and we’ve been married almost 25 years now.”
“You weren’t looking?”
“No. I had sworn off blokes completely. It took three months, but one day a cute bloke gives me underground fare because I had just had my purse stolen. Then he walks me to a calling booth, and the bank, and to the city office so I can get a replacement ID. Finally he buys me lunch.” Susan’s eyes twinkled at my open mouth and stunned expression. “Six months later he popped the question.”
“Wow.”
“True story. Now, off with ye. I’m sure Raphael is out of the tub. Go take a long soak.” I thanked her for the tea and the talk.
“Och, it’s what I’m here for, lass.” I headed upstairs and claimed the bathroom for an hour. As I soaked in the huge clawfoot tub, my favorite bath fizzies bubbling around me, I decided Susan was right. There’s no point in looking. I’ll just enjoy my vacation.
Tea was lovely. Susan has this divine tea-set, fine china with cabbage roses and gold trim. We had scones with clotted cream, raspberry tarts, spinach and cucumber sandwiches and a strong tea Susan called Irish Breakfast. After tea, Sher and I were put in charge of doing dishes while Susan and Rae drew up a schedule of chores. They sat at the kitchen table while we washed and we happily tossed times and duties back and forth. Ok, so Sher had that look on her face that meant she was just being polite and as soon as she was free screaming would start, but I was having fun! I ended up having dish duty for the entire vacation. Sher took vacuuming and dusting, Rae insisted on doing all the yard work and we were all put in charge of washing clothes on Fridays. Sher muttered how thankful she was this vacation was only lasting a month. I grinned. Marketing had to be done every day; we divided up the days fairly evenly to go with Susan. Mornings were devoted to housework, then we’d have the rest of the day free. Susan assured me I would have help with the tea and supper dishes if I needed it.
Sure enough, once we were back in our room, the ranting started. In Japanese, while pounding away on her laptop. She’s scary-fast at typing and when she gets going; I think smoke comes out of her fingers. I grabbed my bath basket and a robe and fled to the bathroom. There is just no talking to Sher in that state. I opened the bathroom door and gasped at the cloud of steam rolling out. A quick glimpse of bare back, the door slammed shut and I ran downstairs, nearly crashing into Susan.
“Och, Candy-lass! What be troubling ye so?” She asked, steadying me.
“Rae…bath…” I gasped, my heart pounding. Susan chuckled and led me back into the kitchen. She poured me another cup of tea and added a shot of brandy.
“I don’t drink.” I said, calming down.
“Hush. It’ll help ye sleep.” Susan said, handing me the mug. I put my bath gear on the chair next to me and sipped my tea. “Nearly saw Raphael nekkid, did ye?”
“Yes. How utterly mortifying.” I buried my face in my hands.
“Tch. These things happen. Did ye not have co-ed baths in yer dorm?”
“No. We were on the girls’ floor for that very reason. Sher didn’t want to be bothered.” I sighed, lowered my hands and drank my tea. Cradling the cup in my hands, I studied Susan.
“It’s difficult, losing yer best friend to a bloke.”
“I set them up, sort of.” I said. Susan cocked her eyebrows. “I dragged Sher to a formal dance. That’s where they met. I also insisted that they dance. In an hour Sher was running away, but numbers had been exchanged. I could tell Rae was simply fascinated and did everything I could to encourage Sher. She didn’t take it very well. I did all our laundry for two weeks because of pushing her to dress up for him.” Susan chuckled.
“I could tell from the look on her face she isn’t thrilled with the room.”
“You’re good.”
“Experienced. I’ve hosted many a student and not every bird is happy with a feminine room. Same with the blokes.” Susan poured herself a cup with extra and joined me at the table. “Now, tell Mother Susan what’s really bothering ye.”
“I’m envious.” I blurted out. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want Rae. He’d chew me up and spit me out. I’ve been looking for three years now and I haven’t found anyone! Then I drag Sher to a dance and she finds The One. They were attacked at a con last October.” I shivered.
“I found them lying on the floor, bleeding and unconscious. I was so scared I screamed my head off and brought people running. I wouldn’t let anyone touch them until the paramedics arrived, just knelt there beside them, checking pulses and begging them to wake up. Sher did just before the medics arrived. She didn’t even see me. All she could see was Rae.” I stared into my cup, reliving the horror. “A Father Anderson cosplayer gave me a ride to the hospital and I paced the waiting room until their parents arrived. Then I had to wait for permission to see them. I managed not to cry until I saw them cuddled in bed looking like Hell.” I sniffed back tears. Susan handed me a tissue.
“After that it took some sneakiness to pull Sher out of her depression. I had to force her into costume for Halloween, but it worked. She cheered up after seeing Rae in a tux.” I grinned and wiped up a stray tear. “So now they’re blissfully happy and I’m still single with no prospects.”
“Have ye ever been in love?” Susan asked. I tipped my head to the right, thinking over my various dates and occasional two week relationship.
“No.” I concluded, sighing heavily. “In romance, yes, but not love. Not like that.” Susan patted my hand.
“Drink.” She ordered. I finished my tea. “I’ll tell ye what me mum told me. Stop looking. When ye’re ready, love will find ye. That’s how I met Gregory and we’ve been married almost 25 years now.”
“You weren’t looking?”
“No. I had sworn off blokes completely. It took three months, but one day a cute bloke gives me underground fare because I had just had my purse stolen. Then he walks me to a calling booth, and the bank, and to the city office so I can get a replacement ID. Finally he buys me lunch.” Susan’s eyes twinkled at my open mouth and stunned expression. “Six months later he popped the question.”
“Wow.”
“True story. Now, off with ye. I’m sure Raphael is out of the tub. Go take a long soak.” I thanked her for the tea and the talk.
“Och, it’s what I’m here for, lass.” I headed upstairs and claimed the bathroom for an hour. As I soaked in the huge clawfoot tub, my favorite bath fizzies bubbling around me, I decided Susan was right. There’s no point in looking. I’ll just enjoy my vacation.
