I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

[Content Warning: Descriptions of child molestation]

A month later Alex received a call from Tony saying there was an enormous estate sale in Prague. Some count or baron or someone had snuffed it rather unexpectedly and his money-hungry family wanted to unload everything as soon as possible so he needed Alex to see to it. After much protestation, Alex gave in and said she'd go—it fell on a Friday, which was a free day for her anyway. At dinner that night she informed me of the situation.

'Oh, that should be fun. Prague's supposed to be lovely.'

'Yes, it is, I've been there before. The thing is: what are we going to do with you?'

'I'm not a pet, you know. I can feed and water myself.'

She smiled, 'I know, darling, but you can't drive yourself to school.'

I shrugged, 'So I'll miss a day.'

She regarded me in shock, 'Catherine Perfect skive off? We can't have that. Besides, isn't there a lecture Dr MacBeth wished you to attend?'

'Oh, yeah. On Elizabethan drama.' She seemed hesitant, but I could tell there was something on her mind. 'You have an idea.'

'Well, there are two options: you could rent a room at the college, but that seems costly for one day. The other is that Stewart could stay here. That'd be better, really, as the dogs would need looking after.'

I didn't like the idea of being alone with Stewart, not even for one day, though I didn't have a good reason why. He was a nice enough guy and he loved Alex. He'd been nothing but kind to me, still...I'd never been in a house alone overnight with a guy. I didn't like it, but I couldn't come up with another suggestion. Staying at the college was impractical, especially since someone would have to look after the dogs. 'All right. Have you asked Stewart?'

'I wanted to get your opinion first.'

'How long will you be gone?'

'I figured I'd fly down after dinner Thursday.'

'Oh.' Lord Amighty, I was going to have to be with Stewart for more than a day. I swallowed hard, 'And when will you be back?'

She sighed, thinking, 'I'll have to see to the proper shipment of anything I can't carry back, customs on that sort of thing are rather stringent, especially concerning art, but I was planning on flying back late that evening. I'd most likely be home around ten or so, taking into consideration travelling time to and from the airport.'

All right, so that's only one night alone with him. I nodded, 'That's not so bad.'

She smiled, relieved, 'I'm so glad you think so. I'll ring Stewart.'

Friday. This upcoming Friday. Not Friday week, but the very next one. Didn't these people understand that I required more than three days notice before having to deal with stressful situations? What in the world would Stewart and I talk about? If he was going to continue his habit of talking to me like a child I might just have to kill him in his sleep.

Stewart stayed over Wednesday night as usual, after supper on Thursday he drove her to the station. I rode along with them, vowing then and there that as soon as the driving instructor opened on Monday morning I was going to go down there and sign up for lessons. I didn't mind being dependent on Alex, but other people were out of the question. At the station she gave Stewart the briefest of goodbye kisses then hugged me tightly and gave me a little peck on the mouth. I blushed and giggled and she hugged me again. She didn't hug Stewart again. She whispered to me, 'Be good. I'll be back soon.'