Ch8 - Talia 

The morning sun shone through the delicate lace curtains, leaving intricate patterns scattered across her pale green room.

Sitting up in bed, Talia stretched her arms above her head, enjoying the feeling of her muscles as they reached beyond their limits. It had been days since she'd had comfortable sleeping arrangements, and she was in no hurry to get up.

But her stomach had other plans. A loud grumble escaped, and she pressed a hand to her abdomen in a vain attempt to quiet the noise. Apparently, it was time to get out of bed.

Dressing quickly in a pale blue sundress, she ran her fingers through her short hair and wandered downstairs to see what was for breakfast. To her surprise, she found Mrs. Wilson alone in the kitchen, enjoying a cup of coffee and the current edition of Everglades Daily.

"Good morning, dear," Ms. Wilson said, smiling pleasantly. "How did you sleep?"

"Very well, thanks. The Green Room is quite comfortable - thank you for putting me there. It was the best night's sleep I've had in a long while." Talia smiled and then looked away, careful not to say too much.

Ms. Wilson observed her for a moment over the rim of her reading glasses. "I'm glad you like it. Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

"Yes, please. That would be lovely."

The woman stood up from the table and wandered over to the cupboard. Pulling out a mug, she asked, "How do you take it?"

"Black, please, no sugar," she requested. "On second thought, I will take some sugar. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Ms. Wilson released a silvery little laugh, "Well, aren't you as sweet as a peach! You are my guest, Talia. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Talia thought for a moment, "Not unless you can find me a job," she teased lightly.

Ms. Wilson's eyes brows shot up with interest. "You're looking for employment?"

Talia nodded as she accepted the warm mug. "I'm going to need a job if I plan on staying in town."

"Speaking of which," Ms. Wilson began, changing the subject, "I spoke with Charlie last evening about the rental property. He's almost done preparing it for the next tenant. He said he would be happy to give you a tour."

Talia beamed, "Really? You're sure it's no trouble?"

"Of course not, dear, that's what he does," she responded, setting down the newspaper and removing her glasses. "Well that and he works as a handyman."

Ms. Wilson was so easy to talk to Talia found herself wanting to learn more about her. "How many children do you have?" she questioned curiously.

The older woman smiled ruefully. "Charlie is my only child. I wanted to have more, but was unable to."

"I'm sorry," Talia said softly.

She shrugged. "Such is life, I guess. I suppose it just leaves me with more time for grandchildren!" she responded with a laugh.

"Do you have any?"

"Grandchildren? Not yet. Charlie was married once... But his wife died in a car accident two years ago. A drunk driver," Ms. Wilson said, shaking her head. "Emily was killed instantly. I guess that's the best way to go." She quickly dabbed at a tear, shining from the corner of her eye.

"Soon afterward, we found out she had been two months pregnant. Losing them both just about killed Charlie," she smiled sadly. "That's when he left Georgia and came back home."

Talia didn't know what to say. How horrible for Charlie - and his mother. "I'm so sorry. It's very difficult losing someone you love."

"Yes, it is." the older woman responded softly.

Talia looked away as Mrs. Wilson studied her from across the table. You're talking too much, she scolded herself silently. She didn't want to provoke any questions about her life. She'd never been a very good liar.

"Are you hungry, dear?" Ms. Wilson asked.

Grateful for the change in topic, Talia smiled,l. "Yes, I'm starving."

"Good, I'll pile your plate high. You could use some meat on your bones!"

* * * * * * * * * *

After breakfast, Talia wandered around town, taking in the sites. She walked up and down Main Street, enjoying the tiny shops along the way. She drew in a happy breath and let it out slowly, releasing the demons from her past.

This is it! My new home.

She had always wanted to escape from the big city and live in a small town, although she never believed she would actually get the chance to do so.

I'm a long way from Seattle now, she sighed. I only hope it's far enough...

Standing outside of Espresso Yourself Coffee Bar, Talia peeked into the window.

I wonder if they're hiring? she thought, as she made her way inside. There's only one way to find out.

The shop was pleasantly decorated in shades of beige and cream, trimmed with a rich, nutty brown. It made for a comfortable place to enjoy a cup of joe. The delightful aroma enveloping her conveyed thoughts of browning sugar, and Talia fought the temptation to splurge. That would make her third cup that morning! She wasn't used to so much caffeine; she was never allowed more than one coffee per day when she lived with Steven.

She shook her head, I have no limitations anymore. I can do what I please. And with that, she walked up to the counter and ordered an Almond Toffee Crunch to go. Breathing in the warm steam, she took a sip. Mmmmm! Now this is a cup of coffee.

"Can you please tell me if you're hiring?" Talia asked the young girl behind the counter.

Looking up from her task at the grinder, she gave Talia a distracted smile. "Um, I'm not sure," she shrugged. "I think the owner might be looking for some part time help. Only she's not in right now. You could come back tomorrow?"

Talia thanked the girl and made her way out of the tiny shop, holding the steaming beverage firmly in her hand. She wasn't in a rush to find work, she had stashed away enough money to last her a few months. But procrastinating wouldn't do her any good. It was best to have a plan and follow it through, and that was exactly what she intended to do.

The sound of hammering drifted from up ahead, and Talia vaguely wondered what was being built. Her father had been a builder when he was alive, and he had taught Talia from a very young age not to be afraid of trying to do things on her own. Working with tools were convenient skills to have, especially after her parents had passed. When she lived on her own, she didn't have anyone but herself to fix things when they were broken. She had become pretty handy and actually enjoyed working on the little projects that would come up.

Of course, she was a bit rusty these days. She hadn't so much as picked up a hammer or screwdriver in at least three years. She hoped it was like riding a bike; once you learned you never forgot. If she was going to be fending for herself again, she would be needing those skills.

The sound of the hammer became louder as she made her way down the attractive, tree lined street. Suddenly, the source of the noise came into view.

Charlie.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hello! I want to thank you all for your reads, comments and votes! I would love to hear your thoughts - they make my day! If you're interested, you can take a peek at the media section for this chapter's photo. It's a picture Charlie's wife Emily.

Please join me for the next chapter of The Secret, highlighting Sarah and her escape plan! Will she be strong enough to run away from Steven?

I want to dedicate this chapter to a wonderful writer and very supportive Wattpad friend @MoonZephyr. If you like fantasy and adventure, she has an extremely enjoyable story called Anni Moon that is scheduled to be published this fall - but you can read it here on Wattpad first! Click on her picture near the dedication at the top of this page to check her out!