Chapter 54 A Tense Exchange
The straightforward meal came to an end. After getting to her feet, Annabel started gathering the empty bowls. Fred followed suit. Their motions had a calm easy rhythm.
In response Fred said “I can do the dishes.”
“It's the least I can do.” answered Annabel. “You prepared food. It’s also my mess.”
Fred smiled without arguing. He simply gave her a bowl to dry in. Annabel accepted it stroking his fingers. He did not retreat.
The sound of running water filled the tiny kitchen as they stood next to each other at the sink. They sat in cozy silence while Annabel washed and Fred dried.
The apartment was suddenly filled with a sharp loud knock. It had a demanding almost urgent tone. Annabel's eyebrows shot up in surprise as she turned to face
Fred.
“Are you expecting someone?” She questioned.
His forehead wrinkled into a frown as he shook his head. “No. Not a soul.”
He cast a wary glance in the direction of the living room. Using a towel Annabel dried her hands completely before folding it neatly.
“I’ll get it.” She said before he could extend his hand.
She made her way to the front door after passing through the dining room. Fred stood motionless in the kitchen a silent shadow watching her every action.
Annabel pulled open the door after unlatching it. Her breath caught. Carson.
He had a wrinkled shirt and untidy hair. He appeared to have run all the way here. He looked over her face with wide terrified eyes. He stepped forward.
“Annabel.” he said in a frantic little voice. “Thank God. I've tried calling you severally. My anxiety was really high.”
He touched her arm with his extended hand. Annabel recoiled as her body went rigid. The fleeting warmth of the previous hour with Fred was gone.
With her hand moving to close the door she retreated half a step.
“You can't do this.” Carson said as his voice grew louder. He pressed the door with his hand. “You need to come back.”
“No.” Annabel said. “I'm not.”
Looking past him she peered into the dim hallway as though seeking a way out. Carson looked in her direction. He noticed the corridor was empty.
He shook his head. “Please Annabel. This is insane. Don't just walk away. My mum. She crossed the line. But you are aware of her personality.”
“I know.” Annabel uttered. Her voice sounded harsh and flat. “I am fully aware of her personality. I'm not going back because of this.”
Fred came out of the kitchen. He observed silently from the living room corner. He added a firm comforting weight to the tense atmosphere. His eyes were keen and focused but he remained silent.
Carson saw him. His expression was a mix of surprise and perplexity as he turned from Fred to Annabel.
“Is he telling you to stay back?”Carson asked firmly.
“He's helping me.” Annabel said.
She gave Carson a straight look. Something you are unable to do at this time. Something you've failed to do.”
“That is unfair.” Carson uttered his voice cracking. “I'm trying. I've come this far I'm the company. I'll take care of this just come back. I'll speak with her. I'll make her apologize.”
“That’s not good enough.” Annabel said.
The words expressed a harsh reality. “You want me to return to a place where I'm not at peace. A place where I experienced violence. She is not going to change. All she'll do is wait for the next moment.”
“She won’t.” Carson begged and stepped forward once more. “She must.”He spoke in a rough frantic voice.
“Remember everything we have in common Annabel. Our future. You cannot simply discard that. You can't ignore me.”
Annabel shot back her voice ascending Im not throwing away anything.
“I’m keeping myself safe. I have endured enough pain. You can't even confront your mother so you cant promise me anything.”
Her eyes became stony.
“In this case Carson I've always been by myself. You were meant to be the only one supporting me but you haven't said anything. You expect me to simply go back and act as though it never happened after you allowed her to hurt me. I refuse to do so.”
Carson recoiled as though she had struck him. His face was filled with a silent question as he turned from her to Fred. He appeared to have run out of things to say.
“I can't go back.” Annabel said again.
When her thoughts became too much, she made the familiar gesture of putting her hand to her head. A sudden fear made her body rigid and she turned her head away from him. She retreated a step and then another.
Carson extended his hand to touch her. “Please Annabel. Stop doing this. Don't leave me.”
She withdrew from his grasp as tears filled her eyes.
“I’m not just walking away from you.” She said her voice broke. “I'm going to leave everything behind.”
She whirled and ran. Her footsteps made a gentle murmur on the ground as she sprinted past Fred. She disappeared into the bathroom in the back hallway.
Carson stood by himself with his hand still extended. He glanced at Fred. He had a defeated expression and his shoulders drooped.
“Help me talk to her.” Carson said his voice a broken supplication. “Please. I can't get her to listen to me.”
Fred stared at him steadily for a long time. At last he spoke in a firm yet composed tone.
“She needs time. You need to understand that. It's not about you here. It has to do with her. You must allow her the room she requires in order to feel secure.”
With his hands going through his hair Carson shook his head.
“No I can't. She cant be left here.”
Fred kept insisting. “She’ll be safe here, I'll see to that. She'll return when she's ready.”
Carson and Fred’s gazes locked. His face conveyed sincerity to him.
He perceived the silent assurance of safety. He was aware that he had no alternative.