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Post by Jordanna on Apr 16, 2006 21:03:13 GMT -5
Henry nodded. "Mr. and Mrs. Van Linden, you're welcome to my bedroom. Miss Dawson, since you're hurt and need rest, I think you should take the sofa in my study."
He turned apologetically to Miriam. "I hope you won't mind sharing the living room furniture with me."
Miriam smiled and shook her head. "Not at all."
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Post by skybright on Apr 16, 2006 21:15:53 GMT -5
Daws nodded gratefully. "I'm much obliged, Henry." She stood and cleared a few dishes off of the dining-room table.
She glanced at Dr. Van Linden. "Doc, I'll call Jai tomorrow about those . . . 'arrangements' we talked about."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 16, 2006 21:19:20 GMT -5
Miriam nodded gratefully. "Thanks, Daws."
Henry relieved Daws of the dishes she had picked up. "You leave that to me. What you need to do now is rest. I'm sure the fallout from this isn't over, and you'll need your strength."
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Post by skybright on Apr 16, 2006 21:29:12 GMT -5
Daws half-grinned. "You're probably right about that, Henry." She nodded at him and the Van Lindens.
"I'll say goodnight, then -- or good morning, I guess." She slipped out of the dining room and headed for the study -- intent on sleeping off the worst of the night's misadventures.
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 16, 2006 22:07:02 GMT -5
Miriam sighed and rubbed her face, then turned to hug her parents. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Let me show you to my room," Henry said to the Van Lindens, adding to Miriam over his shoulder, "I'll bring a couple of blankets for us. Just a minute."
Feeling suddenly weary and unaccountably lonely, Miriam moved to the living room and sank down onto the sofa. She stared at nothing and thought not much of anything until Henry returned with two blankets over his arm, one of which he dropped in her lap.
"I know," he said softly, sitting down on the edge of the sofa beside her, and covering her hands with his. "It isn't going to be easy... How will you even convince your parents to leave without you?"
"I don't know. But I will. I have to." Miriam leaned her head on Henry's shoulder. "Oh, Henry. How can I make all of this just stop?"
"You certainly won't do it alone." Henry put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her gently. "And you won't be alone, even when your parents have gone."
"I know that." Miriam squeezed Henry's hands, then drew back. "We'd better get some sleep."
Henry nodded ruefully, and kissed her forehead. He rose, turned out the lamps, and then settled himself in the armchair for what was left of the night.
"Good night," Miriam said quietly, and closed her eyes.
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