Gaining Interest by Dara Girard

Author:Dara Girard
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Man-Woman Relationships, Chick-Lit, Fiction, Romance, Love Stories, Women's Fiction
ISBN: 9780615820781
Publisher: ILORI Press Books LLC
Published: 2013-05-18T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

"You don't need to worry, Gerta, I'm sure he's fine," a male voice said with tired patience and laden with a Norwegian accent.

A woman's voice replied, "When I see, I will know."

An older couple dressed in heavy gray coats, long scarves, and wool hats entered the room. For one panicked instant Adriana feared she had entered the wrong apartment. The couple turned and stared. Shrewd green eyes studied her. They looked vaguely familiar.

"Who are you?" the woman asked.

"I'm Adriana Travers. I'm sorry, I thought this was Eric's place."

The woman came forward, seeming to shrink as she came closer. "It is. Is he not here? Why are you here?"

Adriana blinked, looking down at the woman, wondering why she had to submit to such an inquisition if this was the right place. "No, he's not here," she said in the same brusque manner. "He's at my place. He's sick."

The woman turned to her husband, self-satisfied. "Did I not tell you that something was wrong?" She turned back to Adriana. "What is your address?"

"Why?"

"Because we plan to visit him."

"She has been worried," the man said.

"Who are you?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Larsen. We have known Eric since he was a boy."

Adriana smiled at the thought of Eric ever being a boy.

"Has he not told you about us?" Mrs. Larsen asked, hurt.

"He's a private man," Mr. Larsen said. "He won't tell everyone things."

Adriana clutched the bag and nodded. "Yes, we've only become friends recently."

Mr. Larsen looked behind her. "And who is this?"

Nina came forward. "Hi."

"My daughter, Nina," Adriana said.

They both nodded. "Nice to meet you."

Mrs. Larsen narrowed her eyes at Adriana. "I am sure I have seen you somewhere before."

"Perhaps since you know Eric you probably know Drake—"

"The wedding, of course! And the babies' baptism." She clapped her hands in delight. "Such joy, such joy! Are we to hear wedding bells again?"

"Oh no," Adriana stammered, feeling flushed under the intense stare. "Uh, we're just friends. Why don't I take you to my place to see Eric? He's very grumpy."

"He is always grumpy when he is sick. Poor boy has always been sickly."

"Really?"

"He stayed with us many times because Drake could not watch him," Mr. Larsen said.

His wife added, "I did not like where they lived. I would have let them stay with us but our place was so small. So we watched Eric when he was ill, usually in winter like now, and he would read whatever we gave him and watch the kids playing outside, knowing he could not join."

Adriana's heart constricted, imagining a sickly little boy who developed his mind because he couldn't develop his body. She imagined the shame he must have felt having his brother, who was already overworked, hovering over him when certainly he wanted to help too. No wonder he had such a hard time accepting her assistance. He would have to learn.

* * *

Again he woke to silence. Eric sighed, relieved. They were gone. Freedom. He reached for his trousers. They weren't there. His shoes, socks, and shirt were missing as well.

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