The stranger

Middleground

Francis tried to convince her to stay at their place, but she was adamant. She wanted to stay. Both he and Eddie tried to find a way to ensure that this place was safe for her. They talked for over an hour in Spanish, thinking John and Lauri couldn't understand them. However, Eddie realized that they could, as every time they said something, John would sign to Lauri, who seemed to understand only half of what he was saying. Still, when Eddie suggested staying here for a while, John became pale and looked at him with wide eyes. Eddie stood, towering over him with his six-foot body. John kept backing away until he hit a wall.

Eddie: I need to make sure she is safe here, so I need to see it for myself. Two weeks, and then I'm gone. But I'll still make sure she's fine after that from time to time, and she has to come and eat at our place at least once a week. Understood?

John nodded, pursing his lips, then sidled past him.

John: I don’t trust you either. What if she's not safe at your place?

Eddie: Want to come for dinner at our house, then? I know you've been enjoying my cooking.

They both had a spark in their eyes. John let a crooked smile slip for a moment. Seeing this, Eddie couldn't help but think he was a handsome man. "Wow, is this what people call love at first sight?" Eddie really liked red hair; he recalled that all of his exes had this same attribute. He couldn't help but be attracted to John, whose hair fell like silk on his back. John had tied them with a ribbon into a low ponytail, and his freckles were splattered all over his face, something Eddie found beautiful.

Eddie: You’re cute.

He had this habit of saying exactly what was on his mind. John backed out again seemingly tense toward the way out and disappeared outside.

Lauri: Yeah, he’s not good with compliments.

Francis: So what’s happening now?

Lauri opened a wardrobe filled with blankets, quilts and pillows and threw them in her room.

Lauri: What’s happening is that you want to stay here. So stay. I’ll make you a bed with the blankets and then you can do whatever you want but don’t go in there.

She pointed to the door in the living room and she told him that it was John’s room and he could not go there. Francis was still uneasy with her staying with a stranger, even if he never did anything to harm anyone and Lauri trusted him. Moreover, Francis was certain that a dog so sweet and friendly wouldn’t be so loyal to a bad person. He decided to wait and see, maybe get to know him a little.

Francis: Do you know which sin he is?

She shook her head, indicating that she didn't ask. She then explained how she ended up there and how John had been for the past month. Since she started to live there, he had taught her some sign language and how to tend wounds by herself in case something happened. Francis was glad to know that he genuinely seemed to care about her and how he was teaching her useful stuff. After that, Frank and Eddie went home, explained everything to Alicia and Eddie came back.

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Six-thirty in the morning, Eddie woke up feeling cramped from the blanket mattress as he heard noise coming from the kitchen. The scent of bacon encouraged him to rise and walk out. He was greeted by Billy, who gently barked at him, as if saying "Good morning," but remained outside the house, right next to the wide-open front door. Billy wagged his tail and stretched a bit before Lauri bent over to hug him tightly. Eddie smiled and joined the hug before starting to tickle Lauri, who wheezed in laughter.

Lauri: Stop! Hahaha! It’s not funny! Hahaha.

Billy suddenly barked loudly, startling them. Lauri quickly signed to him, "It’s okay, friend," and the dog obediently lay down on the porch.

Eddie: Wow, your own bodyguard!

Lauri: Yes.

They heard a loud whistle coming from outside. Instinctively, Lauri whistled back. Then silence. Eddie was fascinated to see how they communicated.

She laughed, going back to the kitchen to finish cooking eggs and bacon for three. She placed the plates strategically on the table, showing him where to sit.

She went outside and decided to whistle twice. Not long after, John was there “just like a dog”. For a moment, he seemed lost, unable to decide whether he wanted to skip breakfast and leave or stay and eat with people, until Lauri commanded him to sit. She smiled as she watched both of them gaze at each other. Once Eddie started to eat, John broke off a little piece of bacon and planted his fork in a small bite of eggs that he put in his hand to feed it to his dog. When Billy smelled and tasted it, John began to dig in, making Eddie wonder why he did something like this, as if he was afraid of being poisoned or something. John ate as quickly as he could to find an excuse to leave the table.

Eddie: He seem broken.

Lauri: I think he is. That or he’s autistic. I read a book about autism. This one right there. “Connecting with the Autism Spectrum” There’s a lot of things in there that look like him.

Eddie: You read that kind of things?

She nodded showing him other books she liked in the bookshelf and explained the one she was reading to John with such passion, Eddie couldn’t help but to think that she never been so talkative before. In fact, this was probably the longest conversation he had with her. He watched her with curiosity. He had known her since he moved here five years ago but he never really realized how mature she was for her age. It made him a bit sad to think that she rather live with a stranger than with them, but seeing her so radiant and healthy made his hair straightened. “We could have done more…”

Eddie: Why didn’t you come to us if you had problems with your brother? You know our door is always open for you. Why here with a stranger instead of us?

Lauri: It’s not that easy. My brother hated you guys, and I didn’t want to cause problems like last time and make you pay for my medical bill! I can’t do that to you and your family. And I’m so sick of being dependent on everyone! At least here I can be whatever I want, and I do my part around the house. I do groceries for him because he hates going to the store! I wish I could just swap that weirdo for my i***t brother instead.

It was the first time she talked seriously around him. He put his arm around her, hugging her tightly. She hugged him back and a huge feeling of relief washed over her. Her eyes filled with water and she cried until there was no tears left in her.