Chapter 35: •New friend•
Chapter 35: •New friend•
Rhea:
The next morning, I woke up feeling different and weird. My eyes glanced around the room and landed Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
on the bed. That was when I remembered I wasn't in the cabin anymore.
I was now in a different home, away from Quinn.
Knowing that I wasn't going to be seeing Quinn as often as I wanted and being in a house with a total
stranger made tension seize me.
Although Quinn had assured me he was harmless, I still didn't trust the man completely.
Rising to a sitting position, I rested my back on the headboard and drew my knees to my chest,
wrapping my arms around them.
It was day time and the sun was up already. Though the windows were closed with curtains covering
them, I could still see them from how the room was dimly lit by the sunlight outside.
Deciding I wasn't going to get outside the room, I stayed in bed, my thoughts wandering to mom and
Quinn. Most especially, Quinn. I wondered if he was safe and what he was up to. As for mom, I knew
she was safe.
At least, for the meantime. My subconscious reminded me and I sighed sadly.
My thoughts were disrupted by the rumbling of my empty stomach, followed by a slight ache. It was
then I realized the last time I had eaten was at noon, the previous day.
Quinn had been too busy looking for a safe place for me to stay and I'd been too worried about him
leaving me that I'd forgone food by ignoring the hunger. And after he'd dropped me at my new home,
I'd gone to bed immediately, rilling from the stress.
My stomach rumbled again and I clutched it, wrapping my arms around my mid-region. When it
happened the third time, I could no longer stand the slight pain that came with the rumbling.
I needed food and fast too.
Quickly, I jumped out of bed and ran into the adjoined bathroom to wash up. Thankfully there was a
new toothbrush there. I cleaned my teeth and washed my face. I tried arranging my messy hair but it
was to no avail.
When my stomach rumbled then for the fourth time, I had no choice but to leave my hair and seek food.
Opening the room door, I stepped into the hallway and descended the flight of stairs that led to living
room.
The sweet aroma of food invaded my nostrils, increasing my hunger ten folds as I got to the bottom of
the stairs.
In a rush to know where it was coming from, I traced it to a white door beside the staircase. The door
was ajar. Peeping through it, I saw a woman in an apron, cooking.
I felt like a weirdo peeping at her. Taking in a deep breath, I made to open the door but instead, all I did
was to tap on it lightly.
"Seriously? Since when did you start knocking on the kitchen door, Damon?" Her silky voice flowed into
my ears.
She thought I was the man.
"Err…" I pushed the door open, walking in timidly. "It's not Damon" I muttered in a small voice.
On hearing my voice, she turned. I expected her to look shocked or surprised at seeing a stranger and
demand how I got in but that wasn't the case.
Her face lit up with a dazzling smile.
"Hi, you must be Rhea," she said, still smiling.
My brows furrowed in confusion at how she knew my name.
"Damon told me you were his guest. Welcome to our home"
Our home? Was she his mom? Because certainly, she couldn't be his wife or girlfriend. She looked to
be in her sixties which was way older than Damon who looked to be in his early thirties.
But still looking at her, I couldn't discern if she was his mom. They looked completely different. While
Damon had jet black hair and striking ocean blue eyes, she had auburn hair and soft brown eyes.
"Oh...no...no". She chuckled, presenting me with a perfect set of white teeth. "I'm his cook, not anything
you're thinking and I live here" she clarified.
I nodded my head slowly. It must have been obvious from my facial expression that I'd been trying to
place her position in his life.
"I used to be his nanny when he was young and when he decided to get his own home, he took me
along. He's more like the son I never had". Her smile broadened and from that, I could tell she was very
fond of him. " oh, forgive my manners. I'm Stella"
"It's nice to meet you Stella" I smiled
"Oh cut that attitude" she waved a hand at me, rolling her eyes while smiling.
My smile broadened into a grin. Just then, my stomach rumbled loud enough for both of us to hear.
"Oops," I muttered, wrapping an arm around my mid-region.
"Oh dear, sit and get comfortable" she pointed to the stool close to the kitchen island which was
opposite her. Strolling towards it, I took my seat. As soon as I sat down, Stella dropped a plate of
heavenly goodness in my front. The sight alone had me salivating and my stomach was rumbling
again.
Stella must have heard it because she chuckled, making my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.
"Thank you" I muttered, peeking a glance at her from under my lashes.
"Oh common dear, dig in" she waved a hand at the food, still smiling.
Picking up the fork from the counter top, I dug into the meal and took my first bite. A variety of flavors
exploded on my tongue. I moaned in satisfaction, sinking further into the stool I was sitting on.
"You just stole my heart," I said to Stella with a mouth full, making her laugh.
"That was my aim darling. I'll be happy to have it" she winked.
I loved the woman already. For one, she could cook, and secondly, she was easygoing. I hadn't met a
lot of people like her in life. And she didn't even judge me for wearing a man's clothes. My eyes
flickered to Quinn's tee and shorts that he'd borrowed me before I left the house.
Stella must have been watching me, unknowingly to me
"You don't have any clothes, do you?"
On hearing her voice, I raised my head to see her staring at me with a questioning look.
"Err...not really"
"That's okay. I'll find some for you. My daughter visits me sometimes and she lives most of her clothes
behind. There should be one that'll size you"
She was being so nice to me when she hardly knew me.
"You don't have…" before I could complete my sentence, she interrupted me.
"It's not a problem Rhea. Now eat up"
"Thank you"
She simply nodded in response. Thereafter, I returned my attention to the food, polishing it off.
"All done" I muttered, patting my stomach. I grinned at Stella who only chuckled.
She took a bottle of water from the fridge and handed it to me with a glass. After drinking two glasses
filled with water, to say I was satisfied was an understatement.
Stella took the plate and was about to wash it when I offered to do it. Smiling at me, she moved away
from the sink and I helped her with the dishes.
"Time to go closest shopping" she announced. Taking off her apron, she grabbed my arm and pulled
me towards the stairs.
I had a grin on my face, while I let her lead me to her room.
My stay here wouldn't be so bad after all. I concluded happily.