WERE YOU WORRIED

Samuel raised his head, surprised at how quickly the door was opened for him. Standing in front of him was Fiona, who had a happy expression on her face at the sight of him. Her expression quickly change as her eyes were drawn to Agnes, whom he was carrying. He wanted to explain, but he needed to check on Grandma first.

"Isn't Grandma inside?" He asked her as he entered inside.

Fiona nodded, staring at him, perplexed.

He quickly placed Agnes on the couch, and Grandma rushed up to him, tightly embracing him.

"Oh, no! What were you doing? We were so worried that we looked everywhere for you," She examined his body, checking whether he was hurt or not.

"Grandma, I'm fine," he said as he stepped out of the hug and kissed her forehead, frowning as he noticed her face. "Did you cry?" he asked.

Grandma scoffed. "No, I did not; why did you not call us?" She kept staring at the sleeping lady on the couch as she asked.

"Who is she?" She looked at him with interest.

"Agnes is her name. My truck wouldn't start, so she helped me call her mechanic to come to fix it. My phone was dead, so I couldn't contact you. I tried calling you on her phone, but it wasn't connecting "As he sat down, he explained. He was exhausted.

"Wow, I would have thanked her but she's sleeping, what happened to her?" asked Grandma.

"Wow, I would have thanked her but she's sleeping, what happened to her?" said Grandma. She inquired further.

"She fainted, to cut a long story short, she is burning hot, and I need to take care of her so I can sleep. I'll explain the extended version tomorrow "He explained then stood up.

He approached Eric and Fiona, who were still staring at him and Agnes.

"I apologize for what happened earlier," he said.

"You made Mrs. Tan nervous, but we're glad you're back." Eric found his voice. He was still wondering what Samuel was doing with a girl.

"Thank goodness you came back," Fiona muttered.

"Were you worried?" he asked Fiona, who was staring at the floor. He felt compelled to ask her.

He quickly felt a body clinging to him tightly; it was Fiona's body; he became breathless; there was something about her that gave him an extraordinary feeling. His emotions ran wild inside him; it was torture, but he wanted to stay in it as long as she was here with him.

"I'm glad you're okay," she said as she let go of him.

Samuel smiled as they locked gazes.

Eric fixed his gaze on both of them. He wanted to say something to Samuel, but he chose to remain silent.

"I should be going home now," he cleared his throat.

"No, no, you're staying here for the night; I'll call Tess and notify her," Grandma said, picking up the phone.

"Yes, please stay," Fiona said. She didn't want Eric to go home because it was already late.

"I'd like to stay, but where will the lady, Miss Agnes, stay?" He pointed to Agnes, who was sleeping.

"Eric, why don't you sleep on the couch; I'll take Miss Agnes to my room," Fiona suggested.

She had mixed feelings about Agnes, but she was relieved that Samuel had returned, so she didn't bother.

"You didn't eat, Did you Samuel? Come eat," Grandma took Samuel's hand in hers and led him to the dining room.

"I think Samuel has made a new friend," Eric whispered to Fiona.

"It appears so," Fiona replied quietly.

"About what happened earlier..." he was still saying when Fiona cut him off.

"About that, I don't think we can meet here,"

"I know, Mrs. Tess, Grandma's best friend has a granddaughter, a very sweet little girl. She invited me to this play and wants me to bring someone with me," He quickly clarified.

"I can't go with you because Samuel will think I said yes and we're dating," Fiona objected.

"Well, Jane, let him think that way, I mean, Fiona, we don't have time, we need to know whether you can trust that guy we met at Claire's Road," He held her shoulders, convincing her as they locked gazes.

He noticed Fiona's eyeballs shaking as if she was processing what he said.

"Assist me in carrying her to my room; I'll think about it," She broke eye contact and walked away from his side, lifting the sleeping lady. Eric continued to stare at her.

"Come on," Fiona said, impatiently gesticulating.

While Samuel and Grandma were in the dining room, they carried Agnes to Fiona's room.

———

"So, come on, explain the longer version of what happened," Grandma said as she handed him a bowl of pasta.

"I saw her in the rain, I assisted her, and we went to a bar..." He came to a halt to take a spoonful of the food.

"A bar!" Grandma's demeanor shifted. She was puzzled at his explanation.

"Don't worry, I didn't drink," With his mouth full, he assured her.

Grandma burst out laughing.

"Oh Sammy, you're an adult, but you still act like the little boy I raised years ago; that's not my problem; you didn't explain your story well," she said as she filled a cup of water for him.

He drank the water, then cleared his throat.

"I was at Claire's gate when the truck wouldn't start..."

"Oh, I see," Grandma said when he was done explaining.

"So, why did you bring her here?" She inquired.

"We went to check on the truck, turn out the car technician didn't show up, and just as she was about to call him again, she fainted, so I drove her here,"

"You could have taken her to her house, or I forgot, she doesn't live around here," Grandma sighed and stood up.

"I need to go back to Claire's to get the truck tomorrow," he continued to eat.

"What were you doing on Claire's road?" Grandma asked, drawing closer to him. "Don't tell me lies."

"All I went to do was meditate, so stop thinking what you're thinking," He replied with a chuckle, then his expression abruptly changed.

"Where is Fiona?" He inquired of Grandma.

"Well, I guess she's either watching Agnes or with Eric," Grandma replied, smiling.

Samuel quickly stood up and exited the dining room.

"You haven't finished your meal yet!" Grandma screamed.

"I'm coming," he said as he went out.

—————

They sat on the couch next to the bed as they finished covering Agnes with the blanket on the bed.

"So, what do you think?" Eric questioned.

"Eric, everything is happening so quickly, I thought I'd have time to plan, then Roger shows up, then when I thought everything was over, you show up, I haven't even had time to think things through, I shouldn't have escaped," 

"Don't say that; we'll find a way, just like we used to," Eric comforted her by patting her shoulder.

"No, I should return,"

"You're not going anywhere,"

"Mmmmm," moaned Agnes as she slept, interrupting them.

"Let's go outside before they look for us." Fiona rose to her feet. Samuel opened the door just as they were about to leave the room.

"Whoa, Samuel, do you not knock?" Eric asked, irritated.

"I want to talk to Fiona," he stated as he stared at her.