Page 6 of Lasting Hope
“I guess it’s gone.” She nibbled her lip apologetically. “Maybe I was seeing things. It's just... everything feels so surreal. I’m completely losing it."
Ben's posture relaxed slightly as he seemed to catch up. "It's alright. It's a lot to process. I can’t say I’m adjusting too quickly either. I woke up last night and rolled right off the bed. Mine at home is a hell of a lot bigger. It’s going to take time to get our bearings.”
“Everything okay in there?” a voice called through the window. It was an old woman with a stooped back and a nosy expression.
“We’re fine,” Paisley called with a laugh. “I’m just seeing things.”
“Perfectly normal,” the old woman called back. “Happens to me twice a week.”
Paisley stifled a laugh as the woman shuffled away.
“I guess this is like a drive-thru window,” Ben joked. “People just cruise by and chitchat. Maybe there will be a parade or something and we can wave as they pass.”
Paisley sat up in the bed and wanted to reach for her phone, her normal morning routine. This is when she would text Doug. But she didn’t have her phone and she didn’t have Doug. Every time she felt the least bit sorry for herself and the current circumstance she was in, she remembered how her best friend was fighting for his life. Someone had been vile enough to poison a soup intended for her, and Doug was unfortunate enough to eat it.
“Is there any news about Doug? Can you find out if he's doing better?"
Ben's expression turned somber. "I wish I could. But we're on complete radio silence for now. We won't be able to get any news from back home for a few days. All we can do is trust that he's in good hands and focus on keeping you safe."
“Do we not have phone service or something?”
“We have a satellite phone that will connect directly with Carmen and others in her office. But she’s cautioned us about using it unless there is an emergency. The lower profile you keep, the less contact you have, the safer we can keep you.”
The sound of children's laughter drifted through the open window, mingling with the gentle rustle of leaves. The warmth of the morning sun and the harmonious chirping of birds painted a serene backdrop to their uncertain situation. She could appreciate the beauty of Cinderhill and still wish she didn’t have to be there.
Ben attempted to inject some optimism into the atmosphere. "Being in nature like this can be refreshing. It's a chance to reconnect with the simpler things in life, away from the chaos and the constant demands of Hollywood. Maybe it won’t be so bad. We couldn’t see a damn thing last night. Want to go check things out?”
Paisley made a move to get up and then her eyes darted down, realizing she was scantily clad in a tiny tank top without a bra. She quickly pulled the covers up to her chest, feeling self-conscious. "I wasn’t expecting to have a roommate. I haven’t had one since college. Are we really going to be staying in this little room together? It doesn’t seem practical. We’re going to drive each other nuts and have no privacy.”
“I don’t need privacy,” Ben shrugged. “I grew up with a whole slew of siblings in a small house. I’ve got nothing to hide from you.”
“Well there’s nothing in here. Two beds. A little end table. A fireplace. A lamp. It’s like a prison."
“Actually prisons have toilets and sinks, so it’s not exactly as good as a cell.”
“Please don’t make light of this. Was there really nowhere else you could take me? I have to stay out in the woods and sleep in this worse-than-a-prison-cell room with a strange man? I have plenty of money. I could pay for something better.”
“Some situations require more than money. Carmen seems to believe it’s not just some stalker after you, but a group. She’s digging into it as quickly as she can, but it’s more than some lone wolf. The only thing you can do is go somewhere they’d never expect. Somewhere like this. No one in Cinderhill is connected to anyone or anything trying to hurt you. Remote is what you need right now.”
“Fine, but that doesn’t solve my problem at the moment. I want to shower,” she groaned, hugging the blankets tighter to her. “And I’m not dressed and you’re standing right there. And worse than that, I’m afraid to ask where the bathrooms are and what they’re like.”
Ben nodded as if it was his job to solve all her problems. He reached for his jeans, slipping them on swiftly. Paisley couldn't help but notice his fit physique, but she swiftly pushed those thoughts aside, not wanting to complicate an already complicated situation. She needed to focus on her safety and finding answers. They were already sleeping a few feet from each other for the foreseeable future; that was enough to deal with. She didn’t need to start imagining what it would be like to slip into his bed next time.
Once Ben was dressed, he headed toward the door. "I'll go scope things out. I saw some buildings that looked a little like outhouses. Shower heads too maybe?”
“Outhouses? Are you serious?”
“We’ll survive.” He gave her a reassuring look that did absolutely nothing to help the situation.
“Speak for yourself. I am not built for this.”
“I don’t know, Paisley; you’ve survived some shit now. You’re pretty damn fierce. I wouldn’t bet against you.”
As Ben left the cabin, Paisley's gaze lingered on his retreating figure, appreciating his tone arms and strong back. She’d been called a lot of things. Talented. Beautiful. Elegant. But no one had ever called her fierce before. No one had ever considered her strong. She was expected to be soft. Delicate. That’s how the world saw her. But Ben seemed to find something different. Something formidable, and she liked the idea of that, even if she wasn’t sure she could live up to it.
Resolute, Paisley threw on the mismatched clothes she’d hastily thrown in her bag back home and glanced out the window. Her eyes searched for any semblance of modern conveniences. When she couldn't spot anything, she headed for the door. This was her life right now. She’d had to play plenty of parts in her career. This could be the same. Morphing into something new was her super power. She would act like this was exactly where she wanted to be, because acting had always served her well.
"Ben, where's the bathroom?" she called out, her voice tinged with uncertainty.