Learning To Trust Again

Closing the door Rebecca rounded on her brother and in angry tone accused ‘that was incredibly rude Todd. This is my home and you have no right to be rude to anyone who comes here to visit me.’

‘Yeah well I was right about him making a nuisance of himself wasn’t I?’ A feeling of vindication was clear in his tone. ‘I’m glad I was here this time, hopefully he’ll think twice about popping by again. And what the hell were you doing asking him in anyway?’

‘Todd’ Rebecca said with irritation ‘you saw that he was returning my scarf, he didn’t have to do that you know.’

‘That was very convenient if you ask me. Did you even know it was missing?’

Her silence answering his question, he continued on a triumphant note ‘see, he could have taken it himself just so he’d have an excuse to come back here. Maybe you were lucky I was here.’

Even though she didn’t want it to, Todd’s words were starting to undermine her confidence and it was making her angry as a consequence. She didn’t want to mistrust Jake. Walking away from him a little she spun back to face him and said ‘Todd, Jake is not like that.’

‘How do you know?’ he yelled his features contorted with fury all of a sudden. ‘You don’t even know him and yet here he is turning up at your door, uninvited. What if I hadn’t been here? He could have done anything. I’m telling you I don’t like it. I don’t like him.’

Rebecca was so shocked by his rage, her anger evaporated.

‘Todd please, stop it’ she said distressed as she looked at him. She wasn’t used to seeing him so worked up. She needed to bring his rant to an end before she started doubting herself as well.  She didn’t want to go back to being that pathetic figure who couldn’t bring herself to trust anyone, not least her own judgment. She’d fought hard to overcome that dark time in her life. Taking a deep breath and reminding herself of everything she had learnt she touched his arm and said ‘I know why you’re worried, but I have had to learn to trust my judgment again and I do and you have to trust me too. If I got any sense that there was a reason to doubt him, I’d make sure he got the message not to come back.’ Her gaze direct she added with quiet confidence ‘I learnt a lot from Mark, I am no longer the naïve, trusting, young girl I once was. If there is one thing I know from my relationship with him, it’s not to believe everything I see or am told. I don’t take anyone at face value anymore. I need to look after me and I wouldn’t let myself be fooled like that again, I promise you.’

Silent for a minute, he just looked at her. Then surprising her even more than his anger did, he pulled her into his arms, the awkward gesture was by way of an apology. He said ‘okay sis, just be careful yeah?’

Hugging him back Rebecca smiled, ‘always Todd, always.’

Stepping back he teased ‘what do I have to do to get a cup of coffee around here?’

Laughing Rebecca rolled her eyes ‘go take a seat on the balcony, and I’ll go boil the kettle, again.’

Todd grinned at her and she moved into the kitchen. However she missed her brother’s smile fading as soon as she wasn’t looking.