Learning To Trust Again

Rebecca was thoughtful as she made her way home a little later that afternoon. She couldn’t help but wonder about what Ian had been trying to tell her. It was obvious he knew something of Jake’s background but didn’t feel it was his place to share it. He intimated that Jake had suffered. Well that much she’d guessed already. She had done enough of that herself not to know the signs in someone else. But how and to what extent? Ian had said Jake kept to himself. Was he trying to tell her that Jake had suffered so much he wasn’t capable of connecting with anyone beyond a surface friendship? She really hoped that wasn’t the case, not only for her sake but also for his. It made her sad to think Jake may always live his life alone. Nobody should want to live like that.

On the bright side though, she was relieved to hear Ian’s positive appraisal of him. That went a long way to easing her mind. While she was realistic and knew that it would never be the full story. Like all casual acquaintances, the doctor and his brother only knew what Jake wanted them to know. It was however a good sign that she may be able to trust her own judgment or people again after all. Her sense that he was basically a good person, if a little complicated, seemed to be confirmed. And with that realisation she felt a lifting of her spirits as she stopped off at the shops and bought what she’d need for dinner the next night. 

She didn’t finish work until 4.30 tomorrow so she’d have to have everything ready to go. Sometime during the day she had decided she would cook lasagna. One, because she had cooked it hundreds of times before and knew she could make it without worrying about mucking it up, and two, because it could be prepared beforehand ready to just be put in the oven. So she bought all the necessary ingredients along with some vegetables for a tossed green salad.

Satisfied with her purchases she carried everything the block and a half home.

Putting her bag down as she entered her apartment, Rebecca walked into the kitchen and set to work on the lasagna. Once that was made, she knew she’d be able to relax and taking a glass of wine out on to the balcony half an hour later, the completed dish in the fridge, that is exactly what she did. Taking up her usual position, sitting on the wide railing with her back resting against one of the posts and her legs out straight in front of her, she crossed her ankles and made herself comfortable. Sipping her wine she watched the sun set over the river. With delight she saw the bright ball of fire dip into the water setting it alight with colour before disappearing to leave the surrounding city enveloped in a soft darkness. This was her favourite time of day and she hoped that tomorrow night, she’d be able to share it with Jake. Rebecca smiled at the thought and finishing her wine as lights started coming on all over the city, she knew it was going to be a long twenty four hours.