Learning To Trust Again

Getting to her feet and holding out her hand, Rebecca helped him to his feet before picking up her bag and leading the way out the door.

In the car Todd asked ‘so where’s Jake? I thought he’d have come with you, just for the chance to have a go at me, if for no other reason.’

‘He’s at home I guess’ Rebecca answered in a cool tone, not wanting to discuss Jake with him.

But looking at his sister for a minute Todd correctly guessed the reason for her icy reply. He said ‘I asked him not to say anything.’ He wasn’t unhappy she blamed Jake. He liked the guy even less now that he dropped him in it with her than he did before. But he couldn’t lie to her either. He knew better than anyone what honesty meant to her. He wasn’t going to betray her as well, even if it did mean exonerating Jake in the process.

‘He still should have told me and made sure your injuries were checked’ she said after a minute, her voice was harsh as her anger came to the fore again.

‘Bec’s I asked him to just help me get cleaned up, he wanted to take me to the hospital but I wouldn’t let him.’

Turning to look at him for a minute, her hurt and anger reflected in her eyes, Rebecca didn’t reply. She turned back to watch the road.

Todd sighed. He said ‘he also told me not to drink, but I didn’t listen’ and pausing he studied her stubborn expression and added ‘he did everything he could.’

Still Rebecca didn’t reply.

‘Rebecca?’ Todd pushed.

Pulling up in front of his apartment Rebecca turned to look at her little brother, ‘don’t worry about it, it’s my problem. I’ll handle it.’

Looking at her, a worried expression on his face Todd nodded. He had a feeling his effort to absolve Jake hadn’t worked and knowing the look on his sister’s face well and the determination behind it, he sighed again. While he wouldn’t be sorry to see her relationship with Jake end, he did worry about its affect on her. She was hurting again and it killed him to see it. Opening the door, his eyes worried and his voice soft he said ‘I’ll call you tomorrow.’

Looking down at her hands resting on the bottom of the steering wheel Rebecca nodded.

 ‘Thanks Becs’ he said ‘and I’m sorry I worried you.’

Turning her head to give him a small reassuring smile, the best she could offer, Rebecca waved as he shut the door. Then after watching Todd drag himself down the path for a minute she pulled away from the curb.