Gwen just sat and sipped her coffee. Her mother meant well, she knew that, but a little of Marie Carruthers was a lot to take. And with this sort of circumstance...well, it was enough to strain anyone's patience to the breaking point. But, thank God Owen was coherent enough to be the voice of reason right now, even though Gwen knew he had to be as tired as she was.
"Oh, I know," she dimly heard her mother saying, "way up there in the mountains. Gwen won't give me your address, of course. For security reasons, I understand. But I imagine it's just lovely, all those trees and way up on the mountain and all that." Marie put down her coffee cup and rested a hand sincerely on Owen's arm.
"And I do hope your little girl pulls through, Owen, I really do. Gwen's told me so much about those kids, I can tell she loves them very, very much. And it's just horrible, what some people will do to kids these days, isn't it?"
Gwen had to speak up before she toppled off of the stool. "It really is, yeah. But that's why we're fighting for them, to keep them safe. Mom, would you mind running out for some stuff if I make you a list?" That way they'd have a few hours of uninterrupted sleep, pray God. "Omega hasn't eaten anything in probably a week, Blue even longer, and Owen and I are running on fumes as it is." And they were all going to need a change of clothes, and soon. Not to mention a long hot shower. Eventually.
"Oh, of course, dear. I wouldn't mind at all. What sort of things do you need?"
While her mother bustled about getting ready for a shopping expedition, Gwen pulled Owen aside and said, "I'll send her out for fruit and meat; hopefully Omega will eat one or the other--I know he has to be starving. I'll go ahead and make a grocery list for her if you want to head upstairs for a shower. Towels are in the cabinet next to the tub."
She allowed herself a brief minute to just rest her forehead on his chest, then straightened and added, "Maybe we can all get another good nap, and hopefully our girl will be back with us by then."
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"Oh, I know," she dimly heard her mother saying, "way up there in the mountains. Gwen won't give me your address, of course. For security reasons, I understand. But I imagine it's just lovely, all those trees and way up on the mountain and all that." Marie put down her coffee cup and rested a hand sincerely on Owen's arm.
"And I do hope your little girl pulls through, Owen, I really do. Gwen's told me so much about those kids, I can tell she loves them very, very much. And it's just horrible, what some people will do to kids these days, isn't it?"
Gwen had to speak up before she toppled off of the stool. "It really is, yeah. But that's why we're fighting for them, to keep them safe. Mom, would you mind running out for some stuff if I make you a list?" That way they'd have a few hours of uninterrupted sleep, pray God. "Omega hasn't eaten anything in probably a week, Blue even longer, and Owen and I are running on fumes as it is." And they were all going to need a change of clothes, and soon. Not to mention a long hot shower. Eventually.
"Oh, of course, dear. I wouldn't mind at all. What sort of things do you need?"
While her mother bustled about getting ready for a shopping expedition, Gwen pulled Owen aside and said, "I'll send her out for fruit and meat; hopefully Omega will eat one or the other--I know he has to be starving. I'll go ahead and make a grocery list for her if you want to head upstairs for a shower. Towels are in the cabinet next to the tub."
She allowed herself a brief minute to just rest her forehead on his chest, then straightened and added, "Maybe we can all get another good nap, and hopefully our girl will be back with us by then."