Strangers

    The day was partly calm at the clothing shop a young man worked in wearing a light blue shirt, regular blue jeans, and a wide dark ribbon around his neck, everyone in the little town was quite odd in both mannerism and speech. A girl no older than 10 ran into the shop dripping wet crying for her parents "no ones been in here for 10 minutes, I'm sorry I can't help" he continued folding the clothes and straightening lines annoyed at the little girls cries so he called the nearest orphanage "I despise children" he said under his breath almost feeling soft on her and ready to hang up on them. She gave him puppy dog eyes filled with tears "hey um nevermind" he just slammed the phone down with some form of pity for the lonely girl "while you warm-up tell me how you got this way" she tried her tears and started to smile as he gave her hot chocolate. The girl had gone swimming with her friends and parents nearby, almost 20 minutes later her friends had gone home but her family was having a picnic. The next second a heavy object fell on her and she couldn't swim up for what left like ages until the object was taken off and she swam to shore wondering where the family had gone nowhere in sight, the blanket they'd been sitting on was still there but no basket "mom, dad, Thomas" she called out trying to stay calm until she couldn't find the car and started bawling like a toddler that didn't get their candy. She saw the name on his tag saying, Edward "that's a nice name" she looked so innocent "if I may what is your name young lady" he smoothed down her hair and peacefully put on her hat again "now we shall take you somewhere for the time being that will love you after I get off" he allowed her to stay and get dry until he could get her somewhere safe.

    The girl's name was Belle and she went with the lady bringing her to the room waving at Edward with a big toothy smile. A couple of weeks later she was taken out of the hotel like place to someone's home without being told who it was "now stay put and calm" they knocked on the door of the apartment, the door opened to a man in casual clothes and a cup of noodles in his hand filled to the brim and chopsticks sticking out of it "ah hello belle, I have the room all set up" she jumped and hugged him excited "your my foster family" "I signed for brother, ya need somebody" he ruffled her hair letting her in showing the room off "I didn't know what you liked so I got boys and girls things" she smiled hugging his leg tight "release the grip, I'm not there yet" he pushed her arm away with the end of a chopstick making her laugh "ok" she found the dolls making Barbie and gi joe kiss as he watched her from the couch. Later in the day while the girl was watching cartoons an older woman came over "good afternoon lover" she pulled him in for a kiss by his shirt before he could nod that a child is around "I thought you didn't like kids" she waved to belle "I really don't, but she reminds me of me at least until she finds her parents" she called him sweet and kissed his cheek making belle giggle at them. She dressed like she was in the 40s and her hair looked the same but with bangs covering her forehead and a headscarf "so still thinking about moving in baby" he poured her a cup of tea watching the girl being reminded of someone but had no idea who, the year was 1956 and there sat Edward crocheting a small sweater with blue and purple yarn as the girls watched the Andy Griffith show "oh kate I have something to ask you after darling here goes to bed" he had a smile that said it was good news as he continued his work. He bought a gorgeous gold diamond ring fitting for a queen and he pulled the box out of his pocket giving it to her like a Christmas gift "what are you saying eddy" she wanted to cry "I'm asking you to marry me if you want to lady kate" he called her lady kate from their first date "yes, I will" he threw the project on the floor and slide the ring on her. she lived by 40s rules like no sex till marriage, only move in with a husband but she broke that one, dressing, hair, and makeup rules. Kate made it official to move in after the wedding just thinking about all the possibilities "that little girl is lucky to have you around" she thanked him for dinner and headed home smiling at belle peeking from the doorway with a cute smile.

   On the night of the wedding, she got her last box in finally giving the place a woman's touch "I love you" kate embraced belle going on a picnic by the lake to create some good memories. Lady kate's smile was toothy with the whitest teeth and full lips, she had dark skin wearing a purple dress with cherry patterns complimenting her cool brown eyes and dark brown hair. Belle loved being around her even playing dress up and asking for her to make a dress for her out of old leftover fabric "all alright are you ready to see how it fits" she worked at a dress shop mostly in the back fixing torn and damaged pieces "yes" she jumped up and down with the dress carefully being slide on then having her hair done "see I don't believe in children wearing makeup, you're pretty enough" she opened the door and showed Edward the almost identical outfits "well good evening ladies I bought a roast chicken and made a few sides" he learned how to cook when he got his apartment. Lady Kate wanted everything 40s to be around because it made her feel safe so the home was decorated in what looked like the 1835s and 1940s, the only thing that scared her was seeing her bare stomach and the bruises that never seemed to leave or heal. It was always a little unsettling at night when every covering garment was removed as they were taking off security blankets.