Chapter Text
It’s late when Audrey Hall gets home. She’s surprised to hear two voices still up as she slips quietly through the door.
But she soon understands. The voices are loud but jovial-
…The Farnons have been drinking.
She smiles as she tiptoes toward the voices, curious but remaining hidden, not wanting to disturb whatever is causing Tristan to rant so passionately:
‘And to top it off, it’s so obvious!’
Silence for a moment before his older brother replies:
'Preposterous'
'No. You look at her and your whole face just-'
'It does nothing of the sort'
'It moons-'
'How’s the moon relevant?'
'Because you love her'
'No. I-'
'Think about her all the time?'
'Hardly'
'Light up whenever she comes into a room?'
'Last time I checked I was not a lamp'
'Waiting up like a-'
'Tristan.'
'Just admit you love her…I’ll admit I love her'
'What?'
'Don’t panic. Not in your way'
'There is no ‘my way’. There can’t be a ‘my way’. I am her employer'
'You’re being a coward'
'Because… it’s complicated!'
The scrape of a chair across the floor followed by his familiar stomping footsteps signify he’s ended the conversation, but she panics as he moves toward her hiding place. Left with no choice but to slip into the adjacent cupboard as he passes.
In the dark of the cupboard she tries to keep herself rational. With the amount of alcohol consumed it could be nothing-
But in truth, the hopeful feeling swells in her chest. The feeling which has only amplified since she told him she was staying last year. They’ve grown closer. Their lives progressively intertwined and she swears he watches her more than he used to. She only knows because she’s watching him too. She’s tried not too, tried to deny it, but late at night left with nothing but her thoughts she knows where they wander. It’s him. Undeniably him.
And now with his weak denial? It quickens her pulse as she slips out of the cupboard and tiptoes back toward the front door. Shutting it loudly, announcing her 'return'. Tris’s head pops up first. Drunkenly lolloping toward her, engulfing her in a boozy hug, waffling on about his day.
But as Tris continues, her eyes find his brother, stood silently in the corner. He smiles at her, eyes never leaving hers. She holds his gaze. She doesn’t know if it’s the dutch courage but he’s never looked at her like this before. She smiles. So does he. It’s everything. Her heart swells and she knows for the first time it’s worth the risk. It has to be.
Even Tris is silent now- watching them watch each other. An enormous grin on his face. He opens his mouth to speak- but is silenced by a knock on the door.
Reluctantly she turns to answer it. A boy in cap and navy blue blazer-
‘A telegram for Mrs Hall’
She hears herself thank the boy. Unable to breathe, heart no longer fluttering but thwacking against her ears. Suddenly so guilty she's been thinking of anything else-
Both the Farnons move toward her as she closes the door and rips the envelope open.
‘We regret to inform you’…’Missing in action’.
It takes a moment to digest the enormity in her hands.
Everything goes blank.
She looks up at the two pairs of concerned eyes, but she can’t. Her legs go from under her, surrounded by their worried voices. Siegfried’s arms trying to help. His face in front of hers, terrified-
‘What’s happened?’
‘…Edward’.