AllFreeNovel
Share Us
This was Ted’s domain. He’d had this built with the same glass as they used on the huge lodge windows. But up here he’d used it on the roof. Above them stretched endless miles of sky. When it was too hot, he flipped a switched and the cover came across.
“It really is. It’s like your part of the sky.” She walked looking up. “It’s wonderful.”
Ted thought so too. This was where he came when he needed to get away from it all.
He’d had a gym put on one side of the room, and a sofa and two chairs, large and comfortable, on the other. One wall held a big-screen TV, bar, and fridge.
“The ultimate man cave,” Mandy added.
“I’m the only one who comes up here, except for the cleaners.” Ted wasn’t sure why he’d told her that.
“Really? You don’t share this space with anyone?”
“Not yet. The chance just never came up.”
“Thank you, then, for allowing me in here. It’s a wonderful place to have,” she said, walking around. “A place just for you.”
Too late, Ted remembered the picture. He’d put it on the wall so that when he needed to feel close to his sister he could come here and look at her.
Mandy stood staring at it. He exhaled when she didn’t ask him any questions and moved on to look at the rest of the room.
“How come you don’t ask questions?”
Shut up, you idiot.Why had he said that? He didn’t want her to probe.
“I don’t want people asking me questions, so I don’t ask any.”
“Okay, so we don’t ask personal questions. That sound all right to you?”
She nodded.
“So, Mandy, do you want to get fitter and stronger?”
She nodded again.
“What else do you want?” Ted kept his words calm. She’d tensed up and was wary of him again. He made himself stay silent.
“What do you mean, what else?”
“You know exactly what I mean. Stop hiding behind words.”
He wondered if he’d pushed her too hard. Ted wasn’t sure why she was here today, or why she’d chosen him to help her with whatever was going on, but she had, and he wasn’t the type to sugarcoat things. He’d try and go easy on her, be gentle, but he wasn’t sure yet if that’s what she needed.
“I want to be strong. I don’t want to be afraid.”
He wanted to ask her again what she was afraid of, but he’d keep his promise. No personal questions; after all, he didn’t want her to ask him any.
“Right. Let’s get you moving then. What exercise have you done?”
“I walk.”
“Anything else?”
She shook her head.
“What, never? No exercise classes, gym workouts, or team sports?”
She shook her head.
