![\"IMG_0271\"](\"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/IMG_0271.jpg\")
\nWillow sank heavily onto the couch. She looked at Bryn, confused. \u201cYou work for the government?\u201d<\/p>\n
\nWillow sank heavily onto the couch. She looked at Bryn, confused. \u201cYou work for the government?\u201d<\/p>\n
Bryn nodded. \u201cFor the FBI. In the fraud division.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u2026\u201d Willow’s mind reeled. \u201cAt dinner the other week\u2026Didn\u2019t you say you worked in finance? Or economics? Or something?\u201d<\/p>\n
Again, Bryn nodded. He was being infuriatingly calm about all of this. \u201cI couldn\u2019t tell you the truth. I was undercover.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were investigating Fred and Marjorie?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d Bryn paused. He glanced quickly at his colleague, Samuel, who nodded almost imperceptibly. \u201cAlthough their names aren\u2019t Fred and Marjorie. They are Paul and Betty, and we have been watching them for years. They\u2019re on the FBI’s most wanted list.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow put her head in her hands. \u201cI am such an idiot,\u201d she said, her voice muffled.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no,\u201d Bryn said emphatically. \u201cYou\u2019re not an idiot at all. They are just extremely good at what they do. Over the last five years, they\u2019ve managed to trick over twenty people out of vast sums of money. We estimate that between them, they\u2019ve scammed over five million dollars.\u201d He paused. \u201cMostly from elderly people in care facilities, but…\u201d Willow glared at him and he trailed off. \u201cThat\u2019s not helping, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really,\u201d said Willow between clenched teeth. She put her head back in her hands and groaned. Ana sat next to her on the couch and put an arm over her shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what do we do now?\u201d Ana said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing,\u201d said Bryn. \u201cWe\u2019re going to take it from here.\u201d He lowered his voice. \u201cDon\u2019t worry Willow. I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Bryn\u2019s colleague cleared his throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean we,\u201d Bryn added hurriedly, \u201care going to get to the bottom of this. It\u2019s going to be OK. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow lifted her head and looked deep into his eyes. \u201cAlright,\u201d she said in a small voice. \u201cI believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mia stood up suddenly, pulling Johnny\u2019s arm. \u201cHow about we put the kettle on?\u201d she said. She looked meaningfully at Ana. \u201cWe\u2019ll leave you two alone to\u2026 take some notes.\u201d She paused at the door. \u201cSamuel? Would you come and help bring the tea things in?\u201d<\/p>\n
Samuel looked mildly insulted, but stood up and followed the others out of the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry I couldn\u2019t say anything before,\u201d Bryn said quietly, when he and Willow were alone. \u201cI couldn\u2019t risk the operation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand,\u201d Willow said. \u201cTo be honest, I\u2019m not sure I would have believed you anyway. Besides, he already had the money. If I\u2019d tried to do anything he would have just disappeared earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n
They sat in silence for a few minutes, listening to the noises of tea being prepared in the other room.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Bryn cleared his throat. \u201cYou probably think it\u2019s very unprofessional of me to ask this,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I was hoping that maybe you\u2019d like to have dinner sometime? With me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow smiled. \u201cI\u2019d like that,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I have to warm you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes?\u201d Bryn said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not very professional either.\u201d<\/p>\n
And with that, she leaned forward and kissed him.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
After Bryn and Samuel had left, the four housemates were clearing up the kitchen. Willow was humming to herself, a tiny smile on her face. Ana and Mia were glancing at each other knowingly.<\/p>\n
Finally, Ana could take it no more. \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell what?\u201d Willow said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh come on,\u201d Ana said. \u201cYou\u2019ve been humming since they left.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about,\u201d Willow said primly.<\/p>\n
Mia stopped what she was doing. \u201cOh please, he couldn\u2019t take his eyes off you for two seconds!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Willow said.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally,\u201d Ana and Mia said in unison.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo when are you and lover-boy going out?\u201d Mia added.<\/p>\n
Willow managed to keep a straight face for all of three seconds. \u201cTomorrow,\u201d she said, with a grin. \u201cFor dinner.\u201d She sighed. \u201cI know that I should be upset about everything that\u2019s going on – and I am – but\u2026\u201d she paused. \u201cIt\u2019s just so nice to have this feeling again.”<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat feeling?\u201d Johnny said.<\/p>\n
Willow squirmed. \u201cOh you know, the<\/em> feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOhhhhh,\u201d Johnny said, finally cottoning on. \u201cThat<\/em> feeling.\u201d He put his arms around Mia and looked adoringly at her. \u201cYeah, that\u2019s a pretty great feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll we need now is to set Ana up with someone and we can all be stupidly sappy,\u201d Mia said with a laugh. \u201cRight Ana?\u201d<\/p>\n Ana didn\u2019t reply. When they all turned to look, Ana was staring into space, a dopey smile on her face.<\/p>\n \u201cEarth to Ana!\u201d Mia said.<\/p>\n Ana blinked. \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were off in another world,\u201d said Mia.<\/p>\n \u201cI was, wasn\u2019t I?\u201d She beamed at her housemates. \u201cI have to go out. Sorry.\u201d She gave Willow a kiss on the cheek. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be alright?\u201d<\/p>\n Willow nodded. Ana leaped off her stool, scooped up her jacket and bag and walked quickly down the hall.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat on earth was that all about?\u201d Johnny said, baffled.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it possible,\u201d Willow said slowly, \u201cand none of us knew?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKnew what?\u201d said Johnny.<\/p>\n Mia and Willow looked at each other and started laughing.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d said Johnny impatiently. \u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAna\u2019s in love,\u201d Mia said. \u201cCompletely and utterly head over heels in love!\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Joey pulled open the front door. \u201cAna,\u201d she said, surprised. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n Ana was breathless and the words came out in a rush. \u201cI\u2019ve been so concerned with what I am and what I\u2019m not. Or what I\u2019m supposed to be. Or what I\u2019ve always thought I was. Or something. Anyway, the point is\u2026well, the point is that I\u2019ve totally missed the point!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOK,\u201d Joey said slowly, her face blank.<\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d Ana said. \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout what,\u201d Joey said patiently. \u201cI have absolutely no idea what you\u2019re talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n Ana smiled sheepishly. \u201cYeah, I possibly should have rehearsed that a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Joey sighed. \u201cAna, you told me how you felt the other week. It\u2019s OK. You don\u2019t have to try and make me feel better. I know you\u2019re not interested in me\u2026 like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s where I was wrong though,\u201d Ana said. \u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n Joey looked at her in stunned silence. Ana moved a step closer, gently taking Joey\u2019s hand and intertwining their fingers. \u201cI think I\u2019m in love with you.\u201d She paused and looked deep into Joey\u2019s eyes. \u201cScratch that. I know I\u2019m in love with you.\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Willow sank heavily onto the couch. She looked at Bryn, confused. \u201cYou work for the government?\u201d Bryn nodded. \u201cFor the FBI. In the fraud division.\u201d \u201cBut\u2026\u201d Willow’s mind reeled. \u201cAt dinner the other week\u2026Didn\u2019t you say you worked in finance? Or economics? Or something?\u201d Again, Bryn nodded. He was being infuriatingly calm about all of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes"},"categories":[228],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1134"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1134"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1137,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1134\/revisions\/1137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}