The food was good, as per usual. Diane ate a few bites before waving at someone, I glanced up to see that Matthew had just entered and was heading for the food. He waved back before grabbing a tray as he started to fill it.
He took a seat across from us in his usual spot. Diane didn't even let him get a taste of his lunch before talking, "What are you doing after lunch?"
He took a sip of his tea, "I had planned to get a bit ahead on some paperwork, why?"
Diane chuckled in amusement, "Change of plans. We are heading the main library to cross reference foraging areas and soil types."
He blinked and regarded Diane in confusion, "Why are we doing that?"
Diane made a face, "Either you have to pretend to drag me off to the library for it or I have to go play a game of hide and go seek in the barn with creepy guy one and creepier guy two. If no one else is around, you can work on your paperwork."
Matthew focused his gaze intensely on her, but Diane interrupted him, "We can talk later on. The library will likely have no one in it, the better to concentrate of course."
Diane sounded like a spy in the middle of a conspiracy. Matthew frowned and tilted his head in confusion, "The barn with the Swift?"
I giggled, "You don't want to hear it right here. They will probably show up at the barn anyways. I don't think they know that the Swift is in that barn either."
He turned his gaze to me. I decided to help Diane. I turned my head to look pointedly at the food lineup where Trish and Nathan were grabbing plates. Distraction, distraction, distraction.
Matthew took the hint with a sigh, "This had better be worth it."
I giggled as another thought occurred to me, "I think Diane was almost ready to get them to try tasting the Oleander flower petals."
Matthew looked surprised, "Those things are extremely poisonous. Even a dozen flower petals could be a fatal dosage."
Diane carefully inspected a piece of salad on her fork and responded in a dry voice, "Indeed, they are extremely toxic. Oddly enough they are often planted in school yards, parks, and they were even growing in the garden we happened to be in." She paused and glanced over with a suddenly cheerful grin, "Hey Trish, how is the role of fiancé suiting you?"
From distraction to derailment. Matthew was out of chances to pry the story out of us, and with his curiosity piqued, he would definitely play along now. She smiled as she took a seat, "Great. How was your day so far?"
She had looked at me with the last question. Trish always tried to include me in the conversation. I grinned, "We played in the sand and made a model of the base and how it was laid out. Then we inspected the gardens. Did you know that they have several very toxic plants in the ornamental flower section?"
Diane was watching Matthew's neutral expression with amusement. I had not mentioned the two men, so he would know that something was up.
Nathan shook his head, "No, but it doesn't surprise me. Many of the prettier flowers are also quite poisonous."
I nodded, "Just be sure not to give Trish any of them in case she gets sick from smelling them. I can help you pick the safe ones if you want."
Nathan was a good guy, but he had a bad habit of picking flowers for Trish even if he didn't know that they were safe. As a Raider he should know better, but if he wasn't eating it, he didn't see any harm in smelling any flowers. Nathan smiled, "How about you help show me the safe ones later tonight?"
That was the safest bet for Trish. I nodded enthusiastically. I could pick a bunch of flowers and herbs for Diane too. They would make our room smell nice.
Diane spoke quietly, "Nathan?"
He looked at her, "Yeah?"
She looked down at her plate and replied in a low voice, "If you take Laura anywhere tonight, take your dagger and ensure that Trish or another trained fighter is with you and that they have their weapons as well. If Laura plays shy, get away from that person or group and move into a more heavily populated area."
I blinked in dismay and realization, I forgot that those two may appear again. I had never seen them out there before today, but that didn't mean that they wouldn't come back. I didn't trust those two any further than Diane could throw them.
He looked stunned, "Why? What happened?"
She glanced at Matthew, who was watching her intently. She replied softly, "Hang around in Trish's room until I return from Ace's session and I will give you some details. Trish, lock your door if you are alone. Laura knows the pattern I use to be let in."
Diane started eating her soup and the rest were silent in shock. I bet Matthew would now believe how serious Diane's request was. The silence was uncomfortable though, and I didn't like it.
I looked up at Trish, "Trish you are getting married soon right?"
Trish looked relieved for the change of topic and excited for the topic I had chosen, "Yes, the wedding date has been set for June 10th."
I tilted my head, "Isn't that only a few weeks away?"
Trish grinned, "Yes, about four weeks away."
I smiled in excitement, "Once you are married, how long will it be until you have a baby?" I loved seeing babies, it was even better if the parents let me hold them.
Trish made some unidentifiable strangling noise and looked flabbergasted. Diane and Matthew burst into peals of laughter. Diane had her hand over her mouth as she laughed, her eyes were even slightly glowing with her mirth. Nathan was trying to hold back his laughter.
I could hear others laughing at nearby tables. Trish was slowly turning a rather fascinating shade of red. I blinked in confusion, unable to figure out what was so funny.
After a bit Diane managed to get her laughter under control, "Babies are generally something couples talk about after a couple of years. For the first while they are getting used to living with one another."
I slowly nodded, that made sense. Although I still didn't understand why Trish's face had gone beet red and the others had laughed. Perhaps I would understand when I was bigger.
Matthew was still chuckling as he looked at Diane, "Diane, do you have some time after lunch to spare to help me cross examine some maps? You have probably covered most of the areas already."
She nodded, "Sure."
He stood up, "Let's head to the library then, I have all of the maps there."
I remained with the red faced Trish and Nathan. Trish still seemed at a loss for words. Matthew still looked somewhat concerned about what Diane had said. I didn't blame him. At this point even I knew that they had subtly tried to harm us as Diane blocked their every attempt.
I had a suspicion that they were the two who had been killing others. I didn't say anything though. If I had thought of it, Diane would have also thought of it. Nathan silently grinned as we took our dishes away, still entertained by Trish's reaction.
We headed to the playground, and by the time we got there, Trish's face had mostly returned to normal. Nathan decided to leave the gardens for another day and I went to join a game of tag. I secretly suspected that Trish and Nathan just wanted some kissing time on the bench while I played with the other children.
After a bit I hid on the far side of the tire tower castle, about halfway up. I could just see them through the dozens of tires, but they wouldn't be able to see me. I waited silently and motionlessly. Movement would make it easier to spot me.
They had been kissing for some time as I waited for them to come up for breath. I wonder how long it would take them to notice that I wasn't clambering around with the other kids.
Apparently not long. They gazed at the playground for only a few moments before they had frowned as they noticed I was not among those playing. They got up and came over to investigate. Using all the tricks Rick and Diane had taught me I kept moving where they couldn't see me.
I was finding it hilarious. Nathan paused to ask a girl, "Have you seen Laura the last few minutes?"
She pointed in my general direction, "She was hiding on the far side of the tires to see how long it would take you to find her."
Spoil sport. Nathan thanked her and headed in my direction with a grin. I quickly scampered in another direction. Nathan and Trish split up and that made things much harder. I managed to hold out and remain unseen for almost two entire minutes.
I glanced around, where had Nathan gone? I could see glimpses of Trish's blue uniform through the tires, but I didn't see Nathan's grey clothing. I had lost track of him not that long ago. I jumped as someone stood up right beside where I was hiding. Nathan's eyes locked with my own.
I squeaked in surprise as he grinned at me, "Caught you."
He had crawled below my line of sight when sneaking up on me. The tire 'block' I was in was level with Nathan's shoulders. He held out his arms and I reluctantly jumped into them as he set me on the ground.
He chuckled, "You did quite well, although I do wish that you had told us what you were doing. You had us scared for a moment there."
I ducked my head, "Sorry, but there were other kids who would have seen if anyone had bothered me and I would have screamed if someone tried to take me away."
I glanced to the side and ran off with a grin on my face as I spotted Diane approaching. I found it amusing that neither Trish nor Nathan had spotted her before I did. I was used to watching for her fluid movements though.
We headed up to Trish's room to play board games for the rest of the evening.