Dream a little Dream of You

I dragged myself into work half asleep because Coco had kept me up all night sobbing into the phone and I think I must have dozed off at some point because I woke up with the phone still in my ear. The drive to work was an experience of why a fatigued person should not be behind the wheel as I managed to make three wrong turns before arriving later than everyone else. I walked in to discover Tim spitting acid at Simon over some infringement and I asked Claudia what was up but she shrugged and suggested that Simon probably chose to pee out of Tim’s view in the toilets. I was past being shocked as I had become used to how graphic she could be in her opinions of the behaviour of others.

I stayed dazed most of the day which appeared to please Caspar for some reason and he left me alone while Simon stayed out back for so long that I wondered if Caspar had finally got to him and he was staying in line. As usual I was completely wrong when it came to Simon and his motivations. Dispiritedly I did as much work as my tired brain would allow me and I had this feeling that I did the same task about four times in a row as nothing seemed to change. Later in the afternoon when I had enough, I laid my head down on the desk and I think I feel asleep because the next thing I know Simon is nudging my elbow saying it was time to leave. I got out the door and started towards my car when a firm hand on my elbow directed me back to him. He said “No you don’t, you are far too tired to drive home.” He pushed me into his car and I was too tired to argue or care where we were going as I felt safe and comfortable with Simon and closed my eyes until he shook me again.

We were at the outdoor bistro again and I told him I thought I was too tired to eat but Simon was not one to take no for an answer. He said I hadn’t eaten all day and he wasn’t going to take me home without a meal first and I found it amazing that he had bothered to notice what I did during the day and sat down without any further argument. Simon was one of those people who knew when to talk and when to sit quiet and tonight we sat quietly for a long time before I spoke to him. I don’t know if it was because I was so tired or that I needed to tell someone, anyone, about the last few months so I opened up and I told Simon pretty much everything. I started with how Liselle had offered me a job out of the blue, how Gervais had stuck to me like glue then how Jojo was using me to fill in for him at Sedero’s and how Gervais had set Elyce onto Royce. I told him about Gervais and my deal and counter deal, and fights, ending with his ultimate blackmail of ruining both Royce and Jojo. Simon listened quietly and nodded a few times but refrained from speaking until I had finished and everything kept spilling out until I could speak no more.

Simon took my hand while smiling gently he asked me why I felt such a responsibility for the brainless nitwits around me and before I could object to his comment he continued. His told me in his calm voice that Jojo needed to do some growing up because he should have made me tell him about Gervais and Royce has a family to look after himself so if he winds up married to Elyce that is his problem as I cannot protect the entire town from the Dubois family. They exist the way venomous snakes exist, you are just careful around them but you can’t live your life waiting to be bitten. I told him that Gervais had ruined people before and he will not hesitate to do it again just for spite and that is why he needed to stay away from me as I was a problem he didn’t need in his life.

Simon held tightly onto my hand as if he was afraid I would vanish, adding that he had nothing left to lose, all his bridges were burned and there was a whole world that was Dubois free out there and if I opened my eyes I could see that too. I said my ties were here, Mother had lost Father and could not do without me just yet. He said that he had dealt with Gervais before and we could deal with Gervais if and when he did something to bother me. Unable to cope with anything anymore I just nodded mutely to his statements without realising I had started a relationship with Simon Griffith.

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