Juniper Halls

James-

He hadn't even realised how early it was. The lights were off downstairs, the whole house was still asleep. He crept quietly to the kitchen, not even noticing the girl sitting at the table, shaking slightly. He grabbed a glass and poured some water. He heard a voive that made him jump and spill, "Care to join me?"
He turned to see the blonde haired girl who checked him in, "Fern, sitting at at table."
"I uh, I, sorry, no one was up and I just wanted some water."
"It's okay, care to sit?" she motioned towards a chair and he took it.

Max poured himself a glass of water and sat on the other side of the table.

"What's got you up?" he asked.

"Bad dream," I answered.

"Me too," he said. "You want to talk about it?"

I shook my head. "No, it's just an old dream, where you're running, you know?"

He nodded.

"What about yours?"

He hesitated. "The same," he said. "I'm running."

He gulped down the water. "I should go."

"You can stay, if you want," I said. "I'd appreciate some company in fact."

He sat back in his chair again.

"What brings you to the area then Max?" I asked him.

James-

"Buisness, you could say." Buisness right. He stared at his water turning the glass on the table. He was fidgeting, which meant it would only be a matter of time before he started shaking, which meant he needed to find a place to play. Most people don't even realise gambling is a real addiction. Not an easy one to overcome either.
"What type of buisness?"
"Um, I am a...chef." It was the first thing that popped into his head, he cursed himself.
"Really, interesting."
"Yeah." He said through clenched teeth. But he couldn't tell her the truth without involving her in danger too. People wanted him dead, money or no money. He had a price on his head and the people who wanted him were only getting closer.

"So you looking for a job or you already got one?"

"Um... looking..."

"Really? 'Cause I'm sure Desmonda would be over the moon if you offered to help out here. Vi and Libby are good, but a professional would be great."

He looked a little taken back. "Oh, really?"

"Only if you want to of course," I said.

"Yeah, I-I'll think it over."

He looked worried, his brows knotted into a frown. I nudged his foot under the table.

"You sure you're okay? You seem pretty worried about something. You can tell me, if you want."

James-

Tell you? She wanted him to tell her, she had no idea how wrong she was. He just shook his head. His hands started trembling and he cursed himself. The undenyable need to gamble was going to take over, he could feel it. Gambling, that had been how he met her, his fiance, whose name he still had a hard time saying. She was a dealer at a casino in London. He went with his brothers one weekend, he had never gambled before. He was terrible of course. But he couldn't stop when he sat down at her table, and it wasn't because of the cards, it was her smile.
"It's complicated." he said shaking his head, the understatement of the year. "You know of any good places to .. gamble?"
"Gamble?" she looked at him confused.
"Like cards, for fun?" he tried to brush it off as inocently as possible. She shook her head and he had to hide his hands under the table they were shaking so bad.

"Not that I know of, not really my scene," Fern said, frowning. "Max, are you sure you're okay? You act like you're in real trouble."

"No, I'm not, it's nothing."

"Are you sure?" Fern said with genuine concern. "If there's anything going on, just tell me. A problem shared is a problem halved. Besides, anything to get my mind off my own troubles at the moment."

"I couldn't-I mean-there isn't anything to tell."

"Well if you're sure," she said, biting her lip.

James-

"Yes, I'm sure." when the shaking became too much to handle he excused himself to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face and stared into the mirror. With both hands gripping the sink he took long deep breathes. "Come down damn it." He said slipping back into his usually accent, talking like an american was getting really annoying. The others started to wake up and he gave in. He went out to the back of the house and pulled out a cigarette. His cell phone buzzed in his pocket nonstop for ten minutes.
It was Glenn again.

Fern shook her head, not understanding what had just passed between them.

She stood up and stretched. She guessed it was around half past five. She should go and have a shower before she got going on breakfast.

James-

Smoking a cigarette was not the same as gambling, but it would keep him sane for now. If he was lucky the men he was playing with last night would be back. He could only hope.

Violet

Violet woke early and was worried to find herself alone in the small, attick room. How long had Fern been awake? She headed down to the top floor bathroom and showered quickly before dressing in a white blouse, black skirt and heels.

"Fern?" she called softly on her way downstairs. "Fern?"

"In here," her sister replied wearily from the kitchen.

"You okay?" Violet asked softly, taking a stack of knives and forks and leading the way to the breakfast room where they began to set the tables. It was a small room but pleasant, decorated in pastel shades of blue and purple.

"Just the dream again," Fern said.

I looked at my sister across the table. "I wasn't the only one up though. Had a pep talk with Max."

She made a face. "Bit random."

"Yeah. Apparently he's a chef. I told him Desmonda was looking for someone."

"Maybe we should try his cooking out," she said with a grin.

"Lazybones, you just want to get out of fixing breakfast!"

"Am I that easily interpreted?"

"Yup," I said. "Hey, should I go get some flowers out the back for the tables once we're done?"

"If you like," she said.

Briar

Willow said nothing when I entered, and so I presumed her to be sleeping. I pulled off my coat and shoes as quietly as I could, and crawled back into bed. I'd come to hate the moments between lying down and falling asleep, as it was in those moments that my mind strayed. Pulling the quilt up over my head in order to muffle the sound, I cried myself to sleep.

I didn't have time to ask Willow whether she'd made the phone call, as Aunt Rosemary rapped on the door early the next morning.

"Alright", I groaned, blearily opening my eyes. "We're up, we're up." I considered feigning illness in order to stay in bed, having gotten little sleep the night before, but felt that that may cause Aunt Rosemary to give Willow even more chores, so I hauled myself out of bed.

"Briar?" Aunt Rosemary's shrill voice penetrated the door once again. "A word, please."

I stiffend, certain that she'd found out about my journey to the letterbox. "Just a minute." I took a deep breath and drew myself up to my full height, getting ready for the confrontation.

Forcing a smile, I pulled the door open to reveal my aunt standing in the doorway. "Yes?"

"Come downstairs." She ordered, beckoning to me to follow as she turned and headed down the hall. I obeyed.

James-

When he came back inside the whole house was awake, eating breakfast and chatting happily. He caught Fern's eye as she served breakfast and gave her a feeble smile. Her blonde hair was in braids, cascading down her back. When she smiled you could tell if she really meant it or not, and he figured her whole soul could be seen through her eyes. She shook the thoughts out of his head before walking through the dining to room to look for Desmonda.

"Vi," I said, going into the kitchen. "You see that guy Max? D'you think he's good looking?"

Violet glanced up at me and raised her eyebrows. "Not falling for him are we?"

"Don't be ridiculous, I was just wondering what you thought,"

She looked at Max through the window into the dining room. "He's alright, I guess." She looked at me."Why?"

"Nothing," I said, rolling my eyes.

I grabbed the plates Libby had made to take to the Rogers.

"Here you go," I said, putting the full breakfast in front of Mrs. Rogers. "Have you enjoyed your stay?"

"Oh yes," she said. "It was most enjoyable."

"And you sir?" I asked her husband.

"Oh, yes, yes," he said gruffly, cutting up his bacon.

Max was standing up, looking a little lost. "Can I help you?" he asked.

"Just looking for Desmonda," he said.

"She's in her office," I answered, leading him across the hall. Just as we passed the front door, the doorbell rang. I opened it. There was a delivery man outside.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I'm looking for Miss V. and Miss F. Donovan," he said.

"Fern Donovan, that's me," I said, wiping my hands on my apron.

"This came for you, express delivery," he said, handing me a letter.

*long, I know*

I looked at the postmark, it was from Briar and Willow.

"Do I have to tip you? I don't have any money on me."

"Don't worry about it," he said, waving me away. "See ya."

I shut the door and opened the letter, reading furiously.

Violet

When everyone had finally finished breakfast and Violet had begun serving re-fills for tea and coffee and clearing the tables, she began to wonder where Fern had gone. It was almost nine O'clock and the best room had to be cleaned by ten!

She passed the table of the boy Fern liked - Mathew? Mike? Max? - and offered him a brief smile.

"Would you like another pot?" she asked.

"Uh... no, I don't think so. Thanks."

"Okay, just let me know if I can help you with anything." Violet turned to move on to the next table but was called back-

"Actually, there is something... do you know anyone who plays cards around here? I'd really love to get to know a few people and what better than a game of cards?"

"Not as such but... I suppose my sister and I wouldn't mind a game or two. Maybe during our lunch break?" Violet smiled again and hurried on. It was almost twenty past nine before the room was empty and then she raced up the stairs to find that Fern had already started stripping the beds.

"Vi, there's a letter from-"

"In a moment, Fern. Let's get the room cleaned first."