#problematic romances

“I assure you,” the woman makes an imperious gesture with her hands, “you’ll find everything in order.”

Mrs Cole shuffles through a sheaf of papers the woman seems to have handed her and Tom edges discreetly closer to get a better look. “I. . .well yes, it does all seem to be here, but you see, I wasn’t informed anyone would be leaving today.”

Leaving? Tom’s eyes snap up to the woman again who seems quite unconcerned with Mrs Cole’s pleas. He thinks she must be coming for one of the younger children—they always want the younger ones. He cranes his neck to view the paper and steps closer, but the top sheet is disturbingly blank. He examines Mrs Cole and can’t surmise what she’s so busy reading, but her lips are moving as if she sees something Tom cannot.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, she glances up and catches Tom in her line of sight. Her eyes narrow when she sees him, as if he’s somehow to blame for this odd turn of events.

She turns again to the woman, her eyes beseeching. “You can’t mean our Tom.”

And Tom freezes in his tracks, holding in a stunned breath.

“Tom Marvolo Riddle,” she recites, “is there another?”

The weight of her words crash over him and his eyes snap up to the woman who radiates an impressive amount of power and control over the situation. He’s at a loss for why she’s here, why she’s asked for him, and then it occurs to him.

Can this. . .

No.

She can’t be that good of an actor. She can’t be that invested in retrieving him. But the hair—though differently styled—is the same exact hue. And he supposes anyone can change their clothes. She’s wearing rouge and a beige stain on her lips instead of the grime she’d chosen to adorn herself with earlier. In the end, it’s her eyes that oust her. The deep brown eyes that boldly find his, and seem to skewer him to his very soul.

Tom is stunned and he’s pretty sure he’s standing there gaping. Finally, he remembers himself, and takes in a breath as he slips his mask back in place.

When he realizes his error, it’s too late and Mrs Cole has already seen his interest. A gleam passes over her eyes and Tom can practically see the idea forming in the matron’s mind.

“He has an appointment,” she whispers lowly, and the stunning woman whose promised to save him from this place and might not actually be a tramp after all, stoops in closely—albeit reluctantly—to hear. “A special visitor is coming. . .” and then Mrs Cole is pulling the woman aside to explain further, no doubt about the ‘special priest’ who’s been summoned thanks to the first botched. . .Tom doesn’t want to think about it, but he is suddenly quite sure he wants to kill Mrs Cole—quite earnestly—actually. Something palpable cracks in the air, and it feels like a current of what electricity might feel like.

The swotty bitch whispers in hushed tones to his Might-Have-Been-Savior, and Tom feels his hope deflating. She won’t want him now! Mrs Cole will make sure of that!

Much to his surprise, the woman leans away and laughs.

The sound is. . .not unpleasant. Lulling, even, though Tom can tell it isn’t genuine. There’s no amusement in her eyes. On the contrary, she seems disgusted, and her disgust seems rightfully directed at Mrs Cole.

She waves a dismissive hand. “That won’t be necessary,” and there is an undeniable authority to her words, “call it off, if you like, it’s no concern to me.”

For the first time, he’s aware of the audience they’ve drawn. The other children look on enviously and Tom takes an involuntary step closer to the woman who has come to claim him. He revels in their envy and his eyes take on a greedy sheen. She’s come for him like she promised, and not even Mrs Cole and her countless tales against him can push her away. Tom feels something that might be gratefulness well in his chest.

Mrs Cole looks aghast. Her mouth flaps like a fish, but nothing comes out. Finally, she manages to make one last ditch effort to postpone Tom’s escape. “I’ll have him packed and ready to go in the morning.”

Tom’s pulse pounds. How many different things can happen between now and then? Perhaps he’ll do something to anger Mrs Cole, and then he’ll have to answer to Eric. Tom doesn’t want that. He can very well find himself in the hospital and by the time he’s come to, the woman will have grown tired of waiting for him.