驚蟄 [11] / [20]
Alexander decided that it was best Ed should leave.
"Ed, listen, I think you've had too much to drink, and you need to sleep it off."
Ed looked at Alexander, smirking,
"Sure thing! I can just sleep here though. I can give Anna company."
"No. You're drunk. You need to sleep it off,"
replied Alexander more tersely.
"I don't like that look in your eyes."
"The look in my eyes? What kind of look?"
Ed asked, perplexed, but strangely amused.
"You see them down at the police station all the―"
"Are you saying," Ed responded, incredulously,
"that you see me as criminal."
"No," he replied,
"but you have the eyes of someone primed to make bad decisions and excepting the challenge. Just go home.”
At that moment, Anna slightly opened her eyes as she found some consciousness.
"I will go home. Ed, help me to leave here."
She spoke with broken syllables. She got up with difficulty, and was soon on the verge of collapse. Alexander grabbed her by both arms from the back, but she slowly, resolutely declined his help.
"Let it go. I'll go with Ed."
Ed, who was staring at her and Alex, heard what she said, approached her and put his arms around her waist to help her walk. Alexander wanted to tell her how Ed thought of her. But that would sound silly, and even if he were willing to tell her, she wasn't in any condition to understand.
Moreover, she herself wanted to leave with Ed, whether drunk or not. He didn't have any right to make Anna stay. He wasn't her father or protector. Even though Ed told Alexander his thoughts, that didn't mean Ed would take advantage of her. If Cynthia was in the right condition, she would have taken care of Anna. But that was impossible. Alexander had to take care of Cynthia now.
He felt he didn't have any choice but to let them to leave together. Ed said nothing when he left, and neither did Alexander.
Almost as soon as they left, Alexander regretted allowing them to leave together. He knew what was probably going to happen. Ed didn't love her. He desired her. And while desire followed love, it didn't necessarily happen in the reverse. Not always. And she wasn't in any condition to rebuff his advances. Of course, she was the one who decided to get drunk, and what could he do? He had to trust Ed to be honorable.
He picked Cynthia up, put her arm around his shoulders, and, steadying her, helped her to her feet. He walked her back to the bedroom.