"I don't have an awful lot of time to relax." she admitted. Every time she thought she was almost done with her chores and would have some hours to herself, Mr. Meijer or his sister miraculously found some unnecessary task for her. "When I have a day off, I usually go home to help out. But we relax together on Sunday or in t' evening. One of us will read som't from the bible or from a magazine, or we'll sing, or play a game," she smiled.

"That's good. I'm glad you get to have those days at the very least. Sounds like you're worked very hard. I hope he pays you decently for your devoted efforts." He considered getting another tea himself now but didn't really need it.

"I suppose he does..." Rose said. She frowned. "I think he dislikes me."

Understatement.

Elijah chuckled and patted her shoulder. "That isn't anything against your character. He doesn't like most people."

Rose looked at him and narrowed her eyes lightly. "Do you know him well?"

Elijah shook his head. "I've had to work along side him several times."

"Do you...." She bit her lip, sighed and then tried again: "This may seem like a weird question, and you better never mention to anyone that I asked this, but do you think its possible he may have known Simon?"

Elijah rose his brow. "I don't know why they'd ever know each other. " He was quiet and in thought and looked at her. "I'll never mention it but.. why do you ask?"

Rose shook her head and stared at her cup. "There was just this one time... It had been really weird. I had been stalked and mistreated by his crazy half-criminal brother...." she looked up at him. "Best never mention I said that either. Or any of this..." She looked back down. "Anyway, Claude was there, and he protected me and all, and... well, I'm not sure I remember all that happened. It was so surreal. But anyway, Claude got injured and the next day Mr. Meijer told me to check on him... and I don't know, we were talking and he realized I know Claude, and he wanted to know why, and I mentioned he used to be my brother's friend." She frowned. "I don't understand why he was suddenly so interested in all this, but he wanted to know which brother, exactly, and when I said it was Simon, he just.... exploded."

"That is strange. If Simon had done something wrong like robbed him, I'm sure he'd have made sure he was punished. If he insulted him in some way he'd probably dismiss him. At least that's how he's seemed to be in our interactions but I could be very wrong."